I know, bilby, that's why I hadn't entered it for the longest time. But I found curculio again and thought it deserved a usage note. Besides, "Oh ha, ha, ha, ha!" is actually my favorite part.
'There is not a scrap of difference. Arcades ambo. They are the same species of curculio, and there is nothing to choose between them.'
'But suppose you had to choose?'
'Then I should choose the right-hand weevil; it has a perceptible advantage in both length and breadth.'
'There I have you,' cried Jack. 'You are bit—you are completely dished. Don't you know that in the Navy you must always choose the lesser of two weevils? Oh ha, ha, ha, ha!'" --O'Brian, The Fortune of War, 55
:-)))
I know, bilby, that's why I hadn't entered it for the longest time. But I found curculio again and thought it deserved a usage note. Besides, "Oh ha, ha, ha, ha!" is actually my favorite part.
We've (a)ll heard this, but glad it has a fine retelling here on Wordie.
Oh ha, ha, ha, ha! I just love weevil jokes. :-D
"'You see those weevils, Stephen?'
'I do.'
'Which would you choose?'
'There is not a scrap of difference. Arcades ambo. They are the same species of curculio, and there is nothing to choose between them.'
'But suppose you had to choose?'
'Then I should choose the right-hand weevil; it has a perceptible advantage in both length and breadth.'
'There I have you,' cried Jack. 'You are bit—you are completely dished. Don't you know that in the Navy you must always choose the lesser of two weevils? Oh ha, ha, ha, ha!'"
--O'Brian, The Fortune of War, 55