talis pater, talis filius

[Casiopea]

You're most welcome, and I have a few question myself about ironical.

[Englishlanguage]

You're most welcome, and I have a few question myself about ironical.

Sorry but I don't quite understand.
I'm really embarassed to ask you. Please, don't take it as an offence to your joke. I just don't understand what you mean in regard to the word ironical.
Do you just want to say that ironical is incorrect?

[Casiopea]

My reply was in reference to your saying that you might start a new thread. If you start it, I will join in.

[BobK]

My reply was in reference to your saying that you might start a new thread. If you start it, I will join in.

The -ic/-ical issue has been discussed at some length in a fairly recent thread: http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/li...vs-ical-3.html

Further re "like father like son", there is also the more genealogical version "Bad blood will out".

b

[Englishlanguage]

Thank you both...

[BobK]

Thank you both...

It was a pleasure. Incidentally, when I said "genealogical" I was using short-hand. What I meant was that when someone has shown a vicious characteristic, some descendant of his or hers (several generations distant) will show the same characteristic.

b

[Englishlanguage]

It was a pleasure. Incidentally, when I said "genealogical" I was using short-hand. What I meant was that when someone has shown a vicious characteristic, some descendant of his or hers (several generations distant) will show the same characteristic.

b

I guess it can be used only for negative characteristics, am I right?
Thank you

[Casiopea]

Correct. Bad blood.

[Englishlanguage]

Correct. Bad blood.

Thank you once again...

[Casiopea]

You're most welcome.