An even less happy-clappy response to our Schumpeter column "Against happiness", from this week's letters to the editor.
"There is surely nothing more British than to proclaim the right to be miserable and taciturn."
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I consulted a dictionary: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/happy-clappy?s=t
happy-clappy
/ˈhæpɪˈklæpɪ/
adjective 1. of or denoting a form of evangelical Christianity in which members of the congregation sing and clap enthusiastically during acts of worship
noun (pl) -pies 2. Also called happy clapper. an enthusiastic evangelical Christian
I need native speakers' help.
It refers to that type of activity or mood, where people act all cheerful, with singing and clapping.
There are people who exhibit that type of cheerfulness in their daily lives. And then, apparently, there are the British.
We'd be at a loss if we didn't have anything to moan about.
Please explain the meaning of the quoted sentence in simpler English. Thank you.Originally Posted by Tdol
I need native speakers' help.
There is surely nothing more British than to proclaim the right to be miserable and taciturn.
Does the above sentence imply that it is typically British to proclaim the right to be miserable and taciturn?
I need native speakers' help.
In other words, the British aren't happy unless they're unhappy about something.
Wear short sleeves! Support your right to bare arms!
Yes. It's completely untrue. The truth is that we British do not subscribe to the frivolously hypocritical idea that it is essential to find good in some things. There never is in reality, and we are honest enough not to pretend to be happy when there is no justification for it.Does the above sentence imply that it is typically British to proclaim the right to be miserable and taciturn?
Last edited by Piscean; 12-Oct-2016 at 15:00.
There never is what in reality?
I need native speakers' help.
In reality, there isn't always something good to be found in every situation.
Remember - if you don't use correct capitalisation, punctuation and spacing, anything you write will be incorrect.
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