lighting a cigarette and trying to protect the flame with your hand

[alpacinou]

Hello.

How can I describe when a person protects the flame of a lighter?

https://ak.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/6148679/thumb/1.jpg

Is this good?

Outside it was gusty. She was jonesing for a cigarette. She grabbed one from her purse and tried to light it. It was windy. The lighter's flame kept going out.
"Goddamn it!" she muttered.

Jack approached. "I will guard the flame for you," he said.

Also, I don't what I should say instead of the underlined part.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello.

How can I describe when a person protects the flame of a lighter?

https://ak.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/6148679/thumb/1.jpg

Is this good?

Outside it was gusty. She was jonesing for a cigarette. She grabbed one from her purse and tried to light it. It was windy. The lighter's flame kept going out.
"Goddamn it!" she muttered.

Jack approached. "I will guard the flame for you," he said.

Also, I don't what I should say instead of the underlined part.

Which underlined part would you like us to consider? There are two.

 

[alpacinou]

Another sign of my old age. I had never seen that expression before.

I actually heard it from one of my students who watches lots of movies.

 

[alpacinou]

Which underlined part would you like us to consider? There are two.

Both of them if possible.

 

[emsr2d2]

Another sign of my old age. I had never seen that expression before.

I knew it, though I'm not sure where I first heard it. Quite possibly, it was from the same uncle who used to lead us all in a rendition of "Don't Bogart That Joint" (Little Feat, 1978) at every family get-together. "jones" appears to date from the early 1970s so it's very likely he used both phrases.

 

[alpacinou]

I added a small part. I would appreciate it if you would help me make it better:

Outside it was gusty. She was jonesing for a cigarette. She grabbed one from her purse and tried to light it. It was windy. The lighter's flame kept going out.
"Goddamn it!" she muttered.
Jack approached. "I will guard the flame for you," he said.
"I can guard my own flame," she retorted.

 

[Tdol]

I'd use cover/shield, but I haven't smoked for over a decade, so I may be out of touch with smoking lingo.

 

[alpacinou]

I'd use cover/shield, but I haven't smoked for over a decade, so I may be out of touch with smoking lingo.

Is this okay?

Outside it was gusty. She was jonesing for a cigarette. She grabbed one from her purse and tried to light it. It was windy. The lighter's flame kept going out.
"Goddamn it!" she muttered.
Jack approached. "I will cover the flame for you," he said.
"I can cover my own flame," she retorted.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I knew it, though I'm not sure where I first heard it. Quite possibly, it was from the same uncle who used to lead us all in a rendition of "Don't Bogart That Joint" (Little Feat, 1978) at every family get-together. "jones" appears to date from the early 1970s so it's very likely he used both phrases.

It's an old expression. For reasons beyond my knowledge, an addiction is a jones. So to crave something intensely is to jones for it or be jonesing for it.

It might mainly be an Americanism.

And since you remind me:

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Another sign of my old age. I had never seen that expression before.

See #10.

I'm 68, and it's been around for a while. So maybe it's used more in the US.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hello.

How can I describe when a person protects the flame of a lighter?

https://ak.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/6148679/thumb/1.jpg

Is this good?

Outside it was gusty. She was jonesing for a cigarette. She grabbed one from her purse and tried to light it. It was windy. The lighter's flame kept going out.
"Goddamn it!" she muttered.

Jack approached. "I will guard the flame for you," he said.

Also, I don't what I should say instead of the underlined part.

Hm. I doubt Jack would say anything like that. I think he'd say something more concise, like "Here," or "Here you go," or "Allow me."

And then, as you said, she'd tell him to take a hike.

 

[alpacinou]

Hm. I doubt Jack would say anything like that. I think he'd say something more concise, like "Here," or "Here you go," or "Allow me."

And then, as you said, she'd tell him to take a hike.

What if it's not dialogue?

She was lighting a cigarette in the windy night. John offered to cover her flame, but she told him to buzz off.

 

[emsr2d2]

I wouldn't use "cover". I'd use "shield her [lighter] flame [from the wind]".

 

[alpacinou]

I wouldn't use "cover". I'd use "shield her [lighter] flame [from the wind]".

One last check:

Outside it was gusty. Jane was jonesing for a cigarette. She grabbed one from her purse and tried to light it. The wind was relentless. The lighter's flame kept going out.
"Goddamn it!" she muttered.

Jack approached, offering to shield her lighter flame from the wind.

"Take a hike honey," she said calmly.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I love it. Put a comma after hike and you're done.