problems in english film

[trangwin25]

When I watched a film, I saw a question "What did your last slave die of? " and a phrasal verb " for goodness' sake". I was confused of course.
So can you help me explain them?
Thanks a lot.

 

[riquecohen]

When I watched a film, I saw a question "What did your last slave die of? " and a phrasal verb " for goodness' sake". I was confused of course.
So can you help me explain them?
Thanks a lot.

"What was the cause of death of your last slave?"
For "for goodness' sake," look here. for goodness' sake - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

 

[emsr2d2]

"What did your last slave die of?" is a sarcastic comment usually made when someone asks you to do something for them, especially something that they could have done easily themselves.

For example:

Two people are sitting on a sofa (couch) near a table with a bottle of wine and two glasses. One person says "Can you pour another glass of wine for me?" It would have been very easy for that person to pour the wine themselves so the second person says "What did your last slave die of?" (ie "You are treating me like a slave so I assume that your last slave is dead and I am the replacement.")

 

[riquecohen]

"What did your last slave die of?" is a sarcastic comment usually made when someone asks you to do something for them, especially something that they could have done easily themselves.

For example:

Two people are sitting on a sofa (couch) near a table with a bottle of wine and two glasses. One person says "Can you pour another glass of wine for me?" It would have been very easy for that person to pour the wine themselves so the second person says "What did your last slave die of?" (ie "You are treating me like a slave so I assume that your last slave is dead and I am the replacement.")

Incredible! I had never before heard this expression. Is it frequently heard in BrE?

 

[Barb_D]

I was equally lost!

 

[SanMar]

I was equally lost!

Same here.
The closest thing I can think of is "Who died and made you King?" more for bossy people rather than lazy ones though.



Not a teacher.

 

[5jj]

Incredible! I had never before heard this expression. Is it frequently heard in BrE?

Reasonably frequently, yes.

 

[Barb_D]

Maybe because the idea of slavery, still embarrassingly recent in our history, is so sensitive is why we don't know this one here. I'd suggest not using it in the US. An acceptable and sarcastic replacement could be "oh are the bones in both legs broken?" or something along those lines.

 

[emsr2d2]

Maybe because the idea of slavery, still embarrassingly recent in our history, is so sensitive is why we don't know this one here. I'd suggest not using it in the US. An acceptable and sarcastic replacement could be "oh are the bones in both legs broken?" or something along those lines.

That may well be the case. Having said that, Britain wasn't exactly a hotbed of slavery so I've always wondered why it's not just "What did your last servant die of?"

 

[bhaisahab]

That may well be the case. Having said that, Britain wasn't exactly a hotbed of slavery so I've always wondered why it's not just "What did your last servant die of?"

I've heard it with "servant" very often.

 

[konungursvia]

I've heard it often too, but I admit it's usually British relatives who use it. Not about me, of course.

 

[Tdol]

I've heard it with "servant" very often.

I have heard both, but slave is more common. (I think)