The typical Spaniard

[heidita]

Ok, I will give it a shot, as I participated in typical Englishmen and typical Americans, why not have a go at typical Spaniards?

What do you think? Which three words come to mind?

Any bad experience?:-( No way, we Spaniards are great!!!!:lol:

 

[banderas]

Ok, I will give it a shot, as I participated in typical Englishmen and typical Americans, why not have a go at typical Spaniards?

What do you think? Which three words come to mind?

Any bad experience?:-( No way, we Spaniards are great!!!!:lol:

That is true except for bullfighters:shock:.
Flamenco is one of my favourite types of dances. I really enjoy watching Maria Pages:-D.

 

[Amigos4]

Spaniard

fought famous naval battles with the British
Ferdinand and Isabella
eats paella

 

[beascarpetta]

Spaniard

intense
proud of his heritage
outgoing yet self-contained

 

[Mihai_alexandru]

They had one of the most powerful navies a few hundred years ago.

Spanish is a language that sounds nice, maybe I'll decide to learn it sometime soon.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Villareal, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Espanyol, Osasuna, etc Primera Division is one of the best football championships in the world.

 

[Batfink]

My last love from Seville
Picasso and Goya
Cervantes

 

[BobK]

Ok, I will give it a shot, as I participated in typical Englishmen and typical Americans, why not have a go at typical Spaniards?

What do you think? Which three words come to mind?

Any bad experience?:-( No way, we Spaniards are great!!!!:lol:

Did you realize that this is ambiguous (in a way that is, philologically, quite apt); as well as 'make an attempt', 'have a go at' can mean 'attempting to hurt or inconvenience in a spiteful and petty way': "I get on well with most people at my new job, but there's one person who's always having a go at me."

The suffix -ard is typically attached to words to make the meaning pejorative: a 'dullard' is dull, but painfully so; bastard, coward, drunkard.... (Although the fairly recently coined 'retard' - for someone who's mentally retarded - as a term of abuse is in fact a back-formation from the verb "retard", I suspect that the reason for its success as a neologism is that it fits the pattern of other -ard words.)

For many years, Britain was at war with the Spanish; we don't say 'Frankard' for French, or 'Americard' for American, or 'Allemagnard' for German. So the person who first coined the word 'Spaniard' was indeed 'having a go at the Spanish'.

We now resume our normal service.... ;-)

b

 

[heidita]

Did you realize that this is ambiguous (in a way that is, philologically, quite apt); as well as 'make an attempt', 'have a go at' can mean 'attempting to hurt or inconvenience in a spiteful and petty way': "I get on well with most people at my new job, but there's one person who's always having a go at me."

Yes, Bob, I did.:-D

The suffix -ard is typically attached to words to make the meaning pejorative: a 'dullard' is dull, but painfully so; bastard, coward, drunkard.... (Although the fairly recently coined 'retard' - for someone who's mentally retarded - as a term of abuse is in fact a back-formation from the verb "retard", I suspect that the reason for its success as a neologism is that it fits the pattern of other -ard words.)

For many years, Britain was at war with the Spanish; we don't say 'Frankard' for French, or 'Americard' for American, or 'Allemagnard' for German. So the person who first coined the word 'Spaniard' was indeed 'having a go at the Spanish'.

Now...this is fascinating!! I had no idea. :shock: Interesting indeed!!

 

[BobK]

Yes, Bob, I did.:-D

...

:-D No flies on you! ;-)

 

[Amigos4]

:-D No flies on you! ;-)

Score one point for the Spaniard from Germany! ;-)

 

[heidita]

:-D No flies on you! ;-)

I looked up this funny expression!!:shock:

Really cool!! But I am afraid...I don't know how you have used it here. Does that mean I was cleverer than you thought? :lol: Or that I was very fast answering? ;-) Or that I am witty? :shock:

I have seen serval examples, but .......:-(

I would really like to know what the meaning was in this context and how you would use it in another one.

I tried to explain to a student...but was quite a a loss.

 

[BobK]

'No flies on me' (I think it's more common in the first person) means - all at the same time - "I'm cleverer than you think", "I'm really pretty smart", "I know what I'm doing", "I'm quick on the uptake"... and it can also mean "don't mess with me". When I hear it I think of that Robert Vaughan scene in The Magnificent Seven where he sees several flies on his gloved hand and quickly closes his fist. He catches one (he's a retired gun-slinger) and says regretfully [something like] 'There was a time when I would have caught them all'.

But when there are no flies on someone they don't have to be potentially dangerous like that. They're just quick and competent and probably have hidden depths.

b

 

[BobK]

Admission, after re-watching the video: in that scene, the flies were actually on the table, and RV grabbed one out of three. It shows the strength of the metaphor that it made me mis-remember the scene.

b