[Vocabulary] You look like a good type for a stump

[drangiana]

Hi

What does stump in these sentences mean?
"You look like a good type for a stump."
"I'll give you all the supplies you need-- legs, eyes, stumps." Thanks.

 

[tzfujimino]

Re: Help

:shock:

 

[Raymott]

Re: Help

What's the context? Where did you see this dialogue?

 

[emsr2d2]

Please note that thread titles should include some or all of the words you are querying. I have changed your main thread title to a good one. Titles like "help" don't work because they make it difficult for you/us to spot your posts if we're looking for them again and they don't help other learners who might be searching the forum titles for similar queries.

 

[MikeNewYork]

It sounds like somebody providing body parts.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Perhaps it is all he had. ;-)

 

[Eckaslike]

It is from the script of the film Night and the City made in 1950 starring Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, Googie Withers and Herbert Lom.

This dark and moody film is set in London and the main character Harry Fabian, played by Richard Widmark, is ambitious but without funds. He strikes up a friendship with a world famous ex-wrestler and his son, and hits upon the idea of controlling the wrestling scene throughout London. In one scene, he is offered half of the £400 that he needs to do this by the owner of the nightclub where his girlfriend sings, but he still needs to find the remaining £200 from somewhere else.

The next scene shows him going to visit another contact, called Figler, who is essentially a master beggar. Figler co-ordinates a whole range of people who earn money by acting as beggars, and he gives them props for the for part.

Figler is equipping a new set of beggars as Fabian is talking to him. He says to one perfectly able-bodied man something like "You look the type for a stump" (i.e. a stump will work well for you in your role as a beggar. He then hands the man a wooden leg. The man also holds a sign saying "GASSED. Family to Support."). He actually says "You look like a good type for a stump", but the meaning is the same.

Figler suggests to Fabian that rather than trying continual get rich quick schemes he should "settle down", and one way of making a good living would be for him to set up his own begging business, and he says "I'll give you all the supplies you need [to get started] -- legs, eyes, stumps".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_and_the_City

http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/n/night-and-the-city-script.html

 

[Polyester]

stump means here...
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/stump_1

 

[Eckaslike]

stump means here...
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/stump_1

Yes, in the context of the quote it means "the stump of a leg". The man is going to pretend to have a stump so that he can use a special false wooden leg. He will then go out and pretend to be a beggar, to get money from the public.

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum, drangiana.

In future posts, please note the importance of giving us the context in which you find text you are quoting.

 

[drangiana]

Welcome to the forum, drangiana.

In future posts, please note the importance of giving us the context in which you find text you are quoting.

Thanks a lot.As you already know I'm new here and I didn't know the rules but thanks again for answering me guys;I do appreciate it.This dialogue,as someone said correctly,is from the movie Night and the City(1950) and this is the whole dialogue:
Figler:Harry, Harry, Harry. Can't you see this is checking-out time?I've got a dozen workers waiting.
Harry:But you don't understand, Figler.I've got-
Figler:Here.Strap this on.You look like a good type for a stump.
Harry:Figler, listen to me--
Figler:Harry, apart from my beggars I'm all alone in the world.I've got no wife,no kids, no family.That's right.All you need now is these specs.You look lovely.
Harry:Look, I've got an angle that can't be beat.
Figleron't forget to tuck your trouser legs in.You'll give the game away.
Harry:Now, listen to me--
Figler:Harry, all I got is me money.And between me and me money is a kind of understanding, like holy matrimony--till death us do part.
Harry:But I can't miss, Figler!Figler, will you listen!
Figler:I like you, Harry.Why don't you settle down, get hold of a few good beggars and put 'em out on the street?I'll give you all the supplies you need-- legs, eyes, stumps.