Hey Doc,
I was eavesdropping on a conversation amongst friends on a social media site, and one of them said that things in their life were, 'a little dicey,' and I'd like to know more about that word.
[Btw, it's not really eavesdropping, but I couldn't think of the appropriate word~help?]
Could you do a column on 'dicey', please.
Thanks,
Sardith
dicey
dicey
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
dicey
Overhearing?Btw, it's not really eavesdropping, but I couldn't think of the appropriate word~help?
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, dicey (risky or uncertain) alludes to the rolling of dice. It originated as 1940s aviators' jargon.
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Re: dicey
I saw that, too, but didn't see how it was used in flying. Why would it originate there, and not in dice games?Overhearing?Btw, it's not really eavesdropping, but I couldn't think of the appropriate word~help?
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, dicey (risky or uncertain) alludes to the rolling of dice. It originated as 1940s aviators' jargon.
As to the other part, I was thinking "spying." Harsh, though.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
dicey
How about, 'Overseeing', Audiendus.
Or, speyeing...naw.
How 'bout being invited to a partyleyene...like when I was first married we shared the phone with 4 other families...NO privacy!
And the aviators...
I saw that too, Slava, and wondered how the aviators played into the whole story.
Sardith
Or, speyeing...naw.
How 'bout being invited to a partyleyene...like when I was first married we shared the phone with 4 other families...NO privacy!
And the aviators...
I saw that too, Slava, and wondered how the aviators played into the whole story.
Sardith
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
dicey
Well, flying in World War II was a risky business. And how would one use 'dicey' in a dice game? Isn't the word essentially figurative?I saw that, too, but didn't see how it was used in flying. Why would it originate there, and not in dice games?
Possibly, although it usually means 'supervising'. ('Overhearing' is not ideal, but we do talk about 'hearing' from someone when they write to us.)How about, 'Overseeing', Audiendus.
dicey
I like the word 'observed' the best.
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
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