What they say!
Remarks and quotes by people on TV and Radio
From BBC Teletext
"David Camerson's wife goes into labour . . ."
Explanation:
David Cameron is the leader of the British Conservative Party.
The Labour Party is the rival party, at present in Government.
"go into labour" means "begins to give birth" - but here it may mean betrayal!
From Independent Television News:
"In Australia, a prisoner went on an extreme diet to enable him to squeeze through a space between the bars and a brick wall he had chipped away.
"Have they caught him yet? Slim chance!
"He's still at large and they have a fat chance of catching him".
Explanation
slim chance - a very small possibility at large - free
fat chance - virtually no possibility
From an astronomer on the BBC
whilst discussing the possibility of life on other planets:
"The best argument for supposing that there is intelligent life
out there is that they haven't tried to contact us!"
Ambiguity
ITV London News, when a fire started on a 3rd "bendy bus":
"Fire has broken out on a third of London's bendy buses"
Let's hope the remaining two thirds are OK !
Ambiguity
BBC News, regarding a new test-flight:
"New technology will allow people to travel around the world
in a few hours"
So soon at that? When are services actually starting?
BBC Ceefax, referring to the film "The Passion of Christ":
"Brothers seek French passion ban"
Oh my god!
BBC Weather Forecast:
"There's plenty of weather coming up through the next week"
Really? Wow - imagine the opposite: no weather at all!
A good example of tautology!
Commentator, European Football Cup:
"It's almost the first time this unprecedented action has ever taken place in football!"
A politician you can trust?
My local Labour Party Candidate's name was, believe it or not "Nick More"
As you will realise, he didn’t win!
to nick also means to steal
Remarks and quotes by people on TV and Radio
From BBC Teletext
"David Camerson's wife goes into labour . . ."
Explanation:
David Cameron is the leader of the British Conservative Party.
The Labour Party is the rival party, at present in Government.
"go into labour" means "begins to give birth" - but here it may mean betrayal!
From Independent Television News:
"In Australia, a prisoner went on an extreme diet to enable him to squeeze through a space between the bars and a brick wall he had chipped away.
"Have they caught him yet? Slim chance!
"He's still at large and they have a fat chance of catching him".
Explanation
slim chance - a very small possibility at large - free
fat chance - virtually no possibility
From an astronomer on the BBC
whilst discussing the possibility of life on other planets:
"The best argument for supposing that there is intelligent life
out there is that they haven't tried to contact us!"
Ambiguity
ITV London News, when a fire started on a 3rd "bendy bus":
"Fire has broken out on a third of London's bendy buses"
Let's hope the remaining two thirds are OK !
Ambiguity
BBC News, regarding a new test-flight:
"New technology will allow people to travel around the world
in a few hours"
So soon at that? When are services actually starting?
BBC Ceefax, referring to the film "The Passion of Christ":
"Brothers seek French passion ban"
Oh my god!
BBC Weather Forecast:
"There's plenty of weather coming up through the next week"
Really? Wow - imagine the opposite: no weather at all!
A good example of tautology!
Commentator, European Football Cup:
"It's almost the first time this unprecedented action has ever taken place in football!"
A politician you can trust?
My local Labour Party Candidate's name was, believe it or not "Nick More"
As you will realise, he didn’t win!
to nick also means to steal