Let me put you in the picture, let me show you what it means

[venta]

You'd think that, by now, I'd have exhausted all my weird words and phrase. Or, at any rate, learned which ones of them would get me funny looks. Apparently not, though.

Last night I sent a text message which ended "... and once you've found your keys you'll be framing".

I got the response "framing?"

Er... ok. You know the drill now, don't you? Clicky time!

[Poll #1871848]

And not relatedly: microwaves. Why are they so complicated? I don't want to be able to set 10% power for a fish-based plated meal of 350g, I want to choose a time and press "go". Full power.

Do people really use these features? Assuming we're not talking about combination microwaves and ovens, or anything like that, does anyone do anything other than full power, go?

I'm perfectly happy that such microwaves are on offer, for those as want them, but why are there none available which have basically a time dial and a big green button?

[Poll #1871849]

Comments

[venta.livejournal.com]

I suppose (but have no evidence) that framing might be short for something like "establishing a framework". So "I'm framing for leaving" is basically "I am beginning the operations required for leaving and getting ready to go". It then gets abbreviated to just "I'm framing" to mean generally getting ready and becoming sorted.

It's one of those things that I was never aware was unusual, but apparently it really is :(

[pm215]

The OED's cites for 'frame, v' in the "set about, make an attempt to do something" sense predate by a couple of hundred years its first cite for 'framework' in the abstract sense. In fact the whole sense of frame "give structure to, shape, or construct" seems to be a later development (1300s) than older senses of "to further, benefit" and "to accomplish" (which date back to Old English and earlier). So I suspect your folk etymology is a bit heavy on the folk :-)

(I love the way local libraries give free online access to the OED; it's a fantastic timewaster...)

[venta.livejournal.com]

So I suspect your folk etymology is a bit heavy on the folk :-)

It's a fair cop. I was patently making it up as I went along.

Anyway - the net conclusion seems to be that I'm not weird, or in this case northern, I'm just antique :)

(I love the way local libraries give free online access to the OED; it's a fantastic timewaster...)

They do who with the what now? I'm a member of my local library (they've never mentioned it). Where do I sign up?

[pm215]

I think you can now just go to http://www.oed.com/ and it ought to drop down a login box at the top that lets you type in your library card number. Assuming your local library has actually subscribed to the OED's 'remote access' product (most have) it will let you log in and then you can just access the dictionary from anywhere.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mm, sad to say not all library services have signed up to the OED. But it is rather brilliant.
Ours has a mostly interesting selection of other such free logins as well: http://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/libraries-and-mobiles/suffolk-reference-direct/

[venta.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing ours isn't signed up - I couldn't find details on their website.

I tried typing my library number into the OED box, and it asked me to select my institution from a list. The list offered me Bedfordshire County Library or "TAKEWA". I don't think I'm either of those, so I'm guessing my local library isn't an option. I'll ask them about it next time I'm in.

Aha! No! I have located the info! I have to sign in prefixing my library number with "EAL" (for Ealing).

Crap, now I'm never going to get any useful work done today :)

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

My economy-destroying task for today is done :-)

[ceb.livejournal.com]

"I'm framing for leaving"

Now that you say that it's starting to ring a bell.

You should definitely be allowed to keep your access to language, you keep the rest of us entertained with it :-)

[venta.livejournal.com]

I do exist largely for entertainment reasons :)