Board index › General Discussion › General Autism Discussion

What Does this Mean?

Page 1 of 1 [ 13 posts ] 

Previous topic | Next topic

SeizeTheDay
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 684
Location: 'Adrift In a World of My Own'

04 Dec 2008, 11:36 pm

When someone says "Speak of the Devil"? Someone said that to me a while back and I didn't know how to react. Stupid Clichés! :evil:


_________________
(I'm a Girl... ;) )

"The person who knows everything has a lot to learn."

"Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum" (I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am) René Descartes


Spokane_Girl

04 Dec 2008, 11:38 pm

I don't know. I would have just asked "What does that mean?"



To3To3
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 52

04 Dec 2008, 11:38 pm

It's meant to be offensive. I guess it implies that you are a troublemaker.



Liverbird
Supporting Member
Supporting Member

User avatar

Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,119
Location: My heart belongs to Anfield

04 Dec 2008, 11:40 pm

It usually means you were talking about someone or something and the very object of conversation comes in. Speak of the devil.


_________________
"All those things that you taught me to fear
I've got them in my garden now
And you're not welcome here" ---Poe


smheath
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Posts: 62
Location: Snow Hill, NC

04 Dec 2008, 11:40 pm

No, it's not offensive. It means they were talking about you right before you entered the room.

(edit: I guess I'm a little too slow.)



To3To3
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 52

04 Dec 2008, 11:41 pm

That's not always the case. People have said it to me to be mean.



To3To3
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 52

04 Dec 2008, 11:43 pm

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/spea ... devil.html

You guys are right, though.



2ukenkerl
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Age: 64
Gender: Male
Posts: 6,277

04 Dec 2008, 11:47 pm

Liverbird wrote:
It usually means you were talking about someone or something and the very object of conversation comes in. Speak of the devil.


For what it is worth, liverbird is RIGHT! So if they speak of what a person that does that you do, or speak of you, they will say "speak of the devil". It basically means "Here s/he is", or "Here comes an example".

BTW it is often NOT an insult as, if it were, they would probably shut up.



To3To3
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 52

04 Dec 2008, 11:49 pm

2ukenkerl wrote:
Liverbird wrote:
It usually means you were talking about someone or something and the very object of conversation comes in. Speak of the devil.


For what it is worth, liverbird is RIGHT! So if they speak of what a person that does that you do, or speak of you, they will say "speak of the devil". It basically means "Here s/he is", or "Here comes an example".

BTW it is often NOT an insult as, if it were, they would probably shut up.


Some people use it to be one.



SeizeTheDay
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 684
Location: 'Adrift In a World of My Own'

04 Dec 2008, 11:50 pm

Hmmm...I'm glad I didn't get mad at her when she said that then :lol:

I don't think I would've anyway. It was my teacher last year who said that. :wink:


_________________
(I'm a Girl... ;) )

"The person who knows everything has a lot to learn."

"Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum" (I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am) René Descartes


Who_Am_I
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,632
Location: Australia

05 Dec 2008, 12:09 am

smheath wrote:
No, it's not offensive. It means they were talking about you right before you entered the room.

(edit: I guess I'm a little too slow.)


Yeah. The longer version of it is "Speak of the devil, and the devil appears."


_________________
Music Theory 101: Cadences.
Authentic cadence: V-I
Plagal cadence: IV-I
Deceptive cadence: V- ANYTHING BUT I ! !! !
Beethoven cadence: V-I-V-I-V-V-V-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I! I! I! I I I


Vince
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 31 Dec 2007
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 688
Location: Sweden

05 Dec 2008, 6:56 am

To3To3 wrote:
Some people use it to be [an insult].

Those people use it wrongly. I've never heard anyone do that, nor with the Swedish version, which directly translated is "when one speaks of the trolls, they stand in one's vestibule". Trolls were big in Sweden back in the day, I suppose.


_________________
I'm Vince. I make the music. And puppet.
http://www.swenglish.nu


SMARTIE
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Age: 47
Gender: Female
Posts: 90
Location: Sitting in the Shadows

05 Dec 2008, 7:10 am

This is one phrase I have learned, which I like and actually use, but as said above not as an insult.


_________________
Is it better to let people assume you are stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt??