The Meaning of Liff

27 Sep 2005

Does anyone remember "The Meaning of Liff"
an excellent volume
By Douglas Adams and John Lloyd

"In Life*, there are many hundreds of common experiences, feelings, situations and even objects which we all know and recognize, but for which no words exist.
*and indeed in Liff"

It's a book about all the little things that happen that we have no word for. In their case they use place names which they claim are just hanging around on road signs not doing anything very much. You can read more here if you don't know it.
My personal favourites have always been

BODMIN (n.)
The irrational and inevitable discrepancy between the amount pooled and the amount needed when a large group of people try to pay a bill together after a meal.
SCRANTON (n.)
A person who, after the declaration of the bodmin (q.v.), always says,'... But I only had the tomato soup.'

Anyone else a fan? Anyone else use words to describe things that happen but we have no word for?
I'm thinking I need a word to describe me - someone who does not smoke but stands outside pubs in the rain all afternoon because all my friends smoke. (Currently only in use in Ireland but which will be needed in England soon.)
CQ

27 Sep 2005

Quote by celticq
I'm thinking I need a word to describe me - someone who does not smoke but stands outside pubs in the rain all afternoon because all my friends smoke. (Currently only in use in Ireland but which will be needed in England soon.)
CQ

A 'whiff'? Even rhymes with Liff - sorry - I'll get me coat!

27 Sep 2005

...SHART... Its a tiny village in Bladenstrumford..on the south west peninsula of Hangorthswintrigenblithe..
Its when you fart and a little bit of shit comes out...

:rotflmao: :rotflmao:

27 Sep 2005

Quote by celticq
I'm thinking I need a word to describe me - someone who does not smoke but stands outside pubs in the rain all afternoon because all my friends smoke. (Currently only in use in Ireland but which will be needed in England soon.)
CQ

Fine post celticq!
There's a town in Chile called Antifagasta. rolleyes

Mike.

27 Sep 2005

Quote by MikeNorth
There's a town in Chile called Antifagasta.
Mike.

I thought that was the doiley things my gran has on the back of her cottage suit.

27 Sep 2005

Quote by celticq

There's a town in Chile called Antifagasta.
Mike.

I thought that was the doiley things my gran has on the back of her cottage suit.
You mean like the ones they have on the seats in frst-class rail carriages? (I only know that because I see them through the train windows.)

27 Sep 2005

Similar but without Virgin written on them in big red letters.
I suspect there is another completely different word for the ones on trains. lol

27 Sep 2005

Quote by celticq
I thought that was the doiley things my gran has on the back of her cottage suit.

Antimacassars ...

...a front page from the wishful thinking days?

28 Sep 2005

I love this book - and the follow up, The Deeper Meaning of Liff. I had to be helped out of my chair the first time I read it I was laughing so much.
Favourites - Hove; the look that someone has when they realise the person they're talking to won't stop for a very long time
Wetwang - a moist penis
There are some great places in Somerset and Wilts - like Limpley Stoke (the actions of a swinger who'd rather be watching 'Stenders?) and Friggle Street (a meeting place for covert frottagers?)
Any more?
Japes