Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Do You Know What "Eavesdropping" Means?
I'm not trying to be a smartass know-it-all here, but do you know what "eavesdropping" means? Good for you if you do, 'cos whaddaya know, you know the meaning of "eavesdropping"! *insert applause here* If you don't know, good for you too, 'cos I'm gonna tell you.
It all started yesterday when I was out with some friends. We were supposed to go for yum cha, but went karaoke-ing instead. Then we went to play some arcade games and took pictures at a photo booth complete with Japanese instructions, which was no help at all. This has nothing to do with the word "eavesdropping", really. I'm just bragging. Yes, I am bragging. I'm so desperate for a social life that I'd settle for anything.
Okay, so where was I again? Oh yeah, yesterday... We were walking on the street when Jackie, very randomly, revealed that Adrian has no idea what "eavesdropping" means.
It started me thinking: why does "eavesdropping" means that? It's not as if there's a direct link between "dropping eaves" and "secretly listening"... So I decided to search on Wikipedia (click on link to go to article on "eavesdropping") on the word's origins. Turns out there was a link. According to Wikipedia, people used to literally hide on a house's eavesdrop (or eavesdrip) to listen in on private conversations. Interesting.
It's quite fun to read about the origins of words. Sometimes, the meaning of the word and the word itself seemed so far apart that you wonder how people arrive at creating that word. So now, we know why the word "eavesdropping" means what it means. All thanks to me. All hail The Almighty, All-Knowing Suet Li!!!
It all started yesterday when I was out with some friends. We were supposed to go for yum cha, but went karaoke-ing instead. Then we went to play some arcade games and took pictures at a photo booth complete with Japanese instructions, which was no help at all. This has nothing to do with the word "eavesdropping", really. I'm just bragging. Yes, I am bragging. I'm so desperate for a social life that I'd settle for anything.
Okay, so where was I again? Oh yeah, yesterday... We were walking on the street when Jackie, very randomly, revealed that Adrian has no idea what "eavesdropping" means.
Okay, so the word doesn't literally mean dropping eaves. It means secretly listening to other people's conversation(s).Jackie: Eh, Adrian don't know what "eavesdropping" means woh...
Me: Huh? You don't know one ah?
Adrian: *looks clueless*
Me: Oh... Eavesdropping ah, means dropping the eaves.
Adrian: *stares at me, incredulous*
Me: Yeah... it's true. You drop eaves. You know eaves? Neh, that thing on your roof, where rain water goes in one...
Jackie: No lah... What are you -?
Me: *raises voice* It's true lah, isn't it? *hints to J* You ask Jackie lah.
Jackie & Adrian: *ignores me*
It started me thinking: why does "eavesdropping" means that? It's not as if there's a direct link between "dropping eaves" and "secretly listening"... So I decided to search on Wikipedia (click on link to go to article on "eavesdropping") on the word's origins. Turns out there was a link. According to Wikipedia, people used to literally hide on a house's eavesdrop (or eavesdrip) to listen in on private conversations. Interesting.
It's quite fun to read about the origins of words. Sometimes, the meaning of the word and the word itself seemed so far apart that you wonder how people arrive at creating that word. So now, we know why the word "eavesdropping" means what it means. All thanks to me. All hail The Almighty, All-Knowing Suet Li!!!
i know that i have loved you ... at 8:31 PM
fate crumbled all around 3 comments
fate crumbled all around 3 comments