Author Topic: What would you understand by this phrase? (Read 7320 times)

Vegemite · « **Reply #20 on:** July 11, 2007, 07:54:47 »

Quote from: Slug_killer on July 11, 2007, 02:28:55

Is grossly overweight and needs to join a gym ?

lol!

ACE · « **Reply #21 on:** July 11, 2007, 08:51:57 »

Quote from: grawrc on July 11, 2007, 07:31:51

Must be Moses!! ;D

No, he took to tablets

grawrc · « **Reply #22 on:** July 11, 2007, 09:51:33 »

Aye! But they were tablets of stone .. probably as good for your teeth as Scottish tablet come to think of it.

emmy1978 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 11, 2007, 11:22:34 »

Well, what does it mean as I don't want to cheat and google!

manicscousers · « **Reply #24 on:** July 11, 2007, 11:43:24 »

fascinated by this, getting really silly, I'm surprised no-one's mentioned gallstones ;D ;D

grawrc · « **Reply #25 on:** July 11, 2007, 11:59:42 »

or could be the skip at curling? ;)

SMP1704 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 11, 2007, 12:02:43 »

The Rolling Stones Manager

or

Chief duster for the Elgin Marbles

emmy1978 · « **Reply #27 on:** July 11, 2007, 12:03:45 »

I'm sure that unless it's typo and it's keeper of the stores ( guy in charge of stationery cupboard) it must be something druidy- head druid? I am going to google in a minute and I don't care about cheating.

grawrc · « **Reply #28 on:** July 11, 2007, 12:07:42 »

Crown jeweller?

Rhubarb Thrasher · « **Reply #29 on:** July 11, 2007, 12:20:24 »

the bloke who's got the keys for the Ginger Wine cabinet

Deb P · « **Reply #30 on:** July 11, 2007, 13:08:02 »

I thought Keeper of the Stones was something to do with Stonehenge and the 'head' Druid who is charged with looking after them....knowing of the wrangles that occur between the Druids and English Heritage/National Trust (can't remember which one thinks they are 'responsible' for it) about access to Stonehenge, the phrase probably does have strong political overtones these days...... :-\

emmy1978 · « **Reply #31 on:** July 11, 2007, 13:12:50 »

Could also be Avebury Rings (dare I say, better than S/Henge)

Heldi · « **Reply #32 on:** July 11, 2007, 13:18:28 »

Is it a phrase nicked from it's original meaning which I am taking to be what Jeannine said and used to describe someone who is there throughout any changes in leadership that may happen? They would know all the ins and outs of the job and would probably be able to instruct the new "boss" of procedures etc. Head civil servant ?

Deb P · « **Reply #33 on:** July 11, 2007, 13:32:28 »

Quote from: emmy1978 on July 11, 2007, 13:12:50

Could also be Avebury Rings (dare I say, better than S/Henge)

I think you are right, both very significant sites. I have visited them both, but a long time ago....... ;D

Hot_Potato · « **Reply #34 on:** July 11, 2007, 14:27:03 »

I've not googled it yet either!.......I still think (as I said above) that it's someone who has an amazing knowledge & probably responsibility for) a specific 'period in time' that revolves around something very old & of great historical content and value..........if you understand what I'm trying to say ???

please put us out of our misery soon (can't remember who started the thread now :-[ and yesterday's posts have gone from my view :(

rosebud · « **Reply #35 on:** July 11, 2007, 15:00:38 »

I think its the old boy who does! the gardens ;D, finds all the lovely old stones and keeps them. :o

Oldmanofthewoods · « **Reply #36 on:** July 11, 2007, 15:05:06 »

Quote from: Georgie on July 10, 2007, 22:15:07

Hi everyone. I work for an organisation which is supposed to pride itself on the use of 'plain English'. Today I read a briefing which descibed an individual as a 'keeper of the stones'. Now, without resorting to Google, can you please tell me what you think this phrase might mean?

G x

The one that holds the Rune Stones which everybody else in the group uses.

Georgie · « **Reply #37 on:** July 11, 2007, 20:03:46 »

Hi folks. Thanks for all your replies and your restraint in not googling. I couldn't answer before now because I had to ask the person who wrote it to tell me what he meant by it. The point I was trying to establish is whether or not this term is in common usage and/or whether people have the same understanding. Clearly not.

I've enjoyed all your replies, both the serious attempts and the witticisms. Anyway the author told me today that he was surprised that I was unaware of the term. I said I was not alone. Anyway according to him it means a high priest, or 'the keeper of theology'. Yes, there is a Druid link, but it goes further than that. He said he'd used it as an idiom to explain that this particular person felt that she alone has the full wisdom and understanding of a piece of political doctrine and sees it as her job to keep everyone in line.

So there you have it. I told him that was all very interesting but he needs to update his idioms as he'd confused many. There goes my performance bonus! ;)

G x

katynewbie · « **Reply #38 on:** July 12, 2007, 00:43:16 »

;D

Never mind the performance bonus Georgie! It kept us all entertained...priceless!!

;)

rosebud · « **Reply #39 on:** July 12, 2007, 07:32:55 »

Georgie, a very interesting thread i must say. Put a smile on our faces the silly bits including mine, thanks for the real answer. They say we learn something every day. ;D Mary.

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Author Topic: What would you understand by this phrase? (Read 7320 times)