Re: RE: [canberrabirds] Hello! New computer. Vroom!!

This is one of those _expression_ quoted from Shakespeare which is usually not used in accordance with the original meaning. People use "fell swoop" to mean "all at once", whereas 'fell' actually means 'cruel'. So in John's example this might be appropriate, but in the usual usage it is not.

cf "A custom more honoured in the breach than the observance" does not mean "a custom that's usually neglected", it means, "a custom that gains people more honour when they neglect it".

John Leonard 

On Nov 8, 2009 2:13pm, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:
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> Shakespeare, Macbeth:
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> MACDUFF, on hearing that his
> family has been murdered:
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> “All my pretty ones?
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> Did you say all? O hell-kite!
> All?
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> What, all my pretty chickens and
> their dam
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> At one fell swoop?”
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> SERVANT:
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> “Yes, milord.  Vrooom!!”
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> From: John Layton
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> Sent: Sunday, 8 November 2009 1:23 PM
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> To: Canberra Birds
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> Subject: [canberrabirds] Hello! New computer. Vroom!!
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> Thirteen years ago I bought a computer. Last week it gave up
> the ghost, must have been  a lemon. So today I  have my new machine
> up, running and loaded for bear with spanky new Windows 7. Vrooom!!!
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> This is my first email, so bear with boy with new toy. Late
> yesterday afternoon went for a drive along Parkwood Road, Holt, which may
> appear a nondescript semi-rural  thoroughfare but has revealed some
> interesting birds lately, eg Brown Songlark & Horsfield’s Bushlark
> last week. Yesterday was surprised to  see five Wood Ducks huddled around
> a few remaining rainwater puddles right at the edge of the bitumen. Couple of
> Masked Lapwings nearby and a number of Australasian Pipits here and there along
> the roadside fence. Saw a Nankeen Kestrel  hovering, suddenly it descended
> in one fell stoop (is “fell stoop” correct and, in this instance,
> appropriate? It’s an _expression_ I’m never sure about.)The kestrel
> was  only down for a few seconds in long grass before flying off rapidly
> as if heading to a favoured feeding perch but couldn’t see if it carried
> anything.
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> John Layton.
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