Discussion:
Such a guts
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Peter Moylan
2021-04-15 00:59:00 UTC
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Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.

Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two bowls
of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front of the
bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed down their
throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.

The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting Sybil
steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's fault, for
being such a guts.

English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
--
Peter Moylan Newcastle, NSW http://www.pmoylan.org
musika
2021-04-15 03:32:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two
bowls of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front
of the bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed
down their throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting
Sybil steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's
fault, for being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
Yes, I think it's probably a shortening of the more common "greedy guts"
but both are UK usages.
--
Ray
UK
Ross Clark
2021-04-15 03:55:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by musika
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two
bowls of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front
of the bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed
down their throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting
Sybil steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's
fault, for being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
Yes, I think it's probably a shortening of the more common "greedy guts"
but both are UK usages.
Likewise in NZ.
Paul Wolff
2021-04-16 22:18:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by musika
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two
bowls of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front
of the bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed
down their throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting
Sybil steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's
fault, for being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
Yes, I think it's probably a shortening of the more common "greedy
guts" but both are UK usages.
There's a slightly different usage that I've only ever met once - well,
a few times but always in the same circumstances. Those were the
occasion of the annual Christmas dinner at my school, which was known to
the boys as "Head's Guts" - presumably as it was an exceptional occasion
and the feast needed the Headmaster's sanction to take place. I always
assumed that 'guts' in this context meant the feast, not the feasters.
--
Paul
Snidely
2021-05-04 06:55:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two
bowls of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front
of the bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed
down their throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting
Sybil steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's
fault, for being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
Yes, I think it's probably a shortening of the more common "greedy guts" but
both are UK usages.
I'm somewhat familiar with "greedy Gus", but not with the stop, and not
without greedy.

/dps
--
"I'm glad unicorns don't ever need upgrades."
"We are as up as it is possible to get graded!"
_Phoebe and Her Unicorn_, 2016.05.15
Tony Cooper
2021-04-15 04:28:44 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 15 Apr 2021 11:59:00 +1100, Peter Moylan
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two bowls
of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front of the
bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed down their
throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting Sybil
steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's fault, for
being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
About as well as a pocketful of cat vomit.
--
Tony Cooper Orlando Florida
Chrysi Cat
2021-04-15 05:01:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two bowls
of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front of the
bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed down their
throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting Sybil
steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's fault, for
being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
Never heard it before in my life.

And I'm not sure that I would have equated it to "such a pig" even
HAVING heard it, without your full story there.
--
Chrysi Cat
1/2 anthrocat, nearly 1/2 anthrofox, all magical
Transgoddess, quick to anger. [she/her. Misgender and die].
Call me Chrysi or call me Kat, I'll respond to either!
Lewis
2021-04-15 06:54:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two bowls
of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front of the
bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed down their
throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting Sybil
steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's fault, for
being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
Nope. I can figure it out from context, but I had to stop in confusion.

"Pig" is the word I expect. Or hog. Selfish bastard would work to, Or,
honestly, "cat" would have done.
--
'You know me,' said Rincewind. 'Just when I'm getting a grip on
something Fate comes along and jumps on my fingers.'
--Interesting Times
Jerry Friedman
2021-04-15 13:50:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Lewis
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two bowls
of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front of the
bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed down their
throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting Sybil
steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's fault, for
being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
Nope. I can figure it out from context, but I had to stop in confusion.
I figured it out from context and "a hungry guts" in Spike Milligan's
wartime memoirs, with some help from "greedy guts" in T. H. White.

I figured it out from context and "a hungry guts" in Spike Milligan's
wartime memoirs, with some help from "greedy guts" in T. H. White.

Lewis, have you read Milligan's memoirs, in seven short volumes starting
with /Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall/? If not, I think you might
like them.
--
Jerry Friedman
Lewis
2021-04-15 20:04:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jerry Friedman
Lewis, have you read Milligan's memoirs, in seven short volumes starting
with /Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall/? If not, I think you might
like them.
I have not, but will look for them.
--
Julia: I’m not going to help you; I’m going to take over entirely for you.
Todd: Oh thank god because I am dangerously underqualified for this.
Sam Plusnet
2021-04-15 21:12:52 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jerry Friedman
Post by Lewis
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two bowls
of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front of the
bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed down their
throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting Sybil
steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's fault, for
being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
Nope. I can figure it out from context, but I had to stop in confusion.
I figured it out from context and "a hungry guts" in Spike Milligan's
wartime memoirs, with some help from "greedy guts" in T. H. White.
I figured it out from context and "a hungry guts" in Spike Milligan's
wartime memoirs, with some help from "greedy guts" in T. H. White.
Lewis, have you read Milligan's memoirs, in seven short volumes starting
with /Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall/?  If not, I think you might
like them.
You can compare his account of an eruption of Vesuvius with that of
Pliny the Younger.
(I don't think Pliny was on drugs during his experience.)
--
Sam Plusnet
Wales, UK
Ken Blake
2021-04-15 15:49:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two bowls
of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front of the
bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed down their
throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting Sybil
steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's fault, for
being such a guts.
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
Not to my AmE.
--
Ken
occam
2021-04-16 16:19:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two bowls
of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front of the
bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed down their
throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting Sybil
steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's fault, for
being such a guts.
In such a situation, don't you have another cat - Manuel - that does the
cleaning up?
Peter Moylan
2021-04-17 00:31:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by occam
Post by Peter Moylan
Yesterday I had to clean up a lot of cat vomit.
Our system for giving worm tablets to the cats is to put out two bowls
of tuna, to attract them, and then setting them down in front of the
bowls once they have swallowed the pill that we have pushed down their
throat. But one cat ran away after getting his pill.
The vomit was partly Basil's fault, for running away and letting Sybil
steal his share of the tuna. But it was even more Sybil's fault, for
being such a guts.
In such a situation, don't you have another cat - Manuel - that does the
cleaning up?
Soy Manuel.
--
Peter Moylan Newcastle, NSW http://www.pmoylan.org
Joy Beeson
2021-04-16 20:39:20 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 15 Apr 2021 11:59:00 +1100, Peter Moylan
Post by Peter Moylan
English usage question: does "being such a guts" travel?
In context, yes -- but if I'd come across the story without the
question, I'd have assumed that the usage was coined for the occasion.
--
Joy Beeson, U.S.A., mostly central Hoosier,
some Northern Indiana, Upstate New York, Florida, and Hawaii
joy beeson at centurylink dot net http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/
The above message is a Usenet post.
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