Comments on: Q&A: The meaning of fruitloops http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/qa-the-meaning-of-fruitloops Global English and language change Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:07:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Liz Potter http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/qa-the-meaning-of-fruitloops/comment-page-1#comment-11224 Liz Potter Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:27:19 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=2602#comment-11224 Rather than causing confusion, the original query caused me delight, as it is always a pleasure to come across and then investigate these unfamiliar uses. Interesting, too, that there is still such a gulf between UK and US expressions - I don't think anyone here uses 'fruitloops' much. I think the nearest UK equivalent might be 'bonkers', which would similarly be used for unconsidered instant reaction Rather than causing confusion, the original query caused me delight, as it is always a pleasure to come across and then investigate these unfamiliar uses. Interesting, too, that there is still such a gulf between UK and US expressions – I don’t think anyone here uses ‘fruitloops’ much. I think the nearest UK equivalent might be ‘bonkers’, which would similarly be used for unconsidered instant reaction

]]> By: Debora / Shuger http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/qa-the-meaning-of-fruitloops/comment-page-1#comment-11215 Debora / Shuger Tue, 01 Feb 2011 06:50:03 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=2602#comment-11215 As the author, I confess that I had no idea of the sexual meanings. I meant "daft," "loony," "idiotic," but wanted a word with no cognitive content, since I was trying to articulate the instant, unconsidered, almost reflex reaction we (i.e., most modern readers of Shakespeare) have to the law in Shakespeare's Vienna but also to the not dissimilar law actually passed during the Interregnum making adultery a death penalty offense. I'd heard the expression for years and assumed it was perfectly conventional slang. I am sorry for having caused confusion. dks As the author, I confess that I had no idea of the sexual meanings. I meant “daft,” “loony,” “idiotic,” but wanted a word with no cognitive content, since I was trying to articulate the instant, unconsidered, almost reflex reaction we (i.e., most modern readers of Shakespeare) have to the law in Shakespeare’s Vienna but also to the not dissimilar law actually passed during the Interregnum making adultery a death penalty offense. I’d heard the expression for years and assumed it was perfectly conventional slang. I am sorry for having caused confusion. dks

]]> By: sara http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/qa-the-meaning-of-fruitloops/comment-page-1#comment-7275 sara Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:32:11 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=2602#comment-7275 oops, sorry, I left the wrong link! http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0993791#m_en_gb0993791 oops, sorry, I left the wrong link!

http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0993791#m_en_gb0993791

]]> By: Sara http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/qa-the-meaning-of-fruitloops/comment-page-1#comment-7273 Sara Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:25:51 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=2602#comment-7273 There's a definition here, though just for one sense! http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0993791#m_en_gb0993791 There’s a definition here, though just for one sense!

http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0993791#m_en_gb0993791

]]> By: Caleb http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/qa-the-meaning-of-fruitloops/comment-page-1#comment-755 Caleb Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:43:30 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=2602#comment-755 Fruitloop used to be a common word refering to someone a bit stupid back in school. Fruitloop used to be a common word refering to someone a bit stupid back in school.

]]> By: Nina http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/qa-the-meaning-of-fruitloops/comment-page-1#comment-754 Nina Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:32:14 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=2602#comment-754 When I was in high school (in the 60's) in the U.S., buttoned down shirts (tailored with button down collars) with a small loop in the upper back on a seam that joined the pieces of the back were in fashion. The small loop was called a fruit loop among us pupils and a favorite "pastime" during the breaks and even in class (if you were sitting behind someone wearing this kind of shirt) was to hook your finger in the fruitloop and threaten to pull it off. When I was in high school (in the 60′s) in the U.S., buttoned down shirts (tailored with button down collars) with a small loop in the upper back on a seam that joined the pieces of the back were in fashion. The small loop was called a fruit loop among us pupils and a favorite “pastime” during the breaks and even in class (if you were sitting behind someone wearing this kind of shirt) was to hook your finger in the fruitloop and threaten to pull it off.

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