Just A Minute

Hi

I think 'hoist with one's own petard' is a fabulous phrase which I use
and is one of the many joys of english. a petard is a small explosive
device, and so it's similar to shooting yourself in the foot - you've
been taken by your own trick. But has a unique flavour subtly
different to 'synonymous' phrases (like the afore mentioned hunting
accident).

Jeremy

PS has anyone ever suggested that we write here using JAM rules?

pps while checking the meaning of petard i passed by one of my pet
peeves in english - the difference between sewage and sewerage and the
number times people get it wrong

--- In just-a-minute@ yahoogroups. com, "Robert L. Torres"
<bobbyshaddoe3004@ ...> wrote:
>
> I'd like to take a moment and discuss the frequent use of this, quite
> frankly, ridiculous phrase in Just a Minute.... that such and such a
> person was 'hoist with his or her own petard'. What the hell is a
> petard anyway?
>
> This has been used so often throughout the show's history, and I
> think it was started by Kenneth Williams whenever someone that
> challenged another person so smugly or dared to challenge him so
> smugly, he would retaliate by saying that they had been 'hoist with
> their own petard', very much reveling in his behavior of an overly
> petulant five year old.
>
> it's not the sort of thing that's even used nowadays, in fact the
> only person that would say that phrase is Nicholas, and frankly the
> fact that it's been used so often much like the phrase 'benefit of
> the doubt', it's lost all meaning, frankly I'm glad they don't use
> that phrase anymore, as it has no place in the series the way it is
> now.
>
> i'm curious as to what people think about this particular phrase
> whether they liked it or not or if anyone can recall any instances
> where something humourous has emerged surrounding this particular
> phrase.
>

---

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