I've recently been reading a highly entertaining book about snubs, many of which are amusing but some of which verge on the cruel (which makes them all the more amusing!}. A small sample:
Society hostess Margot Asquith, wife of the British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith in the 1930s, was introduced to the then famous Hollywood film star Jean Harlow. The two women eyed each other competitively.
"Margot," said Jean Harlow, stressing the final "t" of the name heavily, and insolently ignoring the then convention of using surnames on introduction, "how lovely to meet you."
"My dear," replied the other crushingly, "the "t" is silent, as in Harlow!"
Robert Benchley, American writer, and one of the circle of New York wits known as the Algonquin Round Table, emerged from a restaurant, spotted a uniformed man whom he assumed to be the doorman and asked him to call him a cab.
"Sir," said the deeply offended man, "I am an Admiral of the United States Navy."
"In that case," said Benchley, unperturbed, "get me a battleship!"
Before becoming President of the United States Woodrow Wilson was Governor of New Jersey. One of the New Jersey senators, a close personal friend of his, died suddenly. Wilson was deeply upset. But not long after the call with the sad news the phone rang again. To Wilson's great annoyance the caller, without any preamble,announced:
"Governor, I should like to be first in line to take the senator's place."
"That's fine by me," replied Wilson, "if the undertaker has no objections."
Lol, they are pretty funny. I'm a big fan of twentieth century political history so its especially interesting to hear about Woodrow Wilson and Asquith's wife.
John Wilkes, an 18th century radical politician who stood strongly for freedom of speech, quarrelled with a former friend, the notoriously corrupt 4th Earl of Sandwich.
Their quarrel lasted for years but, during a chance encounter Sandwich taunted Wilkes, saying: "Sir, you will either die of the pox or on the gallows."
To which Wilkes replied: "That depends on whether I embrace your Lordship's mistress or your Lordship's principles."
tony ty for your help
you know english is my second language
sometimes i have trouble guessing the expressions you use
i don't know how to use an online dictionary
also i like it when you explain things to me
*giggles*
Haha, what is the book called btw... if you don't want to be seen as 'advertising' then can you PM me it, please!?
Thankyous... i love this sort of thing, especially when combined with my faveourite subject (Y)
haha. I read the first one as Margot (silent "t") and then had to read that bit again with the t and got annoyed at myself for how I said it (in my head!) the 2nd time!!!
tony ty for your help
you know english is my second language
sometimes i have trouble guessing the expressions you use
i don't know how to use an online dictionary
also i like it when you explain things to me
*giggles*
Your english is fiiiiiiine
As a second definition, a snub is kind of like a rebuke, or to be discounted in favour of something else
As a further taste, there was in UK before the last war a famous, ultra-intelligent and witty Barrister whose name was F E Smith. On one occasion Smith was questioning a witness:
"So what you are in fact saying, is that you were as drunk as a judge?"
At this point the judge leaned forward and intervened: "I think you will find, Mr Smith, that the expression is "as drunk as a Lord".
F E Smith's reply was unhesitating: "As your Lordship pleases!"
