Reply
Tue 3 Mar, 2015 06:10 am
A guy was working at a beauty shop.
Though he tried his best, the customers didn't like him very much,
and the boss finally decided to let him go.
He said, 'John, You're not doing a very good job here.
I'm afraid you have to go right now.'
So, he left. He went out into the rain and the snow, saying
'Wolves and lions.'
What caught my eyes was the expression used at the end.
What does he mean by 'wolves and lions'?
The guy who just got dismissed must be sad to lose his job,
so what he said 'wolves and lions' probably suggests what he felt like - sadness.
Wolves and lions generally represents something frightening or lonely,
'cause you wouldn't call a very out-going person 'a wolf' or 'a lion', right?
Is that a pretty common expression people might say in a very disappointing situation or is it just his own way of saying something
not many native speakers would say?
Wolves and lions.
Is this a common expression?
@SMickey,
Quote:Wolves and lions.
Is this a common expression?
Not one I've ever heard. Maybe the meaning is explained elsewhere is whatever tale you're reading there.
@layman,
I guess so. I've tried googling to see if native speakers ever say that.
Probably it's the author's unique expression.
Thank you layman.
@SMickey,
Maybe it's that they just don't get on. Have you seen
The Lion King? Hyenas are just another type of dog/wolf, and although they're both pack animals they're competing packs.
Micky we really need some context.
It might make perfect sense if we knew what went on beforehand in the book.
What is the name of the book?
@SMickey,
SMickey wrote:
Probably it's the author's unique expression.
I doubt that.
Why would he say something unrelated to the book somehow, that no one understood?
@chai2,
Quote:Probably it's the author's unique expression---Chai: I doubt that.
I agree completely with him, Chai. I think it's just Mick's way of saying that it is not a "common" expression, but rather one that is unique in this context. Not to say it means nothing, or that it is just "randomly" chosen as words for a character to say. Like you, I assume that "something" in the rest of the story would give some insight as to what's intended by "wolves and lions." But, whatever that might be, it would still be unique, not common.
@layman,
Well, you really can't say what Mickey thinks, can you?
I'd prefer to wait for him.
My feeling (so you won't have to claim to know what they are) is that a writer would not put sometime that on its own is obtuse and/or meaningless. Unless it's going to show, let's say, the mental shortcomings or instability of the speaker. More likely the term wolves and lions relates to something else in the book.
Let's wait to see what Mickey says.
It could be a play of some sort.
http://www.thisisunfinished.com/work/only-wolves-and-lions/
http://www.miniaturelion.co.uk/UNFINISHED-BUSINESS-only-wolves-lions
There's something in one of the above that only wolves and lions eat alone.
So, one must find someone to eat with before one even finds something to eat.
With no more than what Mickey originally showed us, it's hard to say how it ties in.
Given context, it probably does.
@chai2,
Quote:Well, you really can't say what Mickey thinks, can you?
Naw, but I can read what he said. He has already stated the alternatives he sees:
Quote:Is that a pretty common expression people might say in a very disappointing situation or is it just his own way of saying something not many native speakers would say?
Wolves and lions.
I have already agreed with you about this:
Quote: Like you, I assume that "something" in the rest of the story would give some insight...
@izzythepush,
Quote:Hyenas are just another type of dog/wolf
"Although extant hyenas are rather dog-like in many aspects of their appearance, the family Hyaenidae actually belongs to the Carnivore suborder Feliformia, which also contains cats, mongooses, civets, and allies."
@knaivete,
You really are a tiresome little worm.
@chai2,
Yes. I've just posted the full context.
Thank you.
@SMickey,
And you put it here -
http://able2know.org/topic/269553-1
Which is kind of hard for people to follow. Next time, please just put your explanations into the same topic. You really can't expect people to hop from topic to topic, trying to figure out what you're talking about. I only spotted this by chance.
@SMickey,
Maybe it's pointing out that they're different. Lions have been associated with nobility and kingship, wolves not so much. In the Narnia books by C. S. Lewis a lion represents Jesus whilst the wolves are servants of the wicked witch.
@izzythepush,
When you mistakenly contend that:
Quote:Hyenas are just another type of dog/wolf
and then snap when corrected , is your animus as laughable as hyenas in a jack all madly barking brain?
@knaivete,
When you run round desperately nickpicking my posts over minor details, and desperately trying to get my attention you show you are pathetic. You've been doing this for a while, you've briefly got my attention. I basically think you're not worth the bother. Now I'm going to go back to ignoring what you say. You're not worth the effort.
Selected Answer
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace