It means that said person quickly and inevitably seizes upon the meaning of any idea they encounter. Steel trap refers to the type of trap which captures an animal with a very rapid closing of two serrated steel bars when the spring is activated by having been stepped on. It is a visual metaphor, one sees an idea, and their mind "snaps shut" on the meaning of the idea in an instant, as a steel trap closes on the leg of the victim in an instant.
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Noddy24
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Wed 22 Jun, 2005 04:47 pm
Not only does the trap/mind snap shut, the trap/mind doesn't let go.
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Setanta
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Wed 22 Jun, 2005 09:39 pm
Yes, tenacity being thought to be a virtue . . .
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ossobuco
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Wed 22 Jun, 2005 11:38 pm
sometimes
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Setanta
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 12:29 am
Hang on to that thought, Boss . . .
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ubermacht003
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 12:21 pm
Well It's Like This An English Mentor Of Mine
Was Once Very Fond Of Declaring
That He A Mind Like A
Steel Trap
With Holes
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Noddy24
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 12:42 pm
Consistancy is the hobgoblin of small minds.
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timberlandko
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 12:49 pm
Well, a steel trap typically will be squeaky, stiff, chained immovably, rusty, and jagged around the edges - that should be considered
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patiodog
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 12:50 pm
Case in point, eh timber?
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timberlandko
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 12:50 pm
pd wrote:
Case in point, eh timber?
Caught that, didjya
Yup, exactly
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Setanta
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 12:56 pm
Noddy24 wrote:
Consistancy is the hobgoblin of small minds.
Don't go changin' Mr. Emerson's quote, which has a distinctly different character:
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
Note the adjective.
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patiodog
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 12:56 pm
Unless I imagined it. In which case...
...well, in which case you imagined it too. Good smoke, eh?
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Valpower
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 01:51 pm
Noddy24 wrote:
Consistancy is the hobgoblin of small minds.
Small-mind alert:
Uh, it's, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Helloooooo.
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Valpower
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 02:01 pm
Ooops, I didn't notice Setanta's post. Either way when somebody misquotes this (not saying that you were actually quoting Emerson, Noddy) I always feel like it's a trap, like accusations of being a contrarian.
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Noddy24
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 02:46 pm
Gentlemen--
My small mind is larger. Thank you.
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patiodog
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 02:52 pm
For the polyamorous sophisticate...
A mulish constancy is the hobgoblin of middling minds.
For Marcel...
A mutish incontinence is the hobgoblin of middle-aged mimes.
For dribbling bakers...
A gruelish consistency is the hobgoblin of spittle pies.
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Valpower
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Thu 23 Jun, 2005 03:36 pm
For jealous pork cracklin':
A big dish of mushy peas is the hobgoblin of brittle rinds
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