From this guy on the radio this morning.
hysteron proteron
Can anyone explain what it means without looking it up?
UPDATE: Well, nobody got it without looking. Not one of your more common phrases, of course. It is literally "the latter first", and refers to an expression in literary usage or, more commonly, in the vernacular in which the two parts of the expression have their order reversed from what would be the natural order. I'm sure that's clear as mud so a few examples are in order:
Putting on your shoes and socks - Now, realistically, wouldn't it be better to put them on in the reverse order?
Lock and load - We gunnuts realize, of course, that it's rather difficult to load after locking the action.
Falling head over heels - Head over heels is my natural state, as it is for most bipeds. When I fall, I fall heels over head.
Now aren't you all happy to know there's an actual term for these?
Posted by Ken S at June 14, 2007 08:58 AM | TrackBack (0) |First you have to tell us if that's pig latin.
Posted by: Dave E. at June 14, 2007 09:52 AMIt is not. I believe it's from regular Latin.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at June 14, 2007 10:04 AMIt's part of a Coil song's name?
Posted by: Sigivald at June 14, 2007 12:54 PMCoil? Wasn't that Courtney Love's band?
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at June 14, 2007 01:04 PMThat was Hole.
And the all-male tribute band was "Manhole." (JK, that's not true.)
Posted by: Kate P at June 14, 2007 01:49 PMI think I went to high school with Hysteron Proteron. He was one of those AV nerds, if I recall correctly.
Posted by: Julie at June 14, 2007 02:05 PMWell, if you're a forklift driver who occasionally has to double operating a proter, then it's how you double-check that your equipment is ready to go.
"Hyster?"
"On."
"Proter?"
"On."
Posted by: Joel at June 14, 2007 02:08 PMKate, I believe "Manhole" was Grace Slick's first solo album. The title kind of said it all.
Posted by: Joel at June 14, 2007 02:12 PMNo, I think it's something out of quantum physics. One of those "virtual particle" things that doesn't really exist but for the formulas to work out, it has to exist.
Posted by: ricki at June 14, 2007 03:39 PMProbably a subatomic particle found in protons.
(looking it up.)
Nope, waaay off.
Posted by: Alan K. Henderson. civility coach for Ann Coulter and Bill Maher at June 14, 2007 05:04 PMInteresting, but I have to say I like Julie's answer more.
Posted by: Dave E. at June 14, 2007 08:38 PM(curtsy) Thanks! :-)
Posted by: Julie at June 14, 2007 09:47 PMDidn't they open for Procol Harum at the Fillmore in '71?
Posted by: nightfly at June 15, 2007 09:19 AMExcept for the M1 Garand, where you lock the bolt back so you can load the clip of ammo.
Posted by: Firehand at June 16, 2007 05:38 PMUh, that's "lock" the magazine and then "load" the chamber (which will then be locked). Two locks, one load for all you gun nuts with AR15-type rifles (and many others).
On the M1, I was taught to hold the bolt back with the side of my right hand while loading the mag, and then letting the bolt come forward. PITA, since I normally shoot from my left shoulder. For that reason, my high-power competition career was, indeed, short-lived.
Posted by: Steve at June 16, 2007 06:21 PMThat's interesting, Steve. I've never heard reference to "locking" the magazine.
My experience with Garands is extremely limited (more's the pity) but I was also taught to hold the bolt back while loading. I don't know how it locks back without holding.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at June 17, 2007 06:45 PMOh wow. This now qualifies as "gun blogging". Thanks, guys!
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at June 17, 2007 06:46 PM