I was going to post on a piece by David Dale in the Sun-Herald asserting (with reference to the use of the baseball code [first base, etc] as an indicator of progress in dating) that no-one under 60 now uses Australian sporting metaphors. He cited "sticky wicket" and "hit for six" as examples that have gone out. In my lexicon, the first of these has always been confined to toffee-nosed Poms, and the second is still current. But I'm only a decade or so short of 60, and I thought perhaps I was just showing my age.
I'm therefore please to note the following unsolicited comment from Steve Edwards, on the FTA "Latham is 10 metres out, directly in front on this one. He can't miss."
On a marginally more scientific note, a Google search on "hit for six" :.au produces 1660 hits. Most are in a (metaphorical) sporting context, but there are also several political and financial instances.
Posted by John at February 9, 2004 05:31 PM | TrackBackI use "pulled up stumps" perhaps a bit too often...
Posted by: Graham at February 9, 2004 06:09 PMWhat about "playing a straight bat" or "letting it go throught to the keeper"?
"stumps" is a term used quite often to describe closing time at a pub etc.
Posted by: Mike Hunt at February 9, 2004 06:14 PMlet me give you the drum on this -
down south we use footy metaphors all the time.
to quote Mark Seymour in an admittedly old song
"Made in Japan
The pleasure boats are leaving
But there's nowhere to go
Into time-on, only minutes left
Hear the whistle blow
Sweet wonderland."
Sport is still king.
I'm such a young fogey.
Posted by: Steve Edwards at February 9, 2004 08:11 PMPeople still say that someone 'went into bat for' somebody or some cause. And of course if someone over eighty-five dies, there's the ubiquitous: 'he had a pretty good innings'. I'm sure there are plenty more.
Posted by: James Farrell at February 9, 2004 09:23 PM