Wu Ting
How would you interpret these phrases? A startling ship of fortune has docked in this harbor on Montford Avenue, towing an unwieldy barge of correspondence, telephone calls, and attention from young ladies. It is a wonder, how others who become so blessed still manage to go forward with their lives. Mr. Sinatra receives five thousand letters a week, according to the Echo, and he still looks the picture of high spirits. Only a hundred or so come here each week, but they fall like mounds of autumn leaves, leaving the spirits damp and crawling with nervous beetles. What is to be done? An old friend who recently telephoned, a fellow who also worked at the National Gallery during the war, proposed: “Lace up your boots, jive cat, and requisition yourself a canary to be your stenographer.” After translating this advice into my own tongue, the question remained: Where does one requisition such a canary? How would you interpret these phrases? 1. lace up your boots 2. jive cat Thanks!
Dec 29, 2014 9:10 AM
Answers · 1
I am guessing but "jive cat" probably derive from jazz music and jazz culture from the mid 20th century. I think there are multiple meanings so without knowing the context of the piece you have quoted from it is hard to know. Lace up your boots: this is what you do after you put your shoes/boots on in - in other words, getting ready or prepared to do something I suggest you consult a good dictionary otherwise.
December 29, 2014
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