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Jody
what does " as wick as wick can be" mean?
“Things are crowding up out of the earth,” she ran on in a hurry. “And there are flowers uncurling and buds on everything and the green veil has covered nearly all the gray and the birds are in such a hurry about their nests for fear they may be too late that some of them are even fighting for places in the secret garden. And the rose-bushes look as wick as wick can be, and there are primroses in the lanes and woods, and the seeds we planted are up, and Dickon has brought the fox and the crow and the squirrels and a new-born lamb.”
Jan 23, 2017 11:24 AM
Answers · 2
1
Hi Mayllt
This is a good question. It's a very unusual use of the word. I think 'wick' here is an old dialect word (adjective: wick = quick, lively, or active. "Martha's approaching her century and as wick as a flea").
If so, then it means the rose-bushes are growing at their maximum potential.
Chris
January 23, 2017
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Jody
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English, French
Learning Language
English, French
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