My American guest tells me that my question 'Came out of left field' and 'Could she take a rain check on that one? Hoo ha' Has anybody any idea what she is saying? I can lend her an umbrella.
2006-09-30 13:44:22 · 14 answers · asked by Harriet 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
"Came out of left field" = "Caught me off guard, may I please answer you later on that one, if at all?"
"Could I take a rain check on that one?" = "I'd really rather not answer you on that one at all, but would you let me buy a little time so I can come up with an answer that will please both of us?
"Hoo Ha" = Mercy!
2006-09-30 14:15:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You might have caused embarrassment, we don't know because we don't know what the question was that you asked, all we know is that your friend was surprised/caught unawares "came out of left field" and chose not to answer (or perhaps to delay answering) "can I take a rain check".
From the information given, only you know if embarrassment was caused or not. What about the body language at the time? Verbal communication is only a small part.
2006-09-30 21:16:45 · answer #2 · answered by fidget 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Came out of left field means: unexpectedly.
Could she take a rain check on that one means: some other time.
I'm French Canadian and even after living in an anglophone environment for 30 years, I am still baffled by the quarks and quirks of the english language.
2006-09-30 23:20:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What was the embarrassment?
I remember one Friday night a Brit and a US citizen were trying to arrange their ski weekend in Switzerland. The American said, 'I might not be awake that early,' and the Brit replied, 'That's OK. I'll knock you up,' which appears to be a US euphemism for sexual activity. The guy from the US was perplexed, to say the least until someone explained the British meaning to him.
In Australian English being 'knocked up' simply means that you're tired. An Australian friend who was about 17 when the Amis were in Australia during World War II told me about going to a dance where GI's were present. When a GI asked her to dance, she informed him she was too knocked up. Those GI's must have thought that Aussie girls were real hot stuff!
2006-10-01 09:25:20 · answer #4 · answered by cymry3jones 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'left field' i don't know that might be a comment about not expecting something to have been said
whereas 'rain check' well that's american colloquialism that means i'll decide later, or a polite way of meaning 'no' while saying 'maybe next time'
2006-09-30 20:48:40 · answer #5 · answered by Can I Be Your Pet? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Out of left field = Didn't expect it.
Take a rain check = Another time.
Is it raining there? She doesn't appear to have asked for one.
2006-09-30 20:49:01 · answer #6 · answered by RICHARD C 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No embarrassment at all. Don't let American guests change your ways honey!
2006-10-01 17:27:56 · answer #7 · answered by Legend 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a foreigner living in UK, I love these colloquialisms. Even after 15 years here, I'm still learning :)
2006-10-01 12:12:25 · answer #8 · answered by screwie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have asked her a question that she would rather not answer and does not feel comfortable saying why she would rather not answer. It would probably be best not to bring it up again unless it is absolutely neccesary that you know the answer from her.
2006-09-30 20:53:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
a rain check just means at another time not right now. maybe later.
2006-09-30 20:56:04 · answer #10 · answered by mescalin57 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋