2006-11-14 23:38:31 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
ships that pass in the night can see each other (lights) but cannot communicate face to face. this phrase was coined before Marconi got clever.
2006-11-14 23:42:29 · answer #1 · answered by flossiedots 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it comes from Longfellow's story/poem Evangeline; about the time when the French Canadians in Nova Scotia were thrown out of there by the Brits in the 1740's ( and eventually ended up in Louisiana...Cajun is from Canadian); a husband and wife .(Evangeline) are separated and.searched for each other for years, and at one point, passed each other on separate ships during the night, and never knew how close they were........
it has come to mean so near, yet so far; so close but no cigar; especially for two people trying to get together but never making it
2006-11-16 06:36:01 · answer #2 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
had a brief meeting and went seperate ways / followed different courses.
hes fked and chucked you.
2006-11-14 23:41:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
even i couldnot understand 9th line !!
http://home.comcast.net/~pwbb/passinglyrics.html
2006-11-14 23:48:41 · answer #4 · answered by nice guy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋