In simple terms it means 'an over complicated piece of machinery.' Named after the cartoonist.
I'm using the phrase in an email to an American colleague and just wanted to know if he'd understand what I meant.
(I've been to the US but never found myself using this phrase there before!)
Am repeating this because I think I put it in the wrong place before.
2007-01-15 07:43:43 · 17 answers · asked by Matt 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Well, I'm born and bred in the US and have lived here for fifty years, and I've never heard the phrase. Over here we'd call it a Rube Goldberg, after the US cartoonist who drew wonderfully complicated contraptions. See http://www.rube-goldberg.com/
2007-01-15 07:49:27 · answer #1 · answered by Tony 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard that phrase before at all. I would suggest just saying what you mean rather than using the figure of speech.
2007-01-15 07:46:57 · answer #2 · answered by angihorn2006 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I really really doubt anyone knows that term anymore, one or two of us hardly know the term so there's like 5% a chance that an average american would know that
2007-01-15 07:50:41 · answer #3 · answered by Cathy 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I answered you before and I'll answer again. I really don't think the average American will know what that means. I'm pretty darn average, and I didn't have a clue what it meant until you explained it.
2007-01-15 07:46:54 · answer #4 · answered by Am I. Incognito 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here the cartoonist was Rube Goldberg. If you say 'a Rube Goldberg machine' Americans should understand.
2007-01-15 07:48:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I've never heard it before, but if the person you're emailing is familiar with machinery, he may have.
2007-01-15 07:47:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not familiar with the term.
The person who mentioned Rube Goldberg is correct.
2007-01-15 07:52:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We call it a 'Rube Goldberg'.That's like the PeeWee Herman kitchen,if you've ever seen that movie,PeeWee's big Adventure.
2007-01-15 07:49:55 · answer #8 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Too obscure. We're still not used to hoods being called 'bonnets'. Sorry.
2007-01-15 07:46:34 · answer #9 · answered by Dorothy and Toto 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's like people using Caps or abbreviations why use them if you don't think people will understand. Does it make you feel superior. It is like a new language for some people.
2007-01-15 07:50:31 · answer #10 · answered by smiley 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋