as in "I don't want to be viewed as piling on right now because Don Imus is a good friend and a decent man."
Thanks in advance.
2007-04-12 16:44:03 · 5 answers · asked by Tanaka 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
He feels like the Old Bigot is being ganged up on and he doesn't want to add to it.
He is picturing Imus as being on the ground and everyone is jumping on to beat him up, until there is a whole pile of people on the poor, mis-understood rich white man.
2007-04-12 16:51:45 · answer #1 · answered by Kacky 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It's like in (American) football when a player is tackled by one guy, that's good; by two or three, that's o.k.; but by four? or five? or ... then it's "piling on." (There's even more piling on after a fumble.)
The quoted sentence strikes me as a seriously twisted-up piece of logic: the speaker is silent / (what others might think + how much others have said) ÷ (his relationship with + perception of DI) = X.
So, I've taken your question over to the Arts & Humanities--Philosophy department. You can see what the resident scholars have to say there.
2007-04-13 13:43:21 · answer #2 · answered by Plimothy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Piling it on refers to being excessive. You can pile on compliments, by being overly complimentary. You can pile on harsh words, by excessively stating and restating harsh words.
It's like a pile of clothes, stacking up. The things you say "pile up" or can be "piled on" in a conversation.
2007-04-12 23:49:35 · answer #3 · answered by missyvecc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having more than is necessary
in one place, adding to something
that does not need it.
Weight...Food...Troubles
2007-04-12 23:55:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Probably means "I don't want to add to his troubles."
2007-04-12 23:49:34 · answer #5 · answered by jelesais2000 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋