Jump to content

antarmike

BANNED MEMBERS
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    5,852

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by antarmike

    Things I don't understand.

    in Other Chatter

    Posted · Edited by antarmike

    I think the original quote was "you cant put a square peg in a round hole" This was in fact refering to the assembly of wooden post and beam pegged construction as used in houses and barns . Its actually a very sound and good construction method . It was easy to bore a round hole in a piece of wood and easy to carve a square peg . The result was a very tight and very strong assembly as the square shoulders of the peg would bite into the sides of the round hole and resist any motion to work its way loose while the wood might be used in a green state ,as as it dried the fit would stay tight over time .

     

    But Round Peg/ Square hole is an accepted variant

     

    http://www.answers.com/topic/square-peg-in-a-round-hole

    http://www.idiomdictionary.com/definition/square-peg-in-a-round-hole.html

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/you+can't+fit+a+round+peg+in+a+square+hole

     

    The phrase is an idiom and none of the sources I can find connect the phrase with wooden pegs in timber structures since these wooden pegged structures do fit. The expression is an idiom to represent things which simply do not and could not fit or belong together..(and if the use of square pegs on round holes you described was widely known, and a common practice, this phrase would not work as an idiom). Its use dates from about 1800 and that is long long after pegged joints were first made in timber structures....

     

    Idiom (Latin: idioma, "special property", f. Greek: ἰδίωμα – idiōma, "special feature, special phrasing", f. Greek: ἴδιος – idios, "one’s own") is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made

     

    Therefore Round Hole/ Square peg or Square Hole/ round peg are both suitable idioms for a person who does not suit a particular job.

     

    peggedjoint.jpg

    But as far as I Knew pegged Joints were made with roughly round pegs. Certainly when I have seen them used the end entering the hole is pretty well round, although the remainder may be more irregular

    Things I don't understand.

    in Other Chatter

    Posted · Edited by antarmike

    If the world's largest press is the South Gate, CA, which weighs 2,650 tons, stands more than 60-feet tall, is capable of generating 40,000 tons of pressure, they still reckon you can't fit a square peg in a round hole.....I would have thought at this tonnage it probably would go in.....

×
×
  • Create New...