The Man Without Qualities

gangerh commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

How about 'm stephens'.

Who?

M Stephens was the name and signature used on the picture of a credit card in ads for the first credit card launched in the UK in the 60s (Barclaycard).

January 30, 2008

Prolagus commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

In Italian:

- Mario Rossi (Maria Rossi if a woman's name is needed) is used in formal context (like a fac simile of a credit card or a document)

- Pinco Pallino (Pallino meaning "little ball") is used as "a random person", usually slightly pejorative

- Tizio, Caio e Sempronio (sometimes just Tizio e Caio) are used if the example has more than one person.

June 30, 2008

bilby commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

In Malay, any white person is Mat Salleh.

In Indonesian, si fulan stands for any person. It's related to the Arabic, which you already have.

Do you have something against our old mates Tom, Dick and Harry?

June 30, 2008

bilby commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

I can also put in a word for clocks. I have lost count of the number of times (sorry) I have seen clock and watch advertisements with the timepiece set at 10:08. Perhaps better on someone's numbers list.

June 30, 2008

sionnach commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

bilby: that's amazing. I read the phrase matt saleh just about twenty minutes ago in the Peter Carey book that I'm reading.

June 30, 2008

reesetee commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

Which book, s?

Bilby, I always see clock and watch ads (analog) set for 8:20.

June 30, 2008

sionnach commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

It's "My Life as a Fake".

June 30, 2008

reesetee commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

On my list too. :-)

June 30, 2008

Prolagus commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

I always see 10:08 too. I guess the reasons might be symmetry in primis and recalling an erection (see yonic).

But what about 8:20 then? Are reesetee's watch stores more self-confident than ours?

July 1, 2008

yarb commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

Clocks displayed in stores are set to 10:10 for the reasons prolagus gives, and also because the hands in that position suggest positivity, optimism, friendliness, welcome.

July 1, 2008

sionnach commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

But VCR clocks are forever doomed to blink at midnight, like mute reminders to Cinderella to get home before pumpkinification of her carriage makes this an impossibility.

July 1, 2008

reesetee commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

I suppose my watch/clock stores are suffering from negativity and lack of confidence. *slumps*

July 1, 2008

bilby commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

Here reesetee, try one of these. Perhaps John will do us one for Wordie with an animated scribe busily writing in longhand every new word listed. At least for April Fool's Day :-)

You're right sionnach, Matt is a more common spelling than Mat, perhaps to distinguish it from the more Malay Ahmat. The coincidence thing happened to me two years ago with lake-effect snow, not the most common word you hear between two foreigners in Italy.

July 1, 2008

reesetee commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

Wow! How "industorious"!

July 1, 2008

ruzuzu commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

According to the Lithuanian Vikipedija, Vardenis Pavardenis (or Vardenė Pavardenė), is used the same way you'd use Jonas Jonaitis (John Smith) or Petras Petraitis (Peter Petraitis).

April 11, 2011

ruzuzu commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

I also hear things about John Q. Public now and then.

April 11, 2011

sionnach commented on the list the-man-without-qualities

Our boy Vardenis made it into the list description, but somehow not onto the list itself. I will rectify this when I have more time (and am less exhausted).

Thanks, 'zuzu.

April 11, 2011