A tactfully suggested emendation
The NYRB characterizes the RNC delegates thus: a whiter than usual collection of politicians, aspiring politicians, true believers, and hail fellows hoping to be well met
. There's no such thing as a "hail fellow" (unless, perhaps, the recipient of a grant from meteorological institutes might count); fortunately, a convenient substitute exists that not only preserves the reference to the idiom through handy homophony, but also makes sense, and is accurate, in its own right: hale fellows hoping to be well met
.
Comments
on 2008-09-25 5:35:12.0, arthegall commented:
unless, perhaps, the recipient of a grant from meteorological institutes might count
Or maybe they are fellows who are employed as professional hailers -- town criers, or doormen.
and, further, on 2008-09-25 9:07:24.0, Irene commented:
Or maybe it was "true believers- and hail, fellows!- hoping to be well met." =p
and, further, on 2008-09-25 21:23:08.0, ben wolfson commented:
I submat this post, partially rewritten and incorporating arthegall's (but not, Irene, your; I'm sorry) suggestion, as a letter to the editor.
I hope you don't mind, a.
and, further, on 2008-09-26 6:43:46.0, arthegall commented:
I trust you'll post an update here, if your letter gets published...
and, further, on 2008-09-26 9:17:18.0, ben wolfson commented:
Are you kidding? If it gets published I'ma blow this popsicle stand.
and, further, on 2008-09-26 11:03:20.0, arthegall commented:
"blow this popsicle stand" s/b "bail out this over-leveraged popsicle stand that has become too big to fail."
and, further, on 2008-09-27 19:35:37.0, ehj2 commented:
you're way braver than me. i don't mess with the hail people, the rain people, or them what can call down fire from the heavens.