knowledge is power, to act upon up it, is priceless.

-- Arthur Washington (ARTWASH@webtv.net), August 17, 1999

Answers

This seems like a good time as any to ask, what does "A stitch in time saves nine," mean?

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), August 17, 1999.

KoFE,

It means if you fix "rips" early on, it won't take nine times more effort later to fix things when they tear apart.

Got needles 'n thread?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), August 17, 1999.

"A stitch in time saves nine" means:

One stitch taken now to repair a rip in a piece of fabric when it is still minor, will save you the trouble of taking nine times as many stitches later, when the rip has widened.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), August 17, 1999.

"This seems like a good time as any to ask, what does "A stitch in time saves nine," mean?"

Means an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of fix-on-failure cure.

-- Translator (cliches@R.us), August 17, 1999.

Well, now that we've sewn up that one:

What is the source, original meaning, and derived meaning of the phrase: "What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?"

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), August 17, 1999.

Give me a clue Robert. Never heard that one. Does it have anything to do with "tempest in a tea cup"?

-- Translator (cliches@R.us), August 17, 1999.

Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com) asked:

What is the source, original meaning, and derived meaning of the phrase: "What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?"

At which Translator (cliches@R.us) commmented:

Give me a clue Robert. Never heard that one. Does it have anything to do with "tempest in a tea cup"?

The question "What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?" is invariably asked of someone who has just introduced an irrelevant digression or logical non-sequitor into the ongoing conversation.

The speaker of the phrase is commenting slyly and indirectly on the jarring irrelevance of the newly introduced subject matter to the previous subject of conversation. I thought everyone knew that!

As for the "original meaning" of the phrase, I'm not aware of any other, earlier application of the phrase than what I've just outlined.

As Foghorn Leghorn often said: It's a joke - I say - it's a joke, son.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), August 17, 1999.

Thank you Brian, I was right on the money then.

This thread which has nothing to do with the price of tea in China has turned into a tempest in a tea cup.

-- Translator (cliches@R.us), August 17, 1999.

"Tis the part of a wise man to keep himself today for tomorrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket.--Miguel de Cervantes

-- touche' (touche'@toucheee.com), August 17, 1999.