The general went out to find that none of his GIs were there. One finally ran up, panting heavily.
"Sorry, sir! I can explain, you see I had a date and it ran a little late. I ran to the bus but missed it, I hailed a cab but it broke down, found a farm, bought a horse but it dropped dead, ran 10 miles, and now I"m here."
The general was very skeptical about this explanation but at least he was here so he let the G.I. go.
Moments later, eight more GIs came up to the general panting, he asked them why they were late.
"Sorry, sir! I had a date and it ran a little late, I ran to the bus but missed it, I hailed a cab but it broke down, found a farm, bought a horse but it dropped dead, ran 10 miles, and now I"m here."
The general eyed them, feeling very skeptical but since he let the first guy go, he let them go, too.
A ninth GI jogged up to the general, panting heavily. "Sorry, sir! I had a date and it ran a little late, I ran to the bus but missed it, I hailed a cab but..."
"Let me guess," the general interrupted, "it broke down."
"No," said the G.I., "there were so many dead horses in the road, it took forever to get around them."
- thing given as a token of favour etc., or of something to come.
- drinking of a person's health, toast.
- solemn promise to abstain from alcohol (sign the pledge). —v. (-ging) 1 a deposit as security. B pawn.
- promise solemnly by the pledge of (one's honour, word, etc.).
- bind by a solemn promise.
- drink to the health of. pledge one's troth see *troth. [french plege]
PLENTY
—n. (often foll. By of) abundance, sufficient quantity or number (we have plenty; plenty of time; a time of plenty). —adj. Colloq. Plentiful. —adv. Colloq. Fully, quite. [latin plenitas: related to *plenary]
PLENUM
n. Full assembly of people or a committee etc. [latin, neuter of plenus full]
PLEURA
n. (pl. -rae) membrane enveloping the lungs. pleural adj. [greek pleura rib]
PLEXUS
n. (pl. Same or plexuses) anat. Network of nerves or vessels (solar plexus). [latin plecto plex- plait]
PLIANT
adj. = *pliable 1. pliancy n.
PLIERS
n.pl. Pincers with parallel flat surfaces for holding small objects, bending wire, etc. [from dial. Ply bend: related to *pliable]
PLIGHT
n. Unfortunate condition or state. [anglo-french plit *plait]
- v. Archaic 1 pledge.
- (foll. By to) engage (oneself) in marriage. plight one's troth see *troth. [old english]
PLINTH
n. - lower square slab at the base of a column.
- base supporting a vase or statue etc. [greek, = tile]
PLOUGH
(us plow) —n. - implement for cutting furrows in the soil and turning it up.
- implement resembling this (snowplough).
- (the plough) the great bear (see *bear2) or its seven bright stars. —v. - (also absol.) Turn up (the earth) with a plough.
- (foll. By out, up, etc.) Turn or extract with a plough.
- furrow or scratch (a surface) as with a plough.
- produce (a furrow or line) thus.
- (foll. By through) advance laboriously, esp. Through work, a book, etc.
- (foll. By through, into) move violently like a plough.
- colloq. Fail in an examination. plough back 1 plough (grass etc.) Into the soil to enrich it.
