A boy is about to go on his first date, and is nervous about what to talk about. He asks his father for advice.
The father replies, "My son, there are three subjects that always work. These are food, family, and philosophy."
The boy picks up his date and they go to a soda fountain. Ice cream sodas in front of them, they stare at each other for a long time, as the boy"s nervousness builds.
He remembers his father"s advice, and chooses the first topic.
He asks the girl, "Do you like spinach?"
She says "No," and the silence returns.
After a few more uncomfortable minutes, the boy thinks of his father"s suggestion and turns to the second item on the list. He asks, "Do you have a brother?" Again, the girl says "No" and there is silence once again.
The boy then plays his last card. He thinks of his father"s advice and asks the girl the following question: "If you had a brother, would he like spinach?"
- n. One-storeyed usu. Wooden structure for storage or shelter, or as a workshop. [from *shade]
- v. (-dd-; past and past part. Shed) 1 let, or cause to, fall off (trees shed their leaves).
- take off (clothes).
- reduce (an electrical power load) by disconnection etc.
- cause to fall or flow (shed blood; shed tears).
- disperse, diffuse, radiate (shed light).
- get rid of (ibm are shedding 200 jobs; shed your inhibitions). shed light on help to explain. [old english]
SHES
contr. - she is.
- she has.
SHEW
archaic var. Of *show.
SHIM
—n. Thin wedge in machinery etc. To make parts fit. —v. (-mm-) fit or fill up with a shim. [origin unknown]
SHIN
—n. - front of the leg below the knee.
- cut of beef from this part. —v. (-nn-) (usu. Foll. By up, down) climb quickly by clinging with the arms and legs. [old english]
SHIP
suffix forming nouns denoting: 1 quality or condition (friendship; hardship).
- status, office, etc. (authorship; lordship).
- tenure of office (chairmanship).
- specific skill (workmanship).
- members of a group (readership). [old english]
- —n. - large seagoing vessel.
- us aircraft.
- spaceship. —v. (-pp-) 1 put, take, or send away in a ship.
- a take in (water) over a ship's side etc. B lay (oars) at the bottom of a boat. C fix (a rudder etc.) In place.
- a embark. B (of a sailor) take service on a ship.
- deliver (goods) to an agent for forwarding. ship off send away.
SHIT
coarse slang —n. - faeces.
- act of defecating.
- contemptible person.
- nonsense. —int. Exclamation of anger etc. —v. (-tt-; past and past part. Shitted, shat or shit) defecate or cause the defecation of (faeces etc.). [old english]
SHOD
past and past part. Of *shoe.
SHOE
—n. - protective foot-covering of leather etc., esp. One not reaching above the ankle.
- protective metal rim for a horse's hoof.
- thing like a shoe in shape or use.
- = *brake shoe. —v. (shoes, shoeing; past and past part. Shod) 1 fit (esp. A horse etc.) With a shoe or shoes.
- (as shod adj.) (in comb.) Having shoes etc. Of a specified kind (roughshod). be in a person's shoes be in his or her situation, difficulty, etc. [old english]
SHOO
—int. Exclamation used to frighten away animals etc. —v. (shoos, shooed) 1 utter the word ‘shoo!’.
- (usu. Foll. By away) drive away by shooing. [imitative]
