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?"
north n. North according to the earth's axis, not magnetic north.
- —adj. (truer, truest) 1 in accordance with fact or reality (a true story).
- genuine; rightly or strictly so called.
- (often foll. By to) loyal, faithful.
- (foll. By to) accurately conforming to (a type or standard) (true to form).
- correctly positioned or balanced; upright, level.
- exact, accurate (a true copy). —adv.
TRUG
n. Shallow oblong garden-basket usu. Of wood strips. [perhaps a dial. Var. Of *trough]
TSAR
n. (also czar) (fem. Tsarina) hist. Title of the former emperors of russia. tsarist n. (usu. Attrib.). [latin caesar]
TUBA
n. (pl. -s) low-pitched brass wind instrument. [latin, = trumpet]
TUBE
—n. - long hollow cylinder.
- soft metal or plastic cylinder sealed at one end and holding a semi-liquid substance (tube of toothpaste).
- hollow cylindrical organ in the body.
- (often prec. By the) colloq. London underground (went by tube).
- a cathode-ray tube, esp. In a television set. B (prec. By the) esp. Us colloq. Television.
- us thermionic valve.
- = *inner tube.
- austral. Slang can of beer. —v. (-bing) 1 equip with tubes.
- enclose in a tube. [latin]
TUCK
shop n. Small shop selling sweets etc. To schoolchildren.
- —v. - (often foll. By in, up) a draw, fold, or turn the outer or end parts of (cloth or clothes etc.) Close together so as to be held; push in the edge of (a thing) so as to confine it (tucked his shirt into his trousers). B push in the edges of bedclothes around (a person) (came to tuck me in).
- draw together into a small space (tucked its head under its wing).
- stow (a thing) away in a specified place or way (tucked it in a corner; tucked it out of sight).
- make a stitched fold in (cloth etc.). —n. - flattened usu. Stitched fold in cloth etc.
- colloq. Food, esp. Cakes and sweets (also attrib.: tuck box). tuck in colloq. Eat heartily. Tuck into (or away) colloq. Eat (food) heartily (tucked into their dinner; could really tuck it away). [low german or dutch]
