Sunday, December 25, 2016

Of Donkey's Flute and Rain Cheque

When you use two different words side by side, it is fun to note that they will transcend their respective literal meanings. Here are two idioms which I have came across, recently.

A donkey's flute is best played in your own private space like a bathroom or bedroom and perhaps out in the open faraway from people, for goodness sake. 

However, when a person (I would like to think that it's only the men) could help it but still persist to proceed with a full-blown blowing of his nose in public (e.g. during a meeting), we may well say that he is like a jackass playing his 'flute'.

In general, who wouldn't mind receiving cheques in the mail? 

A rain cheque, on the other hand, is a polite form of saying that you are declining the current invitation but would make good on a future occasion. 

Have you asked for a rain cheque or taken a rain cheque, recently?

Incidentally, according to Free Online Dictionary, a rain cheque ("rain check" a la American English) also refers to:

"1. A ticket stub entitling the holder to admission to a future event if the scheduled event is canceled because of rain.

2. An assurance to a customer that an item on sale that is sold out or out of stock may be purchased later at the sale price."

It is good to know that when it rains, be it literal or figurative, all is not lost. You can count on a rain cheque. Check this out!




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