In the village I stepped aside to let a woman and her dog come through a gap on the pavement. Then I stepped forward. As I did so she said, "Thank you."
Trouble is, it sounded like a sarcastic thank you. Did she think I'd stepped forward too soon? I don't think I had. But I walked the rest of the way to the library worrying if she'd been sarcastic or grateful.
That's the trouble with paranoia or neuroses - I don't know which one this falls into - you're always on the lookout for fails.
Anyway, this sign always amuses me.
3 comments:
Perhaps the woman was just preoccupied with her own worries/thoughts?? OTOH, I frequently am faced with thinking that there is room for both of us to pass - perhaps the other person is implying that I am too large for the space? (This also applies when two cars meet on a constricted street) Either way, I'm certain that you did the appropriate thing, Liz, and would assume that the woman's tone was not really a judgement of your action.
I've never seen "strickly" used as an adverb.
I do know of two nouns "strickle" :-
1) a straightedge used to take excess foam off beer
or excess grain from a measuring pot.
2) a scythe sharpener
So I too am going to assume it is a spelling mistake.
Perhaps it was just - Thank You. After all, you didn't have to step aside. I'd go with grateful.
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