Playing Possum

The Virginia Opossum

I'd heard the term "playing possum" before when I heard it mentioned in a video that I was watching. However, I wouldn't have been able to provide a clear definition of its meaning if somebody asked me so I consulted Bard.

What is meant by the phrase "playing possum" and how did the term arise?

The phrase "playing possum" means pretending to be dead or unconscious in order to deceive someone, typically a predator or opponent. It's often used metaphorically to describe any situation where someone pretends to be incapacitated or uninterested to gain an advantage.

Origin of the phrase:

The term most likely originated from the behavior of the Virginia opossum. When threatened, these marsupials enter a state of tonic immobility, appearing limp and lifeless, with drool dripping from their mouths and eyes closed. This state can last for several minutes, often fooling predators into thinking they've found a dead animal and abandoning their pursuit.

The first recorded use of the phrase "play possum" appears in an 1835 American newspaper article, referencing the opossum's behavior. Over time, the term gained wider usage and transcended its literal meaning to encompass any situation where someone feigns weakness or disinterest to deceive others.

Examples of using "playing possum":

• The football player pretended to be injured to draw a penalty kick.

• The company played possum during the negotiations, hoping to get a better deal later.

• The cat rolled onto its back and played possum, hoping to lure the unsuspecting toy mouse closer.

In conclusion, "playing possum" is a colorful idiom rooted in the fascinating defensive strategy of the Virginia opossum. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, appearances can be deceiving, and pretending to be weak can actually give you the upper hand.

I then asked Bard the following:

Are there other phrases like "playing possum" that also involve the behaviour of a particular animal?

Absolutely! The animal kingdom offers a treasure trove of fascinating behaviors that have inspired colorful idioms and phrases. Here are some examples like "playing possum" that draw on the unique habits of various creatures:

Feigning Weakness:

• Playing crocodile tears: Pretending to cry to evoke sympathy or manipulate someone, inspired by the crocodile's reputation for shedding fake tears while eating its prey.

• Crawling into one's shell: Retreating from conflict or withdrawing emotionally, referencing the defensive behavior of turtles and snails.

• Putting on a sheep's clothing: Appearing harmless or innocent while harboring hidden intentions, drawing on the contrast between the gentle nature of sheep and the predatory tendencies of wolves in disguise.

Strategic Actions:

• Cunning as a fox: Using cleverness and deceit to achieve one's goals, referencing the fox's reputation for trickery and resourcefulness.

• Busy as a bee: Working with tireless energy and efficiency, inspired by the constant activity of bees in their hives.

• Following one's own scent: Being confident and independent, based on the ability of dogs to track scents and navigate without relying on others.

Unusual Traits:

• Blind as a bat: Lacking awareness or understanding, referencing the nocturnal habits of bats and their reliance on echolocation.

• Stubborn as a mule: Refusing to budge or change one's mind, based on the mule's reputation for being headstrong and independent.

• Changeable as a chameleon: Adapting quickly to new situations or changing one's opinion frequently, inspired by the chameleon's ability to shift its skin color.

These are just a few examples, and the list goes on! From the slyness of a fox to the resilience of an ant, the animal kingdom provides a rich source of metaphors and inspiration for colorful language.

Oche

 

 
Figure 1: a recent finish to my daily
Round the World dart game

Interest is darts has increased dramatically following the exploits of Luke Littler and it was in an article about this young prodigy that I first encountered the word "oche", pronounced as to rhyme with "hockey". According to the from the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is defined as the line in the game of darts behind which a player must stand when throwing.

Naturally I asked Bard for more information:

Can you provide a definition of the word "oche" as well as some information about its etymology and some examples of its use in sentences.

Absolutely! Here's the information you requested about "oche": 

Definition:

Main meaning: The oche (pronounced "OH-kee") is the line in the game of darts behind which a player must stand when throwing. It's essentially the throwing line.

Other, less common meanings: "Oche" can also refer to a similar throwing line in other games, such as quoits. Additionally, it's the name of a small village in South Sudan.

Etymology:

The origin of "oche" is somewhat disputed. Some theories suggest it comes from:

Old English: The word "hocken," which meant "to spit." This theory claims the throwing line length was based on how far someone could spit from a certain position.

Turkish: The word "ok," which means "arrow" or "dart."

Archery term: The word "ock" or "nock," referring to the notch on an arrow shaft.

Examples of its use in sentences:

"The throw wasn't valid because the player stepped over the oche."

"She practiced for hours, perfecting her throws from different distances behind the oche."

"The tournament rules stipulate that the oche must be 7 feet 9¼ inches from the dartboard."

(Metaphorically) "He stood on the oche of uncertainty, unsure which path to take next."

Bonus fact: The diagonal distance from the bull's eye on a dartboard to the oche is exactly 9 feet 7 3⁄8 inches. This precise measurement is important for ensuring fair play in competitions.

Figure 2 shows the dart board distances for competitive darts: 

Figure 2: source

The angle formed by the horizontal and the line from the oche to the bullseye is about 36°07'40". Figure 1 shows a recent finish to my daily Round the World game of darts. I've downloaded a counter to my iPhone that I can use to keep track of how many throws I take to finish a game. This will give me a target to aim for and allow me to amass some statistics. In my variation of Round the World, I proceed from 1 to 20 and then finish with a dart in either the red of the bullseye or the green ring.

Always Room For Improvement

While my vocabulary is fairly extensive, there's always room for improvement. I discovered that when trying my hand at a Merriam-Webster quiz where I flunked demurred and epistolary. In my defense, I should say that I was distracted by the real answer: composed of letters. I took this to mean letters of the alphabet and dismissed it. See Figure 1.

Figure 1

Demur I should have got and it quite common. My choice turned out to be the exact opposite of the correct answer. See Figure 2.

Figure 2

I ended up with 18/20 which was disappointing given that the words in the quiz were not uncommon or difficult. It prompted to consider that I should spend a little more time undertaking quizzes like this. I like played Wordle each day but that's often the only verbal challenge that confronts me on any given day. I need more challenges to keep me sharp.

Here is what Google's Bard had to say about the word "demur", not to confused with "demure":

"Demur" certainly packs a punch with its subtle shades of meaning! Here's a dive into its origin and usage:

Origin:

"Demur" comes from the Old French "demeurer," meaning "to remain, stay, linger."

It entered Middle English around the 14th century as "demeure," evolving into "demur" by the 16th century.

Meanings:

Verb:

To object; disagree with something, often mildly or hesitantly. (e.g., "I demurred at his suggestion to hike in the rain.")

To hesitate; delay or show reluctance. (e.g., "She demurred before accepting the award.")

(Archaic) To linger; stay or remain. (e.g., "They demurred at the inn for a few days.")

Noun:

An objection; a statement of disagreement. (e.g., "The judge overruled his demur to the evidence.")

Hesitation; reluctance to act. (e.g., "After much demur, she finally made a decision.")

Common Usage:

"Demur" often appears in formal contexts, such as legal documents, speeches, and academic writing.

It can also be used in everyday conversations, but adds a nuanced air of caution, hesitation, or polite disagreement.

Here are some common examples of its usage:

• "The council demurred at the proposed development plan, citing concerns about traffic congestion."

• "He raised a demur when asked to testify, claiming lack of preparation."

• "After some demur, she agreed to join the project, albeit with reservations."

• "I couldn't help but demur at the price, finding it a bit steep."

Remember, "demur" is a powerful word that conveys more than just simple disagreement. It implies a thoughtful reservation, a cautious pause before voicing an opinion, or a subtle resistance to an idea. Use it wisely to add depth and nuance to your communication!

The very similar word "demure" has the same origins as "demur" but has come to mean something different. Here is what Bard had to say about it.

What is the meaning of the word "demure"? What are its origins and what are some examples of its usage?

Ah, "demure"! It's a word that exudes an aura of quiet modesty and reserved charm. Let's explore its intricacies:

Meaning:

Adjective:

Characterized by shyness, modesty, and reserve.

Conveying an impression of quiet dignity and propriety.

Sometimes indicating a hint of coy playfulness or affected humility.

Noun:

(Rare) A demure person.

Origins:

"Demure" originates from the French word "demeurer," meaning "to remain, stay, linger."

It arrived in Middle English around the 14th century as "demeure," transforming into "demur" by the 16th century.

Over time, "demur" shifted from indicating hesitation or objection to describing a specific personality trait.

Usage:

"Demure" typically describes a person's demeanor, dress, or behavior.

It often evokes images of soft-spoken individuals, elegant attire, and gentle gestures.

Here are some examples of its usage:

• "She wore a demure lavender dress, her eyes downcast and a slight blush on her cheeks."

• "He spoke in a demure tone, avoiding eye contact and fidgeting with his hands."

• "Their demure courtship unfolded with stolen glances and whispered conversations."

• "Despite her demure facade, a mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes."

Additional notes:

"Demure" can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation, implying timidity or a lack of assertiveness.

Be mindful of the context and tone when using the word to avoid unintended offense.

"Demure" is a versatile adjective that adds a touch of elegance and subtlety to your writing and descriptions.

I hope this exploration of "demure" inspires you to use it judiciously and appreciate its captivating nuances! Feel free to ask if you have any further questions about its usage or history.

Dead Eye Dick

I asked Bard the following:

Can you provide a list of twenty colloquial expressions that involve the word "dead".

Here is what Bard provided 

• Dead tired: Exhausted beyond measure.

• Dead ringer: An exact duplicate of someone or something.

• Dead serious: Utterly serious, not joking.

• Dead on arrival (DOA): Arriving in a state of being unusable or non-functional.

• Drop dead gorgeous: Exceptionally beautiful or attractive.

• Dead in the water: A failed or hopeless idea or situation.

• Laugh yourself to death: Find something so funny you nearly lose your breath.

• Bored to death: Extremely bored.

• Scared to death: Utterly terrified.

• Worked to death: Overworked and exhausted.

• Freezing to death: Extremely cold.

• Hot as death: Extremely hot.

• Beat dead horses: Discuss or dwell on a topic that is past its prime and no longer productive.

I've never heard the expression "hot as death", instead "hot as hell" is far more common. I asked Bard for a further twenty expressions but several did not involve the word "dead" at all which was odd. However, here are the expressions it provided that did contain the key word:

• Dead as a doornail: Completely lifeless or unresponsive.

• Dead man walking: Someone in imminent danger or about to experience a significant downfall.

• Deadpan humor: Dry, understated humor delivered without emotion.

• A dead loss: Someone or something completely useless or without value.

• Dead wrong: Absolutely mistaken or incorrect.

• Hit a dead end: Reach a point of no progress or advancement.

• Stuck dead in the water: Completely immobilized or unable to proceed.

• Sleep like the dead: Sleep very soundly and uninterrupted.

• A dead-letter deal: An agreement or promise that is no longer valid or enforceable.

• A dead giveaway: Something that makes something else obvious or easily guessed.

• Work oneself to death: To work excessively and exhaust oneself completely.

• Deader than disco: Completely out of date or irrelevant.

• A dead battery: A battery that is completely drained and unusable.

• Dead quiet: Completely silent or devoid of sound.

I had to remind Bard about the term "dead captain" and this was the response:

You're absolutely right! "Dead captain" can also refer to an empty bottle that once contained alcohol, particularly hard liquor like rum, whiskey, or vodka. It plays on the image of a ship's captain, once the powerful leader directing the course, now reduced to an empty vessel himself. This meaning is often used playfully or humorously among friends or in casual settings. It's a clever and evocative metaphor, conveying the finality of an emptied bottle and the potential for good times enjoyed (and perhaps overindulged).

There are many other phrases involving the word "dead" including dead rubber, dead duck, dead head and so on. The adjective "dead" is used widely in the sense of "exactly", "completely" or "absolutely" as in dead centre, dead on, dead wrong, dead against, dead set, dead sure etc.

Bard and Rebus Puzzles

My previous post on 11th November was titled More Rebus Puzzles and featured 24 puzzles. I solved most of them, often after a fair bit of thought, so I though I'd see how Google Bard performed when attempting to solve a couple of them.

I presented it with the easiest one of all which as FA ST and the solution is BREAKFAST but Bard was clueless. Here is the interchange. 

I found this rebus puzzle: FA ST. The first two letters are separated by a space from the last two letters. What could the solution to this puzzle be?

The solution to the rebus puzzle "FA ST" is "fast". The space between the first two letters and the last two letters is meant to represent the separation between the "fa" sound and the "st" sound in the word "fast".

Not so impressive. Next I tried a slightly more difficult one and not surprisingly Bard once again came up short.

Here is another REBUS puzzle (the two lines below):

     COD

H2        O

Can you find a common phrase that represents a solution to this puzzle?

Yes, there are two common phrases that could be the solution to the rebus puzzle:

COD H20: This phrase represents the phrase "caught in the rain." The rebus symbols represent the following:

COD: The fish cod. This represents the word "caught."

H20: The chemical formula for water. This represents the word "rain."

 

COD H2 O: This phrase represents the phrase "caught in the flow." The rebus symbols represent the following:

COD: The fish cod. This represents the word "caught."

H2: The chemical formula for hydrogen. This represents the word "flow."

O: The letter O. This represents the preposition "in." 

Well, I guess an E for Effort should be awarded but the solutions are nonsensical and it is apparent that, even though these puzzles are language-based, Bard still has a long way to go before it will be able to make sense of most rebus puzzles. 

Bard

I played around with Google Bard last night and again today. Previously, I had only used ChatGPT but Bard is able to accept images as input and I tried it out with the image shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Here was the prompt that I gave Bard after uploading the image:

Can you recognize where this image came from and say something about what it represents?

The response was as follows:

 The image you sent me is a painting called The School of Athens by Raphael. It was painted in the early 16th century and is now housed in the Vatican Museums in Rome. The painting depicts a group of scholars and philosophers from different eras gathered in a courtyard. The central figure is Plato, who is pointing to the heavens, while Aristotle is pointing to the earth. Other figures in the painting include Pythagoras, Socrates, Euclid, and Archimedes.

The School of Athens is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance art. It is a celebration of learning and the pursuit of knowledge. The painting also reflects Raphael's own interest in philosophy and science.

The image you sent me is a reproduction of The School of Athens. It is a common sight in schools and libraries, and it represents the importance of education. The painting is a reminder that we should all strive to learn and grow, and that knowledge is the key to enlightenment.

Interesting response but totally wrong. Figure 2 shows what The School of Athens painting looks like:

Figure 2

The image shown in Figure 1 was taken from the dust jacket of my original copy of The Glass Bead Game so I tried this prompt:

I'm afraid that you are wrong. The painting has something to do with Herman Hesse's Glass Bead Game I think. Does this help?

The response was:

You are correct. The painting I was thinking of is not The School of Athens, but rather The Glass Bead Game by Paul Klee. It was painted in 1921 and is now housed in the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, Switzerland. The painting depicts a group of figures playing a game with glass beads. The figures are all different ages and from different cultures, and they are all wearing robes that represent different disciplines of knowledge.

The Glass Bead Game is a central metaphor in Hesse's novel of the same name. In the novel, the Glass Bead Game is a complex and demanding intellectual pursuit that synthesizes all of the arts and sciences. The game is played by a select group of individuals who are known as Glass Bead Players.

The painting by Klee is a visual representation of the Glass Bead Game. It shows the game as a kind of cosmic dance, in which all of the different disciplines of knowledge are interconnected. The painting is a celebration of the human intellect and the power of art to unite people from all walks of life.

I apologize for the confusion. I am still under development and learning to identify different paintings. Thank you for providing me with the correct information.

Clearly, image analysis still has some way to go in Bard. What's disturbing is the confidence with which these AI bots output totally false information.