Lois’s answer to “What does coaxing lumps mean? If I Google it without quotes I get nowhere, with quotes I get referr…” > Likes and Comments

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message 1: by Bonnie (new)

Bonnie polishing and inspecting, like expert jewellers coaxing gems from lumps of unappealing carbon (not sure this is the only coaxing lumps, I'm sure turning anything lumpy into something beautiful would be the same


message 2: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold @ Bonnie:

Nope. Definitely not the way my mother used the term.

It does enlighten me, again, how even what seem the most common and obvious turns of phrase can be creatively misread. Always a hazard, in writing.

Ta, L.


message 3: by Howard (new)

Howard Brazee I didn't guess its meaning correctly, but it makes sense now.


message 4: by Steve (new)

Steve I misread it, too. "Asking for your lumps" would be what we would have said in northern Indiana.


message 5: by Ann J.M.S. (new)

Ann J.M.S. Harlan I'm thinking it may have started as Go Asking Lumps.


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