captain

English translation: [see my explanation]

20:57 Dec 4, 2020
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / captain
English term or phrase: captain
He was silent punisher. So he'd send you to the bathroom and say, "I'll be back in 15 minutes. "You think about how many stripes you want, whether you wanna be a corporal or a captain."

Someone talking about his childhood memories with his father. The material is Australian.

Thanks in advance,
S.J
Canada
Local time: 05:08
Selected answer:[see my explanation]
Explanation:
This is a rather tasteless play on words. Stripes are injuries, typically resulting from flogging, and they're also badges of rank in the armed forces and elsewhere. A captain has more stripes than a corporal, so it's a worse punishment.
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Thanks a lot.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6[see my explanation]
philgoddard


  

Answers


26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
[see my explanation]


Explanation:
This is a rather tasteless play on words. Stripes are injuries, typically resulting from flogging, and they're also badges of rank in the armed forces and elsewhere. A captain has more stripes than a corporal, so it's a worse punishment.

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 119
Grading comment
Thanks a lot.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you. I thought first that corporal is literal here.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Daryo: yes, in this text it's a kind of nasty twist on supposed "higher achievement"
15 mins

agree  Bridgette Mitchell
55 mins

agree  Tony M: Possibly from caning or being punished by being hit with a belt — both of which make very distinct, linear marks.
1 hr
  -> Exactly. Thanks.

agree  Sarah Bessioud
8 hrs

agree  Arabic & More
13 hrs

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
16 hrs
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