talk the 2 by 4

English translation: a piece of wood

07:05 Aug 29, 2005

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Music
Region (source):

English term or phrase: talk the 2 by 4

Yup, Metallica lyrics :)
http://www.geocities.com/kearbarl/letras/load/2_x_4.htm
I've always wondered what it means. Perhaps native speakers could give me some clues...

This is purely out of curiosity (not translation related).

Thanks

Valentin Alupoaie KudoZ activity Questions: 105 (4 open) (4 closed without grading) Answers: 448 Romania
Local time: 12:25

Selected answer:a piece of wood

Explanation:
This is the dimensions of a piece of wood (2 inches by 4 inches) which can be used as a weapon. To talk the 2 x 4 means to physically hurt someone in other words. Obviously this is US English.

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Note added at 25 mins (2005-08-29 07:31:08 GMT)
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Erratum: Not the dimensions of the wood, but the size. The length can of course vary.

Selected response from:

Johan Venter
Czech Republic
Local time: 11:25

Grading comment

Thanks to all.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +13

a piece of wood

Johan Venter

Discussion entries: 7

Answers

21 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +13

a piece of wood

Johan Venter
Czech Republic
Local time: 11:25
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks to all.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Ken Cox: Probably the most common lumber dimension in US construction, and a length of 2x4 makes a handy (and brutal) weapon.

9 mins

-> Thanks

agree

Kurt Porter: Sure, don't make me mad, I'll hit you up side the head with a 2 by 4! :) :)

9 mins

-> I'll do my best, thanks :)

agree

Vicky Papaprodromou

24 mins

-> Thanks

agree

Nick Lingris: How about adding the story of the guy and the mule to your entry? http://peaceandjustice.org/article.php?story=200507190922506...

1 hr

-> Good one, Nick! Thanks :)

agree

Kevin Kelly: A bit of useless information: the actual dimensions of a "2 x 4" are 1.5" x 3.5" Go figure. The answer is absolutely correct, of course.

1 hr

-> Go figure. A bit like the 100 year war that lasted from 1337–1453... Thanks

agree

Refugio

1 hr

-> Thanks

agree

Jack Doughty: More useless information: 4x2 in UK English is a piece of rag for cleaning a gun barrel; 4x4 is a four-wheel drive vehicle; and 2x2 is animals going into Noah's ark.

2 hrs

-> I love uselss info, thanks

agree

gtreyger (X): Something else that's funny is that in Canada, a country that uses metric system a 2x4 is exactly 2"x4".

3 hrs

-> Thanks

agree

Sonia Geerlings

3 hrs

-> Thanks

agree

jennifer newsome (X)

4 hrs

-> Thanks

agree

airmailrpl: -

4 hrs

-> Thanks

agree

rangepost

4 hrs

-> Thanks

agree

Robert Donahue (X)

6 hrs

-> Thanks

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English translation: a piece of wood

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