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ring off

English translation: stop talking

16:46 Jan 18, 2020
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / early 20th century English
English term or phrase: ring off
Maybe we'd better ring off, or you'll get in wrong with
The entire vast context can be found here
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8446/pg8446-images.html
Krzysztof Kożurno
Poland
Selected answer:stop talking
Explanation:
or stop the conversation that the narrator, Cummings, is having with the American driver of the vehicle

the driver suggests that they should talk no more in case the French "t-d" (= tin derby =soldier with tin hat), acting as the escort (guard), can understand English



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Note added at 1 day 19 hrs (2020-01-20 11:53:19 GMT)
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and yes, I had to look up the context and read the appropriate part to be sure of the meaning.

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Note added at 9 days (2020-01-28 09:57:23 GMT)
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"ring off" normally used in the context of a phone conversation, as Tony initially said and yes, is still used.
However, in this context they are in a car, driving along. The American driver is talking to Cummings who is seated behind under guard so the ONLY possible meaning is "Hey, we'd better stop talking now as the t-d (soldier) might understand English."
No, I wouldn't say it's commonly used in this way but it's not incorrect either as the meaning is clear to English speakers in the context. Just that it's normally about phone conversations, ring someone (up) =start a phone conversation and ring off=end it. Everyone has their own ways of using language and this driver is using this term to mean 'let's stop talking now' as if he's on the phone rather than physically there.

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Note added at 11 days (2020-01-30 08:44:19 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to have helped
Selected response from:

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 02:17
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2stop talking
Yvonne Gallagher
4 +1terminate a phone conversation
Tony M
4 -2להתנתק (לברוח) מפה
Amit Sela


  

Answers


16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -2
להתנתק (לברוח) מפה


Explanation:
From the conversation, the inmates are having in "The Enormous Room" by E.E cumming, ring off (like slamming down a phone) means to scram.
I hope it helps.

Amit Sela
Israel
Native speaker of: Native in HebrewHebrew
Notes to answerer
Asker: It makes sense, but if you can provide something to support your reading, I would really appreciate it. (Sorry, I cannot read Hebrew!) Thanks for your suggestion.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Yvonne Gallagher: it's En> EN pair and anyway, your explanation makes no sense in the context
1 day 2 hrs
disagree  Tony M: And in the context, there is no sense of 'scramming' (= physically leaving)
1 day 2 hrs
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
ring off
terminate a phone conversation


Explanation:
This is the usual meaning — sorry, I don't have time right now to go and check your context.

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Note added at 6 hrs (2020-01-18 23:20:11 GMT)
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Well, only because you didn't paste the immediate context, which might have made it clear...
How are we supposed to know all this if you don't bother to tell us...?

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Note added at 1 day 2 hrs (2020-01-19 19:16:02 GMT)
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I'm pretty sure tha here it does mean "bring this conversation to an end" — just that they're not literally on the phone!

Tony M
France
Local time: 03:17
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 260
Notes to answerer
Asker: I would not bother the community to find out something I can look up in any dictionary. There is no hurry and no deadline. And the meaning is unclear to an educated Brit.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
1 day 1 hr
  -> Thanks, Tina!
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1 day 19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
stop talking


Explanation:
or stop the conversation that the narrator, Cummings, is having with the American driver of the vehicle

the driver suggests that they should talk no more in case the French "t-d" (= tin derby =soldier with tin hat), acting as the escort (guard), can understand English



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 19 hrs (2020-01-20 11:53:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and yes, I had to look up the context and read the appropriate part to be sure of the meaning.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 days (2020-01-28 09:57:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"ring off" normally used in the context of a phone conversation, as Tony initially said and yes, is still used.
However, in this context they are in a car, driving along. The American driver is talking to Cummings who is seated behind under guard so the ONLY possible meaning is "Hey, we'd better stop talking now as the t-d (soldier) might understand English."
No, I wouldn't say it's commonly used in this way but it's not incorrect either as the meaning is clear to English speakers in the context. Just that it's normally about phone conversations, ring someone (up) =start a phone conversation and ring off=end it. Everyone has their own ways of using language and this driver is using this term to mean 'let's stop talking now' as if he's on the phone rather than physically there.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 days (2020-01-30 08:44:19 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Glad to have helped

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 02:17
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 317
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Yvonne. It makes sense that this is just another way of saying shut up. I'm just wondering if it is early 20th century American usage. This is important to me be able to locate this expression. Compared to a native speaker my exposure to English is limited plus I lack the native speaker's intuition. Maybe I want to much, but some kind of insight of where comes from, whether this phrase is still in use, even rarely and by older older people etc. would be much appreciated


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M: Yes, exactly as I said, once context was clearer... / I think it must have been as I posted last evening; but in any case, the meaning is the same: 'to end a conversation'; the telephone metaphor is only incidental.
7 mins
  -> thanks. Didn't notice your second try (was it there?) when I went to look up the actual context (since Asker had only given a link, rather than give us the scenario)
agree  GILLES MEUNIER
15 hrs
  -> Many thanks:-)
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