Comments on: The Curious Case of “Whet” http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-curious-case-of-%e2%80%9cwhet%e2%80%9d/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:04:09 -0500 hourly 1 By: JC http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-curious-case-of-%e2%80%9cwhet%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-222858 JC Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:57:42 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3435#comment-222858 Appetites are whet, whistles are wet. Appetites are whet, whistles are wet.

]]> By: Stephen Thorn http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-curious-case-of-%e2%80%9cwhet%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-194849 Stephen Thorn Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:27:23 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3435#comment-194849 Additional expression with "wet": "rode hard and put away wet" from the world of horseback riding -- meaning should be evident, but can have sexual connotations; "mad as a wet hen" -- again, meaning should be evident. I notice you scarcely mentioned whetstones. I've used a whetstone to sharpen knives for years, and would suspect that is the most common usage of the verb "whet" today. In fact, just this week I was reading the 1950 short story "A Walk in the Dark" by Arthur C. Clarke and found "And the sides of that rock had been worn away, as if it had been used an enormous whetstone!" "Whetting one's appetite" seems to be on the way to becoming archaic. Additional expression with “wet”: “rode hard and put away wet” from the world of horseback riding — meaning should be evident, but can have sexual connotations; “mad as a wet hen” — again, meaning should be evident.

I notice you scarcely mentioned whetstones. I’ve used a whetstone to sharpen knives for years, and would suspect that is the most common usage of the verb “whet” today. In fact, just this week I was reading the 1950 short story “A Walk in the Dark” by Arthur C. Clarke and found “And the sides of that rock had been worn away, as if it had been used an enormous whetstone!” “Whetting one’s appetite” seems to be on the way to becoming archaic.

]]> By: Brad K. http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-curious-case-of-%e2%80%9cwhet%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-194407 Brad K. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:02:23 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3435#comment-194407 @ Chris Bowler, I wonder if that is a reference to one being "all wet" - that is, one of those too foolish or too ignorant to come inside out of the rain. Which overlooks those that are required to work, travel, or merely to endure despite the rain. @ Chris Bowler, I wonder if that is a reference to one being “all wet” – that is, one of those too foolish or too ignorant to come inside out of the rain.

Which overlooks those that are required to work, travel, or merely to endure despite the rain.

]]> By: Chris Bowler http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-curious-case-of-%e2%80%9cwhet%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-194044 Chris Bowler Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:26:58 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3435#comment-194044 Ive often heard people from yorkshire england saying dont talk wet! as in, stop talking nonsense, dont be silly. Ive often heard people from yorkshire england saying dont talk wet! as in, stop talking nonsense, dont be silly.

]]> By: Klepto http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-curious-case-of-%e2%80%9cwhet%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-192709 Klepto Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:39:54 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3435#comment-192709 I've never heard anyone say "whet" as a dirtier form of "wanton." I also wonder if your friend really understands what wanton means. O_o Whet the appetite, yes. That's a whet boy, no. I’ve never heard anyone say “whet” as a dirtier form of “wanton.” I also wonder if your friend really understands what wanton means. O_o

Whet the appetite, yes. That’s a whet boy, no.

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