Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: Is Chutzpah English ?

I am reading "In Pursuit of the proper Stranger by Elisabeth George.
Miss George is a Californian Girl who writes whodunnits set in London and
she uses a lot of
British slang (sometimes I think her fellow Americans need a dictionary to
get through her works)
To cut a long story short I have come across the above word and I have
understood from the context that it means Courage.
I am not sure about its Englishness though.
It seems to have an American feel to it .
It sounds yiddish.
Am I mistaken ?
Can anybody enlighten me ?
And since I am at it  in the sentence :
"That's more than she was getting doing knee tremblers outside Earl's Court
Station "
What kind of sexual activity was the prostitute involved into ?
Yours
Sal
The  king of preposterous postings

 What kind of sexual activity was the prostitute involved into ?
Dear Salvatore,
Having recently finished reading Erica Jong's 'Inventing Memory' (which I
highly recommend), she helpfully provides a glossary of Yiddish terms at the
back of the book and the word Chutzpah is listed as meaning nerve, balls, or
as you more politely pointed out, courage.
Another example found on the web states:
"Among the better definitions of "chutzpah" which we've heard, we're fond of
this one:
Chutzpah is that aspect of character which allows a person who has killed
both his parents to throw himself on the mercy of the court owing to
suddenly finding himself an orphan."
As for the precise nature of the activity the young lady might have been
involved in outside the Earl's Court station, I shall await with trembling
knees for illumination, as currently I am also in the dark.
Have no fear, you are never preposterous.
--
I remain, as always,
Bambi
dtb

.... I shall await with trembling knees for illumination....
That makes me wonder....what is your job?!   :)))

 knees for illumination, as currently I am also in the dark.
   <Thanks to Lupo Buono we are not any more.
As for his innuendos slall I throw him the gauntlet ?
KISA
Sal

 That makes me wonder....what is your job?!   :)))
Dear Lupo Buono,
Having consulted with Miss Manners, I am reliably informed that, given the
circumstances, this would fall in that category of inquiry which a gentleman
should never make of a lady....somewhat akin to never asking her age.  I
feel certain you will understand.
I am grateful to you however for confirming what the undersigned suspected
with regard to the meaning of the phrase.
With knees which are now desisting from trembling further,
--
I remain, as always, ecc., ecc.,
Bambi
dtb

 Sal
Dear KISA Salvatore,
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for picking up on a remark which
implied a besmirchment of the undersigned's honour and rushing to this
damsel's defence. Most noble, most knightly, most chivalrous. However, all
things considered, I believe it will not be necessary to throw down the
gauntlet.
Lupo Buono _did_ answer a most perplexing question on our behalf and in so
doing has saved us many a torturous night of wondering. He also asked
regarding my
profession rather than implying or insinuating anything less than
honourable,
and most forgivable of all, he showed he has a sense of humour.
With thanks and gratitude for your ever-constant vigilance,
--
I remain, as always,
Bambi
dtb

 As for his innuendos slall I throw him the gauntlet ?
May I remind you that a KISA's gauntlet is quite heavy, being mainly made of
metal and thick leather (mine have also metal spikes) ?
You run the risk of seriously damaging your opponent before the duel, Sal
;-)
Ciao
Giorgio

 wrote in message
384f6...@news.megasys.it...

<Maybe my reaction was not proportionate to the offence (if any there ever
was )
Sorry
Sal


Of course :)