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sovvie or sovvy
chlorine current, nA
Jan 10, 2006 14:38
18 yrs ago
English term

bunk

English Social Sciences Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. Fostering Network (an UK organisation)
I know what bunk means, but what does it mean in the following context:

A panacea or bunk?

http://www.workplaceethics.ca/codes.html
Responses
4 +9 nonsens/rubbish
3 +3 useless or irrelevant
3 +2 choice of colloquial terms

Discussion

John Bowden Jan 11, 2006:
and http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7884
John Bowden Jan 11, 2006:
@ pidzej; Ignorance is bliss - "panacea" is a singular noun in Latin - see http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/panacea.ht
pidzej Jan 10, 2006:
Would have thought "panecea" is plural and cannot go with indefinite article, but apparently the English know different Latin than the rest of the world. Makes you wonder, do they go to a musea to contemplate art? the plural "panaceas" is also cute, no?
Rachel Fell Jan 10, 2006:
short for "bunkum" http://www.answers.com/topic/bunkum

Responses

+9
4 mins
Selected

nonsens/rubbish

or crap in the UK...meaning that the idea is just nonsense

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Note added at 4 mins (2006-01-10 14:43:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

nonsense...missing E
Peer comment(s):
agree Rachel Fell : nonsense or rubbish or claptrap - "crap" is somewhat offensive and would not be used in this context\\Agree w. Dusty - disingenuous rubbish
16 mins
in this context you're quite right, thanks
agree Jack Doughty : also with Rachel.
24 mins
yes, Rachel is right
agree Tony M : Ditto /// ...but I think there's an additional connotation there: it's something that is NOT ONLY rubbish, but is deliberately said to confuse... this idea would fit well alongside 'panacaea'
28 mins
thank you Dusty
agree Marcelo González
2 hrs
thank you
agree Alfa Trans (X)
2 hrs
thank you
agree Dave Calderhead : and with Rachel and Dusty
4 hrs
thank you
agree Alexandra Tussing
8 hrs
thank you
agree KNielsen
9 hrs
thank you
agree Romanian Translator (X)
3 days 7 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all very much! "
+3
3 mins

useless or irrelevant

I'd say that useless or irrelevant could be synonyms in this context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2006-01-10 14:43:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As in not worth believing in, serving no purpose, etc.
Peer comment(s):
agree William [Bill] Gray
2 mins
Thanks Bill!
agree Rachel Fell
16 mins
Thanks Rachel!
neutral Tony M : Idea is fine, but the expression seems to require a noun and not an adjective?
32 mins
Thanks Dusty. I agree that for a title a noun would likely be required. My answer was simply trying to clarify the expression for the asker...
agree Alexandra Tussing
8 hrs
Thanks Alexandra!
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr

choice of colloquial terms

hogwash, bull, balderdash, drivel, garbage
Peer comment(s):
agree Rachel Fell : codswallop and tripe, too, while we're at it (these may be UK ones. though):)
1 hr
hi Rachel, yes those are interesting - new to my ears :-)
agree Alexandra Tussing : :)
7 hrs
thanks Alexandra :-)
Something went wrong...
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