far - O.E. feorr "to a great distance, long ago," from P.Gmc. *ferro (cf. O.N. fjarre, Du. ver, Ger. fern), from PIE *per- "through, across, beyond" (cf. Skt. parah "farther, remote, ulterior," Hitt. para "outside of," Gk. pera "across, beyond," L. per "through," O.Ir. ire "farther"). In figurative sense, far-fetched is from 1607;...
fetch - O.E. feccan, apparently a variant of fetian, fatian "to fetch, bring, to marry," probably from P.Gmc. *fatojanan (cf. O.N. feta "to find one’s way," O.H.G. sih faggon "to mount, climb"), related to O.E. fot "foot." Variant form fet, a derivation of the older O.E. version of the word, survived as a competitor until 17c. Fetching (adj.) appeared 1581 meaning "crafty, scheming;" the sense of "alluring, fascinating" is 1880.
This term—[distance brought close?]—does not indicate that an idea or object has become more accessible (fetched), but that it remains beyond normal grasp. Whether it is "alluring" or not depends upon whether the hearer [finds their way] [through, across, beyond] the idea.
Can an acceptable idea become near-fetched? :D
gailr Who would like some HagenDaz, but it’s too far to fetch…
Probably not, but a far-fetched idea can certainly become acceptable.
In some future time, for example, you may be able to have Tim’s ice-cream transported through some nifty disintegrator-reintegrator device right into your home and waiting gape. Until that happy day, of course, it’s a trip to the 7-11.
[quote author=Tim Ward link=board=idiom;num=1089249076;start=0#3 date=07/08/04 at 07:56:29]This honky teddybear ain’t never gonna give up his ice cream, no way, no how… You’ll have to pry it outta my cold, dead hands first! ;D
Depending upon the quantity of ice cream consumed, it may have caused the cold, dead hands! ;D
Besides the hands may be cold and dead from ice cream overload, but what about the rest of you? no double entendre meant, but realizing some people could take it that way
My grandmother used to make icecream All of the kids wanted to help with the cranking; I am sure we were very helpful! Nothing can compare to summer evenings sitting on the steps, with strawberries from her garden floating about in dollops of vanilla icecream, sneaking some to the kitties on our spoons when the adults were conveniently not looking.
gailr who still lets her cats have a taste, but they have to wait until the Alpha Female is done…
Gail’s ice cream is certainly far fetched. Think of the great explorers of our world, and the treasures and tales they would bring back from their world-winning voyages. All these thing were far fetched - the bizarre things (of a foreign land) brought home to perplex us.
I cannot locate the documentation right now, but I’ve read that the Mayan(?) rulers had iced drinks, courtesy of relays of runners. Those darn nobles, always wanting one far-fetched thing or another…
[quote author=gailr link=board=idiom;num=1089249076;start=0#11 date=07/09/04 at 10:53:46]I cannot locate the documentation right now, but I’ve read that the Mayan(?) rulers had iced drinks, courtesy of relays of runners. Those darn nobles, always wanting one far-fetched thing or another…
I think it was the Aztecs because it would have REALLY been far-fetched for the Mayans (check out the temperatures in the Yucatan) and you know that the Aztecs really had heart. (ouch!) There are mountains, volcanoes actually, around Mexico City that are snow capped all year round - Popocatepetl and Iztacciahuatl. http://www.peakware.com/encyclopedia/peaks/izta.htm
Didn’t the Romans do the same thing?
I’ve heard of people walking a mile for a Camel, but running miles for an iced drink? :D
