just to be clear, when it's preceded with "well" (as in my example) it's clearly a limiting-via-precision and NOT an intensifier
― mark s, Tuesday, 5 November 2019 12:56 (four years ago) link
actually precision is always to the point with this word: other elements in the sentence indicate where on the scale the precision occurs -- "up at the top end!" or "further back than you think!"
― mark s, Tuesday, 5 November 2019 12:57 (four years ago) link
hmm i feel like the rejoinder is saying 'yes, it was very difficult, BUT....'
― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 12:58 (four years ago) link
I'd argue that etymologically 'tramp' for 'loose woman' probably comes from the same place as 'tramp' for 'vagrant' / 'hobo' etc, ie not having / maintaining a home, but the connotations for a woman are different for a man in what that means.
'Tramp stamp' I still hear in the UK every so often and everyone gets what that means.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 13:15 (four years ago) link
Also 'quite' as a modifier in the UK I'd suggest denotes very mild surprise in either direction depending on context - either more easy or more difficult than was expected. All about inflection.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 13:30 (four years ago) link
Quite!
― Michael Oliver of Penge Wins £5 (Tom D.), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 13:32 (four years ago) link
I wonder if the word 'trollop' influenced the tramp shift somehow
― Josefa, Tuesday, 5 November 2019 13:32 (four years ago) link
tracer it's saying "difficult? difficult to YOU maybe (you lump)"
― mark s, Tuesday, 5 November 2019 13:35 (four years ago) link
"very difficult? yes, if by very difficult you mean quite difficult"
― mark s, Tuesday, 5 November 2019 13:37 (four years ago) link
hahah this usage has utterly passed me by then. what a lump indeed!
― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 13:47 (four years ago) link
Tramp stamp' I still hear in the UK every so often and everyone gets what that means.
Can't say I've ever heard that and must admit I'm not 100% sure what it means.
― Dan Worsley, Tuesday, 5 November 2019 17:02 (four years ago) link
Ok found it on urban dictionary. I move in genteel circles which explains my naivety.
― Dan Worsley, Tuesday, 5 November 2019 17:03 (four years ago) link