Subj : For two pins
To   : Alexander Koryagin
From : Ardith Hinton
Date : Tue Dec 29 2020 17:50:44

Hi, Alexander!  Recently you wrote in a message to All:

AK>  -----Beginning of the citation-----
AK>  Barnes arrived just after midnight, and he was a very
AK>  different sight from our first meeting. The Brooks
AK>  Brothers stuff had gone, and he now looked like he was
AK>  ready to head into the Nicaraguan jungle at the drop
AK>  of a bomb. Khaki trousers, dark-green twill shirt, Red
AK>  Wing boots. A military-looking watch with canvas strap
AK>  had taken the place of the dress Rolex. I had the
AK>  feeling that for two pins he'd have been in front of a
AK>  mirror, slapping camouflage paint on to his face. The
AK>  lines were deeper than ever.
AK>  ----- The end of the citation -----

AK>  What did the author mean in "I had the feeling that for
AK>  two pins he'd have been in front of a mirror, slapping
AK>  camouflage paint on to his face."?


 Language:

           When native speakers in this part of the world say "for two pins I'd do xxx", it's an ironic/figurative expression meaning "It wouldn't take much to make me do xxx".  Often the idea... although tempting... is rather impractical. I wouldn't seriously expect anybody to carry it out just because I offered them a couple of dressmaker's pins or safety pins I bought at the dollar store.  :-Q



 Literature:

           This man appears to be meticulous about his personal appearance & to be in a socioeconomic category where it's routine to pay more for an oufit than a lot of other people earn in a year.  At the office he dresses the part of the executive... when he's off duty he prefers a more sporty look, but it's just as well put together & almost as far beyond the average person's budget as what he wears in formal situations.  If the writer associates this man's costume change with what actors do when they're playing a role it makes sense to me... [grin].




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

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