| 释义 |
‖ verbum sap
[A shortening of L. verbum sapienti sat est ‘a word is sufficient to a wise person’.]
A phrase used in place of making a full statement or explanation, implying that an intelligent person may easily infer what is left unsaid, or understand the reasons for reticence. Also freq. further abbreviated to verb sap.
Examples of the full phrase, and of the shortened forms verbum sapienti (sat), occur in English works from at least 1602 onwards. The wording appears to be a combination of verbum sat est (see next) and dictum sapienti sat est, both of which are used by Plautus, the latter also by Terence.
1818T. Moore Fudge Fam. in Paris vi. 6 But never fear—I know my chap, And he knows me, too—verbum sap. 1828Lytton Pelham xxiv, I am very sorry I could not see you to breakfast—a particular engagement prevented me—verbum sap. 1841E. Brontë in Brontës: Lives, Friendships & Corr. (1932) I. x. 238, I have just made a new regularity paper! and I mean verb sap to do great things. 1862W. Collins No Name III. 12, I say no more. Verbum sap. 1889E. Dowson Let. 9 Nov. (1967) 115 Mark that horse & when he runs next plump on him with all your available capital. Verb Sap. This tip I may add doesn't come from Museum Mansions but from a man who spotted Primrose Day for the C'wtch. 1976J. I. M. Stewart Young Pattullo ii. 40 Mind your Ps and Qs, if I were you. Verb. sap.—eh? |