| 释义 |
so-and-so, n., a., and adv.
Also so and so, soandso.
A. n.
1. An indefinite phrase (= ‘such a thing, person, number,’ etc.) used in place of a more lengthy statement, or as a substitute for an expression or name not exactly remembered or not requiring to be explicitly stated.
(a)1596Spenser F.Q. iv. vii. 2 So whylome didst thou to faire Florimel; And so and so to noble Britomart. 1727De Foe Syst. Magic i. iv. (1840) 108 A deep sleep shall come upon you, and you shall dream so and so. 1740Cheyne Regimen 330 That..he must trust or believe..so and so, and do so and so in consequence. 1831Scott Ct. Rob. xxix, If you persevere in your uncivil intention, I will do so and so. 1880Muirhead tr. Rules of Ulpian xxiv. §18 To that man..let my heir give so-and-so.
(b)1833M. Scott Tom Cringle ii, What's his name of this, and so-and-so of t'other. 1855Thackeray Newcomes lviii, His London Agents were Messrs. So-and-so. 1883‘Annie Thomas’ Mod. Housewife 88 I've left most of them for the next time; but the So-and-so's..will be here.
(c)1833M. Scott Tom Cringle i, In the year one thousand eight hundred and so and so. 1861T. A. Trollope La Beata I. i. 2 Number so-and-so in such-and-such a street. 1866Ruskin Crown Wild Olive (1873) 46 Divine service will be ‘performed’..at so-and-so o'clock.
2. Used euphem. as a term of abuse for a person (occas. a thing). Also, with weakened force, as a term of affection.
1897W. S. Maugham Liza of Lambeth iii. 42 ‘You little so-and-so!’ said Liza, somewhat inelegantly, making a dash at him. 1931D. L. Sayers Five Red Herrings xii. 132 Some rigmarole about always finding the so-and-so hanging round his place and he wanted to have it out with him. 1943Lafayette Alumnus (Lafayette College, Easton, Pa.) Nov. 5/1 Hiya, Joe, you old so-and-so, haven't seen you since that time, etc., etc. 1945Penguin New Writing XXVI. 55, I told 'em all that but they wouldn't listen, the ignorant soandsos. 1956B. Goolden At Foot of Hills vi. 124 ‘He felt he oughtn't to leave his work.’ ‘Poor old so-and-so.’ 1958‘A. Bridge’ Portuguese Escape i. 13 The Countess is a hard-baked, publicity-minded old So-and-so, with about as much consideration for other people as a sack of dried beans! 1968K. Weatherly Roo Shooter 107 It's not much good you staying out if some other so-and-so is going to work it, is there? 1973Times 28 Nov. 13/5 The set [of an opera] is an absolute so-and-so to walk about on. 1977B. Pym Quartet in Autumn i. 9 ‘Hoping to get off early, lazy little so-and-so,’ said Norman.
B. adj.
1. Paltry, worthless; indifferent; poor in health or circumstances; so-so. Now dial.
1655–6Desborough in Thurloe Papers IV. 396, I..acquainted him that such of his brethren..were so and so, and desired him..to advise them tacitly to resign. 1756W. Toldervy Hist. 2 Orphans I. 119 You see..that I am your best friend still, though to be sure you are but so and so. Ibid. 131 You know the Doctor died but so and so, as to circumstances. 1883Almondbury Gloss. 124 So and so, used for so so, paltry, feeble.
2. euphem. as a term of abuse.
1929E. Wallace Kennedy the Con Man iv. in Red Aces 173 ‘That's what we pay rates and taxes for, and no so-and-so policemen in sight!’ He did not say ‘so-and-so’, but Mr. Reeder thought his profanity was excusable. 1942B. Himes Lunching at Ritzmore in Black on Black (1973) 177 You would..resume your discussions..on defense..or the F.B.I., or the ‘so and so’ owners of Lockheed, or that (unprintable) Aimee Semple McPherson. 1959Listener 30 July 186/2 Some [clients] are good, some are indifferent, some are a so-and-so nuisance.
C. adv.
1. To a certain number or degree.
1631Gouge God's Arrows i. xxix. 44 Papists..mumbling over so and so many times the Creed.
2. In a certain manner or way.
1653W. Ramesey Astrol. Restored To Rdr. 12 Thinking he might have improved it so and so, much better. 1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. 420 Vertue and Vice are nothing else but the Soul so and so affected or modified. 1726Butler Serm. Rolls Chap. vii. 133 Things were so and so circumstantiated. 1736― Anal. i. ii, Forewarning us..that if we act so and so, we shall have such enjoyments.
3. With only moderate prosperity, success, etc.
1844Ballantine Deanhaugh ii. 41 ‘How's the coal trade gaun on?’ ‘Just so and so.’
4. As a mere intensive.
1959‘A. Fraser’ High Tension v. 60 ‘Why can't Hugh help then? Or won't he?’ ‘Not so-and-so likely.’ |