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An Essex-girl?

Posted by Lewis on May 23, 2005

In Reply to: A carpenter is known by his chips posted by David FG on May 22, 2005

: : What does 'a carpenter is known by his chips' mean? Under which topic do we categorize this saying?

: It's not a saying I am familiar with, but I assume that it means that someone who works as a carpenter will be recognizable by the fact that he is surrounded by/covered in wood chips.

: By extension, that which surrounds a person gives a clue to their identity.

: DFG

there is an additional meaning, I think - that a person can be judged by what they discard as well as what they keep.
when children are described as 'a chip off the old block' - one might add the possibility of a person also being judged by the children they bring up.

L

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