Plurals

Posted by Marcus on December 30, 2000

In Reply to: Plurals posted by Paul G on December 30, 2000

: : : : what is the plural of Stick-in-the-Mud ?

: : : : Is it Sticks -in-the-Mud ?
: : : : Or Stick-in-the-Muds ?

: : : Oh no. You mean there's more than one of them?
: : : Well, I'm inclined to say "what a bunch of stick-in-the-muds" because a) it sounds better, and b) the hyphens pulling the words all together to make it into a collective lump. Unlike, for example, Attornies General

: : It's sisters-in-law. So I would think it is sticks-in-the-mud. But that's just an opinion.

: In this case I think that the derivation of the phrase may decide it. Is 'stick' of the wooden variety, or of the getting stuck variety?

: Well, if it sticks in the mud it could get stuck a lot. A bunch of sticks in the mud could cause a flat tire too. Those stick in the muds that won't jump from helocopters could be a bunch of sticks in the mud if they do.

• Parts of speech R. Berg 01/03/01
  • Parts of speech marcus 01/08/01