Saturday, January 02, 2010
An amusing folk etymology by AJ:
In the car on the way to get groceries, AJ asked me when I had returned his library book. I told him it had gone back on December 23. He asked if that was before its due date. I replied that it was, so he need not worry about owing any fines.
AJ: What's a fine?
Me: It's money you have to pay when you break a rule, like not returning a library book when it's due.
AJ: Why is it called a fine?
Me: I'm not sure...
AJ: I think I know. It's because when you break the rule and they say you have to pay it, you say, "fine!". (Read the last word with all the bitterness a five-year-old has at his disposal.)
In the car on the way to get groceries, AJ asked me when I had returned his library book. I told him it had gone back on December 23. He asked if that was before its due date. I replied that it was, so he need not worry about owing any fines.
AJ: What's a fine?
Me: It's money you have to pay when you break a rule, like not returning a library book when it's due.
AJ: Why is it called a fine?
Me: I'm not sure...
AJ: I think I know. It's because when you break the rule and they say you have to pay it, you say, "fine!". (Read the last word with all the bitterness a five-year-old has at his disposal.)
