I have some questions.
1. Her voice had smoke in it.
In these sentence, I wonder what kind of voice she has.
Hoarse? Empty?
2. "Holy shit!" He said.
"My Latin's a little rusty, but I think that's Roman Catholic for 'Wowie'." I told him.
Does this conversation explain the origin of 'holy shit'?
What does this conversation mean?
3. Buy her something nice she can wear against her skin.
In this sentence, I wonder what is 'something'.
Underwear? Jewelry?
4. Would you care to explain your choice of company this evening?
In this sentence, does 'company' mean 'being with somebody'?
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 10
1
1. This is a very vague description and leaves it up to the reader to imagine what a smoky voice sounds like. Usually a writer will give further explanation to guide the reader to a better understanding, but standing alone, I take this sentence to mean that her voice is deeper and sexier than what I might have expected.
2. "Holy shit!" is an expletive, and something you wouldn't say in front of your mother (at least not when I was growing up). It's a way of expressing surprise, shock, anger, depending on context. But since it contains the word "holy," the second speaker, who may have been offended by the first speaker's choice of words, is making a joke that it must be the religious (i.e., Roman Catholic) way of saying, "Wowie!" which is also an expression of surprise, but it is nonoffensive and more appropriate for polite conversation
Note that most people would say "Wow!" not "Wowie!" Saying "Wowie!" sounds silly, juvenile, maybe like what a very young child might say. If a grown man were to say "Wowie!" his masculinity might be brought into question; a grown woman, her maturity level.
3. This all depends on context. If you're at a jewelry counter, then it probably means a necklace or a bracelet. If you're at a Victoria's Secret, then it might mean some silky lingerie.
4. Yes, "company" in this sense refers to the person(s) you're with, those who are accompanying you.
Examples:
"Why don't you come over. I could use some company." (Depending on context and the person you're talking to, you might be looking for someone to spend time with because you're feeling sad or lonely, or you might be looking for an intimate evening with someone.)
"You can tell the character of a man by the company he keeps." (Here "company" means the people that you socialize with, do business with, deal with on a regular basis.)
"When I'm alone, I'm in good company." (This is a humorous way of saying that being alone is just as pleasant as being in the company of others.)
0
I don't need to explain any further as all the given explanations are wonderful and detailed. Just more comments.
1. There are so many ways of describing the in the absence of the context.
Her voice has a smoky flavour to it.
Her voice is sultry/hoarse/raspy etc.
3. And if at a perfume or makeup counter....
0
1. Her voice had smoke in it. This is said incorrectly. It should say "Her breath had the smell of (cigarette) smoke on it. - Or - Her voice sounded coarse and she was probably a smoker.
2. "Holy shit!" He said.
This is a slang way of speaking, and is an exclamation such as "Wow", or "My gracious!" The meaning is not literal, and no telling where it originated from. A more cultured or proper person would not say these words, but would use some other more refined way of expressing his amazement.
3. Buy her something nice she can wear against her skin. Something soft like a silk scarf, or jewelry. I think this would be some sort of accessory gift for dressing up.
4. Would you care to explain your choice of company this evening? The person must have been with bad company, questionable companions, naughty friends, the type the speaker did not approve of.
0
1. Obviously a prosaic (poetic) description; open to imaginative interpretation. It most likely means her voice was gravelly or scratchy, as though she was a heavy smoker.
2. The conversation is comedic and is not intended to explain the origin of the phrase. Without more context, I surmise the first speaker used "Holy shit!" as an expletive to express astonishment, and the second speaker made a humorous and sarcastic reference to the word "holy" as being associated with religion, i.e., Roman Catholicism in particular, and the meaning of the phrase as "wow!"
3. Either assumption (jewelry or lingerie) would be correct. The phrase is intended to be suggestive (in a sexual manner).
4. You're correct; the word "company" means "being with someone." The phrase is definitely sarcastic, and could be rephrased as "Do you mind telling me why the [expletive] you were with that person tonight?"
Hope this helps.
0
1. Probably refers to the smoke from a gun. Her words sounded like she was shooting you.
2. Roman Catholics are goody goody people who don't use bad words like "shit".
3. Something refers to the thing she is going to wear against her skin. It doesn't mean anything specific.
4. www.thefreedictionary.com/company
Single words can be found in a dictionary. Here it refers to the people he will be with.
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