From the Oxford English Dictionary:Card 2c: modern slang. [apparently suggested by such expressions as sure card , etc.; see 2b] , applied to a person, with adjective (as knowing, old, queer, etc.) indicating some eccentricity or peculiarity. Also without adjective: a ‘character’, an ‘original’; a clever, audacious, etc., person.1836 Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 42 Mr. Thomas Potter, whose great aim it was to be considered as a ‘knowing card’.1853 Dickens Bleak House xx. 199 But such an old card as this.1853 Dickens Bleak House lxii. 596 You know what a card Krook was for buying all manner of old pieces of furniter.1873 W. Black Princess of Thule x. 157 You are the most romantic card I know.1905 A. Bennett Tales of Five Towns i. 9 It would be..a topic for years, the crown of his reputation as a card.1911 A. Bennett (title) The Card—a Story of Adventure in the Five Towns.1929 W. Deeping Roper’s Row xxi ‘What the Midlanders call “a card”.’ ‘What’s that?’ ‘An original, a person.’1942 ‘W. B. Johnson’ Widening Stain (1943) iii. 34 That old Witch-Hammer was really quite a card.
sure card: an expedient certain to attain its object; a person whose agency, or the use of whose name, will ensure success. Similarly with other adjectives, as good, safe, likely, doubtful, etc., and in phrases, to play one’s best card, to have played one’s last card, etc.; to have a card (or cards) up one’s sleeve: to have a plan, resources, etc., in reserve; to play the Orange card: to appeal to Northern Irish Protestant sentiment for political advantage (see quot. 1886); hence in extended use ( to play the..card), applied to other political gambits.
I’m almost looking forward to my next high school reunion. I still have all my hair and I weigh about 45 pounds less. I’ll be walking around pushing my hair back and patting my belly. There’s even a few people I’d like to see.
We had our forty-five year class of ’73 reunion late last year. What was most shocking is how many we have lost. Our class seems to have been hit pretty hard.
claudio645 over 5 years ago
Just waiting for a new Bloom County 2019…I make that face too.
paul brians over 5 years ago
From the Oxford English Dictionary:Card 2c: modern slang. [apparently suggested by such expressions as sure card , etc.; see 2b] , applied to a person, with adjective (as knowing, old, queer, etc.) indicating some eccentricity or peculiarity. Also without adjective: a ‘character’, an ‘original’; a clever, audacious, etc., person.1836 Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 42 Mr. Thomas Potter, whose great aim it was to be considered as a ‘knowing card’.1853 Dickens Bleak House xx. 199 But such an old card as this.1853 Dickens Bleak House lxii. 596 You know what a card Krook was for buying all manner of old pieces of furniter.1873 W. Black Princess of Thule x. 157 You are the most romantic card I know.1905 A. Bennett Tales of Five Towns i. 9 It would be..a topic for years, the crown of his reputation as a card.1911 A. Bennett (title) The Card—a Story of Adventure in the Five Towns.1929 W. Deeping Roper’s Row xxi ‘What the Midlanders call “a card”.’ ‘What’s that?’ ‘An original, a person.’1942 ‘W. B. Johnson’ Widening Stain (1943) iii. 34 That old Witch-Hammer was really quite a card.
sure card: an expedient certain to attain its object; a person whose agency, or the use of whose name, will ensure success. Similarly with other adjectives, as good, safe, likely, doubtful, etc., and in phrases, to play one’s best card, to have played one’s last card, etc.; to have a card (or cards) up one’s sleeve: to have a plan, resources, etc., in reserve; to play the Orange card: to appeal to Northern Irish Protestant sentiment for political advantage (see quot. 1886); hence in extended use ( to play the..card), applied to other political gambits.mattro65 over 5 years ago
I’m almost looking forward to my next high school reunion. I still have all my hair and I weigh about 45 pounds less. I’ll be walking around pushing my hair back and patting my belly. There’s even a few people I’d like to see.
Sisyphos over 5 years ago
Yup, old Ralph sure is a card, Schtebbo! Too bad you can’t swear clearly enough to be understood….
tcar-1 over 5 years ago
We had our forty-five year class of ’73 reunion late last year. What was most shocking is how many we have lost. Our class seems to have been hit pretty hard.