In Italy, we would freak out like pig too! Not because of a man-eating octopus. But because the octopus doesn’t appear to have any condimento…not even a lemon wedge?!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! THERE’S A MAD MAN, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!
My parents went to Italy once, and while they were there, they went to a restaurant and mom ordered octopus. It was made into some kind of stew, and mom really liked it, so, when they went to another restaurant later, she ordered octopus again. This time, though, it was served something like in the third panel. It disgusted her so much that she couldn’t eat anything. She shouldn’t have to us that story, since, after that, she could never complain about us being picky eaters.
Even punctuation is essential in English, especially commas. “I enjoy cooking, my family and my pets” vastly differs from “I enjoy cooking my family and my pets”… and the only difference is one comma.
In spoken language, you would not be aware of the hyphen so misunderstanding the message is understandable. In print, putting in the hyphen would be deliberately misleading as man-eating and man eating do not have the same meaning.
The English language is a precision tool if used by competent people. Pastis is an expert. When he uses the English language, it is a finely honed edged weapon controlled by a fencing master.
Some are, umm, less than competent. When used by the less-than-competent, the English language becomes a blunt instrument. Fencing masters chop blunt instrument users into very small pieces.
Many decades ago, the late Burl Ives sang a song about a “man-eating shark” that would eat neither woman nor child. (You can find it if you search YouTube for “chivalrous shark”.)
When a noun is used to describe another noun, it’s called a “nominal adjective”; for example, “rope burn” or “building permit”. But suppose you have an actual adjective in front of two nouns. Which noun does it modify? That’s where the hyphen comes in handy. If you’ve got a “used pizza container”, you’ve got a greasy box; if you’ve got a “used-pizza container”, you’ve got a barf bag.
BE THIS GUY 7 months ago
First version I saw of this joke was “Man Eating Tiger” on I Love Lucy.
BasilBruce 7 months ago
I guess the thought of someone eating octopus caused Pig to run away in disgust.
ronaldspence 7 months ago
At least it’s not a "Pig Eating Octopus "
pearlsbs 7 months ago
Pig should be relieved that it’s not a man eating pork.
syzygy47 7 months ago
Back in the day, a sideshow at the nearby city’s annual event had a (s’truth) “man-eating chicken”.
pschearer Premium Member 7 months ago
Anglisc imprecise is? Nay!!
Sanspareil 7 months ago
Since Pig is porcine, he shouldn’t care if there was a man eating octopus!
tudza Premium Member 7 months ago
It would be very clear in Lojban, but oh my god, you don’t want to learn Lojban. ( Respect to anyone here that studied Lojban. )
enigmamz 7 months ago
Just like an old Danger Mouse (old British cartoon) line: “I once saw a man eating cabbage!”
“Where?”
“At the Wilsden Green Cafe!”
Gent 7 months ago
Me is never goings to understandeeng Engleesh.
luca.debus creator 7 months ago
In Italy, we would freak out like pig too! Not because of a man-eating octopus. But because the octopus doesn’t appear to have any condimento…not even a lemon wedge?!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! THERE’S A MAD MAN, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!
scote1379 Premium Member 7 months ago
So Impercise it’s Impressive.
Purple People Eater 7 months ago
My parents went to Italy once, and while they were there, they went to a restaurant and mom ordered octopus. It was made into some kind of stew, and mom really liked it, so, when they went to another restaurant later, she ordered octopus again. This time, though, it was served something like in the third panel. It disgusted her so much that she couldn’t eat anything. She shouldn’t have to us that story, since, after that, she could never complain about us being picky eaters.
joe.altmaier 7 months ago
Maybe he is a Panda too! Eats, shoots and leaves.
smithsilverstrea 7 months ago
watch out for the printer’s ink.
Indiana Guy 7 months ago
Even punctuation is essential in English, especially commas. “I enjoy cooking, my family and my pets” vastly differs from “I enjoy cooking my family and my pets”… and the only difference is one comma.
markkahler52 7 months ago
Tastes like chicken. Goes down like spaghetti.
Ellis97 7 months ago
And that’s why context is very important.
cdward 7 months ago
Eats shoots and leaves.
Let’s eat Grandma!
Commas, they can be a matter of life and death.
ajr58(1) 7 months ago
Punctuation saves lives.
[Traveler] Premium Member 7 months ago
Now that’s funny
Croc Holliday 7 months ago
In spoken language, you would not be aware of the hyphen so misunderstanding the message is understandable. In print, putting in the hyphen would be deliberately misleading as man-eating and man eating do not have the same meaning.
Painted Wolf 7 months ago
The English language is a precision tool if used by competent people. Pastis is an expert. When he uses the English language, it is a finely honed edged weapon controlled by a fencing master.
Some are, umm, less than competent. When used by the less-than-competent, the English language becomes a blunt instrument. Fencing masters chop blunt instrument users into very small pieces.
Ken Otwell 7 months ago
Could never eat one again after watching the documentary: “My Octopus Teacher”. They are so smart and even affectionate!
Goat from PBS 7 months ago
I mean, that might actually be scarier than a man-eating octopus.
Kaputnik 7 months ago
Ah, so he’s an octopus-eating man.
uniquename 7 months ago
English is imprecise. That’s what makes it pun!
david_42 7 months ago
Octopus and bran muffins have this in common – the longer you chew them, the bigger they get.
Znox11 7 months ago
Walk into your local KFC and yell, “Lookout, there’s a man eating chicken!!!”
Procat Premium Member 7 months ago
Food that really sticks to your ribs
artegal 7 months ago
I enjoy cooking my family and my dog.
(commas are important)
poppacapsmokeblower 7 months ago
It’s funnier when spoken because you don’t see the hyphen.
hoffquotes2 7 months ago
Why does pig worry, he is not a man
Ishka Bibel 7 months ago
My favorite Peruvian place makes a ceviche with baby octopus. Little tiny tentacles and the crunchy beak.
brick10 7 months ago
Mouse, Pig, and Goat should be safe if it is a Man-eating octopus.
Slowly, he turned... 7 months ago
It a) affects b) effects all of us! (pick one)
cldisme 7 months ago
Umm… the Red Wings did not make the playoffs this time around. Why are we worried about octopii this time of year?
mfrasca 7 months ago
After learning that octopuses are possibly sentient, I no longer eat them.
Katje 7 months ago
Could have been a man-eating pig. :DShould have been a man-eating pig. :D
cfkelley 7 months ago
This cartoon is offensive to Octopodes everywhere. Shame on you, Pastis!
mindjob 7 months ago
I had that same reaction when I tried to eat alligator
Croc Holliday 7 months ago
Worst James Bond title ever: Octopussy.
fourteenpeeves 7 months ago
At a McCormick&Schmick’s in Seattle, I had barracuda. First and last time I ever saw it on a menu
wildlandwaters 7 months ago
but even if it really was a maneating octopus, why would anything other than a man need to be concerned??
Bilan 7 months ago
Re-emphasizing the statement by Croc Holliday, the hyphen in the strip made the meaning very clear. The joke failed.
Count Olaf Premium Member 7 months ago
Why does the octopus emoji mean? Asking for a friend.
The Humanist 7 months ago
It is useful to hide private information.
The Brooklyn Accent Premium Member 7 months ago
Many decades ago, the late Burl Ives sang a song about a “man-eating shark” that would eat neither woman nor child. (You can find it if you search YouTube for “chivalrous shark”.)
Dacker Premium Member 7 months ago
There is a difference between “man-eating octopus” and “man eating octopus”.
Stephan wrote the former but drew the later.
PhilSexton 7 months ago
Should have been a GIANT man eating octopus.
Drgnslr Premium Member 7 months ago
We’re going to the baby doctor today.
ednorton130 7 months ago
Why did he run, he’s a pig. It was not a pig eating octopus.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 7 months ago
When a noun is used to describe another noun, it’s called a “nominal adjective”; for example, “rope burn” or “building permit”. But suppose you have an actual adjective in front of two nouns. Which noun does it modify? That’s where the hyphen comes in handy. If you’ve got a “used pizza container”, you’ve got a greasy box; if you’ve got a “used-pizza container”, you’ve got a barf bag.
Steverino Premium Member 7 months ago
This the exact reason when I go to a seafood resturant, I order shark. Turnabout is fair play. Be careful, Sherman.
Farceur 7 months ago
007
DaBump Premium Member 7 months ago
An oldie but a goodie.
wordsmeet 7 months ago
The octopus looks raw or undercooked; the guy didn’t even grill it or pour olive oil on it. Tsk, tsk.
The-miner! 7 months ago
Old joke, “a man-eating chicken!”
alantain 9 days ago
I don’t think I could eat something I have to wrestle with to get it off my fork.