Forums > General Discussion   Shooting the breeze...

Time flies like an arrow - 10 ways

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Created by Harrow > 9 months ago, 31 May 2014
Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
31 May 2014 6:12PM
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Here's one for the linguistic aficianados I've observed on this forum over the years.

We've all You may have heard the expression, "Time flies like an arrow". There are over 10 ways that it can be interpreted. See if you can figure them all out.

I'll get you started with the obvious and generally accepted meaning. Now you just need to find the other 9 (or more!).

1. Time goes by quickly.

d1
WA, 304 posts
31 May 2014 4:39PM
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To us humans, the time dimension is restricted to being a vector (usually shown as an arrow). It only flies in one direction: from past, through present, towards future.

VB MAN
1156 posts
31 May 2014 4:42PM
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Time flies like an arrow

Hmmm, nahh, never heard that one before

seanhogan
QLD, 3424 posts
31 May 2014 6:52PM
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time flies like sandflys.....

jamdfingr
QLD, 663 posts
31 May 2014 7:13PM
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Fruit flies like a banana!

GPA
WA, 2529 posts
31 May 2014 6:03PM
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it only goes in one direction (?)
once it's gone you can't get it back (?)
once you let it go it's gone (?)

Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
31 May 2014 8:24PM
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Seems 'd1' and 'GPA' have figure out variations of number 2. Eight to go. (The rest are rather weird.)

1. Time goes by quickly.
2. Time moves the way an arrow would. Straight and predictable.

Ian K
WA, 4169 posts
31 May 2014 6:51PM
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Harrow said..

Seems 'd1' and 'GPA' have figure out variations of number 2. Eight to go. (The rest are rather weird.)

1. Time goes by quickly.
2. Time moves the way an arrow would. Straight and predictable.


1 and 2 are splitting hairs. 1a and 1b maybe.

Jammed finger must have 2?

What about the Seagull that goes by the name Time? No that would be 1c

I give in. There's only 2 meanings.

Cambodge
VIC, 851 posts
31 May 2014 9:18PM
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Ummmm..."Time travels along a parabolic curve that could come full circle around the Earth and stab you in the buttocks if it wasn't for that damned drag." ?

Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
31 May 2014 9:26PM
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Ian K said..
1 and 2 are splitting hairs. 1a and 1b maybe.

Okay, I'll pay that. (Aficianado no.1 identified) So here's a new number 2, and number 3 as a bonus. I think you'll be happy with these being different.

1. Time passes quickly, (or straight and predictably), like an arrow.
2. Measure the speed of flying insects the same way you would measure the speed of an arrow.
3. Measure the speed of flying insects that look like arrows.



SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
31 May 2014 9:29PM
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interesting , never heard that exact expression........ "time flies" yes heard and use that ..... but "arrow" naaaaa .

maybe my family and every person i have ever met are just lazy .... couldn't be bothered with the arrow .....


time does fly faster as we get older though , or so it seems !

enjoy that time yawl seabreezers !!!!!!


Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
31 May 2014 9:31PM
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sausage said..

Ha you got me intrigued Harrow.

arghh...delete your message....you'll spoil the fun!!

Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
31 May 2014 9:39PM
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1. Time passes quickly, (or straight and predictably), like an arrow.
2. Measure the speed of flying insects the same way you would measure the speed of an arrow.
3. Measure the speed of flying insects that look like arrows.
4. Measure the speed of flying insects really quickly. (ie. don't take too long to do the measuring.)
5. "Time-flies" (a rarely known species of insect) are fond of arrows. (Well done 'jamdfingr' )

needsalt
NSW, 385 posts
31 May 2014 9:57PM
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The rarely known species of insect, the time-fly, are similar to an arrow?

needsalt
NSW, 385 posts
31 May 2014 9:59PM
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Measure the speed of flies that are fond of arrows?

needsalt
NSW, 385 posts
31 May 2014 10:04PM
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Life is short. Measure the speed of flies, be fond of an arrow

Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
31 May 2014 10:10PM
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needsalt said..

Life is short. Measure the speed of flies, be fond of an arrow

LOL, I like it! That can be number 6.

7. There's an American Indian who is really fast. They call him "Flies like an arrow". Go and measure how quickly he can run the 100m sprint.

Lexmark
VIC, 218 posts
1 Jun 2014 1:31AM
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Your wasting too much time thinking about it, have you not got better things to do but wast time :)

patsken
WA, 713 posts
1 Jun 2014 12:40AM
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HHMMMM "Time flies like an arrow"

My logic goes like this:

1. There was an Indian Arrow motorcycle.
2. Indian also made Scouts and Chiefs.
3. "The Worlds Fastest Indian" was a mongrel Scout built and ridden by Bert Munroe (from across the ditch).
4. You can get fast Indian Chiefs - for their time.
5. You can get fast Scouts - Bert's bike was !
6. I've never heard of a fast Indian Arrow.
7. So therefore if "Time flies like an Arrow" it must mean that time goes by really slowly then because the Indian Arrow certainly was slow!

I worked that by simple logic and several glasses of wine.....

saltiest1
NSW, 2566 posts
1 Jun 2014 10:12AM
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time can be bent and is relative to the observer.
watching an arrow fly is different for each person watching from a different vantage point perhaps as the arrow flexes in its flight?

Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
1 Jun 2014 1:02PM
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A couple more, almost done.

1. Time passes quickly, (or straight and predictably), like an arrow.
2. Measure the speed of flying insects the same way you would measure the speed of an arrow.
3. Measure the speed of flying insects that look like arrows.
4. Measure the speed of flying insects really quickly. (ie. don't take too long to do the measuring.)
5. "Time-flies" (a rarely known species of insect) are fond of arrows in general. (Well done 'jamdfingr' )
6. "Time-flies" (a rarely known species of insect) like a particular arrow. (How is this different than '5'? Think of "Jim likes a beer" and "Jim likes a girl")
7. Life is short. Measure the speed of flies, be fond of arrows. (Brilliant 'needsalt'! )
8. There's an American Indian who is really fast. They call him "Flies like an arrow". Go and measure how quickly he can run the 100m sprint.
9. It's about time flying insects gave up their prejudice against arrows.

Not sure if anyone is really interested, or if I'm just boring you all to tears. 'Green thumb' this post if you want to know number 10...it's a real doozey!!

brady
TAS, 454 posts
1 Jun 2014 3:32PM
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Here's a new variant. Once again, consider our indian namede "flies like an arrow". He and two other many are in the exercise yard in the prison. Each of the men are entitled to a certain duration spent in the exercise yard.

The guard walks out and calls out "time flies like and arrow" - as in it is time for flies like an arrow but not the other guys to come in

Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
1 Jun 2014 4:45PM
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Okay, you asked for it. (Well, it seems at least one person did.)

So, here we go...

In England, when it is time for the bar to close, it is customary to call out "Time, gentlemen!". Also, in Essex, there is a taxi company called "Arrow Taxis".

10. Imagine a group of flying insects (flies) who have been having a session at their local pub in Essex. At closing time, the barmaid calls "time" to the group (of flies), but also offers to order them an (Arrow) taxi-cab to get them home. "Time, flies! Like an Arrow (taxi)?"

References:
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Time%20Gentlemen%20Please
www.arrowtaxi.co.uk/

needsalt
NSW, 385 posts
1 Jun 2014 9:27PM
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Hehe... very cool. Thanks Harrow!

actiomax
NSW, 1576 posts
2 Jun 2014 8:43AM
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Time gets faster as you get older because for example .When your one year old a year is 100% of your time but if you are 100 years old its only one percent.
Ive never heard of time flying like an arrow but I have heard it flies while your having fun.

Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
2 Jun 2014 1:30PM
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actiomax said..Ive never heard of time flying like an arrow.

Yes, I was amazed how many people said the same.

I thought everyone would have heard the quip, "Time flies like and arrow, fruit flies like a banana", but seemingly not.

kiteboy dave
QLD, 6525 posts
2 Jun 2014 1:31PM
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Fun thread, pity I missed it.

For anyone who wants to continue the fun, have a crack at interpreting this linguistically correct 100% valid english sentence:

"Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo"

Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
2 Jun 2014 1:39PM
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kiteboy dave said..
Fun thread, pity I missed it.

For anyone who wants to continue the fun, have a crack at interpreting this linguistically correct 100% valid english sentence:

"Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo"


Hmm, at first glance I'm stumped. But I'll resist the urge to google and think about it over lunch.

sn
WA, 2775 posts
2 Jun 2014 11:54AM
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I made the mistake of googling the buffalo thingy

now my brain hurts from trying to understand had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had



stephen

Harrow
NSW, 4521 posts
2 Jun 2014 3:22PM
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sn said..

I made the mistake of googling the buffalo thingy

now my brain hurts from trying to understand had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had

stephen

I knew the had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had had thing,

but got a sore head trying to figure out can can can can can can can can can can can can can can can can can can can can.

Also, I never would have solved the Buffalo one. I thought about possible noun and verb combinations, but that just didn't give me enough material to work with. Entirely forgot about the proper noun (ie. Buffalo town), but even then it's rather cryptic.

And of course, "Police police police police police police police!"



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Forums > General Discussion   Shooting the breeze...


"Time flies like an arrow - 10 ways" started by Harrow