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Archiver > LONDON > 2005-11 > 1131584887


From: "Bob Cunning" <>
Subject: Re: [Lon] Re: How bad is it to 'Blot one's Copybook"
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 12:08:07 +1100
References: <SmdexgAgQpcDFwGp@varneys.demon.co.uk>


I have no idea about UK, but in Australia, we had a book called ''Copy
Book''. It was at the basic level and consisted of ''pothooks'' i.e. the
strokes and curves that would be parts of letters. The characters were there
and we had to copy them. Later in the book there were the letters, once
again already printed and again, for us to copy.

The saying held good here too, woe betide any careless child who put an ink
stain on that book!

Cheers, Bob in Melbourne


----- Original Message -----
From: "Eve McLaughlin" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Lon] Re: How bad is it to 'Blot one's Copybook"


> In message <006601c5e56c$55893050$>, Margaret Cambridge
> <> writes
> >I believe to "Blot one's Copybook" is a British phrase so hopefully
someone
> >can give me some idea as to how serious it could be. On google I have
found
> >that it is likely to be a permanent record.
>
> It comesof course, from the schoolroom, where a child fair copying a
> passage in his exercise book spills ink over it - a bad error which
> could not be concealed and would attract punishment.
> By extension, anyone who make a bad mistake, which cannot be concealed
> or ignored, which leaves a permanent stain (figurative) on the character
> 'blots his copybook.'
>
> --
> Eve McLaughlin

snip

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