This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
disclose
Of course, one can overdo differentiation?
Aug 20, 2021 13:40
2 yrs ago
46 viewers *
English term

lamb for the well

English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature An American novel
Description of a fight between a "problem-solver" (Matthew) and a killer (Slaughter). It seems that Matthew has lost the fight. Does it mean something like a "lamb to the slaughter"?

"All at once Slaughter cast him aside like dirty laundry. Matthew fell to his knees. He stared down at the floor where his own blood was dripping. He was used up, nothing left. He thought he was going to pass out in another few seconds, and lie here like a ***lamb for the well***, yes."
Responses
5 lamb for the (slaughter)
3 +6 Text includes an ellipsis (...). Missing a comma (,) after "well" and before "yes"
4 lamb for the well
4 -2 a lamb to be cooked in a well (an underground pit)

Discussion

Taña Dalglish Aug 20, 2021:
@ Mark Thank you. I really don't think this is a question which warrants posting, to be honest. I would deem it more a question of "observation" (I am making this up here, I guess). LOL! Sure, I will post something which is a repetition of what I already pointed out. Regards.
Boris Shapiro Aug 20, 2021:
Taña is 100% correct, the ellipsis is the key to understanding the phrase. This is neither an OCR error nor a leftover editorial comment; this is the hero himself realising the pun his train of thought has led him to. A bit of linguistic introspection, so to say.
Mark Robertson Aug 20, 2021:
@Taña Are you going to post your answer?
Taña Dalglish Aug 20, 2021:
@ Alexander On line: https://xn--1lq71ssa598lmh4admgwyq.com/robert-r-mccammon/pag...

Something hit the wheel.

Not his face. Something that sounded like pebbles. Someone had just thrown a handful of pebbles into the room, is what it sounded like. Matthew heard them—four or five, it might have been—hit the wheel and bounce off; one struck the side of his neck and gave him a sting.

*** All at once Slaughter cast him aside like dirty laundry. Matthew fell to his knees. He stared down at the floor where his own blood was dripping. He was used up, nothing left. He thought he was going to pass out in another few seconds, ***and lie here like a lamb for the … well, yes. ***

“Who’s there?” he heard Slaughter roar. The man stalked to the nearest window, which looked toward the woods. “Who’s there, please?” The diplomat at work. “This is a private matter!”

Note: It is an ellipsis (...), meaning a word has been omitted, perhaps deliberately. The punctuation is incorrect, so that is why you are unable to make sense of it.
Mister Slaughter, p. 33 by Robert R. McCammon

Responses

5 days
Selected

lamb for the (slaughter)

Yes, you're right: the common idiom is hat someone is "like a lamb to the slaughter", and it's a cute play on the character's name. I second guess myself on things like this all the time when I'm translating fiction, especially when there are mistakes in the source text.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, Hayley! Thanks to Tana, too, for the explanation."
-2
30 mins

a lamb to be cooked in a well (an underground pit)

Home of the famed Lamb-in-the-Well. On Sundays, you will have a rare opportunity to taste a centuries old lamb recipe. Cooked in an underground well with burning wood on the bottom and served along rice, potatoes ...
https://www.denizkizi.com/dining/country-club.html
Peer comment(s):
neutral philgoddard : There are only three hits for this, from the same hotel in Northern Cyprus.
4 mins
disagree Yvonne Gallagher : how does that even remotely fit the context ?
6 hrs
disagree Daryo : ???
23 hrs
Something went wrong...
+6
5 hrs

Text includes an ellipsis (...). Missing a comma (,) after "well" and before "yes"

All at once Slaughter cast him aside like dirty laundry. Matthew fell to his knees. He stared down at the floor where his own blood was dripping. He was used up, nothing left. He thought he was going to pass out in another few seconds, ***and lie here like a lamb for the … well, yes. ***

Note: It is an ellipsis (...), meaning a word has been omitted, perhaps deliberately. The punctuation is incorrect, so that is why you are unable to make sense of it.
Mister Slaughter, p. 33 by Robert R. McCammon.
Peer comment(s):
agree Boris Shapiro : Indeed.
8 mins
Thank you so much.
agree Petrus Maritz : Yes, this makes the most sense.
1 hr
Thank you Petrus.
agree Yvonne Gallagher : you too
1 hr
Many thanks Yvonne. Stay safe.
agree Daryo
18 hrs
Thank you.
agree Mark Robertson
1 day 1 hr
Thank you Mark.
agree philgoddard : Yes, this seems a reasonable guess, though the comma isn't missing.
2 days 18 hrs
Right! Thx. It is not a guess though! It is plain as day in the link provided which I found on the net!
Something went wrong...
29 days

lamb for the well

He was used up like a 'lamb for the well'. Fight being brutal for Matthew made him realize that in such scenarios its normal to be left lying there and ending in the use of the system.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search