Question of the day

Andyk

Andyk

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An old British expression, used in the context "he knows how many beans make five", meaning "he knows his stuff" or referring to one who's good at mathematical puzzlers. Derives from the days of the abacus, when the wooden beads (beans) were moved along in various increments.
 
Fangio63

Fangio63

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There was a fairly prescriptive answer - which seemed to satisfy my parents...... any ideas ?..
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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A bean, a bean, a half a bean, a half a bean and a bean and a bean make five.

I *think*. Doesn't quite scan right to me memory though

C
 
Fangio63

Fangio63

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CatmanV2 said:
A bean, a bean, a half a bean, a half a bean and a bean and a bean make five.

I *think*. Doesn't quite scan right to me memory though

C
Click to expand...


Thats close enough.... though in our household it was "one and a half, one and a half, half of one and one and a half..."

All yours ....
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

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spkennyuk said:
If you want a really stupid VAT ruling. Ginger bread men with chocolate eyes are VAT free. However if they have chocolate dipped feet or clothing then they are subject to VAT as luxury goods. Thats probably another useless bit of information that you wish i hadn't told you ! ;)
Click to expand...

Bugger I knew the answer to this one as working in retail chocolate biscuits and VAT is always the start point of a good discussion which normally ends up with the assorted biscuit selections that come out for Christmas - do you you need to work out the percentage of plain biscuits as opposed to chocolate ;)
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Hmmm.

OK here's one that sticks with me, learnt from a a crossword puzzle.

What is a pyx?

C
 
drewf

drewf

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It's something to do with coins, as there's a ceremony about coins and a pyx with assayers.
 
drewf

drewf

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Hang on! If we are right, then we are right - you can't go picking alternative 'right' answers! ;)
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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OK, you both need to be a lot more specific, then. 'Something to do with coins' incorporates everything from one single *very specific* use of *one* pyx, once per year, right down to the old olive jars I use for keeping loose shrapnel in :)

Ditto the box on threadneedle street.

That's two (although they may actually be the same one). To put that in context there are literally millions (if not 10s of millions) of these things in use several times per week at least :)

My question, I'll be as alternative as I like! ;)

C
 
drewf

drewf

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7,159
:D

Had to look it up - I take your point. Benny and I know the ridiculously esoteric and considerably more interesting answer, but I'll concede the one you are looking for has a far wider reach.
 
BennyD

BennyD

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As I'm not a religious person I don't regard the 'alternative use' as being an alternative use. A Pyx is is a box at the Royal Mint in which silver and gold coins are placed in order to be essayed hence the 'trial of the Pyx'.
 
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