A Pair Of What?
Certain items are normally found in sets of two and are therefore rightly referred to as a pair. Some examples of such items are shoes, slippers, socks, boots, stockings, shoelaces, gloves, cuff links, earrings, eyes, lungs, kidneys, skis, skates, speakers, chopsticks, knitting needles, etc.Then there are items like handcuffs and headphones that are referred to as a pair although they may appear to be one item. However, upon closer examination, one can see it as two items joined together and we can reconcile ourselves quite easily with it as a pair.
But there is another category of items can causes more confusion as these items all appear to be single items and yet it is referred to as a pair. Examples of these are pants, trousers, trunks, shorts, jeans, glasses, sunglasses, binoculars, goggles, scissors, pliers, clippers, tweezers, tongs, and shears. The list can be split op in three sub-categories;
a garment to cover you from the waist down,
eyewear and optical instruments,
a tool with two jaws that can open and close.
Although they appear to be unrelated, they all have one thing in common. They started off as a pair of two separate items.
The trousers it had its humble beginnings as two legs worn to keep the legs warm. Later it gained flaps that overlapped at the top where it was tied around the waist. In time it became one single garment but the pair stayed.
Glasses also started off as a single lens called a monocle. Eventually two lenses were mounted in a single frame and once again the pair could not be dislodged from the item. After all, it is a pair of lenses in a single frame. Ditto for a pair of binoculars that can be seen as two telescopes made into one instrument.
But the last category, (pliers, tongs, scissors, etc) is the most interesting. Before the invention of the rivet they were in fact two separate pieces that had to be hooked into each other to be used. It was a true pair.
My grandfather had two giant pairs of these pliers – about a meter in length - that he used in his furnace. It worked the other way around. You had to open the legs to close the jaws and I believe this kind of technology is still in use today because the expansion of the rivet or stud, when used inside a furnace, makes it hard to open and close the pliers.
But the question I cannot answer is why a single item without legs is called a pair of panties while a bra is not a pair when it is clearly two cups joined in the middle.
Have a wonderful day.
Comments (65)
It's all in a day's fun.
We have too little fun and too much serious stuff on the blogs.
I love that word. I first learned it from CailinCallahan. Now what pair will that be? Laurel & Hardy?
You are absolutely right about to much seriousness on the blogs. I said this some time ago. We need to have more fun on here! Hey I know what we should do....let's hijack Mimi's cupcakes? She has so many, she won't miss them! What do you think?
Are you crazy. Mimi counts them every 15 minutes. She is so possessive on those cupcake, it is unreal. Last when I asked for one, she only gave me half a cupcake. And it had a number on. I think she numbers them to keep track of them.
Btw, love Laurel & Hardy
I'm upset with Teena. She dumped me for an hunchback with squint eyes.
No never. We will never steal your cupcakes... oops sorry I meant we said nothing.
Run for the hills. Do you know how much damage that biceps on the right arm can do!
I'm not that easily fooled
Urealy have what is generally called
An Enquiring Mind
Is it of
Usefull
Or
Useless
Information?
I have not seen your cupcakes. It was John and Jim. I saw them. It is not cupcakes I'm eating now. it is bread and butter.
I really have a good selection of useless information. It will never help you to pass an exam but handy to know.
this pic, and the other one, was taken in Nov 2013 after a night of too much woman wine and song. My father sneaked the pic in while I thought I have escaped unseen to catch a nap in the lounge.
it from woman, wine and song that I look like this today but you too can have this looks if you're reckless enough.
I was a flyhalf when I still played rugby. Very fast off the mark and I still have a good burst of speed. She will never catch me.
But what happened to her? Would she counting her cupcakes again.
I am a real Laurel and Hardy fan too.. Mimi and I are cut out of the same mould she just came 20 years later felt like part of me was missing BUT now she's here spreading FUN!!!!
I am UPER busy looking after 2 little ones.... Room is like a demilitarised zone but thought I would check out what is happening here.. So glad I did before Mimi eats all the cup cakes
Happy to see a fun blog too
Sorry for the disappearing trick I pulled. I had supper in the meanwhile. I think Mimi discovered that we took more than just two of her cupcakes ans is making plans to recover them.
Yes, we have a spacial on cupcakes today. Buy one for the price of two and we'll give you one free. Or hire any Laurel and Hardy movie and we'll throw in the three stooges. Terms and conditions apply.
It's ok GJ, I will sneak some in for you too ... You have just made me giggle on your blog
Cat, I will take you up on Laurel and Hardy.. At cut price!! Did I tell you how young you look on your new profile picture...
That is against the law on monopolies and cartels. She is putting us out of business, killing the market by flooding it with cheap imports from the East. Our are much nicer and nobody needs to know that we stole it from her in the first place.
The pics were taken on the same day. In fact, I was about two hours younger on the other pic.
I just checked on the Laurel and Hardy movies. I fear I'm completely out of stock. Can I perhaps interest you in Tarzan and the Ape-woman. It is highly recommended. Just don't ask who recommended it.