Posted by greg on July 01, 1997 at 22:49:21:
In reply to Puppy Talk posted by Anne P on July 01, 1997 at 08:12:27
] In Emma 3, Mrs. Elton goes on about Frank Churchill not being a puppy. Does anybody know what that was supposed to mean?
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i imagined a literal puppy with a man's face, i.e., "licking your face" as it were to curry your favor. wanting constant attention, as if you're his mother. when i looked the term up in my american heritage, though, it said "conceited or inexperienced youth". from the context of the scene in emma3, i'd imagine you'd get a pretty good idea of "puppy" by looking at the conceited and self-centered Mr. E. :-D which is of course the point of the joke.