Re: thick as thieves

From: Paul J Kriha (paul.nospam.kriha_at_paradise.net.nz)
Date: 03/29/05 

Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 18:00:29 +1200

Peter T. Daniels <grammatim@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message news:4248AD9E.454@worldnet.att.net...
> Jacques Guy wrote:
> >
> > Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> > > Jacques Guy wrote:
> >
> > >>I would say, yes, it certainly means "to stick together, come hail or
> > >>come shine", always helping one another swindle someone else, never
> > >>ratting on one of the gang.
> >
> > > You must mean "come hell or high water" or "come rain or come shine."

A proverbial proverbial conflation?

> > Exclusive "or" only. "Come hail or come shine" is equivalent to
> > "come rain or come shine", but not quite to "come hell or high
> > water".
>
> No, because "come hail or come shine" isn't a stock phrase, the other
> two are.
> --
> Peter T. Daniels grammatim@att.net