I understand the direct meaning of plumb (and some indirect ones that implied by it ).
But some specific phrases still confuse me (and , maybe, my dictionary isn’t perfect…)
Like: plumb against me – OK, that’s more or less logical…
but: perfectly plumb plumb dullness :roll: I plumb forgot
Can you help me ‘to join’ direct and indirect meanings of that plumb for such cases?
Does it just like square (used in its indirect meaning, as well)?
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I am not clear on what you are looking for, Tamara. The American Heritage Dictionary (for instance) includes all the definitions relevant to your listed examples:
[i]ADVERB: 1. In a vertical or perpendicular line. 2. Informal Directly; squarely: ‘fell plumb in the middle of the puddle’. 3. also Informal Utterly; completely: ‘plumb worn out’.
ADJECTIVE: 1. Exactly vertical. 2. also Informal Utter; absolute; sheer: ‘a plumb fool’
NOTE: A connection between concrete and metaphorical meaning lies behind the Southern adverbial usage of plumb, as in ‘He fell plumb asleep’ as an indicator of completeness or totality. [/i].
When you feel that your dictionary is inadequate, may I suggest that you try ONE LOOK DICTIONARY SEARCH?
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We can safely assume that MM has a six-pack (stomach), then (or is on the road to getting one). I like the Spanish expression, too: a chocolate bar or (for the severely muscled ) a toblerone!
A synonym might be “probe”. To probe the depths of hell.
The saying probably came from the literal use of a plumb bob. This is a weight attached to a string. When lowered into a deep hole until it hits the bottom it can be used to measure the depth of the hole.
I think something similar can be used to measure the depth of water.
The word is related to plummet - to fall, usually to fall quickly from a high place.
The word “plumb” comes from the Latin word for lead, plumbum. The chemical symbol for lead is Pb.
The weight at the end of the line was traditionally lead, so it is called a plumb line and the lead weight at the end is a plumb bob. I believe that today, though, plumb bobs are made of brass.
The plumb line can be used to ensure that something is perfectly vertical, or plumb.
You can also plumb, or measure, the depth of water using a sounding, or lead, line. I’ve also heard of “plumbed the depths of hell.”