What does “FRANCE TO PLACE” mean?
From Pat Hobby, Putative Father by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
He searched the orange pages frantically. Below the form sheets, the
past performances, the endless oracles for endless racetracks, his eye
was caught by a one-inch item:
LONDON. SEPTEMBER 3RD. ON THIS MORNING'S DECLARATION BY CHAMBERLAIN,
DOUGIE CABLES 'ENGLAND TO WIN. FRANCE TO PLACE. RUSSIA TO SHOW'.
Clearly this is a shorthand for something, but what?
meaning literature
asked 4 hours ago
GuestGuest
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New contributor
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show 1 more comment
From Pat Hobby, Putative Father by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
He searched the orange pages frantically. Below the form sheets, the
past performances, the endless oracles for endless racetracks, his eye
was caught by a one-inch item:
LONDON. SEPTEMBER 3RD. ON THIS MORNING'S DECLARATION BY CHAMBERLAIN,
DOUGIE CABLES 'ENGLAND TO WIN. FRANCE TO PLACE. RUSSIA TO SHOW'.
Clearly this is a shorthand for something, but what?
meaning literature
asked 4 hours ago
GuestGuest
111
New contributor
Guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
5
Win, place, and show are betting terms, often used in horse racing.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
"ENGLAND TO WIN" is likely a reference to the war, nascent at the time.
– Guest
3 hours ago
1
Not Nascent: on 3rd September 1939 Chamberlain declared war on Germany. Who was Dougie in the book? Why is the message on the sporting page? What is the context?
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@WeatherVane The Cambridge Dictionary defines "nascent" as "only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly." So of course WW2 was nascent in September 1939.
– Guest
3 hours ago
Anyway, it's just a short story, not a book, and Dougie is not a character (this is the first and only reference to that name). I guess I am closer to understanding what this is supposed to mean -- thanks y'all.
– Guest
3 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
From Pat Hobby, Putative Father by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
He searched the orange pages frantically. Below the form sheets, the
past performances, the endless oracles for endless racetracks, his eye
was caught by a one-inch item:
LONDON. SEPTEMBER 3RD. ON THIS MORNING'S DECLARATION BY CHAMBERLAIN,
DOUGIE CABLES 'ENGLAND TO WIN. FRANCE TO PLACE. RUSSIA TO SHOW'.
Clearly this is a shorthand for something, but what?
meaning literature
asked 4 hours ago
GuestGuest
111
New contributor
Guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
From Pat Hobby, Putative Father by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
He searched the orange pages frantically. Below the form sheets, the
past performances, the endless oracles for endless racetracks, his eye
was caught by a one-inch item:
LONDON. SEPTEMBER 3RD. ON THIS MORNING'S DECLARATION BY CHAMBERLAIN,
DOUGIE CABLES 'ENGLAND TO WIN. FRANCE TO PLACE. RUSSIA TO SHOW'.
Clearly this is a shorthand for something, but what?
meaning literature
meaning literature
asked 4 hours ago
GuestGuest
111
New contributor
Guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
GuestGuest
111
New contributor
Guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
GuestGuest
111
New contributor
Guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
GuestGuest
111
asked 4 hours ago
GuestGuest
111
111
New contributor
Guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
5
Win, place, and show are betting terms, often used in horse racing.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
"ENGLAND TO WIN" is likely a reference to the war, nascent at the time.
– Guest
3 hours ago
1
Not Nascent: on 3rd September 1939 Chamberlain declared war on Germany. Who was Dougie in the book? Why is the message on the sporting page? What is the context?
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@WeatherVane The Cambridge Dictionary defines "nascent" as "only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly." So of course WW2 was nascent in September 1939.
– Guest
3 hours ago
Anyway, it's just a short story, not a book, and Dougie is not a character (this is the first and only reference to that name). I guess I am closer to understanding what this is supposed to mean -- thanks y'all.
– Guest
3 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
5
Win, place, and show are betting terms, often used in horse racing.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
"ENGLAND TO WIN" is likely a reference to the war, nascent at the time.
– Guest
3 hours ago
1
Not Nascent: on 3rd September 1939 Chamberlain declared war on Germany. Who was Dougie in the book? Why is the message on the sporting page? What is the context?
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@WeatherVane The Cambridge Dictionary defines "nascent" as "only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly." So of course WW2 was nascent in September 1939.
– Guest
3 hours ago
Anyway, it's just a short story, not a book, and Dougie is not a character (this is the first and only reference to that name). I guess I am closer to understanding what this is supposed to mean -- thanks y'all.
– Guest
3 hours ago
5
5
Win, place, and show are betting terms, often used in horse racing.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
Win, place, and show are betting terms, often used in horse racing.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
"ENGLAND TO WIN" is likely a reference to the war, nascent at the time.
– Guest
3 hours ago
"ENGLAND TO WIN" is likely a reference to the war, nascent at the time.
– Guest
3 hours ago
1
1
Not Nascent: on 3rd September 1939 Chamberlain declared war on Germany. Who was Dougie in the book? Why is the message on the sporting page? What is the context?
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
Not Nascent: on 3rd September 1939 Chamberlain declared war on Germany. Who was Dougie in the book? Why is the message on the sporting page? What is the context?
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@WeatherVane The Cambridge Dictionary defines "nascent" as "only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly." So of course WW2 was nascent in September 1939.
– Guest
3 hours ago
@WeatherVane The Cambridge Dictionary defines "nascent" as "only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly." So of course WW2 was nascent in September 1939.
– Guest
3 hours ago
Anyway, it's just a short story, not a book, and Dougie is not a character (this is the first and only reference to that name). I guess I am closer to understanding what this is supposed to mean -- thanks y'all.
– Guest
3 hours ago
Anyway, it's just a short story, not a book, and Dougie is not a character (this is the first and only reference to that name). I guess I am closer to understanding what this is supposed to mean -- thanks y'all.
– Guest
3 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
It's a betting term.
Win — first place.
Place — second or first place.
Show — third, second or first place.
Source: oddsshark.com (among others).
Suggesting England would "win," France would finish second and Russia third. That is, someone was setting odds on the outcome of the war.
answered 3 hours ago
drewhartdrewhart
2,041514
How does that make sense in this context? Are there second and third place winners in war?
– Guest
3 hours ago
@Guest it was a cable (or telegram) which was expensive to send, thus in shorthand, from someone with a sense of humour.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@Guest “England set to win; France set to come second; Russia set to come third [=last?]”. Makes perfect sense in the context, doesn’t it?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
3 hours ago
It is possible that this makes sense, but not to me (yet), and your comment does not help me understand. I understand that this is a metaphor, but as I said, I have not heard of second and third place winners in war. What does that mean?
– Guest
3 hours ago
2
@Guest - You are exactly right, and that's much of the point. Think about it.
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
horse racing term
to place TFD
Games Second position for betting purposes, as in a horserace.
The prediction of the race is for England to win ... Russia to come in 3rd. But without more context ( doubtful horses name's could be England, France and Russia) it could be a political or some such metaphor.
answered 3 hours ago
lbflbf
20.8k22573
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
It's a betting term.
Win — first place.
Place — second or first place.
Show — third, second or first place.
Source: oddsshark.com (among others).
Suggesting England would "win," France would finish second and Russia third. That is, someone was setting odds on the outcome of the war.
answered 3 hours ago
drewhartdrewhart
2,041514
How does that make sense in this context? Are there second and third place winners in war?
– Guest
3 hours ago
@Guest it was a cable (or telegram) which was expensive to send, thus in shorthand, from someone with a sense of humour.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@Guest “England set to win; France set to come second; Russia set to come third [=last?]”. Makes perfect sense in the context, doesn’t it?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
3 hours ago
It is possible that this makes sense, but not to me (yet), and your comment does not help me understand. I understand that this is a metaphor, but as I said, I have not heard of second and third place winners in war. What does that mean?
– Guest
3 hours ago
2
@Guest - You are exactly right, and that's much of the point. Think about it.
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
It's a betting term.
Win — first place.
Place — second or first place.
Show — third, second or first place.
Source: oddsshark.com (among others).
Suggesting England would "win," France would finish second and Russia third. That is, someone was setting odds on the outcome of the war.
answered 3 hours ago
drewhartdrewhart
2,041514
How does that make sense in this context? Are there second and third place winners in war?
– Guest
3 hours ago
@Guest it was a cable (or telegram) which was expensive to send, thus in shorthand, from someone with a sense of humour.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@Guest “England set to win; France set to come second; Russia set to come third [=last?]”. Makes perfect sense in the context, doesn’t it?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
3 hours ago
It is possible that this makes sense, but not to me (yet), and your comment does not help me understand. I understand that this is a metaphor, but as I said, I have not heard of second and third place winners in war. What does that mean?
– Guest
3 hours ago
2
@Guest - You are exactly right, and that's much of the point. Think about it.
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
It's a betting term.
Win — first place.
Place — second or first place.
Show — third, second or first place.
Source: oddsshark.com (among others).
Suggesting England would "win," France would finish second and Russia third. That is, someone was setting odds on the outcome of the war.
answered 3 hours ago
drewhartdrewhart
2,041514
It's a betting term.
Win — first place.
Place — second or first place.
Show — third, second or first place.
Source: oddsshark.com (among others).
Suggesting England would "win," France would finish second and Russia third. That is, someone was setting odds on the outcome of the war.
answered 3 hours ago
drewhartdrewhart
2,041514
edited 3 hours ago
answered 3 hours ago
drewhartdrewhart
2,041514
answered 3 hours ago
drewhartdrewhart
2,041514
answered 3 hours ago
drewhartdrewhart
2,041514
2,041514
How does that make sense in this context? Are there second and third place winners in war?
– Guest
3 hours ago
@Guest it was a cable (or telegram) which was expensive to send, thus in shorthand, from someone with a sense of humour.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@Guest “England set to win; France set to come second; Russia set to come third [=last?]”. Makes perfect sense in the context, doesn’t it?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
3 hours ago
It is possible that this makes sense, but not to me (yet), and your comment does not help me understand. I understand that this is a metaphor, but as I said, I have not heard of second and third place winners in war. What does that mean?
– Guest
3 hours ago
2
@Guest - You are exactly right, and that's much of the point. Think about it.
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
How does that make sense in this context? Are there second and third place winners in war?
– Guest
3 hours ago
@Guest it was a cable (or telegram) which was expensive to send, thus in shorthand, from someone with a sense of humour.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@Guest “England set to win; France set to come second; Russia set to come third [=last?]”. Makes perfect sense in the context, doesn’t it?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
3 hours ago
It is possible that this makes sense, but not to me (yet), and your comment does not help me understand. I understand that this is a metaphor, but as I said, I have not heard of second and third place winners in war. What does that mean?
– Guest
3 hours ago
2
@Guest - You are exactly right, and that's much of the point. Think about it.
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
How does that make sense in this context? Are there second and third place winners in war?
– Guest
3 hours ago
How does that make sense in this context? Are there second and third place winners in war?
– Guest
3 hours ago
@Guest it was a cable (or telegram) which was expensive to send, thus in shorthand, from someone with a sense of humour.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@Guest it was a cable (or telegram) which was expensive to send, thus in shorthand, from someone with a sense of humour.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@Guest “England set to win; France set to come second; Russia set to come third [=last?]”. Makes perfect sense in the context, doesn’t it?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
3 hours ago
@Guest “England set to win; France set to come second; Russia set to come third [=last?]”. Makes perfect sense in the context, doesn’t it?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
3 hours ago
It is possible that this makes sense, but not to me (yet), and your comment does not help me understand. I understand that this is a metaphor, but as I said, I have not heard of second and third place winners in war. What does that mean?
– Guest
3 hours ago
It is possible that this makes sense, but not to me (yet), and your comment does not help me understand. I understand that this is a metaphor, but as I said, I have not heard of second and third place winners in war. What does that mean?
– Guest
3 hours ago
2
2
@Guest - You are exactly right, and that's much of the point. Think about it.
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
@Guest - You are exactly right, and that's much of the point. Think about it.
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
horse racing term
to place TFD
Games Second position for betting purposes, as in a horserace.
The prediction of the race is for England to win ... Russia to come in 3rd. But without more context ( doubtful horses name's could be England, France and Russia) it could be a political or some such metaphor.
answered 3 hours ago
lbflbf
20.8k22573
add a comment |
horse racing term
to place TFD
Games Second position for betting purposes, as in a horserace.
The prediction of the race is for England to win ... Russia to come in 3rd. But without more context ( doubtful horses name's could be England, France and Russia) it could be a political or some such metaphor.
answered 3 hours ago
lbflbf
20.8k22573
add a comment |
horse racing term
to place TFD
Games Second position for betting purposes, as in a horserace.
The prediction of the race is for England to win ... Russia to come in 3rd. But without more context ( doubtful horses name's could be England, France and Russia) it could be a political or some such metaphor.
answered 3 hours ago
lbflbf
20.8k22573
horse racing term
to place TFD
Games Second position for betting purposes, as in a horserace.
The prediction of the race is for England to win ... Russia to come in 3rd. But without more context ( doubtful horses name's could be England, France and Russia) it could be a political or some such metaphor.
answered 3 hours ago
lbflbf
20.8k22573
edited 3 hours ago
answered 3 hours ago
lbflbf
20.8k22573
answered 3 hours ago
lbflbf
20.8k22573
answered 3 hours ago
lbflbf
20.8k22573
20.8k22573
add a comment |
add a comment |
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5
Win, place, and show are betting terms, often used in horse racing.
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
"ENGLAND TO WIN" is likely a reference to the war, nascent at the time.
– Guest
3 hours ago
1
Not Nascent: on 3rd September 1939 Chamberlain declared war on Germany. Who was Dougie in the book? Why is the message on the sporting page? What is the context?
– Weather Vane
3 hours ago
@WeatherVane The Cambridge Dictionary defines "nascent" as "only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly." So of course WW2 was nascent in September 1939.
– Guest
3 hours ago
Anyway, it's just a short story, not a book, and Dougie is not a character (this is the first and only reference to that name). I guess I am closer to understanding what this is supposed to mean -- thanks y'all.
– Guest
3 hours ago