In the absence of an idiomatic or metaphorical interpretation of a word or phrase that makes sense in the circumstances all we are left with is the literal interpretation. Your two definitions of "hold down" make no sense when applied to defending a fort against attackers while to hold the fort is a common long time usage and not one that just happens to be in the dictionary. Remember in the movie "The Longest Day" the British paratroopers were ordered to "hold until relieved". "Hold down until relieved" would have made no sense. >> ^CircleMaker:

Still, David's objection to 'hold down the fort' is based on a literal interpretation of the verb 'to hold down.' All I was saying is that 'hold the fort' becomes equally silly when interpreted that way. I have nothing against the verb itself. We go back a long way, 'to hold' and I.
Furthermore, 'to hold down' also has many meanings, including...
hold down
a.to restrain; check: Hold down that noise!
b.to continue to hold and manage well: She held down that job for years.
Just because something is in the the dictionary doesn't mean it makes literal sense, as David was implying it should.
>> ^nanrod:
Fortunately, the verb to hold makes perfect sense. Unfortunately your knowledge of English appears to be limited. "To hold" has many meanings, one of them being " to retain forcibly, as against an adversary".
>> ^CircleMaker:
Unfortunately, the verb 'to hold' makes just as little sense as 'to hold down' in referring to keeping a fort stable in somebody's absence. If David has a problem with the notion of hover-forts, he ought to be troubled by the implications on the width of said fort which are manifest in any usage of 'to hold' taken literally.

>> ^MarineGunrock:
nadabu is absolutely right. Christians don't do the things at Christmas that corporate America wants to worship God. It is possible to partake in an even that isn't specifically forbidden and still worship God. Just because some traditions may have pagan roots [citaion really fucking needed] does not mean they are being done as worship.
Way to pull a Palin an totally skirt the question, though.


some day around the end of december, and some day about 6 monts before are very celebrated days in many cultures and traditions. peoples noticed that the sun "turned" around these days and have some sort of festivity/religious arrangement attached to those days.

the swedes, they stick a big penis (with testicles and all) into the ground and dance around it on the summers longest day. a fertility rite.

we still call christmas Jul (yule), the germanic pagan name for the uhmm.. event. not Christ Mass like english hurches.

The christmas three, if i remember corretly, it is something green and shiny we bring into our homes on the years darkest day as a symbol of lighter and greener times (spring) that are coming.

Oh man, too bad its so bright you could come look though the monster scope. How do you like this Midnight Sun? it's so damn bright now and still 5+ weeks to go until the longest day. For optimum theft of the scope, bring 3-4 sherpas with flak jackets.

Clip from the 1995 colorized version of the 1962 war film epic The Longest Day produced by Daryl F Zanuck, featuring an early appearance from a young Sean Connery, right before the success of Dr. No, also features Kenneth More.

* During the filming of the landings at Omaha Beach, the American soldiers appearing as extras didn't want to jump off the landing craft into the water because they thought it would be too cold. Robert Mitchum, who played General Norm Cota, finally got disgusted with them and jumped in first, at which point the soldiers had no choice but to follow his example.

* The Rupert paradummies used in the film were far more elaborate and lifelike than those actually used for the decoy parachute drop (Operation Titanic) which were actually just canvas or burlap sacks filled with sand. In the real operation six Special Air Service soldiers jumped with the dummies and played recordings of loud battle noises to distract the Germans.

* At $10,000,000, this film was the most expensive black-and-white film made until 1993, when Schindler's List was released. (Source: Turner Classic Movies).

* The bagpiper is the same person who participated in the real assault on D-Day.

Also Ant add... A Bridge To Far, The Longest Day, Thin Red Line, All Quiet on the Western Front.