He. "You climed ze Matterhorn? Zat was a great foot."
She. "Great feat, you mean, count."
He. "Ah! Zen you climed him more as once!"
COURTESY À LA SUISSE
["The recent complaints of the rudeness shown to English travellers in Switzerland by the natives has been officially denied by the authorities of Lucerne."—Daily Paper.]
You are an idiot, a fool, and a rascal. (Official explanation.) Terms of endearment denoting feeling of the utmost friendship.
Why do you come here? Why don't you stay at home? (Official explanation.) Merely questions asked to stimulate pleasant conversation.
You are a rosbif, a boule dogue, and plum-pudding. (Official interpretation.) Fine names intended to express the greatest possible admiration for British institutions.