“Jelly in a vise” meaning [on hold]
Jelly in a vise is a proverb mentioned in "Asian Figure" by W.S Merwin.
What does "Jelly" mean in this proverb? Does it mean gelatinous? Or the jelly that we eat?
What kind of clamp is a "Vise"?
meaning proverbs pro-verb-constructions
New contributor
put on hold as off-topic by AndyT, J.R., tmgr, Chenmunka, Tushar Raj yesterday
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – AndyT, tmgr, Chenmunka, Tushar Raj
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Jelly in a vise is a proverb mentioned in "Asian Figure" by W.S Merwin.
What does "Jelly" mean in this proverb? Does it mean gelatinous? Or the jelly that we eat?
What kind of clamp is a "Vise"?
meaning proverbs pro-verb-constructions
New contributor
put on hold as off-topic by AndyT, J.R., tmgr, Chenmunka, Tushar Raj yesterday
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – AndyT, tmgr, Chenmunka, Tushar Raj
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Does it matter which type of jelly? You can google image search to find what a vise is. The meaning is clear, there's no idiom at use.
– AndyT
2 days ago
2
As a Brit, I'm finding the spelling "vise" really weird to look at. There are many American spellings that I am used to, but not that one. It's "vice" over here.
– Colin Fine
2 days ago
You might want to check out the exchange for English Language Learners.
– J.R.
2 days ago
Americans, who spell 'vise' thus, also use the word 'jelly' for something that Brits call 'jam'. What Brits call 'jelly', Americans usually call "Jell-O", I think. Which makes this odd because jam is runny and cannot be placed in a vice, whereas you could put a block of jelly in a vice, and try to grip it, with results that Merwin's metaphor seems to envisage.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
add a comment |
Jelly in a vise is a proverb mentioned in "Asian Figure" by W.S Merwin.
What does "Jelly" mean in this proverb? Does it mean gelatinous? Or the jelly that we eat?
What kind of clamp is a "Vise"?
meaning proverbs pro-verb-constructions
New contributor
Jelly in a vise is a proverb mentioned in "Asian Figure" by W.S Merwin.
What does "Jelly" mean in this proverb? Does it mean gelatinous? Or the jelly that we eat?
What kind of clamp is a "Vise"?
meaning proverbs pro-verb-constructions
meaning proverbs pro-verb-constructions
New contributor
New contributor
New contributor
asked 2 days ago
mBabaeemBabaee
31
31
New contributor
New contributor
put on hold as off-topic by AndyT, J.R., tmgr, Chenmunka, Tushar Raj yesterday
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – AndyT, tmgr, Chenmunka, Tushar Raj
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
put on hold as off-topic by AndyT, J.R., tmgr, Chenmunka, Tushar Raj yesterday
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – AndyT, tmgr, Chenmunka, Tushar Raj
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Does it matter which type of jelly? You can google image search to find what a vise is. The meaning is clear, there's no idiom at use.
– AndyT
2 days ago
2
As a Brit, I'm finding the spelling "vise" really weird to look at. There are many American spellings that I am used to, but not that one. It's "vice" over here.
– Colin Fine
2 days ago
You might want to check out the exchange for English Language Learners.
– J.R.
2 days ago
Americans, who spell 'vise' thus, also use the word 'jelly' for something that Brits call 'jam'. What Brits call 'jelly', Americans usually call "Jell-O", I think. Which makes this odd because jam is runny and cannot be placed in a vice, whereas you could put a block of jelly in a vice, and try to grip it, with results that Merwin's metaphor seems to envisage.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
add a comment |
Does it matter which type of jelly? You can google image search to find what a vise is. The meaning is clear, there's no idiom at use.
– AndyT
2 days ago
2
As a Brit, I'm finding the spelling "vise" really weird to look at. There are many American spellings that I am used to, but not that one. It's "vice" over here.
– Colin Fine
2 days ago
You might want to check out the exchange for English Language Learners.
– J.R.
2 days ago
Americans, who spell 'vise' thus, also use the word 'jelly' for something that Brits call 'jam'. What Brits call 'jelly', Americans usually call "Jell-O", I think. Which makes this odd because jam is runny and cannot be placed in a vice, whereas you could put a block of jelly in a vice, and try to grip it, with results that Merwin's metaphor seems to envisage.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
Does it matter which type of jelly? You can google image search to find what a vise is. The meaning is clear, there's no idiom at use.
– AndyT
2 days ago
Does it matter which type of jelly? You can google image search to find what a vise is. The meaning is clear, there's no idiom at use.
– AndyT
2 days ago
2
2
As a Brit, I'm finding the spelling "vise" really weird to look at. There are many American spellings that I am used to, but not that one. It's "vice" over here.
– Colin Fine
2 days ago
As a Brit, I'm finding the spelling "vise" really weird to look at. There are many American spellings that I am used to, but not that one. It's "vice" over here.
– Colin Fine
2 days ago
You might want to check out the exchange for English Language Learners.
– J.R.
2 days ago
You might want to check out the exchange for English Language Learners.
– J.R.
2 days ago
Americans, who spell 'vise' thus, also use the word 'jelly' for something that Brits call 'jam'. What Brits call 'jelly', Americans usually call "Jell-O", I think. Which makes this odd because jam is runny and cannot be placed in a vice, whereas you could put a block of jelly in a vice, and try to grip it, with results that Merwin's metaphor seems to envisage.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
Americans, who spell 'vise' thus, also use the word 'jelly' for something that Brits call 'jam'. What Brits call 'jelly', Americans usually call "Jell-O", I think. Which makes this odd because jam is runny and cannot be placed in a vice, whereas you could put a block of jelly in a vice, and try to grip it, with results that Merwin's metaphor seems to envisage.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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It is a metaphor. A Jelly cannot remain intact when tightened in a vise. A vise is like a clamp used to hold things firmly.
Vise -
a tool with two parts that can be moved together by tightening a screw so that an object can be held firmly between them while it is being worked on
So to describe a very tight / tense situation this phrase can be used where the subject is in tight scrutiny / focus and cannot hold the pressure mounting on it.
Example usage - "I literally felt like Jelly in a vise to have written the final exams without preparation"
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
It is a metaphor. A Jelly cannot remain intact when tightened in a vise. A vise is like a clamp used to hold things firmly.
Vise -
a tool with two parts that can be moved together by tightening a screw so that an object can be held firmly between them while it is being worked on
So to describe a very tight / tense situation this phrase can be used where the subject is in tight scrutiny / focus and cannot hold the pressure mounting on it.
Example usage - "I literally felt like Jelly in a vise to have written the final exams without preparation"
add a comment |
It is a metaphor. A Jelly cannot remain intact when tightened in a vise. A vise is like a clamp used to hold things firmly.
Vise -
a tool with two parts that can be moved together by tightening a screw so that an object can be held firmly between them while it is being worked on
So to describe a very tight / tense situation this phrase can be used where the subject is in tight scrutiny / focus and cannot hold the pressure mounting on it.
Example usage - "I literally felt like Jelly in a vise to have written the final exams without preparation"
add a comment |
It is a metaphor. A Jelly cannot remain intact when tightened in a vise. A vise is like a clamp used to hold things firmly.
Vise -
a tool with two parts that can be moved together by tightening a screw so that an object can be held firmly between them while it is being worked on
So to describe a very tight / tense situation this phrase can be used where the subject is in tight scrutiny / focus and cannot hold the pressure mounting on it.
Example usage - "I literally felt like Jelly in a vise to have written the final exams without preparation"
It is a metaphor. A Jelly cannot remain intact when tightened in a vise. A vise is like a clamp used to hold things firmly.
Vise -
a tool with two parts that can be moved together by tightening a screw so that an object can be held firmly between them while it is being worked on
So to describe a very tight / tense situation this phrase can be used where the subject is in tight scrutiny / focus and cannot hold the pressure mounting on it.
Example usage - "I literally felt like Jelly in a vise to have written the final exams without preparation"
answered 2 days ago
ExplorerExplorer
4236
4236
add a comment |
add a comment |
Does it matter which type of jelly? You can google image search to find what a vise is. The meaning is clear, there's no idiom at use.
– AndyT
2 days ago
2
As a Brit, I'm finding the spelling "vise" really weird to look at. There are many American spellings that I am used to, but not that one. It's "vice" over here.
– Colin Fine
2 days ago
You might want to check out the exchange for English Language Learners.
– J.R.
2 days ago
Americans, who spell 'vise' thus, also use the word 'jelly' for something that Brits call 'jam'. What Brits call 'jelly', Americans usually call "Jell-O", I think. Which makes this odd because jam is runny and cannot be placed in a vice, whereas you could put a block of jelly in a vice, and try to grip it, with results that Merwin's metaphor seems to envisage.
– Michael Harvey
2 days ago