Meaning of an idiom

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Nerves fit for sliding panels or tapestry - I came across in Northanger Abbey. I can understand what it means, but would like to know why sliding
idioms
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Nerves fit for sliding panels or tapestry - I came across in Northanger Abbey. I can understand what it means, but would like to know why sliding
idioms
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It’s not an idiom, the speaker is making specific references to the furniture of the abbey. He thinks Catherine has a naive view of the nature of the building (romantic, unrealistic), and is inquiring whether she has the nerve to meet the reality head on. Which means the examples he’s picking — sliding panels and tapestry — somehow carry this terrifying nature. Sliding panels is easy: hidden doors to secret corridors, rooms, or cubbies, hiding who-knows-what secrets from centuries of intrigue. Tapestry throws me. Maybe they hide secret passages too, or simply that there is no heating.
– Dan Bron
11 hours ago
@DanBron Think of the tapestry hangings in castles and medieval and renaissance palaces. Secret doorways were often concealed behind tapestries. Tapestries are also referred to as Arras from the French city and assasins were often said to be "Hiding behind the Arras"
– BoldBen
10 hours ago
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Nerves fit for sliding panels or tapestry - I came across in Northanger Abbey. I can understand what it means, but would like to know why sliding
idioms
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T.N. Gopalan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Nerves fit for sliding panels or tapestry - I came across in Northanger Abbey. I can understand what it means, but would like to know why sliding
idioms
idioms
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T.N. Gopalan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked 16 hours ago


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It’s not an idiom, the speaker is making specific references to the furniture of the abbey. He thinks Catherine has a naive view of the nature of the building (romantic, unrealistic), and is inquiring whether she has the nerve to meet the reality head on. Which means the examples he’s picking — sliding panels and tapestry — somehow carry this terrifying nature. Sliding panels is easy: hidden doors to secret corridors, rooms, or cubbies, hiding who-knows-what secrets from centuries of intrigue. Tapestry throws me. Maybe they hide secret passages too, or simply that there is no heating.
– Dan Bron
11 hours ago
@DanBron Think of the tapestry hangings in castles and medieval and renaissance palaces. Secret doorways were often concealed behind tapestries. Tapestries are also referred to as Arras from the French city and assasins were often said to be "Hiding behind the Arras"
– BoldBen
10 hours ago
add a comment |
It’s not an idiom, the speaker is making specific references to the furniture of the abbey. He thinks Catherine has a naive view of the nature of the building (romantic, unrealistic), and is inquiring whether she has the nerve to meet the reality head on. Which means the examples he’s picking — sliding panels and tapestry — somehow carry this terrifying nature. Sliding panels is easy: hidden doors to secret corridors, rooms, or cubbies, hiding who-knows-what secrets from centuries of intrigue. Tapestry throws me. Maybe they hide secret passages too, or simply that there is no heating.
– Dan Bron
11 hours ago
@DanBron Think of the tapestry hangings in castles and medieval and renaissance palaces. Secret doorways were often concealed behind tapestries. Tapestries are also referred to as Arras from the French city and assasins were often said to be "Hiding behind the Arras"
– BoldBen
10 hours ago
It’s not an idiom, the speaker is making specific references to the furniture of the abbey. He thinks Catherine has a naive view of the nature of the building (romantic, unrealistic), and is inquiring whether she has the nerve to meet the reality head on. Which means the examples he’s picking — sliding panels and tapestry — somehow carry this terrifying nature. Sliding panels is easy: hidden doors to secret corridors, rooms, or cubbies, hiding who-knows-what secrets from centuries of intrigue. Tapestry throws me. Maybe they hide secret passages too, or simply that there is no heating.
– Dan Bron
11 hours ago
It’s not an idiom, the speaker is making specific references to the furniture of the abbey. He thinks Catherine has a naive view of the nature of the building (romantic, unrealistic), and is inquiring whether she has the nerve to meet the reality head on. Which means the examples he’s picking — sliding panels and tapestry — somehow carry this terrifying nature. Sliding panels is easy: hidden doors to secret corridors, rooms, or cubbies, hiding who-knows-what secrets from centuries of intrigue. Tapestry throws me. Maybe they hide secret passages too, or simply that there is no heating.
– Dan Bron
11 hours ago
@DanBron Think of the tapestry hangings in castles and medieval and renaissance palaces. Secret doorways were often concealed behind tapestries. Tapestries are also referred to as Arras from the French city and assasins were often said to be "Hiding behind the Arras"
– BoldBen
10 hours ago
@DanBron Think of the tapestry hangings in castles and medieval and renaissance palaces. Secret doorways were often concealed behind tapestries. Tapestries are also referred to as Arras from the French city and assasins were often said to be "Hiding behind the Arras"
– BoldBen
10 hours ago
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It’s not an idiom, the speaker is making specific references to the furniture of the abbey. He thinks Catherine has a naive view of the nature of the building (romantic, unrealistic), and is inquiring whether she has the nerve to meet the reality head on. Which means the examples he’s picking — sliding panels and tapestry — somehow carry this terrifying nature. Sliding panels is easy: hidden doors to secret corridors, rooms, or cubbies, hiding who-knows-what secrets from centuries of intrigue. Tapestry throws me. Maybe they hide secret passages too, or simply that there is no heating.
– Dan Bron
11 hours ago
@DanBron Think of the tapestry hangings in castles and medieval and renaissance palaces. Secret doorways were often concealed behind tapestries. Tapestries are also referred to as Arras from the French city and assasins were often said to be "Hiding behind the Arras"
– BoldBen
10 hours ago