What does "gurning" mean, and can you use it in a sentence for me? I have an idea it means something between "grinding" and "churning", with connotations of futility, but if someone could set me straight I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
Gurning is competitive face-pulling.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-gur1.htm (http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-gur1.htm)
Typically:
Competitors put their heads through a horse collar and have a set time in which to contort their faces into the scariest / silliest expression possible. False teeth may be left in, taken out or turned upside down if desired. The person who gets the most applause for their ugly face wins.
Abell has forgotten to mention that we all have to gurn at school. It's a part of the physical education programme but is not as popular a face jumping (Running spikes not allowed).
That's one school ritual I missed - but then I went to school in Worcestershire and sheep sports were much more popular.
Quote from: "abell"Gurning is competitive face-pulling.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-gur1.htm (http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-gur1.htm)
Wow. 1266, eh?...and they say tradition is dead! Thanks guys
Quote from: "greg"Abell has forgotten to mention that we all have to gurn at school. It's a part of the physical education programme but is not as popular a face jumping (Running spikes not allowed).
Damn, Pink Floyd's "The Wall" video is starting to make more sense to me.
Quote from: "abell"That's one school ritual I missed - but then I went to school in Worcestershire and sheep sports were much more popular.
Lucky thing. Here in Norfolk we had to make do with vegetables.
No face-sitting at school?
Dammit.
I 'gurned' this morning
Now I can ride with comfort and no startling episodes!
Here's one I did earlier.