And he knows they were too tight because he did try to insert the hand in them, right? A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
Is there a similar expression in other languages?
I had over a quarter a professor of Latin (of course, in University), which said that they paid him 500 PTA per month and he gave us classes for PTA per month. He said, on history and institutions:
¡Viva el Imperio Romano, que a los siervos manumite y a las siervas "mite manu"!
Long live for the Roman Empire, which "manumites" to the slave-men and he "mites manu" to the slave-women!
Latin manumittere = Spanish "manumitir" = "give freedom".
In Italy, like in Spain, the influence of the classical world is still present. The latin slave-women did not wear tight pants, but skirts. When Procrustes looks after you, you're sure to fit in.
