Doube Entendres (wasRe: Tom Felton: Off Color Word Censored, ...But What

[potioncat]

> > Carol earlier:
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Obviously, I'm no expert on up-and-coming British 
slang, but
> > I have a feeling that "wand" wasn't used in that context until 
JKR,
> > who is a bit too fond of Freudian insinuations in my opinion, 
came up
> > with, "What's got *your* wand in a knot?" ,snip>.

Potioncat:
The use of wand in the Equus article was that author's innuendo 
cleverly (or so he thought) combining Potter with Equus.

Do you remember where Hermione said "wand in a knot"? Isn't "don't 
get your knickers in a knot" British slang for "don't get so upset"? 

The example I gave---my son laughing at a wand comment--was his own 
13-year-old sense of humor. At that age just about anything can 
become innuendo. I went back to find it to provide canon. 

**In DH, "The Seven Potters" Moody speaks to Fred who replies,

"I'm George," said the twin to whom Moody was pointing. "Can't you 
even tell us apart when we're Harry?"

"Sorry George--"

"I'm only yanking your wand. I'm Fred really--"  ***

While it could be innuendo, clearly it isn't meant to be. "Yanking 
your wand" sounds a lot like "pulling your leg", "pushing your 
buttons" or "jerking your chain." Are those used in England? I 
thought her several uses of wands in a phrase was similar to "cat 
among the pixies" or whatever it was Mrs. Fig said.

 

> > > > Geoff:
> > > > > I would say not. If someone else sees a unintended double
> > entendre in a statement, then that is their interpretation and not
> > that of the speaker or writer. <snip>

Potioncat:
So is there a counterpart, like infer is to imply? 


Carol, I see your point, that the author can intend something, even 
if the character doesn't. But it seems that would seriously impede 
the flow of the plot. I mean, if she set it up for kids to go beserk 
over the wording when it had nothing to do with the situation, then 
it's going to change how the scene is felt.

Granted, JKR has placed little gems throughout the books, that the 
reader can get or not. (Other than double entendres) Given JKR's 
interviews about Aberforth's goats, you could be right about the 
other examples. There were some lines connected to the book Ron gave 
Harry---I think that was mentioned upthread---that may have been 
intentional. But I really think that sometimes a wand is just a wand.