Why ole Snapey is(n't) a vamp (or old, either!)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 88154

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arrowsmithbt"
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67"
<justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> > Sorry to snip Kneasy's great post, almost all of which I agree with. I
> > just have one complaint. Why call him "old Snape" when he's still in
> > his thirties, the same age as Remus Lupin, whom JKR refers to at least
> > twice as "young"? He may be "old" from the perspective of his
> > students, but he certainly isn't from mine!
> > 
> 
> In the UK 'old', as in ''good old whoever" has little or nothing to do
> with chronological age, although the person referred to is invariably
> an adult. It has a meaning closer to 'unchanging' or 'steadfast'.
> 
> It is usually a sign of approval (unless it is used ironically).
> 
> Kneasy

As in, "Thanks, old chap"?

Carol