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Definition of Idiom
An idiom is a phrase that conveys a figurative meaning that is difficult or impossible to understand based solely on a literal interpretation of the words in the phrase. For... read full definition
An idiom is a phrase that conveys a figurative meaning that is difficult or impossible to understand based solely on a literal interpretation of the... read full definition
An idiom is a phrase that conveys a figurative meaning that is difficult or impossible to understand based solely on... read full definition
Idioms
Explanation and Analysis—Tan Your Hide:
After Carla's attempted "runaway," Clark remarks, "if you ever try to run away on me again I’ll tan your hide." To "tan someone's hide" is an idiom that means to physically beat a person. Clark's use of the idiom has a double meaning. For one, it playfully disguises his threats of physical abuse towards Carla. Throughout the story, Clark displays hallmarks of abusive behavior: he angers quickly, withholds affection, and verbally chastises Carla. Considering this clear pattern of abusive behavior, Clark's remark is not easily dismissed as simply a turn of phrase.
Simultaneously, the idiom connects Flora and Carla. The practice of tanning hides is commonplace for dead livestock, and thus, Clark suggests he may have killed Flora after her escape. Flora and Carla's fates are linked by the expression. Just as Clark likely "tanned" Flora's hide, he implies he could hurt Carla, too.
However, Carla appears somewhat amused by Clark's comment. She responds “Would you?” to which Clark says “Damn right." The tone of "would you" is ambiguous: is Carla legitimately challenging Clark's suggestion or playfully indulging his hypothetical? Munro continues: "He was high-spirited now, irresistible as when she had first known him." That Clark is described as "irresistible" after his veiled threat reveals the complex nature of Carla's dependency on Clark. Despite his potential for violent outbursts, Clark remains attractive to Carla. However, like "tan your hide," "irresistible" has a double meaning. "Irresistible" can refer to Carla's attraction to Clark, but it can also refer to her literal inability to "resist" him, physically or emotionally. Beneath his playful manner, he harbors a potential for violence.
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