What does “her squashed-tomato of a nose” mean in this context?
At this, Winky howled even harder, her squashed-tomato of a nose dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.
I think "her squashed-tomato of a nose" might refer to Winky's snot, that is, her snot is something like "squashed-tomato". Is my understanding correct?
From Harry Potter - the Goblet of Fire -- Chapter 21
meaning-in-context
asked Dec 19 '18 at 8:05
dandan
4,85922570
add a comment |
At this, Winky howled even harder, her squashed-tomato of a nose dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.
I think "her squashed-tomato of a nose" might refer to Winky's snot, that is, her snot is something like "squashed-tomato". Is my understanding correct?
From Harry Potter - the Goblet of Fire -- Chapter 21
meaning-in-context
asked Dec 19 '18 at 8:05
dandan
4,85922570
add a comment |
At this, Winky howled even harder, her squashed-tomato of a nose dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.
I think "her squashed-tomato of a nose" might refer to Winky's snot, that is, her snot is something like "squashed-tomato". Is my understanding correct?
From Harry Potter - the Goblet of Fire -- Chapter 21
meaning-in-context
asked Dec 19 '18 at 8:05
dandan
4,85922570
At this, Winky howled even harder, her squashed-tomato of a nose dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.
I think "her squashed-tomato of a nose" might refer to Winky's snot, that is, her snot is something like "squashed-tomato". Is my understanding correct?
From Harry Potter - the Goblet of Fire -- Chapter 21
meaning-in-context
meaning-in-context
asked Dec 19 '18 at 8:05
dandan
4,85922570
asked Dec 19 '18 at 8:05
dandan
4,85922570
edited Dec 19 '18 at 8:08
dan
asked Dec 19 '18 at 8:05
dandan
4,85922570
asked Dec 19 '18 at 8:05
dandan
4,85922570
asked Dec 19 '18 at 8:05
dandan
4,85922570
4,85922570
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
The meaning is
Her nose, which was looking like a squashed tomato
Thus
At this, Winky howled even harder, her [nose (resembling a squashed tomato)] dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.
"His/her something of a something" is a phrase commonly used to compare a face feature with some object. Examples from Google Books found using "his * of a nose/eye/ear":
His black dot of a nose rested between his paws.
If they knew that his one grave slit of an eye had seen gold in rice grains and furtive wealth in human lives, they were not prepared to abuse his memory, because Lung had stolen from them without vulgar ceremony
Mad Jack stroked his chin, began fidgeting with the ring in his gnarled lump of an ear.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
CowperKettleCowperKettle
28.5k1089168
Can we also say "a squashed-tomato nose"? If so, any difference?
– dan
Dec 19 '18 at 9:49
1
@dan - yes, we can - the difference I stylistic, I guess. The meaning would be the same.
– CowperKettle
Dec 19 '18 at 10:25
3
@dan: The difference is semantic. The pattern "squashed tomato of a nose" calls the nose a squashed tomato; that is, it is a metaphor (however we interpret it) whereas in "a squashed-tomato nose" the noun "squashed tomato" is a descriptor. And you cannot generalize from this "translation" between forms; here they might be pretty much the same, but "a mountain of a man" and "a mountain man" are different things.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 12:01
2
@dan That might make me wonder if her nose was actually a squashed tomato. Consider "Frosty the Snowman" -...with a corncob pipe and a button nose, where here the snowman's nose is actually built using a clothing button. If he had abutton of a nose, however, it's clear that the expression is a metaphor.
– J...
Dec 19 '18 at 13:11
1
@dan No. That would be calling the squashed tomato a nose, not the nose a squashed tomato. The pattern is "{metaphorical thing} of a {actual thing}". Harry stared at Ron's pumpkin of a head.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 14:09
|
show 1 more comment
Winky is a house-elf. They have, from the human point of view, strange and rather ugly faces. In particular, Winky's nose looks something like a squashed tomato.
This is a known piece of imagery. There is a children's song
My teacher's got a bunion
A face like a pickled onion,
A nose like a squashed tomato
And legs like matchsticks.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
James KJames K
34.4k13887
add a comment |
Winky may have rhinophyma, a skin condition which causes the nose to become red and enlarged (sometimes also appearing flattened, if it enlarges more side-to-side). Historically people thought that alcoholism caused rhinophyma so the imagery of her having a large, red nose reinforces her alcoholism.
Also, her nose dripping is similar to a faucet dripping, the actual nose or faucet doesn't move but liquid comes out of it.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 16:23
user3067860user3067860
47925
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "481"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f190057%2fwhat-does-her-squashed-tomato-of-a-nose-mean-in-this-context%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The meaning is
Her nose, which was looking like a squashed tomato
Thus
At this, Winky howled even harder, her [nose (resembling a squashed tomato)] dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.
"His/her something of a something" is a phrase commonly used to compare a face feature with some object. Examples from Google Books found using "his * of a nose/eye/ear":
His black dot of a nose rested between his paws.
If they knew that his one grave slit of an eye had seen gold in rice grains and furtive wealth in human lives, they were not prepared to abuse his memory, because Lung had stolen from them without vulgar ceremony
Mad Jack stroked his chin, began fidgeting with the ring in his gnarled lump of an ear.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
CowperKettleCowperKettle
28.5k1089168
Can we also say "a squashed-tomato nose"? If so, any difference?
– dan
Dec 19 '18 at 9:49
1
@dan - yes, we can - the difference I stylistic, I guess. The meaning would be the same.
– CowperKettle
Dec 19 '18 at 10:25
3
@dan: The difference is semantic. The pattern "squashed tomato of a nose" calls the nose a squashed tomato; that is, it is a metaphor (however we interpret it) whereas in "a squashed-tomato nose" the noun "squashed tomato" is a descriptor. And you cannot generalize from this "translation" between forms; here they might be pretty much the same, but "a mountain of a man" and "a mountain man" are different things.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 12:01
2
@dan That might make me wonder if her nose was actually a squashed tomato. Consider "Frosty the Snowman" -...with a corncob pipe and a button nose, where here the snowman's nose is actually built using a clothing button. If he had abutton of a nose, however, it's clear that the expression is a metaphor.
– J...
Dec 19 '18 at 13:11
1
@dan No. That would be calling the squashed tomato a nose, not the nose a squashed tomato. The pattern is "{metaphorical thing} of a {actual thing}". Harry stared at Ron's pumpkin of a head.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 14:09
|
show 1 more comment
The meaning is
Her nose, which was looking like a squashed tomato
Thus
At this, Winky howled even harder, her [nose (resembling a squashed tomato)] dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.
"His/her something of a something" is a phrase commonly used to compare a face feature with some object. Examples from Google Books found using "his * of a nose/eye/ear":
His black dot of a nose rested between his paws.
If they knew that his one grave slit of an eye had seen gold in rice grains and furtive wealth in human lives, they were not prepared to abuse his memory, because Lung had stolen from them without vulgar ceremony
Mad Jack stroked his chin, began fidgeting with the ring in his gnarled lump of an ear.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
CowperKettleCowperKettle
28.5k1089168
Can we also say "a squashed-tomato nose"? If so, any difference?
– dan
Dec 19 '18 at 9:49
1
@dan - yes, we can - the difference I stylistic, I guess. The meaning would be the same.
– CowperKettle
Dec 19 '18 at 10:25
3
@dan: The difference is semantic. The pattern "squashed tomato of a nose" calls the nose a squashed tomato; that is, it is a metaphor (however we interpret it) whereas in "a squashed-tomato nose" the noun "squashed tomato" is a descriptor. And you cannot generalize from this "translation" between forms; here they might be pretty much the same, but "a mountain of a man" and "a mountain man" are different things.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 12:01
2
@dan That might make me wonder if her nose was actually a squashed tomato. Consider "Frosty the Snowman" -...with a corncob pipe and a button nose, where here the snowman's nose is actually built using a clothing button. If he had abutton of a nose, however, it's clear that the expression is a metaphor.
– J...
Dec 19 '18 at 13:11
1
@dan No. That would be calling the squashed tomato a nose, not the nose a squashed tomato. The pattern is "{metaphorical thing} of a {actual thing}". Harry stared at Ron's pumpkin of a head.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 14:09
|
show 1 more comment
The meaning is
Her nose, which was looking like a squashed tomato
Thus
At this, Winky howled even harder, her [nose (resembling a squashed tomato)] dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.
"His/her something of a something" is a phrase commonly used to compare a face feature with some object. Examples from Google Books found using "his * of a nose/eye/ear":
His black dot of a nose rested between his paws.
If they knew that his one grave slit of an eye had seen gold in rice grains and furtive wealth in human lives, they were not prepared to abuse his memory, because Lung had stolen from them without vulgar ceremony
Mad Jack stroked his chin, began fidgeting with the ring in his gnarled lump of an ear.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
CowperKettleCowperKettle
28.5k1089168
The meaning is
Her nose, which was looking like a squashed tomato
Thus
At this, Winky howled even harder, her [nose (resembling a squashed tomato)] dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.
"His/her something of a something" is a phrase commonly used to compare a face feature with some object. Examples from Google Books found using "his * of a nose/eye/ear":
His black dot of a nose rested between his paws.
If they knew that his one grave slit of an eye had seen gold in rice grains and furtive wealth in human lives, they were not prepared to abuse his memory, because Lung had stolen from them without vulgar ceremony
Mad Jack stroked his chin, began fidgeting with the ring in his gnarled lump of an ear.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
CowperKettleCowperKettle
28.5k1089168
edited Dec 19 '18 at 8:18
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
CowperKettleCowperKettle
28.5k1089168
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
CowperKettleCowperKettle
28.5k1089168
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
CowperKettleCowperKettle
28.5k1089168
28.5k1089168
Can we also say "a squashed-tomato nose"? If so, any difference?
– dan
Dec 19 '18 at 9:49
1
@dan - yes, we can - the difference I stylistic, I guess. The meaning would be the same.
– CowperKettle
Dec 19 '18 at 10:25
3
@dan: The difference is semantic. The pattern "squashed tomato of a nose" calls the nose a squashed tomato; that is, it is a metaphor (however we interpret it) whereas in "a squashed-tomato nose" the noun "squashed tomato" is a descriptor. And you cannot generalize from this "translation" between forms; here they might be pretty much the same, but "a mountain of a man" and "a mountain man" are different things.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 12:01
2
@dan That might make me wonder if her nose was actually a squashed tomato. Consider "Frosty the Snowman" -...with a corncob pipe and a button nose, where here the snowman's nose is actually built using a clothing button. If he had abutton of a nose, however, it's clear that the expression is a metaphor.
– J...
Dec 19 '18 at 13:11
1
@dan No. That would be calling the squashed tomato a nose, not the nose a squashed tomato. The pattern is "{metaphorical thing} of a {actual thing}". Harry stared at Ron's pumpkin of a head.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 14:09
|
show 1 more comment
Can we also say "a squashed-tomato nose"? If so, any difference?
– dan
Dec 19 '18 at 9:49
1
@dan - yes, we can - the difference I stylistic, I guess. The meaning would be the same.
– CowperKettle
Dec 19 '18 at 10:25
3
@dan: The difference is semantic. The pattern "squashed tomato of a nose" calls the nose a squashed tomato; that is, it is a metaphor (however we interpret it) whereas in "a squashed-tomato nose" the noun "squashed tomato" is a descriptor. And you cannot generalize from this "translation" between forms; here they might be pretty much the same, but "a mountain of a man" and "a mountain man" are different things.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 12:01
2
@dan That might make me wonder if her nose was actually a squashed tomato. Consider "Frosty the Snowman" -...with a corncob pipe and a button nose, where here the snowman's nose is actually built using a clothing button. If he had abutton of a nose, however, it's clear that the expression is a metaphor.
– J...
Dec 19 '18 at 13:11
1
@dan No. That would be calling the squashed tomato a nose, not the nose a squashed tomato. The pattern is "{metaphorical thing} of a {actual thing}". Harry stared at Ron's pumpkin of a head.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 14:09
Can we also say "a squashed-tomato nose"? If so, any difference?
– dan
Dec 19 '18 at 9:49
Can we also say "a squashed-tomato nose"? If so, any difference?
– dan
Dec 19 '18 at 9:49
1
1
@dan - yes, we can - the difference I stylistic, I guess. The meaning would be the same.
– CowperKettle
Dec 19 '18 at 10:25
@dan - yes, we can - the difference I stylistic, I guess. The meaning would be the same.
– CowperKettle
Dec 19 '18 at 10:25
3
3
@dan: The difference is semantic. The pattern "squashed tomato of a nose" calls the nose a squashed tomato; that is, it is a metaphor (however we interpret it) whereas in "a squashed-tomato nose" the noun "squashed tomato" is a descriptor. And you cannot generalize from this "translation" between forms; here they might be pretty much the same, but "a mountain of a man" and "a mountain man" are different things.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 12:01
@dan: The difference is semantic. The pattern "squashed tomato of a nose" calls the nose a squashed tomato; that is, it is a metaphor (however we interpret it) whereas in "a squashed-tomato nose" the noun "squashed tomato" is a descriptor. And you cannot generalize from this "translation" between forms; here they might be pretty much the same, but "a mountain of a man" and "a mountain man" are different things.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 12:01
2
2
@dan That might make me wonder if her nose was actually a squashed tomato. Consider "Frosty the Snowman" -
...with a corncob pipe and a button nose, where here the snowman's nose is actually built using a clothing button. If he had a button of a nose, however, it's clear that the expression is a metaphor.– J...
Dec 19 '18 at 13:11
@dan That might make me wonder if her nose was actually a squashed tomato. Consider "Frosty the Snowman" -
...with a corncob pipe and a button nose, where here the snowman's nose is actually built using a clothing button. If he had a button of a nose, however, it's clear that the expression is a metaphor.– J...
Dec 19 '18 at 13:11
1
1
@dan No. That would be calling the squashed tomato a nose, not the nose a squashed tomato. The pattern is "{metaphorical thing} of a {actual thing}". Harry stared at Ron's pumpkin of a head.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 14:09
@dan No. That would be calling the squashed tomato a nose, not the nose a squashed tomato. The pattern is "{metaphorical thing} of a {actual thing}". Harry stared at Ron's pumpkin of a head.
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
Dec 19 '18 at 14:09
|
show 1 more comment
Winky is a house-elf. They have, from the human point of view, strange and rather ugly faces. In particular, Winky's nose looks something like a squashed tomato.
This is a known piece of imagery. There is a children's song
My teacher's got a bunion
A face like a pickled onion,
A nose like a squashed tomato
And legs like matchsticks.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
James KJames K
34.4k13887
add a comment |
Winky is a house-elf. They have, from the human point of view, strange and rather ugly faces. In particular, Winky's nose looks something like a squashed tomato.
This is a known piece of imagery. There is a children's song
My teacher's got a bunion
A face like a pickled onion,
A nose like a squashed tomato
And legs like matchsticks.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
James KJames K
34.4k13887
add a comment |
Winky is a house-elf. They have, from the human point of view, strange and rather ugly faces. In particular, Winky's nose looks something like a squashed tomato.
This is a known piece of imagery. There is a children's song
My teacher's got a bunion
A face like a pickled onion,
A nose like a squashed tomato
And legs like matchsticks.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
James KJames K
34.4k13887
Winky is a house-elf. They have, from the human point of view, strange and rather ugly faces. In particular, Winky's nose looks something like a squashed tomato.
This is a known piece of imagery. There is a children's song
My teacher's got a bunion
A face like a pickled onion,
A nose like a squashed tomato
And legs like matchsticks.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
James KJames K
34.4k13887
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
James KJames K
34.4k13887
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
James KJames K
34.4k13887
answered Dec 19 '18 at 8:12
James KJames K
34.4k13887
34.4k13887
add a comment |
add a comment |
Winky may have rhinophyma, a skin condition which causes the nose to become red and enlarged (sometimes also appearing flattened, if it enlarges more side-to-side). Historically people thought that alcoholism caused rhinophyma so the imagery of her having a large, red nose reinforces her alcoholism.
Also, her nose dripping is similar to a faucet dripping, the actual nose or faucet doesn't move but liquid comes out of it.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 16:23
user3067860user3067860
47925
add a comment |
Winky may have rhinophyma, a skin condition which causes the nose to become red and enlarged (sometimes also appearing flattened, if it enlarges more side-to-side). Historically people thought that alcoholism caused rhinophyma so the imagery of her having a large, red nose reinforces her alcoholism.
Also, her nose dripping is similar to a faucet dripping, the actual nose or faucet doesn't move but liquid comes out of it.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 16:23
user3067860user3067860
47925
add a comment |
Winky may have rhinophyma, a skin condition which causes the nose to become red and enlarged (sometimes also appearing flattened, if it enlarges more side-to-side). Historically people thought that alcoholism caused rhinophyma so the imagery of her having a large, red nose reinforces her alcoholism.
Also, her nose dripping is similar to a faucet dripping, the actual nose or faucet doesn't move but liquid comes out of it.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 16:23
user3067860user3067860
47925
Winky may have rhinophyma, a skin condition which causes the nose to become red and enlarged (sometimes also appearing flattened, if it enlarges more side-to-side). Historically people thought that alcoholism caused rhinophyma so the imagery of her having a large, red nose reinforces her alcoholism.
Also, her nose dripping is similar to a faucet dripping, the actual nose or faucet doesn't move but liquid comes out of it.
answered Dec 19 '18 at 16:23
user3067860user3067860
47925
answered Dec 19 '18 at 16:23
user3067860user3067860
47925
answered Dec 19 '18 at 16:23
user3067860user3067860
47925
answered Dec 19 '18 at 16:23
user3067860user3067860
47925
47925
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language Learners Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f190057%2fwhat-does-her-squashed-tomato-of-a-nose-mean-in-this-context%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
