In Italy, we would freak out like pig too! Not because of a man-eating octopus. But because the octopus doesn’t appear to have any condimento…not even a lemon wedge?!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! THERE’S A MAD MAN, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!
My parents went to Italy once, and while they were there, they went to a restaurant and mom ordered octopus. It was made into some kind of stew, and mom really liked it, so, when they went to another restaurant later, she ordered octopus again. This time, though, it was served something like in the third panel. It disgusted her so much that she couldn’t eat anything. She shouldn’t have to us that story, since, after that, she could never complain about us being picky eaters.
Even punctuation is essential in English, especially commas. “I enjoy cooking, my family and my pets” vastly differs from “I enjoy cooking my family and my pets”… and the only difference is one comma.
In spoken language, you would not be aware of the hyphen so misunderstanding the message is understandable. In print, putting in the hyphen would be deliberately misleading as man-eating and man eating do not have the same meaning.
The English language is a precision tool if used by competent people. Pastis is an expert. When he uses the English language, it is a finely honed edged weapon controlled by a fencing master.
Some are, umm, less than competent. When used by the less-than-competent, the English language becomes a blunt instrument. Fencing masters chop blunt instrument users into very small pieces.
Many decades ago, the late Burl Ives sang a song about a “man-eating shark” that would eat neither woman nor child. (You can find it if you search YouTube for “chivalrous shark”.)
When a noun is used to describe another noun, it’s called a “nominal adjective”; for example, “rope burn” or “building permit”. But suppose you have an actual adjective in front of two nouns. Which noun does it modify? That’s where the hyphen comes in handy. If you’ve got a “used pizza container”, you’ve got a greasy box; if you’ve got a “used-pizza container”, you’ve got a barf bag.
BE THIS GUY 23 days ago
First version I saw of this joke was “Man Eating Tiger” on I Love Lucy.
BasilBruce 23 days ago
I guess the thought of someone eating octopus caused Pig to run away in disgust.
ronaldspence 23 days ago
At least it’s not a "Pig Eating Octopus "
pearlsbs 23 days ago
Pig should be relieved that it’s not a man eating pork.
syzygy47 23 days ago
Back in the day, a sideshow at the nearby city’s annual event had a (s’truth) “man-eating chicken”.
pschearer Premium Member 23 days ago
Anglisc imprecise is? Nay!!
Sanspareil 23 days ago
Since Pig is porcine, he shouldn’t care if there was a man eating octopus!
tudza Premium Member 23 days ago
It would be very clear in Lojban, but oh my god, you don’t want to learn Lojban. ( Respect to anyone here that studied Lojban. )
enigmamz 23 days ago
Just like an old Danger Mouse (old British cartoon) line: “I once saw a man eating cabbage!”
“Where?”
“At the Wilsden Green Cafe!”
Gent 23 days ago
Me is never goings to understandeeng Engleesh.
luca.debus creator 23 days ago
In Italy, we would freak out like pig too! Not because of a man-eating octopus. But because the octopus doesn’t appear to have any condimento…not even a lemon wedge?!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! THERE’S A MAD MAN, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!
scote1379 Premium Member 23 days ago
So Impercise it’s Impressive.
Purple People Eater 23 days ago
My parents went to Italy once, and while they were there, they went to a restaurant and mom ordered octopus. It was made into some kind of stew, and mom really liked it, so, when they went to another restaurant later, she ordered octopus again. This time, though, it was served something like in the third panel. It disgusted her so much that she couldn’t eat anything. She shouldn’t have to us that story, since, after that, she could never complain about us being picky eaters.
joe.altmaier 23 days ago
Maybe he is a Panda too! Eats, shoots and leaves.
smithsilverstrea 23 days ago
watch out for the printer’s ink.
Guy from southern Indiana 23 days ago
Even punctuation is essential in English, especially commas. “I enjoy cooking, my family and my pets” vastly differs from “I enjoy cooking my family and my pets”… and the only difference is one comma.
markkahler52 23 days ago
Tastes like chicken. Goes down like spaghetti.
Ellis97 23 days ago
And that’s why context is very important.
cdward 23 days ago
Eats shoots and leaves.
Let’s eat Grandma!
Commas, they can be a matter of life and death.
ajr58(1) 23 days ago
Punctuation saves lives.
[Traveler] Premium Member 23 days ago
Now that’s funny
Croc Holliday 23 days ago
In spoken language, you would not be aware of the hyphen so misunderstanding the message is understandable. In print, putting in the hyphen would be deliberately misleading as man-eating and man eating do not have the same meaning.
Painted Wolf 23 days ago
The English language is a precision tool if used by competent people. Pastis is an expert. When he uses the English language, it is a finely honed edged weapon controlled by a fencing master.
Some are, umm, less than competent. When used by the less-than-competent, the English language becomes a blunt instrument. Fencing masters chop blunt instrument users into very small pieces.
Ken Otwell 23 days ago
Could never eat one again after watching the documentary: “My Octopus Teacher”. They are so smart and even affectionate!
Goat from PBS 23 days ago
I mean, that might actually be scarier than a man-eating octopus.
Kaputnik 23 days ago
Ah, so he’s an octopus-eating man.
uniquename 23 days ago
English is imprecise. That’s what makes it pun!
david_42 23 days ago
Octopus and bran muffins have this in common – the longer you chew them, the bigger they get.
Znox11 23 days ago
Walk into your local KFC and yell, “Lookout, there’s a man eating chicken!!!”
Procat Premium Member 23 days ago
Food that really sticks to your ribs
artegal 23 days ago
I enjoy cooking my family and my dog.
(commas are important)
poppacapsmokeblower 23 days ago
It’s funnier when spoken because you don’t see the hyphen.
hoffquotes2 23 days ago
Why does pig worry, he is not a man
Ishka Bibel 23 days ago
My favorite Peruvian place makes a ceviche with baby octopus. Little tiny tentacles and the crunchy beak.
brick10 23 days ago
Mouse, Pig, and Goat should be safe if it is a Man-eating octopus.
Slowly, he turned... 23 days ago
It a) affects b) effects all of us! (pick one)
cldisme 23 days ago
Umm… the Red Wings did not make the playoffs this time around. Why are we worried about octopii this time of year?
mfrasca 23 days ago
After learning that octopuses are possibly sentient, I no longer eat them.
Katje 23 days ago
Could have been a man-eating pig. :DShould have been a man-eating pig. :D
cfkelley 23 days ago
This cartoon is offensive to Octopodes everywhere. Shame on you, Pastis!
mindjob 23 days ago
I had that same reaction when I tried to eat alligator
Croc Holliday 23 days ago
Worst James Bond title ever: Octopussy.
fourteenpeeves 23 days ago
At a McCormick&Schmick’s in Seattle, I had barracuda. First and last time I ever saw it on a menu
wildlandwaters 23 days ago
but even if it really was a maneating octopus, why would anything other than a man need to be concerned??
Bilan 23 days ago
Re-emphasizing the statement by Croc Holliday, the hyphen in the strip made the meaning very clear. The joke failed.
Count Olaf Premium Member 23 days ago
Why does the octopus emoji mean? Asking for a friend.
The Humanist Boss 23 days ago
It is useful to hide private information.
The Brooklyn Accent 23 days ago
Many decades ago, the late Burl Ives sang a song about a “man-eating shark” that would eat neither woman nor child. (You can find it if you search YouTube for “chivalrous shark”.)
Dacker Premium Member 23 days ago
There is a difference between “man-eating octopus” and “man eating octopus”.
Stephan wrote the former but drew the later.
PhilSexton 23 days ago
Should have been a GIANT man eating octopus.
Drgnslr Premium Member 23 days ago
We’re going to the baby doctor today.
ednorton130 23 days ago
Why did he run, he’s a pig. It was not a pig eating octopus.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 23 days ago
When a noun is used to describe another noun, it’s called a “nominal adjective”; for example, “rope burn” or “building permit”. But suppose you have an actual adjective in front of two nouns. Which noun does it modify? That’s where the hyphen comes in handy. If you’ve got a “used pizza container”, you’ve got a greasy box; if you’ve got a “used-pizza container”, you’ve got a barf bag.
Steverino Premium Member 23 days ago
This the exact reason when I go to a seafood resturant, I order shark. Turnabout is fair play. Be careful, Sherman.
Chazz 23 days ago
007
DaBump Premium Member 23 days ago
An oldie but a goodie.
wordsmeet 19 days ago
The octopus looks raw or undercooked; the guy didn’t even grill it or pour olive oil on it. Tsk, tsk.
The-miner! 19 days ago
Old joke, “a man-eating chicken!”