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What does “rabbited” mean/imply in this sentence?
The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InWhat does 'it's blowed over' mean?What does “that's saying something” mean?What is the meaning of “I saw myself as unbreakable, as tender as stone”?“is” and “was” in the same phrase: What is the tense? Past or present?What does the speaker imply in “piecrust collar” and “smell of horse”?What does ' you have heart' mean or imply in this sentence?What does “on the lease” mean or imply in this context?What does “I’d sit this one out, Cap,” imply or mean in the context?What does the second 'intelligence' mean/imply in the sentence of "An intelligence organization that fears intelligence?”What does “move worlds” mean/imply mean in this sentence?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
I am totally lost in the sentence as when Agent Coulson was dying, he said this to Fury:
I’m sorry, boss. The god rabbited,"
I assume the god refers to Loki? And how did rabbit have anything to do with Loki? (because Loki's helmet had long horns, like rabbit ears?)
I checked the meaning of "rabbit" as a verb, it either means "go rabbiting to hunt" or "to talk continuously about things that are not important or interesting"; neither seems to fit the context.
So could anyone help please?
Here is the sentence in the context :
He found Coulson sitting on the floor leaning against the wall. He was
pale, his eyes heavy-lidded and his breath shallow. He looked up as
Fury approached and knelt in front of him. Fury took the gun off his
lap and set it on the floor.
“I’m sorry, boss. The god rabbited,” Coulson said.
“Just stay awake. Eyes on me.”
“No. I’m clocking out here.” Even on the edge of death, Coulson kept
his cool. Clocking out, Fury thought. How many soldiers could make a
little joke in the last moments of their lives? Coulson was one of a
kind.
“Not an option,” Fury said. He couldn’t afford to lose this man. Not
after everything else they’d lost today.
“It’s okay, boss,” Coulson breathed. “This was never going to work . .
. if they didn’t have something . . . to . . .”
He never finished what he was going to say. With a last slow sigh,
Agent Phil Coulson died.
the avengers I
meaning meaning-in-context idioms implication
asked 2 days ago
user86301user86301
581211
add a comment |
I am totally lost in the sentence as when Agent Coulson was dying, he said this to Fury:
I’m sorry, boss. The god rabbited,"
I assume the god refers to Loki? And how did rabbit have anything to do with Loki? (because Loki's helmet had long horns, like rabbit ears?)
I checked the meaning of "rabbit" as a verb, it either means "go rabbiting to hunt" or "to talk continuously about things that are not important or interesting"; neither seems to fit the context.
So could anyone help please?
Here is the sentence in the context :
He found Coulson sitting on the floor leaning against the wall. He was
pale, his eyes heavy-lidded and his breath shallow. He looked up as
Fury approached and knelt in front of him. Fury took the gun off his
lap and set it on the floor.
“I’m sorry, boss. The god rabbited,” Coulson said.
“Just stay awake. Eyes on me.”
“No. I’m clocking out here.” Even on the edge of death, Coulson kept
his cool. Clocking out, Fury thought. How many soldiers could make a
little joke in the last moments of their lives? Coulson was one of a
kind.
“Not an option,” Fury said. He couldn’t afford to lose this man. Not
after everything else they’d lost today.
“It’s okay, boss,” Coulson breathed. “This was never going to work . .
. if they didn’t have something . . . to . . .”
He never finished what he was going to say. With a last slow sigh,
Agent Phil Coulson died.
the avengers I
meaning meaning-in-context idioms implication
asked 2 days ago
user86301user86301
581211
add a comment |
I am totally lost in the sentence as when Agent Coulson was dying, he said this to Fury:
I’m sorry, boss. The god rabbited,"
I assume the god refers to Loki? And how did rabbit have anything to do with Loki? (because Loki's helmet had long horns, like rabbit ears?)
I checked the meaning of "rabbit" as a verb, it either means "go rabbiting to hunt" or "to talk continuously about things that are not important or interesting"; neither seems to fit the context.
So could anyone help please?
Here is the sentence in the context :
He found Coulson sitting on the floor leaning against the wall. He was
pale, his eyes heavy-lidded and his breath shallow. He looked up as
Fury approached and knelt in front of him. Fury took the gun off his
lap and set it on the floor.
“I’m sorry, boss. The god rabbited,” Coulson said.
“Just stay awake. Eyes on me.”
“No. I’m clocking out here.” Even on the edge of death, Coulson kept
his cool. Clocking out, Fury thought. How many soldiers could make a
little joke in the last moments of their lives? Coulson was one of a
kind.
“Not an option,” Fury said. He couldn’t afford to lose this man. Not
after everything else they’d lost today.
“It’s okay, boss,” Coulson breathed. “This was never going to work . .
. if they didn’t have something . . . to . . .”
He never finished what he was going to say. With a last slow sigh,
Agent Phil Coulson died.
the avengers I
meaning meaning-in-context idioms implication
asked 2 days ago
user86301user86301
581211
I am totally lost in the sentence as when Agent Coulson was dying, he said this to Fury:
I’m sorry, boss. The god rabbited,"
I assume the god refers to Loki? And how did rabbit have anything to do with Loki? (because Loki's helmet had long horns, like rabbit ears?)
I checked the meaning of "rabbit" as a verb, it either means "go rabbiting to hunt" or "to talk continuously about things that are not important or interesting"; neither seems to fit the context.
So could anyone help please?
Here is the sentence in the context :
He found Coulson sitting on the floor leaning against the wall. He was
pale, his eyes heavy-lidded and his breath shallow. He looked up as
Fury approached and knelt in front of him. Fury took the gun off his
lap and set it on the floor.
“I’m sorry, boss. The god rabbited,” Coulson said.
“Just stay awake. Eyes on me.”
“No. I’m clocking out here.” Even on the edge of death, Coulson kept
his cool. Clocking out, Fury thought. How many soldiers could make a
little joke in the last moments of their lives? Coulson was one of a
kind.
“Not an option,” Fury said. He couldn’t afford to lose this man. Not
after everything else they’d lost today.
“It’s okay, boss,” Coulson breathed. “This was never going to work . .
. if they didn’t have something . . . to . . .”
He never finished what he was going to say. With a last slow sigh,
Agent Phil Coulson died.
the avengers I
meaning meaning-in-context idioms implication
meaning meaning-in-context idioms implication
asked 2 days ago
user86301user86301
581211
asked 2 days ago
user86301user86301
581211
edited 2 days ago
user86301
asked 2 days ago
user86301user86301
581211
asked 2 days ago
user86301user86301
581211
asked 2 days ago
user86301user86301
581211
581211
add a comment |
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
"Rabbit" can also mean "move quickly; run away".
It would seem in this context that Loki fled.
See the third definition for this verb in the Oxford dictionary.
answered 2 days ago
AstralbeeAstralbee
14.8k1554
2
@user86301 In everyday speech, "fled" is perhaps more common than "flee", but that's just my personal feeling as a native speaker. It is certainly a widely understood word. "Run away" is probably most common in informal speech.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
4
@user86301 The use of "rabbitted" in this way is meant to be a little jarring - I haven't heard it in a long while and I admit I had to look it up myself to be sure. As a Marvel fan myself I would say that that the use of it here is deliberately a little jarring - perhaps it is meant to sound like internal SHIELD jargon for running away / fleeing? The other answer mentions it was used in Firefly which also has a military feel to it.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
3
@user86301 It is not commonly used that way in British English. Without even more context than your long quote, I would have interpreted it as "the god talked a lot and told people things they weren't supposed to know about." But "high tailed" is used to mean "ran away", and when rabbits run away from danger their short white tails are visible, and are a warning sign to other rabbits nearby that they should also run away.
– alephzero
2 days ago
2
@alephzero Deer, as well. Very common to see whitetail deer's tails flickering through the woods as they run from you when you startle them while hiking.
– Adonalsium
2 days ago
8
My understanding is that "rabbiting" meaning "to run away" is more commonly said by police officers in the USA. For example: policemag.com/339210/think-before-you-run Quoting: "...you should use every available and appropriate tactic to prevent a suspect from rabbiting." Use of "rabbit" instead of "flee" or "got away" helps establish Coulson as having a military or law enforcement background.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
|
show 7 more comments
Joss Whedon, who wrote The Avengers, also wrote the sci-fi TV series Firefly.
There he describes the term rabbiting as "Hightailing; running; fleeing" for the spaceship. (check under the heading "Frontier Life") in the linked webpage.
He uses the same term here to mean that Loki flew after impaling Coulson with the Scepter.
In a way, this is like a hidden easter-egg for Joss fans.
P.S.: I think this question is more suited to be on https://movies.stackexchange.com/
answered 2 days ago
CinCoutCinCout
1,609521
thanks a lot! first heard of this site. but I wonder if the moviesstack is also about language learning? or just the content of movies, like plot or something?. and is the usage of "rabbit" as "flee" as often as "run away, flee"? any semantic difference between "rabbit and flee"?
– user86301
2 days ago
6
1. The website you link to is a fan website, there is no indication that this is how Joss Whedon describes rabbiting. 2. Many of the terms on that website are recognisable outside of the Firefly universe. Rabbiting is one of them. 3. There is no indication that this is an Easter egg. I find it far more likely that Joss has a different vocabulary to you, and to him the verb "to rabbit" meaning to flee is normal, and not something he made up.
– AndyT
2 days ago
@ AndyT, thanks for the confirmation.
– user86301
2 days ago
4
There's no indication that Whedon coined this meaning. Rather, it seems likely he picked it up from law enforcement officers in the US, who are more likely to use this meaning than others. Also, this meaning is not unique to Whedon in film and TV - TV cop dramas like CSI and Law & Order will use this word from time to time. Since this meaning is used by actual police officers quite often, it's not specific to movies or TV.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
I've never seen the movie. But I just did a small bit of research. It said "In The Avengers, Coulson is fatally wounded by Loki, which S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury uses to motivate the Avengers."
Therefore I take what he said, to mean simply, that Loki, was just too quick. And he could do nothing to prevent his current situation.
It's simple, and quite self evident. For rabbit in this situation
Can only mean 2 things.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
talk at length, especially about trivial matters.
"stop rabbiting on, will you, and go to bed!"
3.
INFORMAL
move quickly; run away.
"he rabbited as soon as he saw us coming"
answered 2 days ago
Melchizedek KrishnaMelchizedek Krishna
11
New contributor
Melchizedek Krishna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
"Rabbit" here means "to talk aimlessly or inconsequentially". It's British English, and the other theories about "fleeing" are completely off the mark. There's a song by a London duo called Chas & Dave, titled 'Rabbit' (Link to YouTube), where they sing about a woman who won't stop talking.
edited 2 days ago
J.R.♦
101k8129249
answered 2 days ago
Leigh HughesLeigh Hughes
1
New contributor
Leigh Hughes is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
What about the context makes you think Loki was talking aimlessly instead of escaping pursuit?
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
The the Agent is reporting that Loki fled, not that he was chatting away in the corner. Agent Coulson is also American, so his use of a British English term would be incongruous. This particular meaning of 'rabbiting' is not one that I've ever heard in American English, while the meaning of 'darted off' is -- while rare -- one that I do recognize.
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
2 days ago
Hello Leigh. When you have a moment, please take our tour and review our help center to understand how best to use this site. We prefer that respondents use more authoritative sources than YouTube songs. For example, the online Oxford dictionary has three definitions for "to rabbit:" (1) to hunt rabbits, (2) to talk at length, and (3) to move quickly or run away. It notes that (2) is "British informal," meaning it's unique to Britain (and, presumably, the Commonwealth). I've never heard or used (1), but use and hear (3) regularly.
– JBH
yesterday
add a comment |
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4 Answers
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4 Answers
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"Rabbit" can also mean "move quickly; run away".
It would seem in this context that Loki fled.
See the third definition for this verb in the Oxford dictionary.
answered 2 days ago
AstralbeeAstralbee
14.8k1554
2
@user86301 In everyday speech, "fled" is perhaps more common than "flee", but that's just my personal feeling as a native speaker. It is certainly a widely understood word. "Run away" is probably most common in informal speech.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
4
@user86301 The use of "rabbitted" in this way is meant to be a little jarring - I haven't heard it in a long while and I admit I had to look it up myself to be sure. As a Marvel fan myself I would say that that the use of it here is deliberately a little jarring - perhaps it is meant to sound like internal SHIELD jargon for running away / fleeing? The other answer mentions it was used in Firefly which also has a military feel to it.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
3
@user86301 It is not commonly used that way in British English. Without even more context than your long quote, I would have interpreted it as "the god talked a lot and told people things they weren't supposed to know about." But "high tailed" is used to mean "ran away", and when rabbits run away from danger their short white tails are visible, and are a warning sign to other rabbits nearby that they should also run away.
– alephzero
2 days ago
2
@alephzero Deer, as well. Very common to see whitetail deer's tails flickering through the woods as they run from you when you startle them while hiking.
– Adonalsium
2 days ago
8
My understanding is that "rabbiting" meaning "to run away" is more commonly said by police officers in the USA. For example: policemag.com/339210/think-before-you-run Quoting: "...you should use every available and appropriate tactic to prevent a suspect from rabbiting." Use of "rabbit" instead of "flee" or "got away" helps establish Coulson as having a military or law enforcement background.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
|
show 7 more comments
"Rabbit" can also mean "move quickly; run away".
It would seem in this context that Loki fled.
See the third definition for this verb in the Oxford dictionary.
answered 2 days ago
AstralbeeAstralbee
14.8k1554
2
@user86301 In everyday speech, "fled" is perhaps more common than "flee", but that's just my personal feeling as a native speaker. It is certainly a widely understood word. "Run away" is probably most common in informal speech.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
4
@user86301 The use of "rabbitted" in this way is meant to be a little jarring - I haven't heard it in a long while and I admit I had to look it up myself to be sure. As a Marvel fan myself I would say that that the use of it here is deliberately a little jarring - perhaps it is meant to sound like internal SHIELD jargon for running away / fleeing? The other answer mentions it was used in Firefly which also has a military feel to it.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
3
@user86301 It is not commonly used that way in British English. Without even more context than your long quote, I would have interpreted it as "the god talked a lot and told people things they weren't supposed to know about." But "high tailed" is used to mean "ran away", and when rabbits run away from danger their short white tails are visible, and are a warning sign to other rabbits nearby that they should also run away.
– alephzero
2 days ago
2
@alephzero Deer, as well. Very common to see whitetail deer's tails flickering through the woods as they run from you when you startle them while hiking.
– Adonalsium
2 days ago
8
My understanding is that "rabbiting" meaning "to run away" is more commonly said by police officers in the USA. For example: policemag.com/339210/think-before-you-run Quoting: "...you should use every available and appropriate tactic to prevent a suspect from rabbiting." Use of "rabbit" instead of "flee" or "got away" helps establish Coulson as having a military or law enforcement background.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
|
show 7 more comments
"Rabbit" can also mean "move quickly; run away".
It would seem in this context that Loki fled.
See the third definition for this verb in the Oxford dictionary.
answered 2 days ago
AstralbeeAstralbee
14.8k1554
"Rabbit" can also mean "move quickly; run away".
It would seem in this context that Loki fled.
See the third definition for this verb in the Oxford dictionary.
answered 2 days ago
AstralbeeAstralbee
14.8k1554
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
AstralbeeAstralbee
14.8k1554
answered 2 days ago
AstralbeeAstralbee
14.8k1554
answered 2 days ago
AstralbeeAstralbee
14.8k1554
14.8k1554
2
@user86301 In everyday speech, "fled" is perhaps more common than "flee", but that's just my personal feeling as a native speaker. It is certainly a widely understood word. "Run away" is probably most common in informal speech.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
4
@user86301 The use of "rabbitted" in this way is meant to be a little jarring - I haven't heard it in a long while and I admit I had to look it up myself to be sure. As a Marvel fan myself I would say that that the use of it here is deliberately a little jarring - perhaps it is meant to sound like internal SHIELD jargon for running away / fleeing? The other answer mentions it was used in Firefly which also has a military feel to it.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
3
@user86301 It is not commonly used that way in British English. Without even more context than your long quote, I would have interpreted it as "the god talked a lot and told people things they weren't supposed to know about." But "high tailed" is used to mean "ran away", and when rabbits run away from danger their short white tails are visible, and are a warning sign to other rabbits nearby that they should also run away.
– alephzero
2 days ago
2
@alephzero Deer, as well. Very common to see whitetail deer's tails flickering through the woods as they run from you when you startle them while hiking.
– Adonalsium
2 days ago
8
My understanding is that "rabbiting" meaning "to run away" is more commonly said by police officers in the USA. For example: policemag.com/339210/think-before-you-run Quoting: "...you should use every available and appropriate tactic to prevent a suspect from rabbiting." Use of "rabbit" instead of "flee" or "got away" helps establish Coulson as having a military or law enforcement background.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
|
show 7 more comments
2
@user86301 In everyday speech, "fled" is perhaps more common than "flee", but that's just my personal feeling as a native speaker. It is certainly a widely understood word. "Run away" is probably most common in informal speech.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
4
@user86301 The use of "rabbitted" in this way is meant to be a little jarring - I haven't heard it in a long while and I admit I had to look it up myself to be sure. As a Marvel fan myself I would say that that the use of it here is deliberately a little jarring - perhaps it is meant to sound like internal SHIELD jargon for running away / fleeing? The other answer mentions it was used in Firefly which also has a military feel to it.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
3
@user86301 It is not commonly used that way in British English. Without even more context than your long quote, I would have interpreted it as "the god talked a lot and told people things they weren't supposed to know about." But "high tailed" is used to mean "ran away", and when rabbits run away from danger their short white tails are visible, and are a warning sign to other rabbits nearby that they should also run away.
– alephzero
2 days ago
2
@alephzero Deer, as well. Very common to see whitetail deer's tails flickering through the woods as they run from you when you startle them while hiking.
– Adonalsium
2 days ago
8
My understanding is that "rabbiting" meaning "to run away" is more commonly said by police officers in the USA. For example: policemag.com/339210/think-before-you-run Quoting: "...you should use every available and appropriate tactic to prevent a suspect from rabbiting." Use of "rabbit" instead of "flee" or "got away" helps establish Coulson as having a military or law enforcement background.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
2
2
@user86301 In everyday speech, "fled" is perhaps more common than "flee", but that's just my personal feeling as a native speaker. It is certainly a widely understood word. "Run away" is probably most common in informal speech.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
@user86301 In everyday speech, "fled" is perhaps more common than "flee", but that's just my personal feeling as a native speaker. It is certainly a widely understood word. "Run away" is probably most common in informal speech.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
4
4
@user86301 The use of "rabbitted" in this way is meant to be a little jarring - I haven't heard it in a long while and I admit I had to look it up myself to be sure. As a Marvel fan myself I would say that that the use of it here is deliberately a little jarring - perhaps it is meant to sound like internal SHIELD jargon for running away / fleeing? The other answer mentions it was used in Firefly which also has a military feel to it.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
@user86301 The use of "rabbitted" in this way is meant to be a little jarring - I haven't heard it in a long while and I admit I had to look it up myself to be sure. As a Marvel fan myself I would say that that the use of it here is deliberately a little jarring - perhaps it is meant to sound like internal SHIELD jargon for running away / fleeing? The other answer mentions it was used in Firefly which also has a military feel to it.
– Astralbee
2 days ago
3
3
@user86301 It is not commonly used that way in British English. Without even more context than your long quote, I would have interpreted it as "the god talked a lot and told people things they weren't supposed to know about." But "high tailed" is used to mean "ran away", and when rabbits run away from danger their short white tails are visible, and are a warning sign to other rabbits nearby that they should also run away.
– alephzero
2 days ago
@user86301 It is not commonly used that way in British English. Without even more context than your long quote, I would have interpreted it as "the god talked a lot and told people things they weren't supposed to know about." But "high tailed" is used to mean "ran away", and when rabbits run away from danger their short white tails are visible, and are a warning sign to other rabbits nearby that they should also run away.
– alephzero
2 days ago
2
2
@alephzero Deer, as well. Very common to see whitetail deer's tails flickering through the woods as they run from you when you startle them while hiking.
– Adonalsium
2 days ago
@alephzero Deer, as well. Very common to see whitetail deer's tails flickering through the woods as they run from you when you startle them while hiking.
– Adonalsium
2 days ago
8
8
My understanding is that "rabbiting" meaning "to run away" is more commonly said by police officers in the USA. For example: policemag.com/339210/think-before-you-run Quoting: "...you should use every available and appropriate tactic to prevent a suspect from rabbiting." Use of "rabbit" instead of "flee" or "got away" helps establish Coulson as having a military or law enforcement background.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
My understanding is that "rabbiting" meaning "to run away" is more commonly said by police officers in the USA. For example: policemag.com/339210/think-before-you-run Quoting: "...you should use every available and appropriate tactic to prevent a suspect from rabbiting." Use of "rabbit" instead of "flee" or "got away" helps establish Coulson as having a military or law enforcement background.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
|
show 7 more comments
Joss Whedon, who wrote The Avengers, also wrote the sci-fi TV series Firefly.
There he describes the term rabbiting as "Hightailing; running; fleeing" for the spaceship. (check under the heading "Frontier Life") in the linked webpage.
He uses the same term here to mean that Loki flew after impaling Coulson with the Scepter.
In a way, this is like a hidden easter-egg for Joss fans.
P.S.: I think this question is more suited to be on https://movies.stackexchange.com/
answered 2 days ago
CinCoutCinCout
1,609521
thanks a lot! first heard of this site. but I wonder if the moviesstack is also about language learning? or just the content of movies, like plot or something?. and is the usage of "rabbit" as "flee" as often as "run away, flee"? any semantic difference between "rabbit and flee"?
– user86301
2 days ago
6
1. The website you link to is a fan website, there is no indication that this is how Joss Whedon describes rabbiting. 2. Many of the terms on that website are recognisable outside of the Firefly universe. Rabbiting is one of them. 3. There is no indication that this is an Easter egg. I find it far more likely that Joss has a different vocabulary to you, and to him the verb "to rabbit" meaning to flee is normal, and not something he made up.
– AndyT
2 days ago
@ AndyT, thanks for the confirmation.
– user86301
2 days ago
4
There's no indication that Whedon coined this meaning. Rather, it seems likely he picked it up from law enforcement officers in the US, who are more likely to use this meaning than others. Also, this meaning is not unique to Whedon in film and TV - TV cop dramas like CSI and Law & Order will use this word from time to time. Since this meaning is used by actual police officers quite often, it's not specific to movies or TV.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
Joss Whedon, who wrote The Avengers, also wrote the sci-fi TV series Firefly.
There he describes the term rabbiting as "Hightailing; running; fleeing" for the spaceship. (check under the heading "Frontier Life") in the linked webpage.
He uses the same term here to mean that Loki flew after impaling Coulson with the Scepter.
In a way, this is like a hidden easter-egg for Joss fans.
P.S.: I think this question is more suited to be on https://movies.stackexchange.com/
answered 2 days ago
CinCoutCinCout
1,609521
thanks a lot! first heard of this site. but I wonder if the moviesstack is also about language learning? or just the content of movies, like plot or something?. and is the usage of "rabbit" as "flee" as often as "run away, flee"? any semantic difference between "rabbit and flee"?
– user86301
2 days ago
6
1. The website you link to is a fan website, there is no indication that this is how Joss Whedon describes rabbiting. 2. Many of the terms on that website are recognisable outside of the Firefly universe. Rabbiting is one of them. 3. There is no indication that this is an Easter egg. I find it far more likely that Joss has a different vocabulary to you, and to him the verb "to rabbit" meaning to flee is normal, and not something he made up.
– AndyT
2 days ago
@ AndyT, thanks for the confirmation.
– user86301
2 days ago
4
There's no indication that Whedon coined this meaning. Rather, it seems likely he picked it up from law enforcement officers in the US, who are more likely to use this meaning than others. Also, this meaning is not unique to Whedon in film and TV - TV cop dramas like CSI and Law & Order will use this word from time to time. Since this meaning is used by actual police officers quite often, it's not specific to movies or TV.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
Joss Whedon, who wrote The Avengers, also wrote the sci-fi TV series Firefly.
There he describes the term rabbiting as "Hightailing; running; fleeing" for the spaceship. (check under the heading "Frontier Life") in the linked webpage.
He uses the same term here to mean that Loki flew after impaling Coulson with the Scepter.
In a way, this is like a hidden easter-egg for Joss fans.
P.S.: I think this question is more suited to be on https://movies.stackexchange.com/
answered 2 days ago
CinCoutCinCout
1,609521
Joss Whedon, who wrote The Avengers, also wrote the sci-fi TV series Firefly.
There he describes the term rabbiting as "Hightailing; running; fleeing" for the spaceship. (check under the heading "Frontier Life") in the linked webpage.
He uses the same term here to mean that Loki flew after impaling Coulson with the Scepter.
In a way, this is like a hidden easter-egg for Joss fans.
P.S.: I think this question is more suited to be on https://movies.stackexchange.com/
answered 2 days ago
CinCoutCinCout
1,609521
answered 2 days ago
CinCoutCinCout
1,609521
answered 2 days ago
CinCoutCinCout
1,609521
answered 2 days ago
CinCoutCinCout
1,609521
1,609521
thanks a lot! first heard of this site. but I wonder if the moviesstack is also about language learning? or just the content of movies, like plot or something?. and is the usage of "rabbit" as "flee" as often as "run away, flee"? any semantic difference between "rabbit and flee"?
– user86301
2 days ago
6
1. The website you link to is a fan website, there is no indication that this is how Joss Whedon describes rabbiting. 2. Many of the terms on that website are recognisable outside of the Firefly universe. Rabbiting is one of them. 3. There is no indication that this is an Easter egg. I find it far more likely that Joss has a different vocabulary to you, and to him the verb "to rabbit" meaning to flee is normal, and not something he made up.
– AndyT
2 days ago
@ AndyT, thanks for the confirmation.
– user86301
2 days ago
4
There's no indication that Whedon coined this meaning. Rather, it seems likely he picked it up from law enforcement officers in the US, who are more likely to use this meaning than others. Also, this meaning is not unique to Whedon in film and TV - TV cop dramas like CSI and Law & Order will use this word from time to time. Since this meaning is used by actual police officers quite often, it's not specific to movies or TV.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
thanks a lot! first heard of this site. but I wonder if the moviesstack is also about language learning? or just the content of movies, like plot or something?. and is the usage of "rabbit" as "flee" as often as "run away, flee"? any semantic difference between "rabbit and flee"?
– user86301
2 days ago
6
1. The website you link to is a fan website, there is no indication that this is how Joss Whedon describes rabbiting. 2. Many of the terms on that website are recognisable outside of the Firefly universe. Rabbiting is one of them. 3. There is no indication that this is an Easter egg. I find it far more likely that Joss has a different vocabulary to you, and to him the verb "to rabbit" meaning to flee is normal, and not something he made up.
– AndyT
2 days ago
@ AndyT, thanks for the confirmation.
– user86301
2 days ago
4
There's no indication that Whedon coined this meaning. Rather, it seems likely he picked it up from law enforcement officers in the US, who are more likely to use this meaning than others. Also, this meaning is not unique to Whedon in film and TV - TV cop dramas like CSI and Law & Order will use this word from time to time. Since this meaning is used by actual police officers quite often, it's not specific to movies or TV.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
thanks a lot! first heard of this site. but I wonder if the moviesstack is also about language learning? or just the content of movies, like plot or something?. and is the usage of "rabbit" as "flee" as often as "run away, flee"? any semantic difference between "rabbit and flee"?
– user86301
2 days ago
thanks a lot! first heard of this site. but I wonder if the moviesstack is also about language learning? or just the content of movies, like plot or something?. and is the usage of "rabbit" as "flee" as often as "run away, flee"? any semantic difference between "rabbit and flee"?
– user86301
2 days ago
6
6
1. The website you link to is a fan website, there is no indication that this is how Joss Whedon describes rabbiting. 2. Many of the terms on that website are recognisable outside of the Firefly universe. Rabbiting is one of them. 3. There is no indication that this is an Easter egg. I find it far more likely that Joss has a different vocabulary to you, and to him the verb "to rabbit" meaning to flee is normal, and not something he made up.
– AndyT
2 days ago
1. The website you link to is a fan website, there is no indication that this is how Joss Whedon describes rabbiting. 2. Many of the terms on that website are recognisable outside of the Firefly universe. Rabbiting is one of them. 3. There is no indication that this is an Easter egg. I find it far more likely that Joss has a different vocabulary to you, and to him the verb "to rabbit" meaning to flee is normal, and not something he made up.
– AndyT
2 days ago
@ AndyT, thanks for the confirmation.
– user86301
2 days ago
@ AndyT, thanks for the confirmation.
– user86301
2 days ago
4
4
There's no indication that Whedon coined this meaning. Rather, it seems likely he picked it up from law enforcement officers in the US, who are more likely to use this meaning than others. Also, this meaning is not unique to Whedon in film and TV - TV cop dramas like CSI and Law & Order will use this word from time to time. Since this meaning is used by actual police officers quite often, it's not specific to movies or TV.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
There's no indication that Whedon coined this meaning. Rather, it seems likely he picked it up from law enforcement officers in the US, who are more likely to use this meaning than others. Also, this meaning is not unique to Whedon in film and TV - TV cop dramas like CSI and Law & Order will use this word from time to time. Since this meaning is used by actual police officers quite often, it's not specific to movies or TV.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
I've never seen the movie. But I just did a small bit of research. It said "In The Avengers, Coulson is fatally wounded by Loki, which S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury uses to motivate the Avengers."
Therefore I take what he said, to mean simply, that Loki, was just too quick. And he could do nothing to prevent his current situation.
It's simple, and quite self evident. For rabbit in this situation
Can only mean 2 things.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
talk at length, especially about trivial matters.
"stop rabbiting on, will you, and go to bed!"
3.
INFORMAL
move quickly; run away.
"he rabbited as soon as he saw us coming"
answered 2 days ago
Melchizedek KrishnaMelchizedek Krishna
11
New contributor
Melchizedek Krishna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I've never seen the movie. But I just did a small bit of research. It said "In The Avengers, Coulson is fatally wounded by Loki, which S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury uses to motivate the Avengers."
Therefore I take what he said, to mean simply, that Loki, was just too quick. And he could do nothing to prevent his current situation.
It's simple, and quite self evident. For rabbit in this situation
Can only mean 2 things.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
talk at length, especially about trivial matters.
"stop rabbiting on, will you, and go to bed!"
3.
INFORMAL
move quickly; run away.
"he rabbited as soon as he saw us coming"
answered 2 days ago
Melchizedek KrishnaMelchizedek Krishna
11
New contributor
Melchizedek Krishna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I've never seen the movie. But I just did a small bit of research. It said "In The Avengers, Coulson is fatally wounded by Loki, which S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury uses to motivate the Avengers."
Therefore I take what he said, to mean simply, that Loki, was just too quick. And he could do nothing to prevent his current situation.
It's simple, and quite self evident. For rabbit in this situation
Can only mean 2 things.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
talk at length, especially about trivial matters.
"stop rabbiting on, will you, and go to bed!"
3.
INFORMAL
move quickly; run away.
"he rabbited as soon as he saw us coming"
answered 2 days ago
Melchizedek KrishnaMelchizedek Krishna
11
New contributor
Melchizedek Krishna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I've never seen the movie. But I just did a small bit of research. It said "In The Avengers, Coulson is fatally wounded by Loki, which S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury uses to motivate the Avengers."
Therefore I take what he said, to mean simply, that Loki, was just too quick. And he could do nothing to prevent his current situation.
It's simple, and quite self evident. For rabbit in this situation
Can only mean 2 things.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
talk at length, especially about trivial matters.
"stop rabbiting on, will you, and go to bed!"
3.
INFORMAL
move quickly; run away.
"he rabbited as soon as he saw us coming"
answered 2 days ago
Melchizedek KrishnaMelchizedek Krishna
11
New contributor
Melchizedek Krishna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Melchizedek KrishnaMelchizedek Krishna
11
New contributor
Melchizedek Krishna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Melchizedek KrishnaMelchizedek Krishna
11
answered 2 days ago
Melchizedek KrishnaMelchizedek Krishna
11
11
New contributor
Melchizedek Krishna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Melchizedek Krishna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Melchizedek Krishna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
"Rabbit" here means "to talk aimlessly or inconsequentially". It's British English, and the other theories about "fleeing" are completely off the mark. There's a song by a London duo called Chas & Dave, titled 'Rabbit' (Link to YouTube), where they sing about a woman who won't stop talking.
edited 2 days ago
J.R.♦
101k8129249
answered 2 days ago
Leigh HughesLeigh Hughes
1
New contributor
Leigh Hughes is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
What about the context makes you think Loki was talking aimlessly instead of escaping pursuit?
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
The the Agent is reporting that Loki fled, not that he was chatting away in the corner. Agent Coulson is also American, so his use of a British English term would be incongruous. This particular meaning of 'rabbiting' is not one that I've ever heard in American English, while the meaning of 'darted off' is -- while rare -- one that I do recognize.
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
2 days ago
Hello Leigh. When you have a moment, please take our tour and review our help center to understand how best to use this site. We prefer that respondents use more authoritative sources than YouTube songs. For example, the online Oxford dictionary has three definitions for "to rabbit:" (1) to hunt rabbits, (2) to talk at length, and (3) to move quickly or run away. It notes that (2) is "British informal," meaning it's unique to Britain (and, presumably, the Commonwealth). I've never heard or used (1), but use and hear (3) regularly.
– JBH
yesterday
add a comment |
"Rabbit" here means "to talk aimlessly or inconsequentially". It's British English, and the other theories about "fleeing" are completely off the mark. There's a song by a London duo called Chas & Dave, titled 'Rabbit' (Link to YouTube), where they sing about a woman who won't stop talking.
edited 2 days ago
J.R.♦
101k8129249
answered 2 days ago
Leigh HughesLeigh Hughes
1
New contributor
Leigh Hughes is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
What about the context makes you think Loki was talking aimlessly instead of escaping pursuit?
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
The the Agent is reporting that Loki fled, not that he was chatting away in the corner. Agent Coulson is also American, so his use of a British English term would be incongruous. This particular meaning of 'rabbiting' is not one that I've ever heard in American English, while the meaning of 'darted off' is -- while rare -- one that I do recognize.
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
2 days ago
Hello Leigh. When you have a moment, please take our tour and review our help center to understand how best to use this site. We prefer that respondents use more authoritative sources than YouTube songs. For example, the online Oxford dictionary has three definitions for "to rabbit:" (1) to hunt rabbits, (2) to talk at length, and (3) to move quickly or run away. It notes that (2) is "British informal," meaning it's unique to Britain (and, presumably, the Commonwealth). I've never heard or used (1), but use and hear (3) regularly.
– JBH
yesterday
add a comment |
"Rabbit" here means "to talk aimlessly or inconsequentially". It's British English, and the other theories about "fleeing" are completely off the mark. There's a song by a London duo called Chas & Dave, titled 'Rabbit' (Link to YouTube), where they sing about a woman who won't stop talking.
edited 2 days ago
J.R.♦
101k8129249
answered 2 days ago
Leigh HughesLeigh Hughes
1
New contributor
Leigh Hughes is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"Rabbit" here means "to talk aimlessly or inconsequentially". It's British English, and the other theories about "fleeing" are completely off the mark. There's a song by a London duo called Chas & Dave, titled 'Rabbit' (Link to YouTube), where they sing about a woman who won't stop talking.
edited 2 days ago
J.R.♦
101k8129249
answered 2 days ago
Leigh HughesLeigh Hughes
1
New contributor
Leigh Hughes is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
J.R.♦
101k8129249
edited 2 days ago
J.R.♦
101k8129249
edited 2 days ago
J.R.♦
101k8129249
101k8129249
answered 2 days ago
Leigh HughesLeigh Hughes
1
New contributor
Leigh Hughes is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Leigh HughesLeigh Hughes
1
answered 2 days ago
Leigh HughesLeigh Hughes
1
1
New contributor
Leigh Hughes is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Leigh Hughes is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Leigh Hughes is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
What about the context makes you think Loki was talking aimlessly instead of escaping pursuit?
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
The the Agent is reporting that Loki fled, not that he was chatting away in the corner. Agent Coulson is also American, so his use of a British English term would be incongruous. This particular meaning of 'rabbiting' is not one that I've ever heard in American English, while the meaning of 'darted off' is -- while rare -- one that I do recognize.
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
2 days ago
Hello Leigh. When you have a moment, please take our tour and review our help center to understand how best to use this site. We prefer that respondents use more authoritative sources than YouTube songs. For example, the online Oxford dictionary has three definitions for "to rabbit:" (1) to hunt rabbits, (2) to talk at length, and (3) to move quickly or run away. It notes that (2) is "British informal," meaning it's unique to Britain (and, presumably, the Commonwealth). I've never heard or used (1), but use and hear (3) regularly.
– JBH
yesterday
add a comment |
4
What about the context makes you think Loki was talking aimlessly instead of escaping pursuit?
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
The the Agent is reporting that Loki fled, not that he was chatting away in the corner. Agent Coulson is also American, so his use of a British English term would be incongruous. This particular meaning of 'rabbiting' is not one that I've ever heard in American English, while the meaning of 'darted off' is -- while rare -- one that I do recognize.
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
2 days ago
Hello Leigh. When you have a moment, please take our tour and review our help center to understand how best to use this site. We prefer that respondents use more authoritative sources than YouTube songs. For example, the online Oxford dictionary has three definitions for "to rabbit:" (1) to hunt rabbits, (2) to talk at length, and (3) to move quickly or run away. It notes that (2) is "British informal," meaning it's unique to Britain (and, presumably, the Commonwealth). I've never heard or used (1), but use and hear (3) regularly.
– JBH
yesterday
4
4
What about the context makes you think Loki was talking aimlessly instead of escaping pursuit?
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
What about the context makes you think Loki was talking aimlessly instead of escaping pursuit?
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
The the Agent is reporting that Loki fled, not that he was chatting away in the corner. Agent Coulson is also American, so his use of a British English term would be incongruous. This particular meaning of 'rabbiting' is not one that I've ever heard in American English, while the meaning of 'darted off' is -- while rare -- one that I do recognize.
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
2 days ago
The the Agent is reporting that Loki fled, not that he was chatting away in the corner. Agent Coulson is also American, so his use of a British English term would be incongruous. This particular meaning of 'rabbiting' is not one that I've ever heard in American English, while the meaning of 'darted off' is -- while rare -- one that I do recognize.
– Roddy of the Frozen Peas
2 days ago
Hello Leigh. When you have a moment, please take our tour and review our help center to understand how best to use this site. We prefer that respondents use more authoritative sources than YouTube songs. For example, the online Oxford dictionary has three definitions for "to rabbit:" (1) to hunt rabbits, (2) to talk at length, and (3) to move quickly or run away. It notes that (2) is "British informal," meaning it's unique to Britain (and, presumably, the Commonwealth). I've never heard or used (1), but use and hear (3) regularly.
– JBH
yesterday
Hello Leigh. When you have a moment, please take our tour and review our help center to understand how best to use this site. We prefer that respondents use more authoritative sources than YouTube songs. For example, the online Oxford dictionary has three definitions for "to rabbit:" (1) to hunt rabbits, (2) to talk at length, and (3) to move quickly or run away. It notes that (2) is "British informal," meaning it's unique to Britain (and, presumably, the Commonwealth). I've never heard or used (1), but use and hear (3) regularly.
– JBH
yesterday
add a comment |
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