How queer. Did J & A say what sort of business this was? I'm trying to imagine what sort of place might forbid the gravid. Cigar bar, maybe? Opium den?
Another reader wrote to say this would make perfect sense outside an amusement park ride.
I think what's jarring is the slightly non-parallel construction. No eating, drinking, smoking and...what, impregnating? I'd bet the sign would read No eating, drinking, smoking, but the pregnant women thing made it complicated so they did sort of a hybrid.
It's not the cigarettes and food that are the problem in businesses, but the consumption of them, which is why the -ing construction is what we're itching for here.
2 comments:
How queer.
Did J & A say what sort of business this was? I'm trying to imagine what sort of place might forbid the gravid. Cigar bar, maybe? Opium den?
Another reader wrote to say this would make perfect sense outside an amusement park ride.
I think what's jarring is the slightly non-parallel construction. No eating, drinking, smoking and...what, impregnating? I'd bet the sign would read No eating, drinking, smoking, but the pregnant women thing made it complicated so they did sort of a hybrid.
It's not the cigarettes and food that are the problem in businesses, but the consumption of them, which is why the -ing construction is what we're itching for here.
Anyway, it's sort of a funny sign.
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