Order of the Stick

[Tortilla]

Am I misunderstanding, "No, seriously, give them a good once-over"? I thought that was the oracle telling the halflings to kill Belkar. What does it mean then?

I was under the impression it was a taunt. Something along the lines of "Go ahead and kill all these kobolds, you know you want too . . . oh wait you can't."

[Andrew Mayer]

I was under the impression it was a taunt. Something along the lines of "Go ahead and kill all these kobolds, you know you want too . . . oh wait you can't."

Definitely tied to the balls.

[Guido Jones]

Are you guys serious? The Town was called "Lickymyorangeballshafling" - the quote on the bottom of the sign was obviously referring to the town name.

[Hanacker]

Yeah, I figured that out a few minutes after I posted.

[wonderpug]

To give something a once-over isn't to kill it or lick it; to give something a once-over is to look at it to see what it is. The "No, seriously, give 'em a good once-over" is telling Belkar to take a good look at the town because its existence is about to screw him over. I interpret the "'em" to be very clearly referring to the kobold denizens.

[Tankero]

Unless there's someone who fancies themselves as an expert on the terminology involved in licking balls, this one will go unresolved.

[Andrew Mayer]

To give something a once-over isn't to kill it or lick it; to give something a once-over is to look at it to see what it is. The "No, seriously, give 'em a good once-over" is telling Belkar to take a good look at the town because its existence is about to screw him over. I interpret the "'em" to be very clearly referring to the kobold denizens.

You're wrong in every way.

[Sebmojo]

To give something a once-over isn't to kill it or lick it; to give something a once-over is to look at it to see what it is. The "No, seriously, give 'em a good once-over" is telling Belkar to take a good look at the town because its existence is about to screw him over. I interpret the "'em" to be very clearly referring to the kobold denizens.

Give them (THE BALLS) a good once-over (IE COVER THEM (THE BALLS) WITH SALIVA BY LICKING THEM).

i can't believe i just wrote that.

[wonderpug]

thefreedictionary:
once-over
Noun
Informal
a quick examination or appraisal, not balls-licking

~~~

Merriam-Webster online:
once–over
Pronunciation:
\ˌwən(t)s-ˈō-vər, ˈwən(t)s-ˌ\
Function:
noun
Date:
1913

: a swift examination or survey; especially : a swift comprehensive appraising glance; not : balls-licking <gave me the once–over, with his eyes and not involving his tongue and my genital region>

~~~

Putting "define: once-over" into Google:
Definitions of once-over on the Web:

* a swift cursory examination or inspection; "I gave him the once-over, but totally not in a balls-licking way"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

~~~

I may or may not have slightly edited the dictionary results, but I think my case is clear.

[Tortilla]

This thread never fails to deliver.

[Tankero]

A once-over could also refer to a coat of paint, hence the connection, you spouting fountain of lingüistic pedantry.

Note the accusatory/smiley umlaut.

[Andrew Mayer]

once-over
Definition

☆ once·-over (wuns′ō′vər)
ONCE OVER

noun

1. a quick, comprehensive look or examination; swiftly appraising glance
2. a quick, cursory or light cleaning or going-over

Get it? He wants Belkar to LICK HIS BALLS.

[noun]

I DO NOT.

[Sebmojo]

This derisory non-problem is resolved by simply noting that the proposed non-ball-licking answer is not in the slightest bit funny.

[Hanacker]

I'm pretty sure that somehow the discussion of the joke turned out to be funnier than the joke itself, no matter how it was intended.

[Andrew Mayer]

I'm pretty sure that somehow the discussion of the joke turned out to be funnier than the joke itself, no matter how it was intended.

We gave it more than a good once over, that's for sure.

[Tankero]

Someone's jaw must be aching. Certainly not mine.

[Rimbo]

We gave it more than a good once over, that's for sure.

OK, that's it. I have to kill each and every one of you now.*



















* (not really)

[wonderpug]

once-over
Definition [citation needed]

☆ once·-over (wuns′ō′vər)
ONCE OVER

noun

1. a quick, comprehensive look or examination; swiftly appraising glance
2. a quick,[citation needed] cursory[citation needed] or light[citation needed] cleaning [citation needed] or going-over [citation needed]

Get it? He wants Belkar to LICK HIS BALLS. [citation needed]

I looked up three dictionaries, one being friggin' Merriam Webster and another coming from Princeton, and they didn't have a single ball-licking amenable alternate definition.

Whether or not my unpopular (but dictionary supported) interpretation is correct, I think it's clear that Qt3 feels very strongly about its cartoon ball-licking. ;)

[Rimbo]

571

This may quite possibly be the greatest comic ever written.

Edit: To be clear, I mean OOTS in general, not this particular strip.

[Greatatlantic]

Eh, I thought it was good, but nothing approaching greatest ever. The Yo mamma jokes from a few strips back on the otherhand... now those have a strong canidacy for the title.

[Trashcan]

I looked up three dictionaries, one being friggin' Merriam Webster and another coming from Princeton, and they didn't have a single ball-licking amenable alternate definition.

Whether or not my unpopular (but dictionary supported) interpretation is correct, I think it's clear that Qt3 feels very strongly about its cartoon ball-licking. ;)

Clearly "give em a good once over" is in reference to the population being just enough to activate the mark of justice. The Kobold is telling Belkar "Go ahead and check (give them a once over) 'em! See? You're fucked!"

That being said, I think the (incorrect) ball licking interpretation is funnier. 'Cause, you know, balls and stuff.

[Tankero]

You're still talking about balls? That is so last Tuesday.

Now we're talking about whorish dead mothers.

[XPav]

I thought we were talking about why the messenger birds were dead?!?

[Sebmojo]

I thought we were talking about why the messenger birds were dead?!?

Those birds are never going to get cooked you see as they rotate one way the spit rotates the other ... oh, forget it.

[Mike O'Malley]

572 up.

Finally I get to announce one of these!

[Malderi]

572 up.

Finally I get to announce one of these!

It'll be very, very funny when Roy informs Belkar and Hailey about what happened back there.

[Andrew Mayer]

Yup. This has been a good run.

I'm more than ready for Roy to return to life now though. In fact I could use a good dungeon raid.

[ydejin]

I wonder what the heck he's going to do to Belkar. That prophecy doesn't sound to good for Belkar's long-term health.

[Tankero]

Obvious, he'll be transformed into an undead by that chick in Azure city.