Meaning of “to live one's own bit”





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Speaking of Richard Henry Dana, at the end of his study, D. H. Lawrence states:



Dana lived his bit in two years, and drummed out the rest.



Could we say that "lived his bit" is akin to "sow (one's) wild oats"?










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  • It means he was only truly alive for those 2 years. For his remaining years on Earth, he "phoned it in". Lived a mundane and unremarkable life. "Sow one's oats" is usually reserved for procreation or promiscuity, but if you want to take a broader reading of "lived life to its fullest, travelling and doing", then you could say it applies. But the reality is it's so associated with the sex meaning, people would probably misunderstand you if you used it that way.
    – Dan Bron
    Oct 28 at 22:29



















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Speaking of Richard Henry Dana, at the end of his study, D. H. Lawrence states:



Dana lived his bit in two years, and drummed out the rest.



Could we say that "lived his bit" is akin to "sow (one's) wild oats"?










share|improve this question














bumped to the homepage by Community 57 mins ago


This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.















  • It means he was only truly alive for those 2 years. For his remaining years on Earth, he "phoned it in". Lived a mundane and unremarkable life. "Sow one's oats" is usually reserved for procreation or promiscuity, but if you want to take a broader reading of "lived life to its fullest, travelling and doing", then you could say it applies. But the reality is it's so associated with the sex meaning, people would probably misunderstand you if you used it that way.
    – Dan Bron
    Oct 28 at 22:29















up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

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Speaking of Richard Henry Dana, at the end of his study, D. H. Lawrence states:



Dana lived his bit in two years, and drummed out the rest.



Could we say that "lived his bit" is akin to "sow (one's) wild oats"?










share|improve this question













Speaking of Richard Henry Dana, at the end of his study, D. H. Lawrence states:



Dana lived his bit in two years, and drummed out the rest.



Could we say that "lived his bit" is akin to "sow (one's) wild oats"?







meaning meaning-in-context idioms






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asked Oct 28 at 20:58









A. M.

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bumped to the homepage by Community 57 mins ago


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bumped to the homepage by Community 57 mins ago


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  • It means he was only truly alive for those 2 years. For his remaining years on Earth, he "phoned it in". Lived a mundane and unremarkable life. "Sow one's oats" is usually reserved for procreation or promiscuity, but if you want to take a broader reading of "lived life to its fullest, travelling and doing", then you could say it applies. But the reality is it's so associated with the sex meaning, people would probably misunderstand you if you used it that way.
    – Dan Bron
    Oct 28 at 22:29




















  • It means he was only truly alive for those 2 years. For his remaining years on Earth, he "phoned it in". Lived a mundane and unremarkable life. "Sow one's oats" is usually reserved for procreation or promiscuity, but if you want to take a broader reading of "lived life to its fullest, travelling and doing", then you could say it applies. But the reality is it's so associated with the sex meaning, people would probably misunderstand you if you used it that way.
    – Dan Bron
    Oct 28 at 22:29


















It means he was only truly alive for those 2 years. For his remaining years on Earth, he "phoned it in". Lived a mundane and unremarkable life. "Sow one's oats" is usually reserved for procreation or promiscuity, but if you want to take a broader reading of "lived life to its fullest, travelling and doing", then you could say it applies. But the reality is it's so associated with the sex meaning, people would probably misunderstand you if you used it that way.
– Dan Bron
Oct 28 at 22:29






It means he was only truly alive for those 2 years. For his remaining years on Earth, he "phoned it in". Lived a mundane and unremarkable life. "Sow one's oats" is usually reserved for procreation or promiscuity, but if you want to take a broader reading of "lived life to its fullest, travelling and doing", then you could say it applies. But the reality is it's so associated with the sex meaning, people would probably misunderstand you if you used it that way.
– Dan Bron
Oct 28 at 22:29












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From the idiom do one's bit TFD




to make an individual contribution toward an overall effort.




and



bit: small part of something. TFD



As in:




Dana lived his bit ( the short but most 'contributing' part of his
life) in two years, and drummed out the rest.




I do not sense sexuality in this sense of the use of 'bit'.






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    From the idiom do one's bit TFD




    to make an individual contribution toward an overall effort.




    and



    bit: small part of something. TFD



    As in:




    Dana lived his bit ( the short but most 'contributing' part of his
    life) in two years, and drummed out the rest.




    I do not sense sexuality in this sense of the use of 'bit'.






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      From the idiom do one's bit TFD




      to make an individual contribution toward an overall effort.




      and



      bit: small part of something. TFD



      As in:




      Dana lived his bit ( the short but most 'contributing' part of his
      life) in two years, and drummed out the rest.




      I do not sense sexuality in this sense of the use of 'bit'.






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        0
        down vote










        up vote
        0
        down vote









        From the idiom do one's bit TFD




        to make an individual contribution toward an overall effort.




        and



        bit: small part of something. TFD



        As in:




        Dana lived his bit ( the short but most 'contributing' part of his
        life) in two years, and drummed out the rest.




        I do not sense sexuality in this sense of the use of 'bit'.






        share|improve this answer












        From the idiom do one's bit TFD




        to make an individual contribution toward an overall effort.




        and



        bit: small part of something. TFD



        As in:




        Dana lived his bit ( the short but most 'contributing' part of his
        life) in two years, and drummed out the rest.




        I do not sense sexuality in this sense of the use of 'bit'.







        share|improve this answer












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        answered Oct 29 at 0:51









        lbf

        16.4k21561




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