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Letter: Meanings of 'mate'

Mr John Duff
Monday 12 April 1993 00:02 BST
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Sir: Thomas Sutcliffe considered that the term 'mate' could take the edge off social embarrassment (Glossary, 8 April). In my experience, the term 'mate' is only used when precisely the opposite meaning is intended - for instance, 'What do you think you're looking at, mate?'

Yours faithfully,

JOHN DUFF

Tynemouth,

Tyne & Wear

8 April

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