Peng Posted July 23, 2006 at 10:19 PM Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 at 10:19 PM I understand that the English idiom, "Third Wheel" refers to third person being with a couple and feeling left out. But I wonder why is 电灯泡/電燈泡 (light bulb) used to refer third person? How is it related to a light bulb? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted July 23, 2006 at 11:18 PM Report Share Posted July 23, 2006 at 11:18 PM Assuming that a couple or boyfriend+girlfriend like to go out on a date in a darker place (eg in a park at night, a cinema or a dimly lit restaurant), a light bulb is a third person who, like turning on the light, ruins the intimacy. Think boyfriend+girlfriend on a date with the gf's little brother ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted July 24, 2006 at 02:30 AM Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 at 02:30 AM Skylee's explanation makes a lot more sense than the (British?) English equivalent of gooseberry . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy21 Posted July 24, 2006 at 03:34 AM Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 at 03:34 AM Light bulb because like... a light bulb stands out... so... it's like... the third wheel getting in the way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted July 24, 2006 at 01:23 PM Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 at 01:23 PM I got it explained to me as: the third person can only sit there with the other two and hold the light over them. Or something like that. Actually Skylee's explanation makes a lot more sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HashiriKata Posted July 24, 2006 at 02:16 PM Report Share Posted July 24, 2006 at 02:16 PM A light bulb... can see everything! (And we don't want that, do we? ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alhazred Posted July 28, 2006 at 09:03 AM Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 at 09:03 AM "I got it explained to me as: the third person can only sit there with the other two and hold the light over them. Or something like that. Actually Skylee's explanation makes a lot more sense." This would be close to the French equivalent "tenir la chandelle," though I reckon I had never thought of that before... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magudo Posted February 27, 2008 at 03:15 AM Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 at 03:15 AM because "电灯泡" would "照亮" and "照" also means "看管""监视""照看" for example: 我出去一下，你帮我照看一下东西 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monto Posted February 27, 2008 at 04:22 AM Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 at 04:22 AM skylee Assuming that a couple or boyfriend+girlfriend like to go out on a date in a darker place (eg in a park at night, a cinema or a dimly lit restaurant), a light bulb is a third person who, like turning on the light, ruins the intimacy. Ya, Agree! 电灯泡 makes a play in dark under the light, the parties concerned may feel greatly embarrassed or uneasy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creamyhorror Posted March 1, 2008 at 09:03 AM Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 at 09:03 AM I view this as the couple sitting/kissing on a park bench with a lamppost next to them. The third person literally takes the role of the lamppost. Pretty close to Lu's explanation, actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zozzen Posted March 5, 2008 at 06:09 PM Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 at 06:09 PM it seems to be a cantonese slang. Is it used in putonghua now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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