The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 23, June 5, 2005, Article 13

PENNY DROPS AS DEFINITIONS ARE FOUND

Last week I asked, "Can anyone fill us in on just what the
terms "penny drop" and "silver surfer" mean?" The terms
were used in a story about an Australian coin dealer.

Martin Purdy of New Zealand writes: "Silver surfer is
defined in the article itself as "senior citizens who use the
Internet to sell goods and earn extra money".

"The penny dropped" is not confined to Australia - I've
heard this used in the UK, too. It just means "everything
suddenly became clear".

Steve Woodland confirms: "As a Canadian who lives next
to Americans and has spent time in Europe working and
studying with Americans, Australians and Jamaicans, I think
I can shed some light on the idioms in the article:

"the penny drops" is an informal British expression that means
"when someone begins to understand at last". It is like saying
"the light went on!"

"Silver surfers" means "seniors who surf the web" (unless
they're Californians or Hawaiians who might surf the waves
as well!)"

[Bob Lyall, Larry Dziubek, Howard Spindel and others set
me straight as well. Howard included this link to UsingEnglish.com,
which has a definition of the "penny dropped" idiom.
The-penny-dropped.html

Thanks! The penny has dropped! -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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