What does larf mean?


It's a euphamism for ejaculate. Makes sense, because then the title means that women are only happy when a man ejaculates for them, though they try everything to please them, asking, "What do women want?" While the answer was in their pants the whole time. How ironic. Such is life.

Some smart, some don't.

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No it isn't. If you had read the book you would know "larf" is a dialect form of "laugh". One of the characters in an anecdote told by one of the characters is stuck full of spears while on a safari. A friend asks if it hurts a lot and the answer is "Only when I larf." Hence the title of the book. Deighton also uses "larf" for "laugh" in _Horse Under Water_.
Kate

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That's an interesting alternative interpretation.

Some smart, some don't.

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It's not 'alternative' interpretation, it's the correct one. It's 'laugh' intentionally mis-spelled, and comes from an old macabre army joke about a squaddie who comes in to the medics with half his stomach hanging out, 'does it hurt?', 'only when I larf, Sir'. It's a pun you see, because he's hardly likely to be laughing, is he?
The film is very good, as is the book. It's sad that it's not on DVD and knowing the movie industry's recalcitrance and lack of interest, never will be...

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Blimey, what an unusual interpration the original responder offered. Incorrect, but entertaining !

I only came on to moan that there's no DVD, after reading Len Deighton's excellent novel. Look at that cast list....how can it be ignored ?

Ah well. Does anybody on here know how close (or not) the film is to the book ? I'm trying to track down a copy on ebay or ioffer, and may be about to have some luck.

AndyG

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I too would love to have a DVD (or even a VHS!) of this film, but I suppose there is little chance. Regarding the book, the second-hand-book company ABEBOOKS seem to be able to supply most things via their network - worth a try.

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I've read the book...and pretty good it was too.

I've sent you a private message regarding the DVD...

AndyG

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You can watch it via Netflix-instant/streaming

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