"She looked as if she had been poured into her clothes and had forgotten to say "when.""
About this Quote
P. G. Wodehouse crafts a delightfully vivid image through his characteristic wit and masterful use of language. The metaphor of someone being "poured into her clothes" immediately conjures the picture of fabric closely hugging every curve and contour, perhaps even to the point of excess. Clothing, in this sense, is not merely a covering, but a second skin, so tight-fitting that it appears to have been applied as a liquid that has settled and hardened into place. The figure described seems almost sculpted by her attire, implying a striking, possibly exaggerated, attention to the form revealed by her garments.
The humor and observational sharpness are heightened by the clever twist: "and had forgotten to say 'when.'" This phrase alludes to the common tradition, especially in British culture, of being served a drink and saying "when" to indicate the server should stop pouring. By neglecting to indicate when enough was enough, the result is an abundance, an overfilling, in this case of fabric rather than drink. The woman’s clothes cling so snugly that it suggests immoderation, as if the process of dressing continued past the point of comfort or propriety.
Layered beneath the comedic surface is a satirical commentary on fashion and perhaps vanity. Wodehouse gently mocks both the person being described and the societal tendency towards excessive display, highlighting the fine line between elegance and overindulgent showiness. The phrase also imbues the character with a certain obliviousness, a lack of self-awareness, as if she is both the architect and the unwitting victim of her own ostentation.
Ultimately, Wodehouse’s line uses a playful analogy to encapsulate a sense of overdone appearance, deftly balancing ridicule, charm, and a touch of affectionate exasperation, all packed into a single, unforgettable sentence.
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