PUZZLES TO FOREIGNERS

 PUZZLES TO FOREIGNERS - THE AMERICAN ENGLISH

WHAT DOES THE WORD "FAST" MEANS IN AMERICAN ENGLISH?

WE are not surprised when foreigners tell us that they find it hard to learn our language. Take, for instance, the word 'fast.'
1.The Hudson River is fast, when the ice is immovable, and when the ice disappears very fast, the stream is open again.

2. A clock is called fast, when it is quicker than time;

3. but a man is said to stand fast, when he is stock-still. 

4.People fast ,when they have nothing to eat, and they eat fast when they gobble up a deal in a short space of time. 

References:

American Chatterbox 1882.