I WANTED a haircut and phoned a salon early for an appointment with a highly recommended stylist. I was told customers were taken on a walk-in basis only. On Saturday I got there by 9 a.m., only to learn that it was that hairdresser's day off. I drove to another salon, but it was booked solid. Still another had no openings.
The situation seemed hopeless, so I went home. My husband greeted me at the door. "That was fast," he said cheerfully. "Your hair looks great!"
What does "customers were taken on a walk-in basis only" mean?
And "it was booked solid" ?
A walk-in basis means they take the customers as they come in, according to who is first. Booked solid means that their appointment schedule is all filled up.
So that's not a true story, eh?
Yeah, I see.And still a little doubt: "solid" means "Not hollowed out",but what does it mean here?
It seems a ture story. I read it from Reader's Digest Cybersmiles. The stories are contributed by some readers.
I don't know where the expression came from, but I can make a good guess. The booked part comes from writing the appointments in an appointment book. The solid part probably comes from there being no room for any more appointments. You could also say, by the way, all booked up.
Kramer, on the American TV show Friends often says, "Can you do me a solid (favor)? I believe it means, a "real/true" favor (Opposite of a "light" favor.) Along those lines of thinking, could 'booked solid' mean really booked', truly booked, very booked (Opposite of plain "booked" (i.e. only for those who are not are regular customers)?
Maybe, but I rather doubt it. That is, I think, a slightly different use of the word solid.
It is always a good idea to agree with me.