How it works

[sarahrizk]

How do irons work?

 

[Ewood27]

A domestic iron works by applying heat and pressure to damp cloth which makes the fibres lie flat and forget their tendency to crumple.  The shape of the iron allows it to be moved across the fabric without causing wrinkles, while the weight, heat and possible steam do the smoothing.

 

Golf irons work by providing a metal face at the end of a stick which can be swung to smite the living daylights out of an innocent ball at an angle to torture the ball into doing (perhaps) what the golfer wants.

 

Eating irons comprise a knife to cut food, a fork to collect a mouthful and convey it to the mouth, and a spoon to do the same with liquids and runny foods.

 

Any others?

[Octavius]

What about the ones you find in Guinness?

[ICEMANSAV]

Someone tell my lass!

[Ewood27]

Further to my previous answer, a prisoner may be confined in irons if constrained by chains, handcuffs or the like.

 

A sailing ship can be caught "in irons", I think if she gets caught pointing straight into wind so that she cannot swing off either way to where the sails can "bite" and restore full control.

 

I've never found any irons in MY Guinness,

[booksworth]

Ewood27 Soldering irons?

[Ewood27]

Nah.  They're just irons in the fire.

 

There was a TV advert many years ago where "Iron Age" was defined as before drip-dry.

[booksworth]

Thought that was branding irons

[booksworth]

And can I have: Jeremy Irons - in front of a camera?