I learn it should be "beyond the pale."

The phrase "beyond the pale" dates back to the 14th century, when the part of Ireland that was under English rule was delineated by a boundary made of such stakes or fences, and known as the English Pale. To travel outside of that boundary, beyond the pale, was to leave behind all the rules and institutions of English society, which the English modestly considered synonymous with civilization itself.

palus, a stake (also the name of the wooden post that Roman soldiers used to represent an opponent during fighting practice). Pale is an old name for a pointed piece of wood driven into the ground and — by an obvious extension — to a barrier made of such stakes, a palisade or fence. Pole is from the same source, as are impale, paling and palisade. This meaning has been around in English since the fourteenth century and by the end of that century pale had taken on various figurative senses — a defence, a safeguard, a barrier, an enclosure, or a limit beyond which it was not permissible to go. The idea of an enclosed area still exists in some English dialects.

I ask you to quote a whole lot more before I can figure out subject of aret. If I leave this page now, I am afraid I'll lose everything.

Regarding down for the count vs. down on the count, I know down for the count is used.

And the third one, yes, a were or are is missing!

May I ask you, dear administrator, to fix?

Hi Normand~ The subject of "Are" is "You" and its associated thought as carried over from the first sentence. Same with subject of "Have".

"You wondered if it meant that you were less than worthy? You wondered if it meant that you have a thick skull? That you are somehow out of the pale?" Question marks not obligatory here but permitted. Their use somewhat changes the tonal phrasing of the sentences.

Interesting mini-history Gloria gives on the word "pale". I knew the general meaning of the expression but had no idea what "pale" actually meant or where it came from. I'm guessing most Western "civilized" nations have a similar expression, civil referring to cities, cities by definition having defensive walls, and those walls starting out in many North American/ European contexts with stakes driven in the ground courtesy of the surrounding forest. Some other places had to use rocks or mud bricks or dirt.

The unusual usage as in "OUT OF the pale" or "down ON the count" fascinates me. It is a conscious device used by some writers to make new an overused expression, but if that is happening here it is on God's part. I think more it is happening as the meaning makes its way thru Gloria's vast store of remembered words and expressions, taking the occasional shortcut or new path thru the neurons. In most cases I sense that Gloria doesn't even notice this as she tries to keep up with the flow. In most cases I don't think it is something that needs to be "fixed" and often results in literary gems.

The missing "are/were" is a different matter, and obviously an oversight not intended. Making the distinction between these two instances of strange wording, one needing fixing, the other not, makes this translators forum most enjoyable for me. And as always, Gloria needs final say.