Mr de Silguy, in common with other (non-economist) euro-enthusiasts, airily dismisses such worries, instead playing up the benefits of price transparency and lower transaction costs.

ECONOMIST: Yves-Thibault de Silguy, euro-navigator

He almost mistimed Steve Harmison's third ball to mid-on and wafted airily outside off-stump on several occasions, but when he made contact the ball whistled away to the boundary.

BBC: Lord's Test ends in low-key draw

The details, they airily add, can be left for later.

ECONOMIST: Lebanon

When open criticism began last year, it was airily dismissed by Rajendra Pachauri, who chairs the IPCC and runs an institute in India where Dr Hasnain now works on glaciology.

ECONOMIST: Glaciers and the IPCC

At the sight of me they stopped their play in order better to observe my progress, which they did with solemn expressions, kwashiorkor bellies puffed out in front of them like pompous old men, sniffing airily through snot-encrusted nostrils.

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