it couldn't have come at a worse time

   Share on Facebook  
Kirakira  #397001  Thu, 26 Jul 07 04:09 PM

Could you please explain this sentence to me

"It couldn't have come at a worse time, in the sense that with business investment weakening, and with the housing market, at least in activity terms, having turned, that's where the timing is unfortunate for us"

Does this complicated sentence simply mean: It is the worst time now because the business investment is weakening and the housing market becomes less active than ever before?

Could you please tell me more about the use of " it couldn't have come at a worse time", I just guess the meaning of this phrase according to the context, I don't understand it thoroughly.

Could I replace " in the sense that" with " in the aspects of " or " in the fact that"?

And  why the author used "where' in this sentence?

Thanks in advance.

  
Not Ranked
Joined on Sun, Jun 10 2007
New Member (30)
Kira Kira
Clive  #397020  Thu, 26 Jul 07 04:52 PM

Hi,

Could you please explain this sentence to me

"It couldn't have come at a worse time, in the sense that with business investment weakening, and with the housing market, at least in activity terms, having turned, that's where the timing is unfortunate for us"

Does this complicated sentence simply mean: It is the worst time now because the business investment is weakening and the housing market becomes less active than ever before? Yes, basically.

Could you please tell me more about the use of " it couldn't have come at a worse time", I just guess the meaning of this phrase according to the context, I don't understand it thoroughly. Consider this simpler example.

Last week, I bought a new house and a new car, and my wife had twins. This morning, my boss told me that I was fired. The news could not have come at a worse time.  

Could I replace " in the sense that" with " in the aspects of " or " in the fact that"? No. 'In the sense of' is used to tell the reader that you are going to explain the meaning of what has been said. You could say 'I mean that . . . ' or 'because of the fact that  . . . '

And  why the author used "where' in this sentence? He means 'That's the place/point/situation in which . . '

eg Mary wants me to marry her. She's beautiful. She's rich. But I don't love her. That's where the problem is.

Best wishes, Clive

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member (22,182)
ModeratorTeachers
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
Kirakira  #397220  Fri, 27 Jul 07 08:15 AM

Thank you, Mr Clive.

"Last week, I bought a new house and a new car, and my wife had twins. This morning, my boss told me that I was fired. The news could not have come at a worse time".  

According to your example, I think may be the meaning of this phrase is roughly like this: "It seems that everything is very wonderful,  then suddenly bad things happen, and you say : the bad thing couldn't have come at a worse time".  Have I gotten the right idea?

So, in the sentence about business, it is implied that the economy had been doing very well before these terrible things(weakening investment....) happened, isn't it? 

  
nona the brit  #397248  Fri, 27 Jul 07 10:24 AM
No, you are missing the purpose of the first part of the sentence. The person isn't saying 'everything is wonderful' - they are saying 'I've just taken on a big mortgage, paid out lots of money for a car, and got two new babies to support. I'm committed to paying for lots of expensive things. I need a good income to pay for all this ...and now I haven't got a job. What a disaster! This is the worst time for me to lose my job'
  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004
England
Veteran Member (11,430)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
The name says it all.
Kirakira  #397866  Sat, 28 Jul 07 04:53 PM
Thank you, Ms Nona the Brit Smile [:)].Without your explanation, I would have totally misunderstood thisEmbarrassed [:$]
  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL Vocabulary and Idioms
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service