dedicated to the proposition that everyone must get drunk.

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Angliholic

#449208 Mon, 03 Dec 07 02:36 PM

The fourth of July means beer and New Year's Eve is an entire night dedicated to the proposition that everyone must get drunk.

I'm not so sure of the meaning of "dedicated to the propositioon" in the above; could you rephrase it for me? Thanks.

Angliholic

Joined on Wed, Feb 14 2007

SomewhereinFormosa

Veteran Member (5,169)

Without true love, life is meaningless and worthless since our physical world is nothing but a dream. ~~Angliholic~~簡瑞達

Linguaphile

#449216 Mon, 03 Dec 07 03:00 PM

'a night when everybody is expected to get drunk'

the expression "dedicated to the proposition = devoted to the statement" is for emphasis I guess.

Linguaphile

Joined on Tue, Jul 17 2007

Turkey

Full Member (140)

Expressions

Grammar Geek

#449226 Mon, 03 Dec 07 03:23 PM

It's borrowing from a very famous speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

However, I don't understand why the original sentence starts at the Fourth of July and jumps to New Year's.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,567)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Angliholic

#449364 Tue, 04 Dec 07 01:37 AM

Grammar Geek wrote:
It's borrowing from a very famous speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

However, I don't understand why the original sentence starts at the Fourth of July and jumps to New Year's.

Thanks, GG.

To make sure, what does "prosposition" mean? A proposal, suggestion, or statement?

Angliholic

Grammar

Grammar Geek

#449389 Tue, 04 Dec 07 03:07 AM

Hi Angliholic,

proposition - note the spelling. Yes, the proposal, the suggestion. In this case, more like "the idea."

Of course, what they really meant was that white, land-owning men were equal, but it was a good thought for its day.

Grammar Geek

Spelling

Angliholic

#449406 Tue, 04 Dec 07 04:30 AM

Grammar Geek wrote:

Hi Angliholic,

proposition - note the spelling. Yes, the proposal, the suggestion. In this case, more like "the idea."

Of course, what they really meant was that white, land-owning men were equal, but it was a good thought for its day.

Thanks, GG.

Angliholic

Grammar, Spelling