New2grammar  +  498046 Tue, 08 Apr 08 01:32 PM The floor is so clean one could eat [off/on] the floor. I would pick 'off' but is 'on' a good choice as well? Thanks! New2grammar Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006 Veteran Member 7,676 Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?

	Grammar Geek  +  498065 Tue, 08 Apr 08 02:00 PM You want "eat off" -- just like you think. Eat on the floor sounds like they're having a bit of a picnic. My kids will sometimes ask if they can eat on the floor instead of the table when they have a snack. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,660 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	Peaceblinkfriend  +  498080 Tue, 08 Apr 08 02:34 PM Does that me you eat food that has fallen on the floor?  Thanks   PBF  Peaceblinkfriend Joined on Wed, May 9 2007 Senior Member 2,130 Success - it is not the position where you are standing, but which direction you are going.

	Grammar Geek  +  498084 Tue, 08 Apr 08 02:40 PM Well, you don't really PLAN to eat it, but you're saying it's so clean you COULD eat off it if food should happen to fall. (In reality, you'd probabaly throw it out. It's just an expression.) By the way, do you know about the "three-second rule"? If food falls on the floor (of your own kitchen) and it's on the floor less than three seconds, it's still edible. This applies to things like biscuits, not scrambled eggs. It's not a real rule of course, but you may see it on a tv show sometime: - Food drops - "Ooops!" - Bends down to pick it up and put it back on the plate - "Oh well, three-second rule." - (Audience laughs.) Grammar Geek

	Peaceblinkfriend  +  498089 Tue, 08 Apr 08 02:47 PM  Thanks for explaining that to me Barbara. And yes I have heard of the three-second rule   PBF  Peaceblinkfriend