He bounced it back off his head

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Liveinjapan

#514324 Fri, 16 May 08 07:19 AM

When a soccer ball was thrown at him, he bounced it back off his helmeted head.

Can off be replaced by on?

Thanks
LiJ

Liveinjapan

Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007

Osaka, Japan

Contributing Member (1,436)

Please feel free to correct any words I wrote.LiJ

CalifJim

#514342 Fri, 16 May 08 08:27 AM

Liveinjapan
Can off be replaced by on?

Tricky. I wouldn't change it. The ball bounced on his head, of course, but he bounced it off his head. In the first case the ball more or less bounces on its own. In the second case, "he" takes action to bounce the ball off his head.

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (15,931)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

REACHING, TEE-OFF and UPSIDE HIS HEAD
'threw the ball up off the GLASS and caught...
inches from his head
back

'at' and 'back'
at the back of his house
off
back of his hand

head to
Kicked Pa flat on his back.
UPSIDE HIS HEAD, OUT OF STYLE and THROWING...
he just looked away/turned his back on me

Liveinjapan

#514416 Fri, 16 May 08 02:02 PM

Thanks, CJ.

I understand the difference!

Liveinjapan