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Latest post Sun, Jun 21 2009 9:41 PM by thrupenny. 4 replies.
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Mr. Tom  +  785844 Fri, 19 Jun 09 10:54 AM
Hi

 

Would you say that the following sentences carry the same meaning?

 

 

1) He lost his fortune to gambling.

2) He lost his fortune due to gambling.

 

And if they have the same meaning, what about these? Perhaps it's to do something with "literal" and "figurative" meanings.

 

 

1) He lost his heart to her.

2) He lost his heart due to her.

 

Thanks for your time and effort,

 

Tom

 

 

Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007
Regular Member 710
Tom
thrupenny  +  785999 Fri, 19 Jun 09 01:25 PM
I think in both cases I would describe the differences as shifts in emphasis, rather than differences in meaning, though looking for a moment at the second set of sentences, the sentence "he lost his heart due to her", might have different meaning entirely.


With regard to the sentences concerning gambling: both have the same overall meaning, but after reading the first, it is almost as if the fortune was handed over to gambling and it is 'gambling' that now owns the fortune. The second sentence is more matter-of-fact. It is as if we say: This man lost his fortune. He lost it because he gambled. In a way, the emphasis is now on why/how he lost his fortune.


As regards the second set of sentences: obviously, the meaning of the first sentence is that 'he' fell in love with 'her', but the image is of the heart now being 'her' possession. Unfortunately, I have never come across the second sentence before. I would be greatly influenced by the context in deciding what this meant, but supposing that the figurative meaning was in fact the same as that of the first sentence, I would repeat that the emphasis is now placed more firmly on 'her' or on 'how' he lost his heart and the overall effect might even be slightly accusatory. 

Joined on Fri, Jun 19 2009
New Member 03
AlpheccaStars  +  786053 Fri, 19 Jun 09 02:13 PM
Mr. Tom

1) He lost his heart to her.

2) He lost his heart due to her.


#! is a set phrase or idiom. That's why #2 does not make sense



Joined on Sun, Oct 12 2008
Senior Member 3,508
The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873)
thrupenny  +  789351 Sun, 21 Jun 09 09:30 PM
Saying that number 2 doesn't make sense, is being a bit rigid about the language. Collocations are not set in stone.
thrupenny, 154 days ago
...nor engraved in stone...

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