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Idiom: it takes a village to raise a child

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Latest post Tue, Aug 26 2008 1:59 PM by JCDenton. 5 replies.
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JCDenton  +  555035 Fri, 15 Aug 08 10:02 AM

Hi guys,

May I have a question about this idiom? I've got this situation.

A: How do you know XY?

B: It takes a village.

I'm assuming that "it takes a village" is just the short form of this idiom. Is that correct? If yes, then I don't understand, why it is used in this situation....Crying. What is the person B actually saying? Everyone should know XY?

many thanks again.

Best Regards

JCD

 
JCDenton
Joined on Tue, Jul 3 2007
Regular Member 658
,
sorayapearl  +  555058 Fri, 15 Aug 08 11:49 AM
what B said is not an idiom, only B can tell you what is meant by this, if he or she tells you what does it mean please tell us, ok
sorayapearl
Joined on Thu, Aug 7 2008
New Member 14
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JCDenton  +  555205 Fri, 15 Aug 08 05:20 PM

I checked the video again. The question was: "How the hell do you know XY?". Answer: It takes a village.

Can you please give me other examples, where this idiom can be used? I still have a problem with howto to use it in the normal life and most of all, what did it mean in the previously mentioned situation...I still belive that it is a short form of "it takes a village to raise a child", but I can't put it into that context...

 thx again.

 

 

 

 

 
JCDenton
RayH  +  555211 Fri, 15 Aug 08 05:39 PM

JCDenton
“

I checked the video again. The question was: "How the hell do you know XY?". Answer: It takes a village.

Can you please give me other examples, where this idiom can be used? I still have a problem with howto to use it in the normal life and most of all, what did it mean in the previously mentioned situation...I still belive that it is a short form of "it takes a village to raise a child", but I can't put it into that context...

”

You haven't provided enough context for this to make sense. In general though you are correct about the full form the the saying (I'm not sure it's considered an idiom). In most cases you will find it used humorously or satirically.
RayH
Joined on Sat, Mar 22 2008
Contributing Member 1,555
Native speaker of U. S. English. Not a grammar expert.
Anonymous, 1 yr 89 days ago

It takes a village to raise a child --> It takes many people to teach a child all that he or she should know.
What B tries to convey is "Oh boy, it's complicated" - IMHO. 
JCDenton  +  558783 Tue, 26 Aug 08 01:59 PM
 Thx!..Smile
JCDenton
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