She says what she means and she means what she says

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New2grammar  #499544  Fri, 11 Apr 08 10:28 PM

[She says what she means] and [she means what she says]

Is the expression redundant?

Thanks in advance!

  
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Avangi  #499548  Fri, 11 Apr 08 11:00 PM

I would say, no.  Perhaps if you looked at it as an algebraic equation, you could say both clauses give the same information.  A = C = B is the same equation as B = C = A, where "C" is the idea or substance of what she says and means.   But meaning and saying are two different verbs and describe two different processes.  So even on the denotative level, the sentence is not redundant.

On the connotative level the difference is even greater.  Someone who "says what she means" is often considered outspoken, or impolite.  Someone who "means what she says" is often thought of as prepared to back up her words with actions.

Each expression is an idiom in its own right.  A person who does one, does not necessarily do the other.

  
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New2grammar  #499550  Fri, 11 Apr 08 11:16 PM

 

I looked at it as an equation. Clearly, language isn't the same as science.

Thanks for the reply.

  
RayH  #499552  Fri, 11 Apr 08 11:25 PM
New2grammar

[She says what she means] and [she means what she says]

Is the expression redundant?

Thanks in advance!


It's not at all redundant. When you say this about someone you are complimenting them. It means that you can trust the person to tell you what she thinks ("says what she means") and that she really believes, or will do, what she tells you ("means what she says").

  
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Avangi  #499554  Fri, 11 Apr 08 11:39 PM

I agree with Ray.  Honesty and honorableness are factors I neglected to include.  Of course, additional context may shade the meanings of the expressions.

  
Grammar Geek  #499557  Fri, 11 Apr 08 11:45 PM

Didn't Alice and the Caterpillar discuss this in Alice in Wonderland?

  
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Philip  #499559  Fri, 11 Apr 08 11:53 PM
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Didn't Alice and the Caterpillar discuss this in Alice in Wonderland?

Most likely, although I have to admit that I've never read that book [shame on me!].
I was reminded however, of, "I meant what I said and I said what I meant:  an elephan'ts faithful, 100 per cent" from Horton Hatches the Egg.
  
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Grammar Geek  #499561  Fri, 11 Apr 08 11:57 PM

Ah ha!

Alice and March Hare: Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
March Hare: …Then you should say what you mean.
Alice: I do; at least - at least I mean what I say -- that's the same thing, you know.
Hatter: Not the same thing a bit! Why, you might just as well say that, 'I see what I eat' is the same as 'I eat what I see'!
March Hare: You might just as well say, that "I like what I get" is the same thing as "I get what I like"!
The Dormouse: You might just as well say, that "I breathe when I sleep" is the same thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!

  
CalifJim  #499587  Sat, 12 Apr 08 01:45 AM
 And, as I remember it, there was a sort of punch line that came next, where one of them said to the dormouse that, in his case, it was the same thing. Smile

Did I remember correctly? 

CJ 

  
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