several times over

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Davidrock65

#276249 Thu, 05 Oct 06 02:42 AM

I came across this sentence in a novel that I am reading, which is about the life of a drug addict spent in a drug treatment facility:

Four or five thousand dollars a day is enough to kill a person several times over.

Is several times over the same as more than several times?

Is it commonly used in daily-life conversation?

We sang the song several times over.

If you are still noisy, you have to write the sentence three times over.

I have told you a million times over not to touch my stuff.

Are the sentences above correct?

2. What's the difference between at one's side and on one's side?

He's standing on/ at? her side.

Davidrock65

Joined on Wed, Apr 19 2006

taipei

Full Member (237)

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Saiing

#276256 Thu, 05 Oct 06 03:13 AM

1)

Several times over is semantically equivalent to several times. There is no difference in meaning.

Your example sentences are fine.

2)

At one's side, generally suggests something is physically located to the side of the individual.

"As I stood on the hill, my faithful dog stood at my side." i.e. my dog was next to me.

On one's side, suggests support and/or agreement.

"I know they don't believe you, but I want you to know I'm on your side" i.e. I support and agree with you.

Occasionally you could encounter a writer or speaker using the first (at) form in a metaphorical sense, to indicate the second (on) meaning, but I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Saiing

Joined on Wed, Sep 20 2006

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