tried but true

Share on Facebook

Pb03

#511512 Fri, 09 May 08 07:26 AM

Hello everyone,

I'm wondering whether the phrases 'tried but true' and 'tried and true' are the same in meaning.

Any difference between them?

Thanks for your help~!

For your reference, here is some context.

StartFragment>

Some good, common ways are to talk about the weather or local news or to find out if you know someone in common. If someone has just arrived from another city or country, you could ask about that person’sjourney. A tried but true method is to offer someone a drink or some food and then talk about your likes and dislikes.

Pb03

Joined on Tue, Apr 3 2007

Full Member (146)

Difference between

Mister Micawber

#511513 Fri, 09 May 08 07:31 AM

.
Your example is an oxymoronic misunderstanding of the correct 'tried and true': The method has been tried and it has therefore been proven true.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (20,401)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Pter

#511560 Fri, 09 May 08 10:20 AM

I don't know, but could it possibly mean that although the method has been tried and used too many times, it still works?

Pter

Joined on Wed, Nov 28 2007

Hong Kong

Full Member (416)

Mister Micawber

#511609 Fri, 09 May 08 12:56 PM

.
1-- This is a fixed expression: Tried-and-true (adj, 1792) Tested and proved to be worthy or good.

2-- Your argument, Petr, is unfortunately as illogical as the original misquote. Methods cannot be outworn; if they work, they are used again and again.

Mister Micawber

Expressions

Pter

#511669 Fri, 09 May 08 03:15 PM

No, it isn't logical. It was just a wild guess because there is a similar saying in my own language.

A method or trick that relies on an element of surprise or sense of novelty can be "worn out" if used repeatedly. For example, the first time you take a girl to a special place, she would be very happy. But if you always take her to the same place, that would be very boring. However, there are certain things that always work no matter how many times you do it.

Pter