Search results for 'tag:Expressions' matching tag 'Expressions'

Re: pretty much perfect

CalifJim — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:45:52 GMT

If you take the point of view that perfect is an 'absolute' (non-gradable) adjective, an adjective of which there can be no degrees -- a point of view being disputed in this thread, but for the sake of argument, let's say we take this viewpoint -- then more perfect is impossible because it expresses a degree of perfection, a quality which, by the original supposition, does not occur in degrees. Given that it is absolute, it is as pointless to talk about more or less perfection as to talk about more or less nothingness, or -- to pick a more famous example -- to talk about some pigs being more equal than others. more perfect, rather perfect, pretty perfect, a little perfect, fairly perfect, very perfect, and somewhat perfect are all "banned" within this viewpoint because all express degrees of perfection.

Nevertheless, it is not contradictory, still remaining within the same point of view, to speak of conditions which are closer to or farther from the absolute (non-gradable) state of perfection. This is not at all the same as talking about different degrees of perfection. In this group we have nearly perfect, almost perfect, far from perfect, very nearly perfect, just about perfect, and pretty much perfect.

pretty is close in meaning to fairly. It belongs in the first ("banned") group because it expresses a degree of a (gradable) quality: pretty good, pretty small, pretty old, pretty shabby

pretty much is close in meaning to just about or almost. It has to be thought of as a two-word idiom not exactly derivable from the meanings of the two words that compose it. It belongs in the second group because it expresses a distance from an (absolute) quality: pretty much finished, pretty much empty, pretty much intact, pretty much equal

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If you take the point of view, on the other hand, that perfect is not an absolute adjective (i.e., is a gradable adjective), then all the adverbs of degree can apply: fairly perfect, very perfect, less perfect, etc. I've never, personally, taken this point of view. In fact, I was told in grade school that the "more perfect union" spoken of in the Constitution should really have been a "more nearly perfect union". Apparently that lesson has stuck with me.

Yet common sense dictates that some expressions which take perfect to be gradable have become standard idioms in English and therefore must be accepted. But I don't think I am alone in saying that pretty perfect is not one of them.

Re: Devastation 2

CalifJim — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:51:28 GMT

New2grammar
I see that you use live on instead of live off.

I had to go back and reread the whole post before I saw that.

live on is the more neutral form. There is no anxiety about what one is going to eat.

live off seems to me more the case when one must forage for oneself in dire circumstances, for example, in the wilderness - a sort of catch-as-catch-can mode of living. Hence, the expression, "to live off the land".

In your story, it seems to me that there is at least some element of anxiety about obtaining food, so live off is not out of place, though live on would also do.

In my situation, the jailers provide the food (such as it is), so there is no element of the prisoner having to obtain it for himself and no element of worry about where the next meal will come from.

Re: pretty much perfect

RayH — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:45:56 GMT

The movie was perfect                                    Pretty much what it says--you should pardon the expression.
The movie was pretty perfect.                        I wouldn't expect to hear this much if at all.
The movie was pretty much perfect.                Very little to complain about. Very nearly perfect.

Re: clunky

New2grammar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:39:42 GMT

Optilang, LOL...I like that!

Gosh, feeling expressions are driving me nuts! Dictionaries are totally useless when it comes to them.

klutzy adjective Lacking dexterity and grace in physical movement:awkward , clumsy

clunky adj. , -ier , -iest . Clumsy in form or manner; awkward:

Could you help me differentiate them?

Re: What "does makes up to one" mean?

CalifJim — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:54:57 GMT

wholegrain
Why can't we use it in Modern English?

You can use it if you want, but I, for one, would have to think twice before I understood what you were saying.

I can't think of a case where I've heard someone use that expression within the last ten years. I doubt it's used much these days, at least where I live. Maybe it's used more often in other localities.

Re: What "does makes up to one" mean?

CalifJim — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:43:59 GMT

I would judge the expression to be literary. I don't believe it's used in modern English.

It means to approach and greet someone in a friendly way, perhaps introducing oneself and beginning to engage in conversation.

See ingratiate.

Re: staying away

26TMNTJG2PG — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:47:08 GMT

New2grammar
I understand explaining tenses is not the easiest thing in the world. While I appreciate your attempt, it's basically the definitions of the tenses. If you don't mind, could youprovide an example where one is better than the other so I will get an idea when to use which? Please stick to the same words/expression but in a different scenario/setting. I completely understand if it's not possible. Thanks, anyway.

Tense is a form assumed by a verb to show the time in which an event occurs and the degree of completeness of such event

at the time of its occurrence. To decide on which tense is more suitable will depend on a given situation.

In a situation where you are required to compare tourist arrivals in a previous period with those of the present period which ends

beyond your time of presentation and you will have to rely on estimates, you will use the earlier sentence to account
for the

unfavourable variance.

In another situation where you are required to compare tourist arrivals in a previous period with those of the present period

which has ended beyond your time of presentation and you have the actual figures, you will use the later sentence to

account for the unfavourable variance.

Re: staying away

New2grammar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:48:50 GMT

I understand explaining tenses is not the easiest thing in the world. While I appreciate your attempt, it's basically the definitions of the tenses. If you don't mind, could youprovide an example where one is better than the other so I will get an idea when to use which? Please stick to the same words/expression but in a different scenario/setting. I completely understand if it's not possible. Thanks, anyway.

Re: That's what happens

CalifJim — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:37:17 GMT

that's what happens? I'm not familiar with that expression. I think you're trying for something like these:

If the professor is still going to fail me, well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

If the professor is still going to fail me, well, so be it.

If the professor is still going to fail me, well, you can't win 'em all.

If the professor is still going to fail me, well, that's the way it goes (sometimes).

They express resignation to an undesirable state of affairs.

I' ve been meaning to say that.

Peaceblinkfriend — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:22:25 GMT

I' ve been meaning to say that.

What does that expression really mean? I wonder how it's different from I want to say that.

Thanks

PBF