Hi,
Here's a line from the first episode of the 1951 sitcom I love Lucy:
- Now this is my plan. We'll go in there and I'll say, "I know what let's do Monday night. Let's go to a night club!"
The intended meaning of the phrase in bold is clear, but I've never encoutered it in that form. Could you please give me some information about it?
Would you say it's old-fashioned, a regionalism, a speaker's quirk, fine but rare?
Thank you for your help
H.
Here's a line from the first episode of the 1951 sitcom I love Lucy:
- Now this is my plan. We'll go in there and I'll say, "I know what let's do Monday night. Let's go to a night club!"
The intended meaning of the phrase in bold is clear, but I've never encoutered it in that form. Could you please give me some information about it?
Would you say it's old-fashioned, a regionalism, a speaker's quirk, fine but rare?
Thank you for your help
H.
It just seems to be badly punctuated.
I know what, let's do Monday night.
I know what – let's do Monday night.
"I know what ..." is set phrase used as a preface to a suggestion or presentation of an idea.
I know what, let's do Monday night.
I know what – let's do Monday night.
"I know what ..." is set phrase used as a preface to a suggestion or presentation of an idea.
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Comments
The thought crossed my mind. I rejected it because it had already been made clrear in the scene that it was going to be Monday night; it seems odd to announce it as a a new thing.
But if you say that "I know what let's do" just doesn't exist, then it's probably just an oddity in the storyline. Or I'm missing something.
Thank you
H.
To me, "I know what let's do" is an acceptable, understandable, very casual way to say "I know what we should do. Let's do this." I might well say it myself, but I wouldn't want to have to defend its grammar.
My recollection is that his character was one who did not speak correct English.
Thanks.
H.