|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
This one comes from The Independent, from the daily Word column.
The writer of this "column" presented the following:
Whenever "In case" is followed by the word "of " it seems impossible to complete the sentence in a positive way.
He could not find it and put the case to the readers.
We could not find one positive ending either.
Yet there might be.
In case of...........?
When you take the word "of " off, you can go both in positive or negative directions.
I found it interesting so I put it here. Why does this word "of "
block a positive meaning in a phrase completed?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773 |
Bran, you're right, I had never thought about this. However, "in case" seems to me more neutral than positive. For the latter, we'd say simply "if"
Negative: In case of earthquake, run to higher ground and cower beneath a desk
Neutral: In case you do win, I'll wait to run up the flag
Positive: If you win I'll be overjoyed
dalehileman
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
in yet another stunning bit of diegogarcity, I've just been reading Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss, and found this:
"No fruit dies so vile and offensive a death as the banana, but it had been packed just in case. In case of What? Jemu shouted silently to his mother."
-joe (most functions return 0 in case of success and -1 to indicate errors) friday
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
oh, and then there's this:
That Hamlet, in case of his restoration, might not marry Ophelia is at least nowhere intimated by the poet, and, under the circumstances, by no means self-evident... [Appendix to Furness edition of Hamlet]
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
"No fruit dies so vile and offensive a death as the banana, but it had been packed just in case. In case of What? Jemu shouted silently to his mother."
-joe (most functions return 0 in case of success and -1 to indicate errors) friday Yes, in case of succes crossed my mind when I'd already made the post so I let be to see how quick someone might get it. Quick allright. Yet the possibilities are limited. Like: In case of bad weather we'll make sure there will be shelter. Or: In case of fine weather....... then what?( strange start of a sentence.) Hello Dale: In case of flood run for higher ground and look for a desk that might serve as a raft. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
veteran
|
|
veteran
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529 |
From the InternetEnglish Idiom: in case of Origins in the legal phrasing "The case of..." (legal cases are usually negative events) As an idiom used to denote a contingency the "the" is replaced by "in". As a rule plans are made for good outcomes and contingencies are made only for the bad. Internet High Authority (scroll down to post # 6)
Last edited by themilum; 08/04/2007 9:36 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Yes, that sounds reasonable, understandable.
Contingency
Noun
1. A possible event or occurrence or result.
2. The state of being contingent on something.
You mean the "ïn case of....." bears mostly the expectation of something bad going to happen. And "ïn case....etc. etc." is just casual.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
 - joe (what, me worry?) bfstplk
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Hah! I'd already turned back to aesti-hibernation, but I like the madman.One more post won't cause the end the world.
I always wonder what bfstplk could mean and if it's a big secret don't tell.
I always read it as beef steak plank which must be totally wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230 |
Hah! I'd already turned back to aesti-hibernation, but I like the madman.One more post won't cause the end the world.
I always wonder what bfstplk could mean and if it's a big secret don't tell.
I always read it as beef steak plank which must be totally wrong. From a character in Li'l Abner. giyf.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Thank you very much sjmaxq. I will replace the steak association decently by Li'l Abner.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
And, to save you some fruitless seaerching, it's a misspelling of btfsplk.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
And, to save you some fruitless seaerching, it's a misspelling of btfsplk. No, Faldage ( lots of grins) you did this on purpose? " There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief, "There's too much confusion,- Bob Dylan
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
>I always wonder what bfstplk could mean and if it's a big secret don't tell. yes, probably. >I always read it as beef steak plank which must be totally wrong. I remember how to misspell it by thinking beef steak polka! Al Capp himself supposedly described it as his version of a “Bronx cheer.” edit: not an uncommon misspelling bfstplk - 1270 ghits (the button is notably misleading!) btfsplk - 867 ghits - joe (ask Joe) friday
Last edited by tsuwm; 08/06/2007 4:41 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
So, who you gonna believe? Steve Kruppor Steve Krupp?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
|
|
|
|
|
