"by and by" = soon ???
SR
My son's English book (Japanese high school) defines "by and by" as "pretty
soon". I found this one
in 2 dictionaries (Babylon Online) for example.
However, it is also defined as "gradually", "eventually", or "it won't be
long".
The difference between "pretty soon" or "soon" and "gradually" is like day
and night
to my ears!
The actor (Superman) got paralyzed when he fell from his horse. Since this
tragedy happened several years ago, he has been improving by and by.
Nobody would think that this means "pretty soon" or just "soon".
What have the experts to say on this one?
_______________________________________________________________________________
Posted Via Uncensored-News.Com - Accounts Starting At $6.95 - http://www.uncensored-news.com
<><><><><><><> The Worlds Uncensored News Source <><><><><><><><>
Travers Naran
> I wonder about the expression "by and by".
> My son's English book (Japanese high school) defines "by and by" as "pretty
> soon". I found this one
> in 2 dictionaries (Babylon Online) for example.
> However, it is also defined as "gradually", "eventually", or "it won't be
> long".
>
> The difference between "pretty soon" or "soon" and "gradually" is like day
> and night
> to my ears!
> The actor (Superman) got paralyzed when he fell from his horse. Since this
> tragedy happened several years ago, he has been improving by and by.
> Nobody would think that this means "pretty soon" or just "soon".
> What have the experts to say on this one?
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=by%20and%20by
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travers Naran | Visit the SFTV Science Blunders
F/T Programmer,P/T Meddler In Time&Space | Hall of Infamy!
New Westminster, British Columbia, |
Canada, Earth, Milky Way, etc. | <www.geocities.com/naran500/>
"Stand Back! I'm a programmer!" |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bryan Parker
>I wonder about the expression "by and by".
>My son's English book (Japanese high school) defines "by and by" as "pretty
>soon". I found this one
>in 2 dictionaries (Babylon Online) for example.
>However, it is also defined as "gradually", "eventually", or "it won't be
>long".
>
>The difference between "pretty soon" or "soon" and "gradually" is like day
>and night
>to my ears!
>The actor (Superman) got paralyzed when he fell from his horse. Since this
>tragedy happened several years ago, he has been improving by and by.
>Nobody would think that this means "pretty soon" or just "soon".
>What have the experts to say on this one?
I think someone should hot glue a pen to his nose
so he can fill out an organ donor card, and then
pull the plug on his iron lung and possibly even
crimp off his ventilator.
He's a potted plant. He can't do-the-do, he needs
diapers, and he should do us all a favor and die.
I volunteer to shove his wheelchair down the
ancient stairs of Angkor Wat.
So yes, I would agree that Superman will never be
super again.
I hope that helped.
Brett Robson
>
>I think someone should hot glue a pen to his nose
>so he can fill out an organ donor card, and then
>pull the plug on his iron lung and possibly even
>crimp off his ventilator.
>
>He's a potted plant. He can't do-the-do, he needs
>diapers, and he should do us all a favor and die.
>I volunteer to shove his wheelchair down the
>ancient stairs of Angkor Wat.
>
>So yes, I would agree that Superman will never be
>super again.
>
>I hope that helped.
>
Have you started drinking already or just not stopped from yesterday?
ps. you should say "nappies" instead of "diapers".
.
.
----
"No country hides itself behind the paper screen of cultural elitism like Japan,
which, considering they've bought their entire civilisation from other people's
hand-me-downs, is a bit of a liberty."
Bryan Parker
>On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 13:53:15 +0900, Bryan Parker ...
>>
>>I think someone should hot glue a pen to his nose
>>so he can fill out an organ donor card, and then
>>pull the plug on his iron lung and possibly even
>>crimp off his ventilator.
>>
>>He's a potted plant. He can't do-the-do, he needs
>>diapers, and he should do us all a favor and die.
>>I volunteer to shove his wheelchair down the
>>ancient stairs of Angkor Wat.
>>
>>So yes, I would agree that Superman will never be
>>super again.
>>
>>I hope that helped.
>>
>
>
>Have you started drinking already or just not stopped from yesterday?
Sorta.
>ps. you should say "nappies" instead of "diapers".
I'll quit referring to nappies as diapers if
you'll quit calling my PHAT GAIGIN SLAB "a full
meal." It's so nasty!
--
Bryan
the severe subnormal foreigner
http://www.trainerbryan.com/old_fjlij.html
Brett Robson
>I'll quit referring to nappies as diapers if
>you'll quit calling my PHAT GAIGIN SLAB "a full
>meal." It's so nasty!
>
You'll be really sorry when I've come up with a good come back. Did you notice a
dark stain on your front door this morning?
another fool
> I wonder about the expression "by and by".
> My son's English book (Japanese high school) defines "by and by" as "pretty
> soon". I found this one
> in 2 dictionaries (Babylon Online) for example.
> However, it is also defined as "gradually", "eventually", or "it won't be
> long".
>
> The difference between "pretty soon" or "soon" and "gradually" is like day
> and night
> to my ears!
> The actor (Superman) got paralyzed when he fell from his horse. Since this
> tragedy happened several years ago, he has been improving by and by.
> Nobody would think that this means "pretty soon" or just "soon".
> What have the experts to say on this one?
>
>
In most usages i have heard (or used)it means "eventually" or
"gradually" I have never heard it used to mean "soon" or "pretty soon"
Scott Reynolds
Maybe it's the soon of "real soon now...."
But what do I know? I'm not an English teacher.
--
_______________________________________________________________
Scott Reynolds s...@gol.com
Haluk
yazdi:44845040.03103...@posting.google.com...
SF posted it on alt.english.usage too. There seems Brits and Yanks mean
different things by "by and by". And ESL speakers such as myself are
privileged to chose whatever they like...
Michael Cash
the alphabet and kept on going with:
>On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 22:53:28 +0900, Bryan Parker ...
>
>>I'll quit referring to nappies as diapers if
>>you'll quit calling my PHAT GAIGIN SLAB "a full
>>meal." It's so nasty!
>>
>
>
>You'll be really sorry when I've come up with a good come back. Did you notice a
>dark stain on your front door this morning?
I prefer backing up to the door with spread cheeks and leaving little
kissy marks.
Michael Cash
belched the alphabet and kept on going with:
>"another fool" <anoth...@hotmail.com>, haber iletisinde sunlari
A privilege I have often enjoyed with Japanese. Sometimes my wife will
tell me, "You can't say that". I reply, "Sure I can. Watch me".
SR
> different things by "by and by". And ESL speakers such as myself are
> privileged to chose whatever they like...
I know as much as before, but the general understandig is closer to
"gradually". The English book which my boy uses has been compiled by a
Japanese professor and was sanctioned by the Mombusho. It has never seen any
screener like Japanese history books...
I guess that any book written by Shintaro Ishihara would be marked
"screened" through name recognition only.
Sigi