under way / on the way

[Stefan Boettcher]

Hi !

I´m not quite shure about the difference between "under way" and "on the
way ".
Am I right with this definition:
- under way is used when describing a process which has not ended yet as
in "reinforcements are under way".
- on the way is used as a spatial description as in " a tree is lying no
the way". ?

Load me down, Scotch !

--- Stefan ---

---
"Behold, I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed.
I am Gandalf the White, who has returned from death.
You have no colour now, and I cast you from the order
and from the Council."
-Gandalf, Lord of the Ring, J.R.R.Tolkien -

! ! ! Visit My Homepage: http://gondolin.oph.rwth-aachen.de ! ! !

[Kaye L. Maserang]

You are correct about "under way" describing a process that has not yet
ended, but we might use it in relation to a project that has been started:
"Construction of the medical building is under way." We would not say,
"Reinforcements are under way," but rather, "Reinforcements are ON THE WAY,"
meaning that they are coming. Under way refers to a concept, such as an
invasion "is under way", but the people who make up the military group are
"on the way", or "coming."
If we encounter a tree across our path, we might say that we could not get
past the tree because it was IN the way. But it is more common to say that
the tree was lying ON the ROAD or ACROSS the road.-from Kaye Maserang,
kkitt...@hotmail.com.
Stefan Boettcher <s....@gmx.net> wrote in message
news:37BC5B43...@gmx.net...

[baldycotton]

Stefan Boettcher <s....@gmx.net> said,

>- under way is used when describing a process which has not ended yet as
>in "reinforcements are under way".

That is correct.

>- on the way is used as a spatial description as in " a tree is lying no
>the way". ?

Actually, I'd say "in the way" in this instance. "On the way" means that
something is en route. "A tree is on the way" means that a tree is being
delivered. (... and will be planted when it arrives.)
This might not be the case in some regions.
Dave

[Peter]

By the way, as been so often forgotten, many of the terms we
use in everyday language -- 'bitter end', 'devil to pay' and
such, have a now-forgotten nautical origin. The real
question here should be "under weigh" and "on the way".

RHD: weigh2 (w€), n.
under weigh, Naut. in motion; under way.
[1775–85; sp. var. of WAY1 by assoc. with weigh anchor]

A ship, could weight anchor, get under weight and be on the
way.

pch...@idirect.com

[Chris Rogers]

I've heard the term "Under way" used as meaning, in effect "Making
(head?)way, under power (or sail)". Is it possible that it is nautical in
origin?

Chris
baldycotton wrote in message <37bd2250...@news.mindspring.com>...

[JB]

Peter wrote:
> By the way, as been so often forgotten, many of the terms we
> use in everyday language -- 'bitter end', 'devil to pay' and
> such, have a now-forgotten nautical origin. The real
> question here should be "under weigh" and "on the way".
>
> RHD: weigh2 (w€), n.
> under weigh, Naut. in motion; under way.
> [1775–85; sp. var. of WAY1 by assoc. with weigh anchor]
>
> A ship, could weight anchor, get under weight and be on the
> way.

I agree with your general comment about nautical terms, but I will
quibble with you about 'under weigh'. A vessel is underway (way in the
sense of motion along a course) when its anchor is aweigh and it is not
otherwise moored. Headway, leeway, steerageway, making way,
right-of-way, etc. are all nautical terms using 'way' related to vessel
movement. The fact that a ship is underway the moment its anchor is
aweigh may explain the confusion. --JB

[Opinicus]

Chris Rogers <chris....@lbl.co.uk> wrote in message
news:935160068.19075.0...@news.demon.co.uk...

> I've heard the term "Under way" used as meaning, in effect
"Making
> (head?)way, under power (or sail)". Is it possible that it is
nautical in
> origin?

I believe that's "under weigh" and has something to do with
anchors...

--
Bob
Foça, Turkey
---
Kanyak's Doghouse <http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/5309/>

[Peter Churchill]

I think I am going to have both to watch my spelling a
little more carefully and give way on this issue. On
checking further it appears that the expression 'under
weigh' is an idiomatic misspelling of 'way' -- -- probably
written by exhausted sailors after weighing anchor. It has,
however, carved itself a little niche in usage.

Fowler makes an interesting comment on 'way' in a nautical
sense. He is quite definite that 'under way' and not 'under
weigh' is the correct phrase and then adds even a finer
point: "Strictly a vessel is under way when she is not at
anchor or made fast or aground; she may be under way but
have no way upon her."

Random House, which I quoted, appears to confine the variant
'under weigh' to the late 18th century -- which may give
some indication as to my age.

Regards: *PC*