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sing lung out

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masahiko

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Dec 4, 2003, 6:48:41 AM12/4/03
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I sung my lung out.


Does this mean that this person sung loudly as if the lung came out of
the mouth?

CyberCypher

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Dec 4, 2003, 6:56:06 AM12/4/03
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To be correct English, it would have to be "I sang my lung(s) out".
Yes, it means that "I" sang loud and long and is exhausted. "I sang my
heart out" would mean that "I" had put all "my" emotion into the songs
"I" sang --- I gave my all; I gave 100%.


--
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.

masahiko

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Dec 4, 2003, 7:05:34 AM12/4/03
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So do you mean that "I " sang loud and long until my lung got exhausted?

CyberCypher

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Dec 4, 2003, 7:23:41 AM12/4/03
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masahiko <masa...@r5.dion.ne.jp> wrote on 04 Dec 2003:

> CyberCypher wrote:
>> masahiko <masa...@r5.dion.ne.jp> wrote on 04 Dec 2003:
>>
>>
>>>I sung my lung out.
>>>
>>>
>>>Does this mean that this person sung loudly as if the lung came
>>>out of the mouth?
>>
>>
>> To be correct English, it would have to be "I sang my lung(s)
>> out". Yes, it means that "I" sang loud and long and is exhausted.
>> "I sang my heart out" would mean that "I" had put all "my"
>> emotion into the songs "I" sang --- I gave my all; I gave 100%.

> So do you mean that "I " sang loud and long until my lung got
> exhausted?

If someone has a weak lung, that could be the meaning, but I suspect
that the more common expression would be "I sang my lungs out" and now
I'm very tired and (maybe) my vocal chords hurt and it hurts a little
when I breathe. "I'm exhausted" rather than "My lungs are exhausted".

May I ask you to please post your comments at the bottom rather than at
the top? It's easier to read and understand what you say when I've got
the rest of the post above your remarks instead of below them.

Donna Richoux

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Dec 4, 2003, 7:30:28 AM12/4/03
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masahiko <masa...@r5.dion.ne.jp> wrote:

It's just an expression, but it may have come from "to give out"
meaning, to be used up, to be exhausted: "I sang until my lungs gave
out, until my lungs worked no more, until they would not allow me to
sing any longer."

"Heart" and "guts" and other body parts go in the expression, as well.
"I wrote until my hand gave out."

Why "to give out" should mean "to exhaust" is another question.
Something related to "giving out all the supplies," perhaps.

--
Best -- Donna Richoux

John Dean

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Dec 4, 2003, 8:50:08 AM12/4/03
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Sing lung out was formerly Secretary General of the United Nations.
--
John Dean
Oxford
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