tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post893064350503745871..comments2024-02-19T07:51:46.118-05:00Comments on Throw Grammar from the Train: Before the grace of GodJanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03173219179480606941noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-91773568497696854552012-07-13T04:39:01.112-04:002012-07-13T04:39:01.112-04:00Interestingly, "before" might work in th...Interestingly, "before" might work in the original saying, in the sense you suggested, but I don't really see how it works in the variation quoted here. Could the writer really fathom a time before they were in their <i>parent's</i> graces?Bryan Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01607046468663026271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-21226270351638033362012-07-12T08:51:22.558-04:002012-07-12T08:51:22.558-04:00It's an eggcorn. Ditto the Dylan lyric(except ...It's an eggcorn. Ditto the Dylan lyric(except I prefer the misunderstanding. The poetry is more evocative than in the original).Marc Leavitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12400805396776788101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-72445353503209884362012-07-11T18:16:26.606-04:002012-07-11T18:16:26.606-04:00In "Mr. Tambourine Man" Bob Dylan sings ...In "Mr. Tambourine Man" Bob Dylan sings "and but for the sky there are no fences facing". For decades I thought it was "before the sky ..."Øhttp://voidplay.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-51817585986941746222012-07-11T15:29:53.723-04:002012-07-11T15:29:53.723-04:00"Just further evidence that we don't need..."Just further evidence that we don't need all the words -- or even notice all the words -- once a fixed expression is sufficiently familiar."<br /><br />Interesting—I'd never really thought of it that way before, but it makes perfect sense. It also explains expressions like "could care less" and sayings like "to whom much is given, much is required". The meaning stops being compositional and starts being apprehended from the phrase as a whole, whether or not they actually make sense or are grammatical.Jonathonhttp://www.arrantpedantry.comnoreply@blogger.com