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What's the damage



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Transnational vs. international | Difference between: You always say and You are always saying
Message Author
What's the damage Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:34 am  What's the damage		  
Several years ago sitting at the lesson my teacher asked me "What's the damage?" I gave a blank look at him caused by total ignorance of this expression(figurative meaning).

It turned out to be "what's time is it?" Very Happy

Have you ever heard this expression?
Pamela
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Damage Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:02 am  Damage		  
Hi Pamela,

You asked:

Quote:
Several years ago sitting at the lesson my teacher asked me "What's the damage?" I gave a blank look at him caused by total ignorance of this expression(figurative meaning).

It turned out to be "what's time is it?"

Have you ever heard this expression?


I've honestly never heard that expression used to mean that. In the figurative sense to me it has always referred to the cost of something. If you're at a restaurant and are given the bill, other members of your party might well ask: What's the damage? wanting to know what the cost of the meal was.

Alan
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What's the damage Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:10 am  What's the damage		  
Hi Alan
Interesting! And I've honestly never heard that expression used in a sense of "How much does the meal cost( dinner...)."
Pamela
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What's the damage Thu Jul 06, 2006 16:05 pm  What's the damage		  
Hi Pamela

I also know that expression as an idiomatic way of asking "How much is the bill". I doesn't have to be in a restaurant. It could also be the bill for the repair of your car, for example. You just want to know how much the final bill for something is going to "damage" your bank account. Laughing

Like Alan, I've also never heard this expression used to mean "What time is it?" Never. Shocked

Amy
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Yankee
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What's the damage Thu Jul 06, 2006 16:17 pm  What's the damage		  
Yankee wrote:
Hi Pamela

I also know that expression as an idiomatic way of asking "How much is the bill". I doesn't have to be in a restaurant. It could also be the bill for the repair of your car, for example. You just want to know how much the final bill for something is going to "damage" your bank account. Laughing

Like Alan, I've also never heard this expression used to mean "What time is it?" Never. Shocked

Amy

Hi Amy
Thanks for your feedback. To tell the truth, I searched this expression in Google and found the meanings similar to"How much is the bill?" without any hint of another meaning "What time is it?"
It turns out that my teacher was mistaken Sad
Pamela
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What's the damage Sat Jul 08, 2006 13:18 pm  What's the damage		  
Pamela wrote:
It turns out that my teacher was mistaken Sad

Yes, I'd agree with the others that your teacher used this expression in an odd way. I've also never heard it to mean anything but, "What's the bill?"
Jamie (K)
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What's the damage Sun Jul 09, 2006 18:01 pm  What's the damage		  
Pamela wrote:
Hi Alan
Interesting! And I've honestly never heard that expression used in a sense of "How much costs the meal( dinner...)."

what about "how much does the meal cost?"
27029450
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What's the damage Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:34 am  What's the damage		  
27029455 wrote:
Pamela wrote:
Hi Alan
Interesting! And I've honestly never heard that expression used in a sense of "How much costs the meal( dinner...)."

what about "how much does the meal cost?"

It's right.
Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1234
Location: RF
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Transnational vs. international | Difference between: You always say and You are always saying
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