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#2 (permalink) Sat Jul 22, 2006 19:16 pm Easy come |
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Hi Tom,
This isn't really a proverb, it's more a way of describing an attitude of mind when you don't really worry or bother about anything. Everything is, as we say, like water off a duck's back as far as you are concerned. An adjective that comes to mind is lackadaisical.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Sun Jul 23, 2006 0:06 am Expression: "Easy come easy go" |
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| I don't understand that expression the way Alan does, and I've never heard it used that way. I've only heard it to mean that various things in life are ephemeral, and/or that things that are obtained easily are lost easily. This can go for money, superficial romantic relationships, etc. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6552 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#4 (permalink) Sun Jul 23, 2006 7:14 am Expression: "Easy come easy go" |
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Hi Tom
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| Easy come, easy go. |
Russian equivalent for the phrase is как нажито, так и прожито (for those who can read Russian) and has the meaning 'something that you get too easy, usually go away easily, too' (for example, money won in a lottery).
One of my Russian-English dictionaries gives the following proverb (as an English equivalent): What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly
Tamara _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#5 (permalink) Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:43 am Expression: "Easy come easy go" |
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Should I say the truth?
When I was sending the query I could "lay odds" that Mr. Micawber would be the first one to answer it.
How wrong I was! :(
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#6 (permalink) Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:47 am Expression: "Easy come easy go" |
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By the way, many and many thanks to you, Alan and Jamie for your precious comments. I did not mean any disrespect to you by my next post-- just wanted to know Mr. Micawber's opinion about the saying.
Thanks again
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#7 (permalink) Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:03 am Easy come |
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Hi Tom,
No need to apologise - it's water off a duck's back as far as I'm concerned.
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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| "Sentence" vs "A sentence" | Meaning of "at once" |