As good as (As good as means very nearly)

[Tung Quoc]

Dear teachers,

My teacher wrote on the blackboard:

As good as means very nearly.
Ex: He is as good as dead. (1)
He as good as called me a coward. (2)

If I rewrite :

a.He is very nearly dead.
b.He very nearly called me a coward.

(a) and (b) are correct? Are they the same meaning with (1) and (2)?

Thanks
Quoc

[Yankee]

Hi Quoc

Here are some different options:

For all intents and purposes, he's dead.
He in effect called me a coward.

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Alan]

HI Quoc,

Let's make it nice and simple and say as good as in the sense of very nearly means practically or all but. Your teacher will be bowled over.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Tung Quoc]

Dear teacher,

So,

He as good as called me a coward. = He very nearly called me a coward. ?
He is as good as dead. =he is very nearly dead. ?

Thanks
Quoc

[Yankee]

.
I'd say it's not a good idea to freely interchange "very nearly" for "as good as". That's why Alan and I both wrote other options.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Alan]

Hi Quoc,

We have recently given you several explanations and illustrative examples in response to your questions. Very often you quote my teacher in your questions. I have a question for you: Do you ever put questions to this teacher or is there no interaction between teacher and class?

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Tung Quoc]

Dear Sir,

We can't do that in class because when the bell rings, she come out immediately out of the class.

She only gives us exercises and she ask sb to write the answers on the blackboard. If the answer is wrong, she rewrite without explanations.

Quoc