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 Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:18 am Took no notice of him vs. looked carefully at him |
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Hmm. Interesting.
In Russian look through /see through can also be tricky for non-native speakers, as it actually can have two quite different meanings.
One meaning is 'to take no notice' (intentionally, in a demonstrative manner).
Another is to understand smb hidden intentions with great ease, to read him like an open book. ('I can see through him.')
By the way, do you use in English another saying to look through one's fingers at smth (Russian version)? In the meaning ‘to shut one's eyes to smth’?
(Sorry for my breaking into...)
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Tamara
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| Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:32 am Look straight through |
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Hi Haihao,
I can understand your comment about this expression not being 'logical'. What you have to realise is that idioms are not logical and this is an idiomatic expression. Look 'straight through' suggests that you don't accept the person is there and so 'look through' suggests that the person is invisible and so we come to the meaning 'take no notice of'
Alan
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Alan
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| Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:13 am Took no notice of him vs. looked carefully at him |
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Hi Alan,
Thank you so much for your explanation. Now I understand the 'illogicality' is mine owing to my lack of knowledge for idiomatic expression. Thank you too, Tamara, for your tip. It's interesting and helpful.
Haihao |
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Haihao
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| Expression: 'off the mark' | Expression: I didn't hear what you said |
