Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book'

[Haihao]

Hi,

Could you please help me out again with:

[Mister Micawber]

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1. Is 'find out about' a phrasal verb or 'find out' + 'about'? If the latter is true, does it mean 'find out' could be used as a v.i.? -- Yes, the former and yes. 'I found out what had happened, but it was no pleasure finding out.'

2. Does both of the 'clear' have a sense of enough or no less than? -- Two clear feet = two entire feet; clear of the ground = free of the ground; not touching the ground.

3. Is 'clear of the ground' = 'clear off the ground'? If so, how could it be so? -- Yes, the front 1/3 of his body is vertical in the air like THIS.

4. Does those '-ling's always have a sense of baby? -- Offhand, yes-- or small things, like 'seedlings'.

5. Does it mean: the head of Nagaina whizzed across/through just under him? If so, why by? -- Yes. 'by' = past.

6. Where to run in? -- run in close in order to attack.


7. How to understand 'dropped his head far between his forelegs'? -- Bit down on the snake as Rikki straddled atop it.

8. Does 'bitten as high up the back as he could get hold' mean: bitten as close to the head (high up the back) as he could reach (get hold)? -- Yes
9. Does 'roll away' mean 'pull away'? -- Sort of: roll away. Rikki releases his bite and tumbles away from the snake.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber