Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
finishing; finalizing
certificate
concept
groceries
completion
TOEIC practice test: Online word games: Free Noun Quiz Answer
Dictionaries   TOEIC   TOEFL   GMAT   SAT   GRE   MCAT   PCAT   ASVAB   Interviews
Tests   Grammar   Articles   Stories   Shop   Services   English for winners   Speaking
Home   Top 100   Start your FREE email English course now!   Audio Lessons   Jobs
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

the meaning of "come of"



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
What does this expression mean: 'make his engagement known'? | Phrase "get hung about"
Listening exercises
Message
 Author
the meaning of "come of" #1 (permalink) Sat May 19, 2007 19:44 pm   the meaning of "come of"		  
Hello, my friends.

I do need your help with the understanding of this extract from an article I was reading:
Quote:
At any stage of this disaster which came withing moments of being a much greater disaster the officers and crew did what had to be done


More precisely I cant get the bold part. What does "come of" mean here?

Thank you !
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
the meaning of "come of" #2 (permalink) Sat May 19, 2007 21:09 pm   the meaning of "come of"		  
Hi,

In your sentence I would say that the 'of' is more closely related to 'moments'.
'Came' in this context has the idea of occurred or happened. You can say:

Within hours of hearing the news, I telephoned ...

Within days of winning the prize, she went out and ....

Within weeks of reaching his 40th birthday, he decided to ...

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story New year resolutions
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 9205
Location: UK
Here is how you can learn English the fun way! Click to subscribe to free email English courseEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Do you know how to use the relative pronoun?
the meaning of "come of" #3 (permalink) Sun May 20, 2007 10:20 am   the meaning of "come of"		  
The right phrase is not 'come of', but 'come within moments of'. Some similar expressions are:

come within an ace of something

come within an inch of something

come within a whisker of (doing) something
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
the meaning of "come of" #4 (permalink) Sun May 20, 2007 20:48 pm   the meaning of "come of"		  
Hi Alan and Conchita,

thank you for helping, i appreciate that
I thing i finally caught on.
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
Display posts from previous:   
What does this expression mean: 'make his engagement known'? | Phrase "get hung about"
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms the meaning of "come of" All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums

Start FREE email English course now!
Join more than 100,000 learners!
instructions above vs above instructions • countable vs. uncountable • difference between 'almost all' and 'most of' • Practice English Practice Questions • Plural forms: Potatoes are vegetables and cherries are fruits • indirect speech with Where • Omitting of articles • funding and funds • Use prepostions: of / for • difference between Verification and Validation • Use of Smashing • diffrence between 'he asked to come' and 'he asked me to come' • meaning of "exerts influence" • Expression "we would like" • meaning of "Hasidic jewelers" • Idiom: to drive like a little old lady • Use of comma before "Which" and "When" • Some problems about the content of Wife Swap • the meaning of "come of"

Discover English-test.net
Online SAT vocabulary testing • What does this phrase mean: "there is no substance in these stories"? • How do we sue the preposition 'for'? • Academic Personal Statement • what does "bursting at the seam" mean? • SAT test: Vocabulary Words: Verb Lists • SAT test: Word games: Free Online Verbs Game • Meaning of usurp, nettle, emit, explode, reseat, botanize, degrade • Pimsleur Italian, Comprehensive Course III: Cheap Italian Pimsleur Program • Free ESL Quiz Online: Job Promotion • Business English comprehension worksheets: International Claims • best audiobooks 2007

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Provided by phpBB ©2001-2009 phpBB Group
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail