A sentence from a dictionary: "I am afraid..."

[Tom]

Hi

The following is a sentence from a dictionary in the entry of dinner. No further context. Could you please explain it to me?

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

I think the sentence is a little odd, but I would say that it means that you will have to set your plate on you knees and eat. (Maybe you can't set your plate down on a table because there is no room at the table -- i.e. you can't eat at the table.)
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Tom]

[Yankee]

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'On your knees' generally means that you are kneeling, Tom.
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_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Tom]

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

I understand the context, but as I said, I find the original sentence a bit odd.

If you said "You will have to eat your dinner on your knees", I would probably understand that I will have to kneel rather than sit when I eat dinner. That is probably why the author of the sentence decided not to use 'on', and instead used 'off'.

With 'off' in the sentence, yes, it might also be understood as you described. This is another good example of what an important role context can play.

That's the best I can do, Tom.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Sa235]

Hi everyone
please tell me is this sentence correct or not ?
I afraid of examination MCITP because it's very difficult but I'm hope I can pass it .

thanks alot

[Beeesneees]

That sentence has a number of errors. Are you saying that you found it in a dictionary? Which one?

I am afraid of the MCITP examination because it's very difficult, but I hope I can pass it.

Thanks a lot.
There is no such word as 'alot' in standard English. You need to write 'a lot'
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Cheers m' dears!

[Sa235]

Hi beeesneees
thank you so much for help me.
I didn't find it in a dictionary . I write that sentence myself.
I know I need to write a lot , but I want once help me. I found this site it is very good .

best regard

[Beeesneees]

Hello Sa,

Thank you.
I was confused because of the thread header, which mentioned a dictionary sentence. I see now it applied to an earlier post.
Do you know how to start a new topic for new unrelated questions?
If not, you'll find 'new topic' instructions here.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Hanifasmm]

Madam Yankee,
Instead of
"Please eat your dinner off your knees."
Can I say:
"Please eat your dinner at your laps."?
Thanks.

[Beeesneees]

You would still need to use 'off' if you changed 'knees' for 'laps'.

Please eat your dinner off your knees.
Please eat you dinner off your laps.
Please eat your dinner off your trays.

Please eat your dinner at the table.
Please eat your dinner at the counter.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Alan]

Hi,

'Eat something off your laps/knees' sounds strange to me.It has an image to me of licking off something that has fallen on your knees/laps. Surely something like 'dinner with a tray on the knee' has to be better, doesn't it?

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

[Thredder]

I'm with BN here, ... no space at the table and we've got no trays left, you'll just have to eat your dinner off your knees.