meaning of "succeed with success"

[lost_soul]

Hi !

I don't understand what's wrong with the following sentence:

[Pamela]

Hi Alex,
Maybe, I am willing to take the wrong sow by the ear
as opposite to -as opposed to (intended)

But to be honest, saying 'succeed with success' is tautology.

[Yankee]

Hi Alex

Well, there are two well-known sayings: "Success breeds success" and "Nothing succeeds like success". So, I guess that would be the first point. Mr B didn't quite manage to say either one of those.

The word 'opposite' is also weird. It would be normal to say "as opposed to". (As Pamela mentioned.)

Finally, he basically said that 'the ambitious are less likely to succeed with failure' -- and that is also a bit odd, wouldn't you say?

Have you been reading lots of "Bushisms" lately, Alex?
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_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[lost_soul]

Hi, Amy and Pamela !

Thank you for your help !

@Amy - Yeah, I was reading Bushisms from the site you had recommended to me in one of your posts.
I'm partial to Bush and I think the press just blows up the whole thing about his alledged illiteracy. Everybody makes slip-ups, especially when giving speeches in front of that many people.

I'd agree with you that the ambitious are less likely to succeed with failure is a little of an odd statement, but ambitions, perseverence and success go together

One of my favourite Bushisms is :

[Yankee]

Hi Alex

I agree that the press loves to dig up the odd things that Bush says, but I also think he probably has more verbal slip-ups than many politicians do. Of course, Bush's odd-sounding sentences usually happen when what he is saying is completely unscripted and he's speaking off the cuff.

"Kick ass" is not a Bushism per se. It's a well-known slang expression in the US. I'd categorize it as colloquial and vulgar, but not obscene. I suspect that one of the reasons that people who have voted for Bush like him is that Bush is often quite blunt, often uses informal language and doesn't seem as prone to using the pretentious mumbo-jumbo language that many politicians do. (I voted against Bush twice, however. )

As to your question, you can say these:

The statement is a little odd.
The statement is a little bit odd.
The statement is a bit odd.
It's sort of an odd statement.
It's kind of an odd statement.
It's a bit of an odd statement.
It's a little bit of an odd statement. ***

*** I think the last sentence would be used, but I'd prefer one of the others.
_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[lost_soul]

Hi, Amy

Thank you for such an ample number of examples. I think I get your point !
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Alex

A native speaker of Russian