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"He fell on the nose" vs "He fell on the mouth."



 
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telephone conversation in American English | Finding out mistakes: Agnes was upset by some of her husband's religious ideas
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"He fell on the nose" vs "He fell on the mouth." #1 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:04 am   "He fell on the nose" vs "He fell on the mouth."
 

Hi

Would you say both of the following sentences carry the same meaning? Looked from any angle, a person can fall only one way on his mouth, IMP.

Quote:
He fell on the nose.
He fell on the mouth.


Many thanks,

Tom
Tom
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"He fell on the nose" vs "He fell on the mouth." #2 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:35 am   "He fell on the nose" vs "He fell on the mouth."
 

Hi Tom

How about "He fell on his face" instead?

Neither one of your sentences strikes me as particularly natural. One reason is that people usually use the possessive adjective in such sentences.

If I had to choose between 'nose' and 'mouth', I'd choose 'nose' if only because a person's nose usually sticks out further than a person's mouth, and would therefore tend to hit the ground first. Laughing

Using 'face' would be more general. I suppose I might use one of the more specific words that you suggested if that particular part of the person's face sustained the only or the primary injury.

By the way, I think chin injuries would also be pretty common in the type of fall you seem to have in mind.
.
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"He fell on the nose" vs "He fell on the mouth." #3 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:40 am   "He fell on the nose" vs "He fell on the mouth."
 

Yankee wrote:
Neither one of your sentences strikes me as particularly natural. One reason is that people usually use the possessive adjective in such sentences.
.

I just lit upon a good rule applicable in this situation
You use a possessive noun if the agent is attached in some way to the object that is being affected.
Archie raised his head.
Larry scraped his knee.
Todd scratched his butt Smile
Lost_Soul
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