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 #2 (permalink) Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:13 am How to describe the 'new-old rate' of a secondhand stuff? |
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Hello Infinity,
New-old rate, no, I have never heard of anything like it. An interesting question. A practical problem arises: how to determine the quality of an object to objective standards? It seems hardly possible. That is why your "80% new" does not sound very useful, I doubt anyone would say that. And why should people believe you? I guess what you would say depends on the type of thing you are selling. A few examples of what you could say:
- Like new.
- Has rarely been used.
- Some marks and scratches.
- Needs some work.
PS My messages might be a trifle sloppy at this time since I happen to be slightly drunk. My apologies. |
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 Cerberus™
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 770
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| #3 (permalink) Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:22 am How to describe the 'new-old rate' of a secondhand stuff? |
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Hello Cerberus,
Thanks for your reply and it really helps as it always does.
You said:
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| My messages might be a trifle sloppy at this time since I happen to be slightly drunk. My apologies. |
No, I don't think so. Your message helps me alot in understanding how you native speaker think about things. I appreciate it.  You are right, 80% new does not make sense for others still have no idea about the quality of my stuff. And how do I know it is exactly 80%, no more no less.  Thanks again. You see, I don't really mean to sell my laptop or something else. Sometimes, I suddently got an idea and then I wanted to express it in English. e.g. I was wondering what the word 'Maverick' means in 'Dallas Maverick'. As far as my knowledge goes, when maverick is used as a noun, it means:
1: An unbranded range animal ; especially : a motherless calf.
2: An independent individual who does not go along with a group or party.
In China, we call this team 'xiao niu', which means calf. I don't know whether the translation is correct or not.
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Infin1ty
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
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Location: Beijing, China
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| #4 (permalink) Thu Feb 26, 2009 15:21 pm How to describe the 'new-old rate' of a secondhand stuff? |
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| If we are to believe Wikipedia, the translation "calf" is ill chosen. The Dallas Mavericks took their name from the television series Mavericks, which was about a couple of odd and nonconformist guys. "Calf" shows nothing of this sense of "maverick". |
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Cerberus™
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
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| #5 (permalink) Thu Feb 26, 2009 16:30 pm How to describe the 'new-old rate' of a secondhand stuff? |
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Samuel Augustus Maverick (July 23, 1803–September 2, 1870) was a Texas lawyer, politician, land baron and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. His name is the source of the term "maverick", first cited in 1867, which means independent minded. Various accounts of the origins of the term held that Maverick came to be considered independent minded by his fellow ranchers because he refused to brand his cattle (calfs).
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con·text - The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning. |
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Milanya
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| #6 (permalink) Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:33 am How to describe the 'new-old rate' of a secondhand stuff? |
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Thank you, Cerberus and Milanya. With your help, now I know not only why they chosen 'Maverick' to be their team name, but also where did this term come from. Thanks. : )
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Infin1ty
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
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Location: Beijing, China
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| Usage of have gone to, have been to, went to | More quickly or quicker? |
Does it make sense? Or have you got any alternative suggestions? Many thanks.