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Expression: Not much that he is sorry!



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
The usage: "I don't mind" | Expression: My bookshelf can ... 100 books
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Expression: Not much that he is sorry! Tue Jun 20, 2006 13:51 pm  Expression: Not much that he is sorry!		  
Hi

In one of the movies I recently watched, the servant of the house is caught stealing by his mistress. His master takes him into the room for interrogation. He comes out after a few minutes.(My questions are at the end)

Wife- What did he say?
Husband- Not much that he is sorry.
Wife- Ask him to pack his bags and leave right
now.
Husband- Firing him is like putting a tiny bandage
on a deep wound.

Q1- "Not much that he is sorry" What is the
meaning? What sort of a sentence structure is that?

Q2- "Firing him is like putting a tiny bandage
on a deep wound." What is the meaning?

Q3- "Ask him to pack his bags..." I think it should
be "Tell him to pack his bags..."

A lot of thanks

Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2038
Expression: Not much that he is sorry! Tue Jun 20, 2006 14:31 pm  Expression: Not much that he is sorry!		  
Hi,Tom
Maybe you espect a response from Amy Very Happy
Quote:
Not much that he is sorry" What is the
meaning? What sort of a sentence structure is that?

I think he didn't say much of the words(maybe something offensive,insulting)to regret about what he had said

Quote:
"Firing him is like putting a tiny bandage
on a deep wound." What is the meaning?

Here is a case of simile
like putting a tiny bandage on a deep wound has a figurative sense in this sentence and means in vain,uselessly
As you know tiny bandage cannot prevent a deep wound from bleeding Laughing

Quote:
Q3- "Ask him to pack his bags..." I think it should
be "Tell him to pack his bags...

Yes,both are acceptable.
p.s.Anyway I'm sure that Amy will help you Very Happy

Tom, to be honest, I misread your last question. Now I made some amendments
Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1236
Location: Rf
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Expression: Not much that he is sorry! Tue Jun 20, 2006 16:31 pm  Expression: Not much that he is sorry!		  
Hi Tom

Quote:
Q1- "Not much that he is sorry" What is the
meaning? What sort of a sentence structure is that?

I would assume that there was at least a slight pause between "much" and "that". (Or at least the speaker intended to pause...Laughing)
The meaning: (He did) not (say) much --- (He just said) that he is sorry.

Quote:
Q2- "Firing him is like putting a tiny bandage
on a deep wound." What is the meaning?

I agree with Pamela.

Quote:
Q3- "Ask him to pack his bags..." I think it should
be "Tell him to pack his bags..."

Using the word ask instead of tell is extremely common in English when talking about giving someone a command. It sounds more polite since making a request (ask) is "nicer" than making a demand (tell). In your sentence, the person could also have used "tell". But, as I mentioned, using "ask" is very common and I wouldn't see it as unusual, even though politeness probably wasn't much of an issue in this case.

As a further example:
If you call John Smith at his office and he isn't available and you then want his secretary to tell him to call you back as soon as possible, using the word "ask" would be extremely typical and usually preferable:
Could you ask him to call me back as soon as he returns?

Amy
Yankee
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
Expression: Not much that he is sorry! Tue Jun 20, 2006 18:08 pm  Expression: Not much that he is sorry!		  
How right Pamela is,Amy! Shocked I have been expecting to hear from you. Very Happy Well, whether or not did you like the questions in this thread?

Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2038
Expression: Not much that he is sorry! Tue Jun 20, 2006 18:13 pm  Expression: Not much that he is sorry!		  
Sorry!

Thanks for the answers...Could not know that you had replied, Amy Very Happy
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2038
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The usage: "I don't mind" | Expression: My bookshelf can ... 100 books
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Expression: Not much that he is sorry! All times are GMT + 2 Hours
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