Results 1 to 18 of 18
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2024-05-01, 07:16 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2015
- Location
- Paris, France
- Gender
"A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
For example, which of the following would be correct?
- I can not run, let alone walk.
- I can not walk, let alone run.
My instinct is that "let alone" means "not even this one/simpler thing", so the first sentence is correct.
However, I have seen the expression being used the other way around.
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2024-05-01, 07:23 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2019
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
I would say that the second example is correct and that you're basically saying "I can't walk, so I definitely can't run". That said, I'm not a native English speaker and my source is basically "that's how I remember it being used", so take it for what it is.
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2024-05-01, 07:30 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2012
- Location
- UK
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
I am with Batcathat on this (and I am a native English speaker).
The "I cannot do X let alone Y" construction is such that not being able to do X pretty much implies not being able to do Y.
It can usually be states as "especially not" rather than "not even".
I hope this helps (and kudos for being prepared to ask).
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2024-05-01, 07:51 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2015
- Location
- Paris, France
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
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2024-05-01, 07:01 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2013
- Location
- Bristol, UK
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
In my view, both can be correct (though your first seems to be a misuse).
In your thread title, it's not a matter of A being more or less than B, it's a matter of B being more extreme than A, so if A is small, B is smaller, but if A is big then B is bigger (also hotter, colder, wetter, dryer etc.).The end of what Son? The story? There is no end. There's just the point where the storytellers stop talking.
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2024-05-01, 10:13 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- Argentina
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
I'd say "let alone" in this context means something akin to "don't even consider" or "don't even talk to me about", as in, "leave (let) [the idea of doing B] alone".
"I can't walk, don't even talk to me about running" would be the phrase that makes sense.Nothing to see here, move along.
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2024-05-05, 11:59 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
The second one is correct, and there are two ways to use it.
I can't do/be this simple thing, so why would I be able to do/be this harder thing.
"I can't even walk, let alone run".
OR I can't believe they are able to do/be this harder thing given that they shouldn't be able to do/be the easier thing.
"I can't believe they are alive, let alone conscious"."That's a horrible idea! What time?"
T-Shirt given to me by a good friend.. "in fairness, I was unsupervised at the time".
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2024-05-08, 07:18 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2024
- Location
- London, UK
- Gender
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2024-05-08, 07:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2017
- Location
- Illinois, USA
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
A diiferent, possibly easier example:
"Do you have $20?"
"I don't have $1, let alone $20"
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2024-05-08, 07:47 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Birmingham, AL
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
Tabling a motion has exact opposite meanings in America and Britain - when the British table a motion, they bring it to the table to discuss immediately. When Americans table a motion, they shove it away on a table and don't worry about it at the moment while they work on other things.
And don't even get me started on "securing the building"!Last edited by Peelee; 2024-05-08 at 07:48 PM.
Cuthalion's art is the prettiest art of all the art. Like my avatar.
Number of times Roland St. Jude has sworn revenge upon me: 1
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2024-05-09, 04:17 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2022
- Location
- Metz, France
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
On a fateful evening, I foolishly sworn myself to follow Xykon's updated speech rule ...thing. The twelve gods know that I regretted my decision ...since then ...multiple times.
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2024-05-09, 06:17 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2015
- Location
- Paris, France
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
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2024-05-19, 10:36 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
- Location
- France
- Gender
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2024-05-19, 11:52 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Birmingham, AL
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
Cuthalion's art is the prettiest art of all the art. Like my avatar.
Number of times Roland St. Jude has sworn revenge upon me: 1
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2024-05-21, 02:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
- Location
- France
- Gender
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2024-05-21, 02:23 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Birmingham, AL
- Gender
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2024-05-21, 03:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2013
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
I've been re-listening to classic Welcome To Night Vale episodes, and "put it aside for The Time Being" sounds like exactly the kind of comedic fake-out they would do. It turns into a PSA about leaving out offerings to safeguard yourself. I can hear it in Cecil's voice already
I'd never heard of that British usage before. That one is truly weird! I love how language can diverge while appearing to stay the same.
Please, please, just call me Who. Doctor Who was my father. And then my mother. And then my father again, but younger than me and with darker skin. Constantly reinventing themself; it's a whole thing. Midlife crisis, I think.Last edited by Ionathus; 2024-05-21 at 03:56 PM.
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2024-05-21, 04:50 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
No matter where you go...there you are!
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