0
Jackson6612 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
A cardboard cutout of a dime
Hi
In the news excerpt below it says that a person was charged with operating a coin-changing washing machine using a cardboard shaped like a dime, correct? But the phrase "cutout out of" suggests as if cardboard was made from dime. In other words, to me, it doesn't sound right somehow. What would you say on this? Please let me know. Thank you.
DES MOINES, Iowa
— Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has fired a Des Moines worker over a 1963 incident at a Laundromat involving a fake dime in the wake of new employment guidelines.
Richard Eggers, 68, was fired in July from his job as a customer service representative for putting a cardboard cutout of a dime in a washing machine nearly 50 years ago in Carlisle, the Des Moines
FULL STORY http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Wells-Fargo-fires-Iowa-worker-for-minor-1963-crime-3818446.php
Regards
Jackson
In the news excerpt below it says that a person was charged with operating a coin-changing washing machine using a cardboard shaped like a dime, correct? But the phrase "cutout out of" suggests as if cardboard was made from dime. In other words, to me, it doesn't sound right somehow. What would you say on this? Please let me know. Thank you.
DES MOINES, Iowa
— Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has fired a Des Moines worker over a 1963 incident at a Laundromat involving a fake dime in the wake of new employment guidelines.Richard Eggers, 68, was fired in July from his job as a customer service representative for putting a cardboard cutout of a dime in a washing machine nearly 50 years ago in Carlisle, the Des Moines
FULL STORY http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Wells-Fargo-fires-Iowa-worker-for-minor-1963-crime-3818446.php
Regards
Jackson
Top answer
If the phrase was "a cardboard cut out of a dime," it would indeed mean that the cardboard was made by cutting a piece from a dime. Obviously that's impossible, so it's a good thing that's not what it said. A "cardboard cutout of something" is a likeness made from cardboard and cut along the outline of the object.
- If the phrase was "a cardboard cut out of a dime," it would indeed mean that the cardboard was made by cutting a piece from a dime.
- Obviously that's impossible, so it's a good thing that's not what it said.
- A "cardboard cutout of something" is a likeness made from cardboard and cut along the outline of the object.
- gclid=CMXSuKO_jrICFalDMgodp3IAow
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
7 Answers
0
If the phrase was "a cardboard cut out of a dime," it would indeed mean that the cardboard was made by cutting a piece from a dime. Obviously that's impossible, so it's a good thing that's not what it said. A "cardboard cutout of something" is a likeness made from cardboard and cut along the outline of the object. Usually the term is used to describe a life-size cardboard replica of a person,
00
Thank you, Khoff.
But most dictionaries I have checked don't make any distinction between "cutout" and "cut out". I'm still confused. Could you please elaborate on it a little more? Thanks.
Best wishes
Jackson
But most dictionaries I have checked don't make any distinction between "cutout" and "cut out". I'm still confused. Could you please elaborate on it a little more? Thanks.
Best wishes
Jackson
00
Khoff gives a good explanation. How many dictionaries did you check? My dictionaries both cite the difference between the verb "cut out" and the noun "cutout" or "cut-out". The newspaper is referring to a cutout (cut-out), a noun, made of cardboard, not the verb. Does that help any?
00
Thank you, Shawn.
I consulted M-W's Collegiate and American Heritage dictionaries.
Yes, you are right the dictionary does list "cutout" and "cut out" separately but I couldn't find any sense which fits in the given context. I believe only the sense #1 could be considered relevant here but still I don't see how it set in the given setting. Because a cardboard isn't cut out from a
I consulted M-W's Collegiate and American Heritage dictionaries.
Yes, you are right the dictionary does list "cutout" and "cut out" separately but I couldn't find any sense which fits in the given context. I believe only the sense #1 could be considered relevant here but still I don't see how it set in the given setting. Because a cardboard isn't cut out from a
00
I believe only the sense #1 could be considered relevant here but still I don't see how it set in the given setting. Because a cardboard isn't cut out from a dime.
Jackson6612cutout (noun)1 : something cut out or off from something else; also : the space or hole left after cutting2 : one that cuts outThe defiinition is n
00
Hi Jackson,
The dictionary definition tells you it is cut "from something else." I don't see how the definition could be clearer. That it "resembles something else" is not so much part of the word "cutout" but from the phrase "of a dime."
The phrase "cardboard cutout" tells you what it's cut out from -- cardboard. As do these also:
paper cutout
plastic cutout
The dictionary definition tells you it is cut "from something else." I don't see how the definition could be clearer. That it "resembles something else" is not so much part of the word "cutout" but from the phrase "of a dime."
The phrase "cardboard cutout" tells you what it's cut out from -- cardboard. As do these also:
paper cutout
plastic cutout
00
Thank you very much, Khoff, Shawn. I understand it now.
@Shawn: You have it absolutely correct:
[quote="Shawn"]I think you might be more hung up on the phrase "of a dime,"...
I was really stuck on that phrase. Now I see it. Once again, thanks.
of (prep)
5 a : relating to : ABOUT
[M-W's Col. Dic.]
Best wish
@Shawn: You have it absolutely correct:
[quote="Shawn"]I think you might be more hung up on the phrase "of a dime,"...
I was really stuck on that phrase. Now I see it. Once again, thanks.
of (prep)
5 a : relating to : ABOUT
[M-W's Col. Dic.]
Best wish
0
Related Questions