0
Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary
An old man ain’t nothin’ in the USA
“An old man ain’t nothin’ in the USA.” (By Mose Allison - jazz singer.)
What does the double negative "ain't nothin'" mean in the above?
What does the double negative "ain't nothin'" mean in the above?
Top answer
In standard English, a double negative is a positive. However, in colloqial speech, as here, this is not the case. In this instance the speaker's intended meaning is An old man is nothing in the USA .
- In standard English, a double negative is a positive.
- However, in colloqial speech, as here, this is not the case.
- In this instance the speaker's intended meaning is An old man is nothing in the USA .
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
In standard English, a double negative is a positive. However, in colloqial speech, as here, this is not the case. In this instance the speaker's intended meaning is An old man is nothing in the USA .
00
Related Questions