As much as anyone in this world
Hello.
In one of the episodes of Game of Thrones, Jon Snow says:
...a man I trust as much as anyone in this world.
Although I know that the meaning behind those words is something along I trust him with all my heart, but I do wonder, how come it means that. After all, if we trust someone as much as anyone (else) in the world, doesn't it suggest that the level of our trust towards this person is just as high as that we have for anyone else? That wouldn't be a very high level of trust, would it?
Hope you know what I mean.
Top answer
It means that there is no one that he trusts more. "anyone" is understood to refer to the person/people he trusts most in the world. Without context to tell you that this is the intended meaning, other interpretations may be possible, along the lines that you mention, that he doesn't necessarily absolutely trust this man, just as he wouldn't absolutely trust "anyone".
- It means that there is no one that he trusts more.
- "anyone" is understood to refer to the person/people he trusts most in the world.
- Without context to tell you that this is the intended meaning, other interpretations may be possible, along the lines that you mention, that he doesn't necessarily absolutely trust this man, just as he wouldn't absolutely trust "anyone".
- There is also a possible ironic interpretation (he doesn't trust anyone at all).
- " perhaps makes these other interpretations less likely.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
It means that there is no one that he trusts more. "anyone" is understood to refer to the person/people he trusts most in the world. Without context to tell you that this is the intended meaning, other interpretations may be possible, along the lines that you mention, that he doesn't necessarily absolutely trust this man, just as he wouldn't absolutely trust "anyone". There is also a possible
0
Related Questions