0
Seraphin Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
"at the brim of" ? some neologism ?
Sometimes I find myself putting words together that while by their literal meaning, the "new phrase" makes sense, yet when I use google books as a benchmark for their correctness, I find that no one else uses these kinds of phrases.
For example, many authors (native English speakers I presume) use this phrase "at the edge of" as in "I am at the edge of giving up". However, God knows why, sometimes I feel like saying "I am at the brim of giving up".
My question is
(a) is it "wrong" to say "at the brim of", considering that most native English speakers do not use it this way?
(b) what would a native speaker respond/feel when they hear others (unbeknownst to them if the user is a native speaker) use this kind of neologistic terms in their sentences?
Thank you
For example, many authors (native English speakers I presume) use this phrase "at the edge of" as in "I am at the edge of giving up". However, God knows why, sometimes I feel like saying "I am at the brim of giving up".
My question is
(a) is it "wrong" to say "at the brim of", considering that most native English speakers do not use it this way?
(b) what would a native speaker respond/feel when they hear others (unbeknownst to them if the user is a native speaker) use this kind of neologistic terms in their sentences?
Thank you
Top answer
Hi, Sometimes I find myself putting words together that while by their literal meaning, the "new phrase" makes sense, yet when I use google books as a benchmark for their correctness, I find that no one else uses these kinds of phrases. For example, many authors (native English speakers I presume) use this phrase "at the edge of" as in "I am at the edge of giving up". I don't hear this much, if at all.
- Hi, Sometimes I find myself putting words together that while by their literal meaning, the "new phrase" makes sense, yet when I use google books as a benchmark for their correctness, I find that no one else uses these kinds of phrases.
- For example, many authors (native English speakers I presume) use this phrase "at the edge of" as in "I am at the edge of giving up".
- I don't hear this much, if at all.
- If I had to say it, I'd say ' on the edge of giving up'.
- However, *** knows why, sometimes I feel like saying "I am at the brim of giving up".
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
Hi,
Sometimes I find myself putting words together that while by their literal meaning, the "new phrase" makes sense, yet when I use google books as a benchmark for their correctness, I find that no one else uses these kinds of phrases.
For example, many authors (native English speakers I presume) use this phrase "at the edge of" as in "I am at the edge of giving up".
Sometimes I find myself putting words together that while by their literal meaning, the "new phrase" makes sense, yet when I use google books as a benchmark for their correctness, I find that no one else uses these kinds of phrases.
For example, many authors (native English speakers I presume) use this phrase "at the edge of" as in "I am at the edge of giving up".
00
Hi,
SeraphinFor example, many authors (native English speakers I presume) use this phrase "at the edge of" as in "I am at the edge of giving up".Say on the edge of instead. It sounds much more idiomatic.
Seraphin"I am at the brim of giving up". My question is is it "wrong" to say "at the brim of", considering that most native Engl
0
Related Questions