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Pructus Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

baptized him over to Polk's place

A few stones were in the crossing. Joad minced across in his bare feet. "You talk about Pa," he said. "Maybe you never seen Uncle John the time they baptized him over to Polk's place. Why, he got to plungin' an' jumpin'. Jumped over a feeny bush as big as a piana.

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Above is from "Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck.

In the underlined part, "to" is difficult to understand.

baptized him over in Polk's place....... is easy to understand.

But, baptized him over to Polk's place..... is hard to understand.

What should this expression mean?
  

Top answer

pructus A few stones were in the crossing. Joad minced across in his bare feet. "You talk about Pa," he said.

— RayH

  • pructus A few stones were in the crossing.
  • Joad minced across in his bare feet.
  • "You talk about Pa," he said.
  • "Maybe you never seen Uncle John the time they baptized him over to Polk's place.
  • Why, he got to plungin' an' jumpin'.
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4 Answers
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pructusA few stones were in the crossing. Joad minced across in his bare feet. "You talk about Pa," he said. "Maybe you never seen Uncle John the time they baptized him over to Polk's place. Why, he got to plungin' an' jumpin'. Jumped over a feeny bush as big as a piana.

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Above is from "Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck.

In the underli
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'Over to' is an example of the substandard style of speaking by certain uneducate people (here, Oakies).
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Another substitution of to for at is seen in another common phrase in that dialect:
Are you gonna be to home at 3 today?
CJ
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