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Stenka25 Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary
'be on to something' problem
I have to example sentences about 'be on to something' seemingly contradicting in meaning. I mean 'be on to something' in ? is used positively, and then in ?, negatively.
Can you tell my how this contradiction happened?
? Tyler Cowen said, if the economy bounces back strongly in the coming years, he'd have to wonder if Keynes was on to something. Mark Zandi says if the debt from all the spending seems to really weigh down the economy, he'd have to wonder if maybe Keynes was wrong all along.
? I think he was on to something when he said that people starving in African deserts should move to where the food is. // I'm with Deke on this one...:-))
Can you tell my how this contradiction happened?
? Tyler Cowen said, if the economy bounces back strongly in the coming years, he'd have to wonder if Keynes was on to something. Mark Zandi says if the debt from all the spending seems to really weigh down the economy, he'd have to wonder if maybe Keynes was wrong all along.
? I think he was on to something when he said that people starving in African deserts should move to where the food is. // I'm with Deke on this one...:-))
Top answer
he'd have to wonder if Keynes was on to something . I think he was on to something They're both positive and both mean the same. "To be on to something" is to be in pursuit of some principle or truth.
- he'd have to wonder if Keynes was on to something .
- I think he was on to something They're both positive and both mean the same.
- "To be on to something" is to be in pursuit of some principle or truth.
- It's irrelevant whether the truth is beneficial or not.
- The speaker means that evidence is beginning to surface, indicating that the principle or theory is correct.
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3 Answers
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he'd have to wonder if Keynes was on to something.
I think he was on to something
They're both positive and both mean the same.
"To be on to something"
I think he was on to something
They're both positive and both mean the same.
"To be on to something"
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Sometimes we use the expression ironically, or sarcastically.
"I think maybe that Edison guy was on to something with that light bulb!"
Of course Keynesian theory has always been controvercial, and people often change their opinions about it.
Both of the speakers in your first example are Keynesian skeptics.
The first one says, "If things get better, I'll change my
"I think maybe that Edison guy was on to something with that light bulb!"
Of course Keynesian theory has always been controvercial, and people often change their opinions about it.
Both of the speakers in your first example are Keynesian skeptics.
The first one says, "If things get better, I'll change my
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