Buy

Question

what does exactly &lt;I'd sooner buy defying gravity?&gt; mean, comparing with &lt;I'd sooner try defying gravity&gt;?I'm not sure what 'buy' means in the original sentence and what nuance there is between two above sentences. I don't familiar with &lt;buy + verb + ing&gt; sentence structure. it confuses me a little.  thanks in advance

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

'Buy' something is a colloquial way of saying 'believe something', 'accept something as true'.

eg Mary says she loves me, but I don't buy it.

what does exactly <I'd sooner buy defying gravity?> mean, comparing with

I don't believe that defying gravity is possible

<I'd sooner try defying gravity>?

I'd sooner attempt to defy gravity.

As you can see, this is a very different meaning.

I'm not sure what 'buy' means in the original sentence

and what nuance there is between two above sentences.

I don't familiar with <buy + verb + ing> sentence structure. it confuses me a little.

Clive

Avangi · Answer

"I'd sooner X" means that you choose X over something described in prior context.

I would never do that. I'd sooner eat a bug.

"I'd sooner X than Y" states your preference for X over Y. No prior context is needed.

I'd sooner spend the rest of my life alone than marry Jane.

I don't familiar with <buy + verb + ing> sentence structure. it confuses me a little.

Sometimes "to buy" in this structure means "to like."

I don't buy living alone. = I don't like living alone. (I don't accept it as a viable choice.)

I wouldn't buy chopping my own wood all winter long. (I wouldn't go for it.)

Actually, the expression "go for it" in this particular sense is closer than "like" to the meaning of the idiom you're having trouble with.
I don't buy doing drugs seven days a week! (I wouldn't recommend it!)

I'd sooner buy defying gravity than [buy] existing without water.

It would be easier for me to believe that we can fly without wings than to believe that we can live without water.

In most cases, prior context helps. Someone has made a statement that you don't agree with, and you come back with, "I don't buy it!"
We're going to have to cover the expense ourselves. (reply) I don't buy paying for the whole thing!

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