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Mr. Tom Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

By your leave

Hi

I want to know if native speakers use the phrase/idiom (without so much as a) by your leave at all these days. Would it sound old-fashioned in everyday conversation?

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

Without so much as a.. is still somewhat common. by your leave is not so common, but still understood by educated people.

— Philip

  • Without so much as a..
  • is still somewhat common.
  • by your leave is not so common, but still understood by educated people.
  • [ The first part is often followed by something more vulgar, such as kissing a part of the anatomy.
  • ]
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4 Answers
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Without so much as a.. is still somewhat common. ...by your leave is not so common, but still understood by educated people. [ The first part is often followed by something more vulgar, such as kissing a part of the anatomy. ]
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Thanks, Philip.

One more question -- perhaps a silly one.

Do you think if you used this phrase "without so much...leave" among young people -- let's say college students -- it would cause a lot of smiles? In other words, would they consider you old and find the use of the phrase funny?

Tom
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Generally, there's no such thing as a 'silly question'. Emotion: wink I think the level of understanding would depend on the level of sophistica
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The "ngrams" plot for this phrase is very different from what I expected:

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=as+a+by+your+leave&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&cor
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