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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
"Chances are unlikely"?
There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" (I think), which is a device for notifying an emergency service if you fall and can't reach the phone. In the commercial, they say that "chances of reaching the phone (in certain circumstances) are unlikely."
Is that idiomatic? It sounds wrong to me. Chances can be slim, fat, nonexistent, good, excellent, etc. But "unlikely"?
Is this one of those usages I've heard all my life that suddenly sounds strange? Or is it truly strange?
"Unlikely event" sounds ok, though.
Maria Conlon
Is that idiomatic? It sounds wrong to me. Chances can be slim, fat, nonexistent, good, excellent, etc. But "unlikely"?
Is this one of those usages I've heard all my life that suddenly sounds strange? Or is it truly strange?
"Unlikely event" sounds ok, though.
Maria Conlon
Top answer
[nq:1]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" (I think), which is a device for notifying an emergency ... usages I've heard all my life that suddenly sounds strange? Or is it truly strange?
- [nq:1]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" (I think), which is a device for notifying an emergency ...
- usages I've heard all my life that suddenly sounds strange?
- Or is it truly strange?
- [/nq] I agree.
- " If a chance exists, it can be slim or fat, but its likelyness isn't in question.
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12 Answers
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[nq:1]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" (I think), which is a device for notifying an emergency ... usages I've heard all my life that suddenly sounds strange? Or is it truly strange? "Unlikely event" sounds ok, though.[/nq]
I agree. I don't think unlikely is a good modifier for "chance." If a chance exists, it can be slim or fat, but its likelyness isn't in question.
I agree. I don't think unlikely is a good modifier for "chance." If a chance exists, it can be slim or fat, but its likelyness isn't in question.
00
[nq:2]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" ... Or is it truly strange? "Unlikely event" sounds ok, though.[/nq]
[nq:1]I agree. I don't think unlikely is a good modifier for "chance." If a chance exists, it can be slim ... It's legitimate to say "it's unlikely that a chance exists," but once the chance exists a different modifier is necessary.[/nq]
Thirded.
d
[nq:1]I agree. I don't think unlikely is a good modifier for "chance." If a chance exists, it can be slim ... It's legitimate to say "it's unlikely that a chance exists," but once the chance exists a different modifier is necessary.[/nq]
Thirded.
d
00
[nq:1]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" (I think), which is a device for notifying an emergency ... usages I've heard all my life that suddenly sounds strange? Or is it truly strange? "Unlikely event" sounds ok, though.[/nq]
Isn't this something like "believe in"? Logical or not, strange or not, it's used by quite a few people. I don't think I'd give it a second thoug
Isn't this something like "believe in"? Logical or not, strange or not, it's used by quite a few people. I don't think I'd give it a second thoug
00
[nq:1]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" (I think), which is a device for notifying an emergency ... unlikely." Is that idiomatic? It sounds wrong to me. Chances can be slim, fat, nonexistent, good, excellent, etc. But "unlikely"?[/nq]
That's right up there with "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow". wrong and illogical, but likely to become ever more common.
That's right up there with "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow". wrong and illogical, but likely to become ever more common.
00
[nq:2]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" ... can be slim, fat, nonexistent, good, excellent, etc. But "unlikely"?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's right up there with "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow". wrong and illogical, but likely to become ever more common.[/nq]
Where would I hear "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow"? No bells ringing, but my thinking is a
[nq:1]That's right up there with "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow". wrong and illogical, but likely to become ever more common.[/nq]
Where would I hear "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow"? No bells ringing, but my thinking is a
00
Is that idiomatic? It sounds wrong to me. Chances can be slim, fat, nonexistent, good, excellent, etc. But "unlikely"?
Chances are but a way for fate to fool.
Richard Maurer To reply, remove half
Sunnyvale, California of a homonym of a synonym for also.
Chances are but a way for fate to fool.
Richard Maurer To reply, remove half
Sunnyvale, California of a homonym of a synonym for also.
00
[nq:2]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" ... can be slim, fat, nonexistent, good, excellent, etc. But "unlikely"?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's right up there with "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow". wrong and illogical, but likely to become ever more common.[/nq]
I'm OK with speeds being fast or slow - like the markings on the engine room telegraph on ships.
Whe
[nq:1]That's right up there with "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow". wrong and illogical, but likely to become ever more common.[/nq]
I'm OK with speeds being fast or slow - like the markings on the engine room telegraph on ships.
Whe
00
[nq:2]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" ... can be slim, fat, nonexistent, good, excellent, etc. But "unlikely"?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's right up there with "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow". wrong and illogical, but likely to become ever more common.[/nq]
The chances are small.
The possibility is unlikely.
The chances are unlikely.
This sort
[nq:1]That's right up there with "your speed is fast" or "your speed is slow". wrong and illogical, but likely to become ever more common.[/nq]
The chances are small.
The possibility is unlikely.
The chances are unlikely.
This sort
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[nq:1]Is that idiomatic? It sounds wrong to me. Chances can be slim, fat, nonexistent, good, excellent, etc. But "unlikely"? Chances ... fool. Richard Maurer To reply, remove half Sunnyvale, California of a homonym of a synonym for also. [/nq]
Is that from "Gay Divorcee"? I know it's from one of the Astaire/Rogers movies. That was a twist on the signal the gigolo was supposed to use to identif
Is that from "Gay Divorcee"? I know it's from one of the Astaire/Rogers movies. That was a twist on the signal the gigolo was supposed to use to identif
00
[nq:2]There's a TV commercial about a product called "Life Alert" ... Or is it truly strange? "Unlikely event" sounds ok, though.[/nq]
[nq:1]Isn't this something like "believe in"?[/nq]
In what possible way?
[nq:1]Logical or not, strange or not, it's used by quite a few people. I don't think I'd give it a second thought if I heard it used in a conversation.[/nq]
Why would you? In o
[nq:1]Isn't this something like "believe in"?[/nq]
In what possible way?
[nq:1]Logical or not, strange or not, it's used by quite a few people. I don't think I'd give it a second thought if I heard it used in a conversation.[/nq]
Why would you? In o
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