Correct wording of a phrase including "senses"

Question

I'm looking for the correct wording of an expression with the approximate meaning: show him/her the right /sensible way. The key word is "senses", but I'm not sure about the correct wording: "put some sens(s) in to his head?

I don't believe Google can help me with this reverse search, that's why I resort to this honorable forum of passionate linguists to enlighten me.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I'm looking for the correct wording of an expression with the approximate meaning: show him/her the right /sensible way. The ... help me with this reverse search, that's why I resort to this honorable forum of passionate linguists to enlighten me.[/nq]
"Knock some sense into him/her"?

Ross Howard

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'm looking for the correct wording of an expression with ... to this honorable forum of passionate linguists to enlighten me.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Knock some sense into him/her"?[/nq]
Or "bring him/her to his/her senses"?

Ross Howard

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]"Knock some sense into him/her"?[/nq]
I like it verymuch.
[nq:1]Or "bring him/her to his/her senses"?[/nq]
That's the phrase I was looking for. Thank you very much. But now I prefer the first one.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I'm looking for the correct wording of an expression with the approximate meaning: show him/her the right /sensible way. The ... help me with this reverse search, that's why I resort to this honorable forum of passionate linguists to enlighten me.[/nq]
Well, if worse comes to worst, you could try to pound some sense into his head.

Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I like it verymuch.[/nq]
[nq:2]Or "bring him/her to his/her senses"?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's the phrase I was looking for. Thank you very much. But now I prefer the first one.[/nq]
However, it is very often used in a quite literal manner, as a reason to hit someone, like a child or spouse. Or at least as a frustrated wish "***, I wish I could knock some sense into him," imagining going "Pow" with a fist and, from that alone, changing the other person's mind.

Some of the first Google hits:
(they'd given up beating him when upon realizing it would take Mike Tyson to knock some sense into him)
How about if she whacks him on the head? Maybe that would knock some sense into him.
I wished that I could whack Toller over the head with it a few times in an attempt to knock some sense into him.
She obviously didn't hit him hard enough to knock some sense into him.
My point is, if you use this phrase, you are summoning up the image of a physical blow, so just be aware of whether that is appropriate. Your original question said nothing about physical violence.

Best Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]However, it is very often used in a quite literal manner, as a reason to hit someone, like a child ... knock some sense into him," imagining going "Pow" with a fist and, from that alone, changing the other person's mind.[/nq]
Ooops, it's not what I had in mind.
[nq:1]Some of the first Google hits: (they'd given up beating him when upon realizing it would take Mike Tyson to ... attempt to knock some sense into him. She obviously didn't hit him hard enough to knock some sense into him.[/nq]
Thanks for the clarification.
[nq:1]My point is, if you use this phrase, you are summoning up the image of a physical blow, so just be aware of whether that is appropriate. Your original question said nothing about physical violence.[/nq]
Because I didn't think of actual physical violence. Though I did have some heavy duty convincing in mind that may escalate to some kind of verbal violence, like "are you out of your mind?"or "how can you be so stupid and act against your own interest?".

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Because I didn't think of actual physical violence. Though I did have some heavy duty convincing in mind that may ... violence, like "are you out of your mind?"or "how can you be so stupid and act against your own interest?".[/nq]
Then I think the "bring him to his senses" is good. It suggests the distinction between irrational (out of your mind) and rational (acting in your own interest).
I don't know why it does that, really, because often "senses" means the five senses, sensations, sight, touch, etc. But it doesn't in the idea of "bringing" or "coming to one's senses."
Some examples:
It takes finding Elly in a dangerous situation, caused by his past, to bring him to his senses.
If this piece of information is enough to bring him to his senses, then that means the fence and the shed need to be moved.

Anyone who believes that his misfortunes are all the fault of other people is to be pitied, before being drenched with cold water to bring him to his senses.
That last one reminded me that this suggests waking someone up out of a dream or a trance or unconsciousness, so I think that's the origin I missed up above. You leave the dreamworld, you return to the regular world of consciousness, of the five senses, of rationality.

Best Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

It makes perfect sense to me.
Although, initially I didn't think of the five senses. The expression "bring one to his senses" brought to my mind the common sense, not the five senses. In my mind, the one who brings another to his senses was a no-nonsense, sensible person, who tries to share some of her common sense with the other.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I'm looking for the correct wording of an expression with the approximate meaning: show him/her the right /sensible way. The ... help me with this reverse search, that's why I resort to this honorable forum of passionate linguists to enlighten me.[/nq]
"Take a two-by-four upside his head."

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I like it verymuch. That's the phrase I was looking for. Thank you very much. But now I prefer the first one.[/nq]
[nq:1]However, it is very often used in a quite literal manner, as a reason to hit someone, like a child ... a physical blow, so just be aware of whether that is appropriate. Your original question said nothing about physical violence.[/nq]
I agree that the experience of instilling the sense into the person is probably not a particularly pleasant one for that person, and may even involve some sort of punishment, but I think it stops well short of "violence".
Common metaphors such as this are often called "dead metaphors" with good reason they've lost their original vividness.

Here's a typical sort of context for how I have always seen this one used:
He should join the Army. Getting up at six in the morning for a five-mile run might knock some sense into him.
AR should also be aware that this and "bring s.o. to their senses" don't mean the same thing, and we'd need to know more context to be able to recommend which is the most appropriate.

Ross Howard

Correct wording of a phrase including "senses"

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