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Zhfan Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Down the line.

Hello.

They talk about how their time at high school has influenced their music and what they are influenced by 17 years down the line. I think that sentence means "what they are influenced by after 17 years". Then why is "down the line" here? Doesn't it refer to the future?

Thank you.


  

Top answer

It's just an idiom that means further on in their lives.

— MalRey

  • It's just an idiom that means further on in their lives.
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8 Answers
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It's just an idiom that means further on in their lives.
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zhfanThen why is "down the line" here?
You'll find that there are often a variety of different ways to say the same thing in English.

... talk about ... what they are influenced by [17 years later / 17 years down the line / after 17 years / after 17 years have passed / now that 17 years have passed / now that 17 years have gone by / ...].

"do
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I got you, thanks a lot. May I ask you an off-topic question? You wrote: You'll find that there are often a variety of different ways to say the same thing in English. Why did you use are? Why not is? Please, sorry for my curiosity
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Hi,

"Different ways": ways = plural ("are").

Regards
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zhfanI got you, thanks a lot. May I ask you an off-topic question? You wrote: You'll find that there are often a variety of different ways to say the same thing in English. Why did you use are? Why not is? Please, sorry for my curiosity
1. In the there-construction the agreement is between the verb and the following noun phrase.

... the
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Ok, but I've always thought that there is/are refered to words coming right after is, are. Would that sound bad if I accidentally said "there is often a variety of ways"?
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zhfanI've always thought that ...
Well, don't think that anymore!

zhfanWould that sound bad if I accidentally said "there is often a variety of ways"?
It would sound bad to me! (But they won't put you in grammar prison if you say it. They'll just think you need a little more work polishing your English.)
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