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MrPernickety Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary
For lack/want of
Hi,
Can I say these sentences? Are they natural to native speakers?
1. For want/lack of luck, he had to quit gambling.
2. For want/lack of audacity, she couldn't make it in the throat cutting world of today's business.
3. For want/lack of a better explanation, he said he was late for work because he got a flat tyre.
In all of them, I assume, "for want/lack of" means "what with the lack of something", am I right?
Thanks in advance!
Can I say these sentences? Are they natural to native speakers?
1. For want/lack of luck, he had to quit gambling.
2. For want/lack of audacity, she couldn't make it in the throat cutting world of today's business.
3. For want/lack of a better explanation, he said he was late for work because he got a flat tyre.
In all of them, I assume, "for want/lack of" means "what with the lack of something", am I right?
Thanks in advance!
Top answer
'For want/lack of' is quite formal, bordering on 'literary'. You won't hear it, I think. 'Throat cutting' is not a natural adjective; use 'cutthroat'.
- 'For want/lack of' is quite formal, bordering on 'literary'.
- You won't hear it, I think.
- 'Throat cutting' is not a natural adjective; use 'cutthroat'.
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2 Answers
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'For want/lack of' is quite formal, bordering on 'literary'. You won't hear it, I think.
'Throat cutting' is not a natural adjective; use 'cutthroat'.
'Throat cutting' is not a natural adjective; use 'cutthroat'.
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