0
Htrek Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

I heard this phrase on a tv show

"I'll be hanged if I can't get zen." Does it mean: "I can get zen." ?
  

Top answer

" ? No. I can't imagine why you think that.

— CalifJim

  • " ?
  • No.
  • I can't imagine why you think that.
  • I'm fairly certain that the idiom in question only works the other way.
  • I'll be hanged if I can get zen.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
htrek "I'll be hanged if I can't get zen." Does it mean: "I can get zen." ?

No. I can't imagine why you think that.

I'm fairly certain that the idiom in question only works the other way.

I'll be hanged if I can get zen. ~ I can't get zen. (Zen completely mystifies me.)

Stay tuned for other opinions.

CJ

0
0
htrek "I'll be hanged if I can't get zen." Does it mean: "I can get zen." ?

I understand this literally as meaning "I am determined to understand Zen", but because, as CJ says, the idiom is usually the other way round, there is a slight doubt as to whether "can't" is in fact a mistake for "can". What does the wider context suggest? And are you certain you h

0

Related Questions