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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

I pass my hands lovingly about/around the smooth skin of a silver birch

I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine.

Hi,
Is it proper to interpret the above as the following? Thanks.

I pass my hands around the smooth skin of a silver birch with love, or the rough, loose bark of a pine.
  

Top answer

The first part is fine. But you need rough and shaggy. Loose just doens't work here.

— Samuraifingers

  • The first part is fine.
  • But you need rough and shaggy.
  • Loose just doens't work here.
  • rough and rugged, rough and interesting, rough and scratchy; all work, but loose just doesn't.
  • HOWEVER - what a strange sentence!
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5 Answers
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The first part is fine.

But you need rough and shaggy. Loose just doens't work here.
rough and rugged, rough and interesting, rough and scratchy; all work, but loose just doesn't.

HOWEVER - what a strange sentence! who goes around "feeling up" trees?
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samuraifingersThe first part is fine.

But you need rough and shaggy. Loose just doens't work here.
rough and rugged, rough and interesting, rough and scratchy; all work, but loose just doesn't.

HOWEVER - what a strange sentence! who goes around "feeling up" trees?


Thanks, samuraifingers.

To make sure, do "rough" a
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Hi,
Shaggy' is an odd word to use for a tree. Basically, it means 'very hairy'. eg a shaggy dog.

Clive
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re: HOWEVER - what a strange sentence! who goes around "feeling up" trees?

It is from Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf and therefore experienced much of the world through touch.
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Angliholic do "rough" and "shaggy" equal each other?
No. 'Rough' bark is deeply incised and irregular. 'Shaggy' bark is bark whose surface is loose and may slough off.
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