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Chivalry Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary

inimical to good health

I don't understand,
why is it inimical to GOOD health instead of just inimical to health? It sounds redundant to me(and as I googled, the resuls seem to be consistent with my thought), but of course, I'm making sure if I'm right.
  

Top answer

Hi, I suppose one could argue that there are various kinds of health eg good health, bad health. The word 'good' just adds a bit of emphasis to the meaning. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, I suppose one could argue that there are various kinds of health eg good health, bad health.
  • The word 'good' just adds a bit of emphasis to the meaning.
  • Clive
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5 Answers
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Hi,

I suppose one could argue that there are various kinds of health eg good health, bad health.

But really, I tend to agree with your thought.The word 'good' just adds a bit of emphasis to the meaning.

Clive
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This is correct. You often have this kind of redundancy in English, for emphasis. For example: good scholar, fine husband, good wife, small child, lazy lout, dirty scoundrel, etc. So "good health" is not redundant by the standards of English.
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Hi,

Hmmm. You think eg all scholars are good, all husbands are fine, all wives are good?
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CliveHi,Hmmm. You think eg all scholars are good, all husbands are fine, all wives are good? Clive
Like he said, it's to emphasize the description.
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Hi,

Yes.
But your original point was that in the phrase , 'inimical to good health', 'good' was redundant because it was assumed.

Would you equally argue that every time the word 'husband' is used, 'fine' is assumed? I think not.
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