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Kenkenken9876 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

Is this correct to say?

There's an idiomatic expression, "Believe it or not, that's true."

This is from "Even if you believe it or not,..."
Similarly, can I say:

Cry or laugh, this is the last chance.
Cry or laugh, this is the last throw. (In a baseball game, for example)
  

Top answer

Cry or laugh, this is the last throw. (In a baseball game, for example) This is an allowable pattern. I'm not sure I completely understand the sentiment being expressed in these particular examples.

— GPY

  • Cry or laugh, this is the last throw.
  • (In a baseball game, for example) This is an allowable pattern.
  • I'm not sure I completely understand the sentiment being expressed in these particular examples.
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5 Answers
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kenkenken9876This is from "Even if you believe it or not,..."
I would say more like "Whether you believe it or not, ..."
kenkenken9876Cry or laugh, this is the last chance.Cry or laugh, this is the last throw. (In a baseball game, for example)
This is an allowable pattern. I'm not sure I completely understand the
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If I add more words to "Cry or laugh, this will be the last chance.", it is...

This will be the last chance, no matter what the result could be. You will have to cry at the sad result, or you can laugh at the happy result.

Or

No matter what your current emotion is, this will be the last chance, so just go for it!

Cry or laugh / Laugh or cry, this will be the las
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kenkenken9876This will be the last chance, no matter what the result could be. You will have to cry at the sad result, or you can laugh at the happy result.OrNo matter what your current emotion is, this will be the last chance, so just go for it!
For me, this "or" pinpoints the potential difficulty in understanding exactly what is intended.
"laugh or cry"
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OK, then what about "(Whether you) laugh or cry, this will be the last chance."
Am I not allow to omit "whether you" here?

"Laugh or cry, this will be the last chance."
--------Acceptable or not?
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kenkenken9876OK, then what about "(Whether you) laugh or cry, this will be the last chance."Am I not allow to omit "whether you" here?
Yes, you are allowed. However, uncertainty exists (in my opinion) about what "laugh or cry" refers to.
kenkenken9876"Laugh or cry, this will be the last chance."--------Acceptable or not?
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