Meaning of "To be through and out the other side"

Question

Hi,I came by this sentence (in italic) the other evening, and I'm not sure which way to take it. Could you give me some help telling me what the bold part of the sentence means precisely?He will either be through and out the other side, or he'll meet his endUnfortunatelly, I can't provide any context, but the main idea behind all this is that he either will take on the difficulties that surround him on all sides and win, or the difficulties will get the better of him and he will fall by the waysideThanks !

Optilang · Accepted Answer

Hi

I agree with your interpretation.

I would have expected to hear - 'he will get through and out the other side, .....

CalifJim · Answer

MrPernicketywhat the bold part of the sentence means precisely?

It's like going through a tunnel. You go in one side, and you keep going through it, and eventually you come out the other side. The tunnel image (or anything similar) can be used to see the metaphor that is intended. In English, to go through (meaning endure) is used for difficulties of various kinds.

There was a blizzard, and all the roads were blocked. You wouldn't believe what we had to go through to get here! [what difficulties we had to endure]

be through can be taken as a variant of go through in this specific case. Adding and out the other side calls our attention to the fact go through is in itself metaphoric.

CJ

Philip · Answer

I was expecting something similar to in one ear and out the other, which is pretty common, and would most likely be understood by someone who hadn't heard it before.

CalifJim · Answer

PhilipI was expecting something similar to in one ear and out the other

Excuse me. Did you say something, Philip?

CJ

MrPernickety · Answer

Thanks for such comprehensible answers, I hope to *** your answers haven't gone in one ear and out the other for me )))

Meaning of "To be through and out the other side"

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