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Bvpraveen Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

...next to sth...

Dear Friends,

The phrase ...next to nothing... means "almost nothing".

Can we generalise it to ...next to xyz... so that it means "almost xyz".
Eg: ...next to poor... to mean "almost poor"
...next to fool... to mean "almost fool" ( Although it sounds bad ).

Thanks in advance.
Praveen.
  

Top answer

No, this only works with nothing.

— Nona the brit

  • No, this only works with nothing.
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15 Answers
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No, this only works with nothing.
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Thanks a lot Brit.

Praveen.
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0 Hello Brit, 02br
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00You earlier said that 'next to nothing' is unique and 'next to sth' is not applicable. But, today I happened to spot a sentence in the newspaper which employ the usage of 'next to impossible'. 02br
01blockquote
00The local media found it next to impossible to enter the ground.12blockquote
12br
02b
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0 01b00Next to02b02br
02br
0013. a. next to, the nearest approach to; very nearly, almost. 02br
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001667 Milton P.L. vi. 316 Together both with next to Almighty Arme, Uplifted imminent one stroke they aim'd. 1699 Bentley Phal. 140 The very facility and naturalness of every correction will be next to a Demonstration+, that the Observa
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0 A well-known saying is 'Cleanliness is next to godliness'. 0-
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0 next to nothing, next to none, next to zero, next to impossible, next to last, ... 0-
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0 OK I hold my hands up, there are quite a few words it goes with. 02br
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00It can't be used with any random word though, next to poor etc just sounds wrong! 0-
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0 Great examples Paco. Thanks. 02br
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00Meanwhile I've got a doubt from one of your examples : 02br
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00He loved his father, but next to adored his mother.12blockquote
12br
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00Is it correct to express it as: 02br
01blockquote
00He loved his father, but next to his mothe
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0 Forgive my intrusion... 02br
00No, it's not correct. At the best, it would mean: "he loved his father, but only (when his father was standing) next to his mother. 050010id1
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0 Ok Anne, how to express : "one loves his father NEXT to his mother"? (Here, 'next' to mean 'after'). ie. he loves his mother more than his father. 0-
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