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AppleFanboy Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
No effort?
No effort was too difficult for him to make when it came to helping the poor.
In my books translation, it says the meaning is 'It is too difficult for him to help the poor that he couldn't make any effort.' (not helping the poor)
But in that case shouldn't it be 'effort was too difficult for him to make' instead of 'no effort'?
And another one.. Why does sparing no effort mean putting all the effort?
I thought it literally means make no effort.. (not putting any effort)
Does it have any connection with the first sentence? Thank you in advance.
In my books translation, it says the meaning is 'It is too difficult for him to help the poor that he couldn't make any effort.' (not helping the poor)
But in that case shouldn't it be 'effort was too difficult for him to make' instead of 'no effort'?
And another one.. Why does sparing no effort mean putting all the effort?
I thought it literally means make no effort.. (not putting any effort)
Does it have any connection with the first sentence? Thank you in advance.
Top answer
If no effort was too difficult, then any effort was available, and help came to the poor. If any effort was too difficult, then no effort was available, and the poor had to fend for themselves. "Spare" in this case has the meaning of holding in reserve.
- If no effort was too difficult, then any effort was available, and help came to the poor.
- If any effort was too difficult, then no effort was available, and the poor had to fend for themselves.
- "Spare" in this case has the meaning of holding in reserve.
- So "sparing no effort" means not holding any effort in reserve thus employing every effort.
- Both cases use the negation of "no effort" to mean all effort.
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3 Answers
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If no effort was too difficult, then any effort was available, and help came to the poor.
If any effort was too difficult, then no effort was available, and the poor had to fend for themselves.
"Spare" in this case has the meaning of holding in reserve. So "sparing no effort" means not holding any effort in reserve thus employing every effort.
Both cases use the negation of
If any effort was too difficult, then no effort was available, and the poor had to fend for themselves.
"Spare" in this case has the meaning of holding in reserve. So "sparing no effort" means not holding any effort in reserve thus employing every effort.
Both cases use the negation of
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deadratIf no effort was too difficult, then any effort was available, and help came to the poor.So is the book's translation wrong? Does the first sentence mean he reserved no effort to help the poor?
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The book is wrong. The first sentence means that he threw every effort into helping the poor; he held back none.
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