On approval

Question

Hi teachers,When Jean asked to take one or two paintings home "on approval", he refused: "It is not a matter of my pictures fitting in with something else," he said with a huff.1.  What is on approval mean?2.  Why is the editor use the quotation marks around on approval?Thank you.Tinanam

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

tinanam01021. What is does on approval mean?

2. Why is does the editor use the quotation marks around on approval?

on approval : subject to a prospective buyer's acceptance or refusal <stamps sent to collectors on approval>

In other words, you take the item home and give yourself some time to decide whether you'll buy it or take it back. In this case Jean probably wanted to see if the paintings would look good with her furniture and match the color scheme of the room they would hang in.

It's in quotation marks because art works are not normally taken on approval. In my opinion, it's the writer's way of telling us how foolish Jean is. She doesn't seem to know how to go about buying a painting.

CJ

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi CalifJim,

I couldn't understand it because I thought Jean asked for Rothko's approval so she could then be allowed to buy the art works.

Is it the last sentence about the artist's refusal to Jean's request gave away the answer to the first sentence? If I only provide the first sentence, [Jean...on approval], without the last sentence, would the context change?

Thank you very much.

Tinanam

CalifJim · Answer

1. When Jean asked to take one or two paintings home "on approval", he refused: "It is not a matter of my pictures fitting in with something else," he said with a huff.

2. Jean asked to take one or two paintings home on approval.

This second sentence does not change the meaning of the expression on approval.

It says that Jean wanted to take some paintings home to see if she liked them well enough to buy them. The last sentence, in which the artist refuses, is not necessary to understand the meaning of on approval.

______________

tinanam0102I thought Jean asked for Rothko's approval

No. You can't get that meaning from the original quote, and you can't get it from the shorter quote either. To convey the meaning you were thinking about, you would write this:

Jean asked him to approve her taking one or two paintings home.
Or
Jean asked for his approval to take one of two paintings home.

on approval is completely different. It refers to Jean's approval of the paintings -- not Rothko's approval to take them home. If she takes them home on approval, she is the person who will approve of the paintings -- or not. If she doesn't approve of them, she will return them. If she does approve of them, she will keep them and pay for them.

CJ

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi CalifJim,

Thank you for clearing up my misunderstanding. I now understand it.

Have a good day.

Tinanam

On approval

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