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MeggPhaggSioux Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

OUT FOR THEMSELVES

"Everyone is out for themselves."

"Everyone is for themselves."

How are they different?
  

Top answer

The first is the standard: it means that everyone is trying to take care of themselves primarily. The second one is an unusual construction, but it presumably means the same.

  • The first is the standard: it means that everyone is trying to take care of themselves primarily.
  • The second one is an unusual construction, but it presumably means the same.
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4 Answers
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The first is the standard: it means that everyone is trying to take care of themselves primarily. The second one is an unusual construction, but it presumably means the same.
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Then "Everyone is for themselves." is wrong?
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http://articles.latimes.com/1994-02-17/news/mn-24097_1_unwritten-rules

"Except for the occasional flash of grace or compassion, it's everyone for themselves these days as the region cleans up the rubble and attempts to carry on."
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No, 'everyone for themselves' is not wrong. I don't think they mean precisely the same thing. In these two sentences:

'everyone for themselves' = everyone take care of themselves.

'everyone is out for themselves' = everyone is trying to get an advantage for themselves.

The second is more 'selfish'. On the other hand, the difference may be just in the contexts and not

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