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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Out of all recognition

This is from my story book.

Barcelona has changed out of all recognition.

What does the underlined mean?
  

Top answer

It means that Barcelona has changed so much that if someone who had lived there a long time ago came back to visit, he would not recognize it. For example, there might be many new high buildings, replacing or hiding the older buildings. There might be many new roads, and the city might be many times larger than before.

— AlpheccaStars

  • It means that Barcelona has changed so much that if someone who had lived there a long time ago came back to visit, he would not recognize it.
  • For example, there might be many new high buildings, replacing or hiding the older buildings.
  • There might be many new roads, and the city might be many times larger than before.
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5 Answers
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It means that Barcelona has changed so much that if someone who had lived there a long time ago came back to visit, he would not recognize it.
For example, there might be many new high buildings, replacing or hiding the older buildings. There might be many new roads, and the city might be many times larger than before.
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I believe it would be more common to say, "Barcelona has changed beyond all recognition." I've never heard "changed out of all recognition" before.
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khoffI believe it would be more common to say, "Barcelona has changed beyond all recognition." I've never heard "changed out of all recognition" before.
Well, Khoff, I haven't either. But it was a quote from a book, and I offered an educated opinion!

I would also write "beyond all recognition."
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I agree that your interpretation of it was probably correct -- I just wanted to point out that the other way of expressing that meaning was more common.
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