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Selecter Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary

"I happen to be serious"

0 What does it mean in this context. Why not just say "I am serious"?02br
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00Context:02br
00Dad: It's like a dream... I am from Limbraugh. I worked my whole life... I never thought I'd be in such a place.02br
00Son: I was just wondering, could your leg be in another place?02br
00Dad: I happen to be serious.02br
00Son: Allright, OK.0-
  

Top answer

' is a phrase indicating irritation (here) or emphasis, usually in contradiction to preceding context. 02br 02br 02i 00 0-

— Mister Micawber

  • ' is a phrase indicating irritation (here) or emphasis, usually in contradiction to preceding context.
  • 02br 02br 02i 00 0-
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3 Answers
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0Here, '01i00I happen to02i00..' is a phrase indicating irritation (here) or emphasis, usually in contradiction to preceding context. It stresses the occurrence, though unlikely, of its complement:02br
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00A: 01i00 Nobody likes George Bush.02i02br
00B: 01i00Well, I happen to like him02i00.02b
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0 Thank you. Do you know any synonyms of this phrase? 02br
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00'As a matter of fact' can be used sometimes to make an ephasis on something in contradiction, too, right?02br
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00I heard lots of examples like this:02br
00Nagging wife: You don't do anything around the house!02br
00Husband: As a matter of fact, I do! I pay for it!
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0Yes, those are appropriate synonyms:02br
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00Son: 01i00I was just wondering, could your leg be in another place?02i02br
00Dad: 01i00I happen to be serious; As a matter of fact, I'm being serious; In fact, I'm being serious; On the contrary, I'm being serious; Actually, I'm being serious02i00, etc.0-
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