Raged down/on through the ages

Question

Which came first, Italian noodles or Chinese noodles? The debate has raged down through the ages.Hi,Is it right to understand the bolded words in the above as "appeared" and "on" respectively? If not, what do they mean? Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Yes, you are right.  In the second case, the syntactic break is between 'raged' and 'down':  [The debate has raged] [down through the ages].

MalRey · Answer

AngliholicIs it right to understand the bolded words in the above as "appeared"

Yes.

Angliholicand "on"

The debate has continued over time. I guess the trick is to view time as a kind of line or flow so that the debate in question has come down to us through that flow of time.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Which came first, Italian noodles or Chinese noodles? The debate has raged down through the ages.

Hi,

Is it right to understand the bolded words in the above as "appeared" Yes, although you might also think of it as 'arrived'.

and "on" respectively? If not, what do they mean?

raged down through the ages Makes me think of a chart of all of history, with oldest at the top and newest at the bottom. The debate started as the top. I'm trying to say that there is the idea of a path from old to current, and the debate has followed that path.

raged on through the ages Suggests that it has continued without stopping. Not really the same idea as 'raged down'.

Clive

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks to all.

Got it

Raged down/on through the ages

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