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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
restrain/prevent/stopped
Hello,
Are there any differences between: "She prevented/restrained/stopped herself from coughing"? Does the sentence sound odd?
Are there any differences between: "She prevented/restrained/stopped herself from coughing"? Does the sentence sound odd?
Top answer
To ‘prevent’ oneself from coughing is very difficult, since it is an involuntary reaction to something irritating the throat. ‘Prevention’ means doing something in advance of the cough (such as taking medication). To ‘restrain’ oneself from coughing suggests that the cough is just a tickle that can be suppressed voluntarily.
- To ‘prevent’ oneself from coughing is very difficult, since it is an involuntary reaction to something irritating the throat.
- ‘Prevention’ means doing something in advance of the cough (such as taking medication).
- To ‘restrain’ oneself from coughing suggests that the cough is just a tickle that can be suppressed voluntarily.
- To ‘stop’ oneself from coughing is much the same as ‘prevent’, except that it is after the coughing has commenced.
- No, the sentence with one of these choices is not odd.
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7 Answers
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To ‘prevent’ oneself from coughing is very difficult, since it is an involuntary reaction to something irritating the throat. ‘Prevention’ means doing something in advance of the cough (such as taking medication).
To ‘restrain’ oneself from coughing suggests that the cough is just a tickle that can be suppressed voluntarily.
To ‘stop’ oneself from coughing is much the same as ‘prevent’, e
To ‘restrain’ oneself from coughing suggests that the cough is just a tickle that can be suppressed voluntarily.
To ‘stop’ oneself from coughing is much the same as ‘prevent’, e
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The original sentence in post 1 might sound fine, but I was told that "Restrain yourself from coughing during the conference" would sound incredibly odd, if not even bizarre. A native speaker told me never to use this construction. It is surprising that it can be used with any of the other reflexive pronouns, but not "yourself".
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By itself, an instruction to ‘refrain’ from smoking is common enough. It is polite, when someone is talking, to refrain from coughing—but you likely won’t see signs saying that.
Similarly, an instruction to ‘restrain yourself’ (meaning control your emotions) is common.
However, giving a person a directive to ‘restrain yourself from coughing’ is most unlikely, as coughing is a reflex actio
Similarly, an instruction to ‘restrain yourself’ (meaning control your emotions) is common.
However, giving a person a directive to ‘restrain yourself from coughing’ is most unlikely, as coughing is a reflex actio
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Do "Out of politeness, they managed to restrain themselves from laughing at his absurd remarks" and "I could barely restrain myself from screaming at him."? I would use something different altogether, because "strain" involves some physical effort, which is absent in these two sentences. Would the use of "restrain" sound odd here. That's my last question.
I do apologize if the topic is an
I do apologize if the topic is an
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The topic is not annoying at all.
Both these new sentences (third person and first person) using restrain are OK. The expression “I could barely restrain myself” expresses the effort, I think. Self-restraint is often an effort.
Both these new sentences (third person and first person) using restrain are OK. The expression “I could barely restrain myself” expresses the effort, I think. Self-restraint is often an effort.
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The same might apply to the other sentence, then. Not laughing at something could indeed be very, very difficult. I just found a sentence: "Please restrain yourself from laughing while watching the Republican debates." Does it sound odd? I would use "refrain from laughing".
I hope the SEALS are not coming for my head now.
I hope the SEALS are not coming for my head now.
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I think you're safe from the SEALS.
When used to emphasize that something is 'to be laughed at', one might use sarcastic words.
Untipped waiter to patron: "Please restrain yourself from thanking me for bringing you your meal, sir."
When used to emphasize that something is 'to be laughed at', one might use sarcastic words.
Untipped waiter to patron: "Please restrain yourself from thanking me for bringing you your meal, sir."
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