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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Rotten times

Hi,

Anne asked Tina how she was doing and about her condition, and Tina said she was taking things one day at a time.

1.What does 'taking things' mean here?

Mark said he hoped that he and Jane would exhibit the sort of commitment that his mother had shown his father over the years through some admittedly rotten times.

2.What does 'rotten times' mean in the context?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Taking things one day at a time. is a common expression meaning to deal with problems and troubles patiently and as best as possible under the circumstances. "rotten times" means a period of time which is especially difficult, when someone has many problems.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Taking things one day at a time.
  • is a common expression meaning to deal with problems and troubles patiently and as best as possible under the circumstances.
  • "rotten times" means a period of time which is especially difficult, when someone has many problems.
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23 Answers
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Taking things one day at a time. is a common expression meaning to deal with problems and troubles patiently and as best as possible under the circumstances.
"rotten times" means a period of time which is especially difficult, when someone has many problems.
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Hi
Many thanks for your reply.

Can I say 'rotten time' instead of 'rotten times'? Is there any difference between them?
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AnonymousCan I say 'rotten time' instead of 'rotten times'? Is there any difference between them?
Yes. They are used somewhat differently, though the basic meaning is almost the same.

I went to Suzy's party, and I had a rotten time.

(I didn't enjoy the party.)

CJ
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CalifJimI went to Suzy's party, and I had a rotten time.


Hi CJ,
Many thanks for your reply. Can I say 'rotten times' instead of 'rotten time' in your example above?
"I went to Suzy's party, and I had a rotten times."

Does 'taking things one day at a time' mean the same as 'taking it one day at a time'?
Thanks a
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AnonymousCan I say 'rotten times' instead of 'rotten time' in your example above?
"I went to Suzy's party, and I had a rotten times."
No. Absolutely impossible to say this!

a rotten time is a single instance or occasion marked by or characterized as an unpleasant experience.
rotten times refers to an entire rather long per
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Hi CJ,
Can I use 'a hard time' or 'a tough time' instead of 'a rotten time' in your example as in
"I went to Suzy's party, and I had a rotten/hare/tough time"?

Do they all mean the same or is there any subtle differences among them?

Thank you very much for your reply.
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AnonymousCan I use 'a hard time' or 'a tough time' instead of 'a rotten time' in your example
No. A rotten time is a very unpleasant occasion. A hard time or a tough time indicates difficulty in accomplishing some goal.

CJ
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Hi CJ,

Thanks for your answer. I'm still confused about the use of 'have a hard time' after I looked it up from online dictionary which says as follows:
have a hard time:to have a lot of problems or bad experiences.
For example:

I'm glad she's happy at last - she's had such a hard time.

You said 'a rotten time' is a very unpleasant occasion. I think
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Correction:
Why are they different?
NOT
Why aren't they different?

Sorry for the typo.

Anon
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Hi Anon:
"She's had such a hard time" means that life was difficult for her for a long time. Maybe she was born with poor health, maybe she had a bad accident and it took a long time (months or years) to recover. A hard time is long and difficult with a lot of struggles before life is better. Charles Dickens wrote a book about poor families in England titled "Hard Times". The economic depre
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