Stranger

Question

Now one of the American TV series, “stranger things” is quite popular. I’ve been wondering whether there is a  difference between “strange” and “stranger” in both adjective forms. It doesn’t seem like a comparison here, so I wonder what the connotations are when you guys choose “stranger” in this way.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

teacherJapanI’ve been wondering whether there is a difference between “strange” and “stranger” in both adjective forms.

Yes. It's the usual difference between any adjective and its comparative form.

old, older; tall, taller; hot, hotter; strange, stranger

stranger means more strange. It often means stranger than you might expect, that is, very unlikely.

There's a 'saying' (or 'expression') that this series title may come from:

Stranger things have happened at sea.

An explanation of the saying can be found at the following link.

https://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/15/messages/476.html

The example at that link illustrates the meaning. Apparently, the people that the speaker is addressing show looks of disbelief after the first claim is made, and the speaker responds with the saying.

— John has promised to give up beer.
— Hey, stranger things have happened at sea.

(stranger things ~ even more unlikely events)

CJ

Stranger

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