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Taka Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Tap
The sentence:
In our sleeping life, we seem to tap the vast store of experience and memory which in the daytime we do not know exists.
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My book (written by a Japanese) interprets "tap" above as "to pierce in order to draw off something", "to draw something from a container". Is this interpretation really correct??
IMO, it means somthing like " to strike gently"...
In our sleeping life, we seem to tap the vast store of experience and memory which in the daytime we do not know exists.
----
My book (written by a Japanese) interprets "tap" above as "to pierce in order to draw off something", "to draw something from a container". Is this interpretation really correct??
IMO, it means somthing like " to strike gently"...
Top answer
The interpretation in your book is correct. See also: "tap root" of a plant, to "tap" maple trees for the production of maple syrup, "wire tapping". As you know, the same word often has several meanings.
- The interpretation in your book is correct.
- See also: "tap root" of a plant, to "tap" maple trees for the production of maple syrup, "wire tapping".
- As you know, the same word often has several meanings.
- This is one of those cases.
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4 Answers
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The interpretation in your book is correct.
See also: "tap root" of a plant, to "tap" maple trees for the production of maple syrup, "wire tapping".
As you know, the same word often has several meanings. This is one of those cases.
See also: "tap root" of a plant, to "tap" maple trees for the production of maple syrup, "wire tapping".
As you know, the same word often has several meanings. This is one of those cases.
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Really?
Well, I thought it meant that during our sleep, we "hit" somewhere at the unconscious part of our memory, or something...
Anyway, thank you, Jim!
Well, I thought it meant that during our sleep, we "hit" somewhere at the unconscious part of our memory, or something...
Anyway, thank you, Jim!
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Yes, really! The literal meaning usually involves drawing a little liquid from a larger source of liquid. The figurative meaning involves making use of or drawing from a larger body of knowledge, power, talent, money, etc. "tap into" is probably the most frequent form, but as in your example, the "into" can be omitted.
More examples: "beer on tap", "tap water"
Scientists a
More examples: "beer on tap", "tap water"
Scientists a
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