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Mr. Tom Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

The search was so rigorous at the airport that I started...

Hi



Could you please tell me if the following sentence sounds natural? Any suggestion is welcome.



[Man to his friend, jocularly]



The search was so rigorous at the airport that I started suspecting/ fearing that they would produce something with me.



Thanks,



Tom

  

Top answer

"I started suspecting/fearing " is fine. "Rigorous" is okay jocularly, but would seem unnatural in a serious context. "Exhaustive search" is a more common collocation.

— Avangi

  • "I started suspecting/fearing " is fine.
  • "Rigorous" is okay jocularly, but would seem unnatural in a serious context.
  • "Exhaustive search" is a more common collocation.
  • "Produce" is not natural here.
  • )
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6 Answers
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"I started suspecting/fearing" is fine.

"Rigorous" is okay jocularly, but would seem unnatural in a serious context. "Exhaustive search" is a more common collocation.

"Produce" is not natural here.
"They would begin something with me."
"They would start something up with me."
(These come to mind.)
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Thanks, Avangi, but could you please shed some light on the use of "begin" in your suggestion? The speaker means to say that the search/checking of the luggage was so tight at the airport that he had a strange (stupid) fear that something illegal, say narcotics, would turn up from his bags.

For example:

The search/cheaking was so exhaustive at the airport that I
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Why do you think that rigorous is not a serious word?
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Grammar GeekWhy do you think that rigorous is not a serious word?
Good question, Barb.

I DO think it's serious. It struck me as overkill, and therefore perhaps in keeping with a slightly sarcastic view of the proceedings. "These guys are going way overboard on this!"

- A.
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Hmmm. Do you mean he actually feared that the authorities would deliberately plant contraband in his luggage in order to incriminate him - or he was exaggerating for the sake of the joke?

Yes. An "exhaustive search" leaves no stone unturned, as they say.

"To begin something" is in the spirit of, "Hey, are you trying to start something with me!?! (pick a fight)

I
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Grammar GeekWhy do you think that rigorous is not a serious word?
One more time, GG. Emotion: big smile
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