0
GCheng620 Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

The universe "blocked" my way?

I accidentally overheard someone say "I've had such a rotten luck, everything I've done was deterred by something, it's like the universe has always conveniently blocked my way."

Is that even correct? Doesn't sound quite correct to me though.
  

Top answer

I think that part is OK. It's not meant to be understood literally, of course. I think it's quite a nice phrase actually.

— GPY

  • I think that part is OK.
  • It's not meant to be understood literally, of course.
  • I think it's quite a nice phrase actually.
  • Elsewhere in the sentence there is a strong whiff of comma splice, and the use of "deterred" seems dubious.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

14 Answers
0
I think that part is OK. It's not meant to be understood literally, of course. I think it's quite a nice phrase actually.

Elsewhere in the sentence there is a strong whiff of comma splice, and the use of "deterred" seems dubious.
0
0
GCheng620Doesn't sound quite correct to me though.
'conveniently' is the word that bothers me. Convenient for the universe, maybe, but not for the speaker.

I'd have said "always stood in my way" instead of "... blocked ...".

And "Everything I've tried to do has been thwarted by something".

CJ
0
0
CalifJim'conveniently' is the word that bothers me. Convenient for the universe, maybe, but not for the speaker.
I assume it is ironic.
0
0
GPYI assume it is ironic.
Ah. Right, but it tripped me up when I first read it.

CJ
0
0
CalifJim GCheng620Doesn't sound quite correct to me though.'conveniently' is the word that bothers me. Convenient for the universe, maybe, but not for the speaker
I don't understand what you're trying to say.
The subject of that sentence IS the universe, not the speaker:)
0
0
CalifJim GPYI assume it is ironic.Ah. Right, but it tripped me up when I first read it.CJ
Yes yes, that was my intent:)

Didn't think it would confuse anybody. Maybe "coincidentally" will be a better choice of word ?lol
But then again, it's also ironical
0
0
GPYthere is a strong whiff of comma splice,
Emotion: big smile
0
0
Philip GPYthere is a strong whiff of comma splice,
What is it that you're trying to say Philip?lol
0
0
No evil intent here. It was just a funny way of talking about what I call a run-on sentence.
0
0
PhilipNo evil intent here. It was just a funny way of talking about what I call a run-on sentence.
I dont see any error of punctuation at all,
make no mistake that you refer to the original post, not the quoted version;)
0

Related Questions