there's only so many

Question

0Hi. If I say "There's only so many blokes with funny hats at Buckingham Palace", am I saying that there are many or few blokes with funny hats at Buckingham Palace?0-

Kooyeen · Accepted Answer

0 Hi,02br
00I think it depends on where you put the stress (and you use the intonation accordingly). If you stress Buckingham Palace, it means a lot of weird blokes are only there, and not usually anywhere else.02br
01i00"There's only so many blokes with funny hats at 01b00Buckingham Palace02b00"02i02br
02br
00Otherwise, it can mean there's few weird blokes at B. Palace, but to be honest I am not sure what to stress because I'm not good at these things, LOL. I think it's probably either "so" or "many", but I'm not 100% sure which. I'd say "many"... 02br
02br
00Wait for a native speaker now. 050010id1

Avangi · Answer

0a limited number02br
02br
00(as opposed to "an unlimited number")02br
02br
00Meaning, for example, if you started deporting them one at a time to Tibet, eventually they'd run out.02br
02br
00(meaning no disrespect)0-

CalifJim · Answer

0 Yes. 01i00(there [is/are]) only so [much / many]02i00 definitely indicates a limited amount or number (of something).02br
01i00There's only so much a teacher can do. Eventually the students have to manage on their own.02i02br
01i00I have only so many prizes. I can't give one to every child.02i02br
01i00There are only so many patients a doctor can see in a day.02i02br
00This turn of phrase is often used as an excuse for not being able to do all that may be expected by others.02br
00CJ 0-

there's only so many

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