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Liveinjapan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Tip one's hand

"Well, I don't want to go into too much detail here because, obviously, in counterterrorism no one wants to tip the hand of what has happened here and what may happen in the future," Rice said.

Can I say 'tip their hand' instead of 'tip the hand' here?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

I can't believe she said that, LIJ. She's an extremely well-educated lady. Anyway, if she said it, that's a terrible butchering of the expression.

  • I can't believe she said that, LIJ.
  • She's an extremely well-educated lady.
  • Anyway, if she said it, that's a terrible butchering of the expression.
  • She was a college president.
  • Your version is actually closer to what it should be.
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2 Answers
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I can't believe she said that, LIJ. She's an extremely well-educated lady. Anyway, if she said it, that's a terrible butchering of the expression. She was a college president. Your version is actually closer to what it should be. "Their hand" is acceptable, although I'd prefer the singular "his" to agree with "no one." And there's surely no point in saying "tip their hand of what has happene
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Avangi "No one wants to tip his hand as to what has happened here,"  or, "regarding what has happened here."
Understand.

Thanks a million, Avangi.

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