Two difficult to understand sentences from the newspaper

Question

Found two sentences in the newspaper and having difficulties understanding the meaning (the underlying parts):

"We should cherish these brief interludes in the slow poisoning by pollution of us all, if only to remember that it needn't be this way." (the context is about cherishing the beautiful sky after a downpour)

"the policy proposals in response have been as spineless as they are likely to be ineffective."

so... can I rephrase the second sentence as "as spineless and ineffective as...."?

Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

nokia in the slow poisoning by pollution of us all,

We are all being poisoned by global pollution.

nokiaas spineless as they are likely to be ineffective.

The policies are weak and will probably not succeed.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

nokia"We should cherish these brief interludes in the slow poisoning by pollution of us all, if only to remember that it needn't be this way."

the slow poisoning by pollution of us all = all of us are slowly being poisoned by pollution

A prepositional phrase with "in"
poisoning serves as the object (traditionalists call it a gerund). It is modified by the adverb slow.
pollution is the agent, or cause of the poisoning. (we are being poisoned by pollution)
and "of us all" refers to the object of the poisoning.

eg.
The poisoning of Mr. Smith was done by his wife.
Mr. Smith's poisoning ...

nokia"the policy proposals in response have been as spineless as they are likely to be ineffective."

It is a simple as ... as construction.

The greyhound is as fast as a rabbit (is).

They are as spineless as (they are) ineffective. But the writer hedged a little bit saying that ineffective is not absolute.

They are equally spineless and ineffective.

Nokia · Answer

Thanks Mister Micawber.

Regarding the second sentence, I guess I am not very sure how to use the phrase "as .... as".

For instance, I found the below example when I check the Cambridge Dictionary:

"He's as http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/fat_1 as anything (= very http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/fat_1)."

but the usage here is a bit different. Is that correct?

Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

nokiabut the usage here is a bit different. Is that correct?

I think it is not using very good style, because the as ... as construction is not parallel.

He is as fat as a pig (is fat).
She is as thin as a rail.

Nokia · Answer

Thanks AlpheccaStars.

So...

"They are as spineless as ineffective." --> is this correct?

"They are as (adjective 1) as (adjective 2). " = They are equally (adjective 1) and (adjective 2).?

Sorry.

Mister Micawber · Answer

nokia"They are as spineless as ineffective." --> is this correct?

That is correct, but not the same meaning. The writer has combined that structure with an imbedded adverbial (I think) to include future probability into the phrase, as AS has already explained. I think it works elegantly enough:

the policy proposals in response have been as spineless as [they are (likely to be)] ineffective.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

1. as adjective as clause
Is he as sick as he looks?

2. as adjective as noun
The are as alike as two peas in a pod.

3. as adjective as adjective (this is a very rare construction)
It is as good as new.
If the second adjective is "possible," there are many combinations. But that does not have the same meaning as equality.
The people are standing as close as possible to the edge of the cliff.

Nokia · Answer

Understood. Thank you all.

One question:

"But that does not have the same meaning as equality."

It is incorrect to use "does not has". Right?

Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Answer

nokiaIt is incorrect to use "does not has". Right?

Right!

Two difficult to understand sentences from the newspaper

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