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EyeSeeYou Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Use of ONLY in this context
"They know they can hold their audience only so long."
What's its meaning? I tried looking it up in the dictionary but had no luck. I interpreted it as they cannot hold their audience for so long.
What's its meaning? I tried looking it up in the dictionary but had no luck. I interpreted it as they cannot hold their audience for so long.
Top answer
If you can do something for "only so long" you are emphasizing that it is for a limited duration. In this case, they can keep the audience entertained for a certain amount of time - it's not defined, but it won't go on forever. Eventually the audience will get restless or want to see something different happen.
- If you can do something for "only so long" you are emphasizing that it is for a limited duration.
- In this case, they can keep the audience entertained for a certain amount of time - it's not defined, but it won't go on forever.
- Eventually the audience will get restless or want to see something different happen.
- I can hold this heavy box for only so long before I must put it down.
- I can keep him entertained for only so long before he's going to wonder where you are and why you weren't here for your appointment with him.
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3 Answers
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If you can do something for "only so long" you are emphasizing that it is for a limited duration.
In this case, they can keep the audience entertained for a certain amount of time - it's not defined, but it won't go on forever. Eventually the audience will get restless or want to see something different happen.
I can hold this heavy box for only so long before I must put it down
In this case, they can keep the audience entertained for a certain amount of time - it's not defined, but it won't go on forever. Eventually the audience will get restless or want to see something different happen.
I can hold this heavy box for only so long before I must put it down
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only so long is an idiom meaning "not forever", "for only a limited amount of time". That is, there is a limit to the amount of time that the situation mentioned in the main clause can continue. In this case, "they" cannot keep their audience entertained and interested forever. Sooner or later, they will fail. The audience will get restless and stop paying attention, perhaps.
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