We hid from the rain under the tree

Question

We hid from the rain under the tree, but we still got soaking wet.

We took shelter from the rain under the tree, but we still got soaking wet.

Does the first one of the above two sound right and mean about the same as the second? If not, how would you revise it? Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Hide from rain sounds odd-- we normally hide from sentient things. Revise by changing hid to fled or sheltered, for instance.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

We hid from the rain under the tree, but we still got soaking wet.

We took shelter from the rain under the tree, but we still got soaking wet.

Does the first one of the above two sound right and mean about the same as the second? Yes. #1 is a little more literary, a little more 'pretty'.

Clive

Angliholic · Answer

Mister MicawberHide from rain sounds odd-- we normally hide from sentient things. Revise by changing hid to fled or sheltered, for instance.

Thanks, Mister.

The bolded part in your reply is very abstract to me. Would you shed more light by list a couple of examples? Thanks.

Angliholic · Answer

CliveHi,

We hid from the rain under the tree, but we still got soaking wet.

We took shelter from the rain under the tree, but we still got soaking wet.

Does the first one of the above two sound right and mean about the same as the second? Yes. #1 is a little more literary, a little more 'pretty'.

Clive

Thanks, Clive.

Since you mentioned their differences, I seem to feel that way.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Hide from rain sounds odd-- we normally hide from sentient things.
The bolded part in your reply is very abstract to me. Would you shed more light by list a couple of examples?
We hide from things that seek us, using their senses (sight, hearing, intellect, etc), but rain is an element of weather-- it does not seek us out; it merely falls, and we avoid it as best we can.

I hid from my brothers.
I hid from my own conscience.
(?) I hid from the rain/snow/wind/flood.

Hide is used literarily and/or metaphorically, where strong emotions (e.g. of fear) are involved-- I hid under my bed from the lightning-- but I doubt that rain is that inspirational, so I find its use with rain rather inappropriate and odd.

Angliholic · Answer

Mister Micawber
Hide from rain sounds odd-- we normally hide from sentient things.
The bolded part in your reply is very abstract to me. Would you shed more light by list a couple of examples?
We hide from things that seek us, using their senses (sight, hearing, intellect, etc), but rain is an element of weather-- it does not seek us out; it merely falls, and we avoid it as best we can.

I hid from my brothers.
I hid from my own conscience.
(?) I hid from the rain/snow/wind/flood.

Hide is used literarily and/or metaphorically, where strong emotions (e.g. of fear) are involved-- I hid under my bed from the lightning-- but I doubt that rain is that inspirational, so I find its use with rain rather inappropriate and odd.

Thanks, Mister.

Now I've got it.

By the way, we don't have this distinction in our language. Namely, we could hide away from our enemy as well as the heavy rain. Thus, I wonder why you know this distinction in your language. That is, where and how do you learn this distinction?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Let me make it clear, Angli:  you are not talking to a professor of linguistics or a lexicographer.  I am simply a college-educated, native English teacher with a lot of experience. I am positing this distinction based on my perception of my native language-- I did not 'learn' it anywhere.  I am searching my language bank and supplying you with the most accurate answers I can.  Other native speakers may have other perspectives.

Angliholic · Answer

Mister MicawberLet me make it clear, Angli: you are not talking to a professor of linguistics or a lexicographer. I am simply a college-educated, native English teacher with a lot of experience. I am positing this distinction based on my perception of my native language-- I did not 'learn' it anywhere. I am searching my language bank and supplying you with the most accurate answers I can. Other native speakers may have other perspectives.

Thanks, Mister.

Roger.

We hid from the rain under the tree

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