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E Zoomwaldt, deceased
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:48 pm
Post subject: "I'd just as soon..." |
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Can someone explain or opine about the origin of the phrase "I'd just as
soon..."
It means, of course, that "I would prefer..." or something along that line,
but the construction seems odd, as if there is a word or two left out from
some earlier version of the expression.
I occasionally hear people say it as "I'd just assume..." or "I just
assume" which doesn't seem at all logical, and probably comes from their
mis-hearing it, or learning it from others who have done so.
--
EZ, d |
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the Omrud
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:40 am
Post subject: Re: "I'd just as soon..." |
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E Zoomwaldt, deceased had it:
| Quote: | Can someone explain or opine about the origin of the phrase "I'd just as
soon..."
It means, of course, that "I would prefer..." or something along that line,
but the construction seems odd, as if there is a word or two left out from
some earlier version of the expression.
I occasionally hear people say it as "I'd just assume..." or "I just
assume" which doesn't seem at all logical, and probably comes from their
mis-hearing it, or learning it from others who have done so.
|
<opining>
.... as soon ... implies a time order. You do the thing you prefer
*no later* than the thing which you don't prefer. So you do the
thing you prefer at least *as soon* as the thing which you don't
prefer.
--
David
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Pat Durkin
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:25 am
Post subject: Re: "I'd just as soon..." |
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"the Omrud" <usenet.omrud@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1cbf9ceb2f6ddc689897f4@news.ntlworld.com...
| Quote: | E Zoomwaldt, deceased had it:
Can someone explain or opine about the origin of the phrase "I'd just as
soon..."
It means, of course, that "I would prefer..." or something along that
line,
but the construction seems odd, as if there is a word or two left out
from
some earlier version of the expression.
I occasionally hear people say it as "I'd just assume..." or "I just
assume" which doesn't seem at all logical, and probably comes from their
mis-hearing it, or learning it from others who have done so.
opining
... as soon ... implies a time order. You do the thing you prefer
*no later* than the thing which you don't prefer. So you do the
thing you prefer at least *as soon* as the thing which you don't
prefer.
|
Yes.
"Given a choice, I would sooner choose this than that". "Just as soon" is
an attempt to understate the decision-making effort. |
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meirman
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 5:56 am
Post subject: Re: "I'd just as soon..." |
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In alt.english.usage on Thu, 07 Apr 2005 19:40:25 GMT the Omrud
<usenet.omrud@gmail.com> posted:
| Quote: | E Zoomwaldt, deceased had it:
Can someone explain or opine about the origin of the phrase "I'd just as
soon..."
It means, of course, that "I would prefer..." or something along that line,
|
Close. It means...well... that you's just as soon do something as the
other. That you have equal desire to do (or not do) each of them. It
may be used when the speaker would prefer to do the one he lists next,
but that is because he is being unassuming and tactful. The words
themselves mean that each is as good as the other.
"I'd sooner spend my summer in a bunker in Iraq than go to her party"
means "I would prefer..." the summer in Iraq.
"I'd just as soon spen my summer in a bunker in Iraq as go to her
party" means they are equally desireable.
Both phrases are often used sarcastically with things one doesn't want
to do, but they can be used in a straightforward manner when one wants
to do one or both of the two things.
| Quote: | but the construction seems odd, as if there is a word or two left out from
some earlier version of the expression.
I occasionally hear people say it as "I'd just assume..." or "I just
assume" which doesn't seem at all logical, and probably comes from their
mis-hearing it, or learning it from others who have done so.
opining
... as soon ... implies a time order. You do the thing you prefer
*no later* than the thing which you don't prefer. So you do the
thing you prefer at least *as soon* as the thing which you don't
prefer.
|
I think the Admiral has American usage in mind because his question is
pretty simple otherwise.
In North America, or at least the US, "Just as soon" usually has no
relationship to time.
s/ meirman
--
If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
Chicago, 6 years
Brooklyn NY 12 years
now in Baltimore 22 years |
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CDB
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:02 pm
Post subject: Re: "I'd just as soon..." |
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"meirman" <meirman@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:4khb51p7tjd83u7lcan1ligo3m4bqc5f3m@4ax.com...
| Quote: | In alt.english.usage on Thu, 07 Apr 2005 19:40:25 GMT the Omrud
usenet.omrud@gmail.com> posted:
E Zoomwaldt, deceased had it:
Can someone explain or opine about the origin of the phrase "I'd just as
soon..."
In North America, or at least the US, "Just as soon" usually has no
relationship to time.
Right. It's only really been popular since Teddy Roosevelt |
passed a law in the '30s against saying "I'd just as rath." CDB |
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the Omrud
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:25 pm
Post subject: Re: "I'd just as soon..." |
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meirman had it:
| Quote: | In North America, or at least the US, "Just as soon" usually has no
relationship to time.
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Nor in the UK - I was opining as to its origin.
--
David
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meirman
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 3:57 am
Post subject: Re: "I'd just as soon..." |
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In alt.english.usage on Fri, 08 Apr 2005 13:25:39 GMT the Omrud
<usenet.omrud@gmail.com> posted:
| Quote: | meirman had it:
In North America, or at least the US, "Just as soon" usually has no
relationship to time.
Nor in the UK -
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Good to know.
| Quote: | I was opining as to its origin.
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OK. I didn't get that.
s/ meirman
--
If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
Chicago, 6 years
Brooklyn NY 12 years
now in Baltimore 22 years |
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