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CHK
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:28 am
Post subject: Politics makes for strange bedfellows |
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Could you explain the meaning of the phrase used as the subject and
when it is appropriate to use it? There is a twin phrase "politics
makes strange bedfellows". The last variant is quite clear. Could you
pinpoint the difference between the two phrases?
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raymond o'hara
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:18 am
Post subject: Re: Politics makes for strange bedfellows |
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"CHK" <tchingizkhan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:807a8b37.0409121228.716bd0e8@posting.google.com...
| Quote: | Could you explain the meaning of the phrase used as the subject and
when it is appropriate to use it? There is a twin phrase "politics
makes strange bedfellows". The last variant is quite clear. Could you
pinpoint the difference between the two phrases?
|
I know it in the first instance. it means politics brings together people
that might not usually be allies. Take the case of republicans helping Ralph
Nader get on the ballot, they disagree with everything he stands for but his
running helps them by hurting the Democrats by splitting their vote.
I think "makes strange bedfellows" is less clear. |
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nycram
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 4:06 am
Post subject: Re: Politics makes for strange bedfellows |
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In article <807a8b37.0409121228.716bd0e8@posting.google.com>,
tchingizkhan@yahoo.com says...
| Quote: | Could you explain the meaning of the phrase used as the subject and
when it is appropriate to use it? There is a twin phrase "politics
makes strange bedfellows". The last variant is quite clear. Could you
pinpoint the difference between the two phrases?
|
From Allwords.com:
Phrasal Verb: make for something
To bring it about; to have it as a specific result.
Example: Fine weather makes for an enjoyable holiday
This is a good example because the alternative "Fine weather makes an
enjoyable holiday" suggests that the weather is the sole determining
factor---it doesn't matter if you hate the people you are with, you'll
enjoy the holiday as long as the weather is good.
"Fine weather makes for an enjoyable holiday" adds the proviso: all
other factors being equal.
So in your case "politics makes strange bedfellows" means that it of the
nature of politics to create them, whereas "politics makes for strange
bedfellows" means that politics can or may create them.
The difference in meaning is not very great.
Gary
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don groves
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:34 am
Post subject: Re: Politics makes for strange bedfellows |
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In article <807a8b37.0409121228.716bd0e8@posting.google.com>,
tchingizkhan@yahoo.com wrote...
| Quote: | Could you explain the meaning of the phrase used as the subject and
when it is appropriate to use it? There is a twin phrase "politics
makes strange bedfellows". The last variant is quite clear. Could you
pinpoint the difference between the two phrases?
|
IIRC, the original statement was "Politics and war make strange
bedfellows", or is that redundant?
--
dg |
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