Posted by Barney on March 07, 2004
In Reply to: 'She's fifty years old if she is a day old' posted by Lotg on March 07, 2004
: : : I am probably very thick but I can`t really see the point of the saying "If I`ve heard it once I`ve heard it a hundred times." I do realise the meaning behind it, but it still doesn`t make much sense to me. Anyone feel the same?
: : The expression you refer to is similar to this one: 'She's fifty years old if she is
: : a day old.' Anyone who says this does not mean that being fifty follows
: : from being a day old. The speaker is using the sentence to emphasize the
: : claim that she is fifty. Likewise, one who says 'If I've heard it once ...' is
: : emphasizing the claim that what is being heard is tiresome.
: Interesting example you use there Fred, cos that one makes even less sense to me than the 'If I've heard it once ...'. I know it's an old one and I've heard it often myself, but never really thought about it.
: I agree and understand that it's emphasizing the fact. However, I can't make much sense out of the actual words 'She's fifty years old if she is a day old'. ie. How can she be 50 if she's a day old? I really don't get it.
What is meant by the speaker is that it is as obvious that she's 50 years old as it is that she's a day old. Hope that flies below the follicles.