Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[kerstin]

He's a Japanese* to the core.*
to the core =completely something?

Can I say "He's a liar to the core.","She became an English to the core."
"We are shakened to the core by the disaster."
"This exam is difficult to the core."?

As to say someone or something is really that.


Thanks for your help

[cgage2]

Yes.
Except no one says "difficult to the core"

[CP]

Most commony heard: "He's rotten to the core," as if he were an apple that is rotten throughout.

"He's Japanese to the core" or "a liar to the core" sound fine. But I don't much like "She became English to the core" because if she didn't start out English, she'll never be English through and through. (And note: it is "English," not "an English.")

"We were shaken to the core" is also fine. (Note: not "are shakened.")

I agree that you wouldn't say that an exam is difficult to the core, but I can't say why! English is funny. . . .
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