Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

Answering the Community Needs of Our City
The Silver City Council recognizes that citizens have certain needs. To better meet your needs, we have made several changes to community facilities in 2004. The followings show how we have tried to make your life better.
Education
☆Textbooks will be free to all primary students in 2004 !
☆ Rental for private schools has been reduced.
☆Teachers report that the �no hat-not play� rule has been successful.

I cannot understand the underlined phrase. Can anyone explain the rule to me?

Thanks

[educe22]

It apparently originated in Australia where they have a high rate of skin cancer. Children who don't wear hats can't go out to play at recess.

Check this U.S. link: http://www.momstowork.com/07/07/no-hat-no-play-time-for-some-slip-slap-slop/
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Educe22

[redset]

If you're asking about the grammatical rule, it's a phrase that takes the form "no noun, no noun" (sometimes without the comma, and I think the not in your example is a mistake). It means that you need the first thing to have or do the second thing, or that you can't have the second thing without the first:


"No pain, no gain" (used in exercise and as a metaphor for other difficult things - you need to push yourself really hard if you want results!)

"No receipt, no return" (if you have an item you want to return to the store, you need the receipt to prove you bought it from there. If you don't have the receipt, you can't return it.)

"No harm no foul" (no harm was done, so there's no problem. This phrase comes from sport where a foul is a punishment given when someone breaks the rules and affects the game)

"No hat no play" (if you don't have a hat, you're not allowed to play)


Some of these phrases are observations ("no pain no gain") and reasoning for a decision ("no harm no foul" - "I've decided there's no problem here). The phrase in your example is used as a rule (like "no receipt, no return") and is a very terse, blunt way of laying down the law.

[jasonlulu_2000]

Thanks both.