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hanygeorge38
Joined: 12 Jul 2003 Posts: 90 Location: egypt
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 8:16 am Post subject: idiom |
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Dear Bud,
I was reading in the Cobuild book of idiom and i came across
the idiom (making a meal out of somthing) i understad the meaning
but i had difficulty in understanding what is meant by (a four course
one) in the example used to make the meaning more clearer.
'he is making a meal out of this' she said'a four course one' to say
the least you had better have a word with him.
Thanks in advance Bud
Hany _________________ hany |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 11:19 am Post subject: |
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Hey Hany,
A four course meal (or seven course, or whatever) is a very fancy meal - not your everyday dinner. Each course is a separate mini-event where the dishes are cleared before the next course is served. For example, you might start with an appetizer, then salad is next, then a pasta course, then the main part of the meal (the entree), then dessert, then coffee and brandy, or some other combination. |
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Connie2
Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 7
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:36 am Post subject: Making a meal of something |
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But that is nothing to do with making a meal out of something. |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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True, but he said he understood the meaning of that expression. |
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Connie2
Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 7
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:51 pm Post subject: Making a meal of it |
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Yes. but do you?
The guy was making a meal of it, not only that but a a four course meal of it. This has It has nothing to do with a four course meal.
You have not explained the difference between making a meal of it and making a four course meal of it. |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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Connie, I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with the expression itself. It sounds as if it means to be overdoing something (making a mountain out of a molehill), but that is only my guess. But despite the fact that I don't know exactly what it means, the four-course meal comment is definitely a way to emphasize that he is very much making a meal out of it. He's not just making an ordinary meal out of it, he is making a very fancy meal out of it.
Anyone know what it means exactly? |
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toe
Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 120 Location: michigan, usa
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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I never heard it, either! Either he is, as bud says, making a big deal about something, or perhaps really relishing some circumstance/situation at the expense of another person?
I'm very interested in the answer (and the region and era of the expression as well).
Very thought-provoking!
toe |
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