Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Ken Tsukada]

Hello!

I have a question about this expression, "You made your point."

Can it be paraphrased to "You explained your idea and I understand what you want to say, but it does not mean I will do as you said or I agree with you."?

Is my understanding correct?

Thank you,

Ken

[damon@English24/7]

Yes, you are correct. We don`t generally use "you made your point" when we agree with the other person. It can be used in a friendly discussion or debate without seeming negative. In a heated arguement, however, it could be constued as being very dismissive of the other`s point of view.

damon

[Ken Tsukada]

Thanks, damon.

[quote="damon@English24/7"]Yes, you are correct. We don`t generally use "you made your point" when we agree with the other person. [/quote]

Then, "you made your point" is opposite to "I took your point," isn't it?

I understand "take your point" is to admit that what you are saying is important.

Am I right?

Thank you,

Ken

[damon@English24/7]

Hi Ken,

I should add that "you made your point" is also used by a third person to one party in a dispute. For example two friends are at a restaurant where a waiter spills a drink on one of them. The waiter and the friend on whom the drink was spilled get in an arguement. After awhile, the other friend, tired of the arguement, tells his friend "you made your point, now lets sit down and eat."

When someone says "make your point" or "get to the point" they are saying that you should hurry up and say what you mean to say (they are getting impatient).

I think "take your point" means that the point is understood, you don`t necessarily have to agree with the point here either. I might be mistaken, though--it is not something I use. "I get your point" also means that the point is understood.

[lotus]

Hi Ken,

To be diplomatic, we often say:

Your point is well taken.


--lotus

[damon@English24/7]

lotus,

That is a very good point!

The above sentence is a way of using point to agree with someone.

[Ken Tsukada]

Thank you very much, damon and lotus.

From your explanation, when you say "Your point is taken" to somebody, you kind of agree with the person.

Then it follows that "I take your point" implies more "feeling of agreement" than "You made your point," which implies almost no feeling of agreement Doesn't it?

Ken

[damon@English24/7]

Maybe I should have been more clear in my previous post, but I don`t think "I take your point" is really used. "I get your point" is neutral--it implies neither agreement nor disagreement.

You are correct to think that "you made your point" usually implies disagreement.