Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[JUNGAYA]

Could anyone explain this sentence more easily? Thanks.
*What was an hour when she had been released for the whole year!*

[bud]

I can only think of one context that would make any sense for this sentence: if the speaker is comparing one hour to an entire year.

(Even this context does not make a lot of sense. Released gives the feeling of being released from an institution - prison, mental hospital, etc. - but what from institution do you get released for one year? You get released forever, or you don't get released.)

But here's the guess:

A woman is being released from an institution for one year. She is due to be released tomorrrow at 9 AM. Tonight she is notified that because of some problem, she will not actually be let go until 10 AM. Anticipating freedom so eagerly, she becomes livid. Then she comes to her senses, and thinks your sentence to herself. She is thinking that compared to an entire year of freedom, one lost hour is nothing to get angry about.

Hope that helps.

[JUNGAYA]

That was very helpful for me. Thanks a lot.

[bud]

Glad it helped!