Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[river1974]

Dear teachers:

Repeat the step (d) and the step (e) until the storage medium is played out.

Does that make sense?

Thanks.

[Hayde]

If it is talking about a tape (VCR, audio, maybe even a old style harddrive, tapedrive) "until played out" would mean "until the end of the tape". This is the only thing I can think of with no context.

[BMO]

Should it be "Repeat step d and step e until ...?"

[river1974]

Thanks Hayde. I am talking about a DVD, and what I want to express is "until the end of the DVD". Are there any other possible expressions to describe it?

[BMO]

http://www.onelook.com/?w=play+out&ls=a

Play to finish according to above.

[bud]

I agree, BMO, about, "Repeat step d and step e until..."

[BMO]

Thanks.

bmo

[LucentShade]

"Play out" can also mean "finish, result," as in "I wonder how the situation in Iraq will play out? -- this means "What is going to happen in the end? What will things be like?"

Also, you can just say "Repeat step (d) and step (e)" without "the."

[BMO]

Thanks.

bmo