Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

dreamjoy · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:51 pm Post subject: help me!!!

i am confronted with a question and i think it very easy for the native speaker to sovle my problem.
i don't know the meaning of the sentence:
"many a man has fallen in love with a girl in a light so dim he would not have chosen a suit by it'
it seems to be a quotation written by a famous person about love
i am confused about its implied meaning
i do hope someone can help me Very Happy

thank you
i look forward to the right awnser .

LucentShade · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 542 Location: Nebraska, USA

One implied meaning is that men fall in love with women without really looking at the women or knowing them well. Another is that when it is dark, men will pick certain women, but would not pick that same woman in the light. Or, that men are very logical with ordinary things like choosing a suit, but with women, men think with emotions or "the heart" instead of their brain.

The sentence is rather difficult. . .maybe a simpler way would be:

Many men have fallen in love with girls when there is so little light that they would not choose a suit.

dreamjoy · Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 6:09 pm Post subject: thanks

thank you for your profound analysis
i feel i have had a clearer understanding about the sentence.
actually, the sentence is selected from an examination paper for postgraduates of 2005.
on the paper, the sentence is required to translate into chinese Wink

,which is rather difficult. there are total five sentences to be translated, which are all very difficult. but the ratio of score of this exercise on the paper is very high. i have no idea how to do it well Rolling Eyes

last, please accept my good wishes
merry christmas!!