Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Chan-Seung Lee]

[Poisontipped]

Support can either be emotional or physical, but they are both the same. In your first statement, I could re-write as

-.The wallflower is so called because its weak stems often grow on walls and along stony cliffs to help hold it up (support)

Number 2 is the same, however it's probably more emotional support, trying to help someone through the hard times. I reackon that "for supports" is a spelling mistake. I believe that it should be "for support"

[redset]

A support can be something that provides support - in the case of the wallflower, the rocks and bricks have small outcrops and cracks where the plant is able to grip and hold itself up. It's like rock climbing - you work your way up looking for handholds and footholds, which will support your weight and allow you to rest and to pull yourself higher. You can see supports in other places too, especially architecture - bridges use supports to stop them from collapsing under their own weight!

I don't think 2) means support in the emotional sense, it sounds like the woman is falling over or collapsing, and she has to grab onto the man's shoulders to support herself.