Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[lostin1800]

"And for heaven's sake don't confuse the vicar with God. I'm sure God is nothing like as self-rightous-"

Hi,

The above is quoted from 'The Cater Street Hangman' by Anne Perry.
"I'm sure God is nothing like as self-rightous" seems strange to me. Shouldn't 'like' be followed by a noun? "As self-rightous" isn't a noun.
Please explain this usage to me. Thanks.

[CP]

Yes, it is a strange way to say, "I'm sure God is not nearly so self-righteous as the vicar."

It may be a construction used in some small part of the English-speaking world -- I'm guessing Ireland. What is the setting of the story? Does that character use other peculiar expressions?
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[lostin1800]

Hi CP.
I believe the story is set in Victorian England. The quoted sentence was spoken by its protagonist Inspector Pitt, who was from a working class background but fortunately reveived a good education by the grace of his master- at least that's the impression I'm under. I don't recall he said anything else that's strange to me.
This is the first Detective Pitt book I read, there are 18 more subsquent to this one, and I think their English is kind of archaic. So you mean 'like as' isn't what English speakers outside of Irland would use?

[CP]

I don't know that it's an Irish expression; I was only guessing that it was some kind of regionalism, and I guessed Ireland. But wherever it comes from, it is not a common construction.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[redset]

It doesn't sound so unusual to me, and I'm from England - not Victorian England though CP's right, nothing like means 'not similar in any amount/way', so he's saying that God is, in terms of self-righteousness, not similar to the vicar at all - God's not even close to being as self-righteous.

[Mary W. Ng]

[lostin1800]

Mary, redset and CP,

Thank you all very much!