Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[b7lake]

#1-I was gazing at the swans floating on the lake, when who should touch
me on the elbow but the little girl whom I had mentioned.
What is the meaning of the word 'but'?

#2-The age group between 25 and 34 years old is projected to be
the second largest group in 2015.
What is the meaning of the verb 'projected'?

I'd appreciate your help.

[CP]

1. The "who but" means "who other than." This construction is used to inform someone of a surprising turn of events. "I walk into Starbucks, wondering why it's so crowded, and whom do I see there but Bill Clinton!"

2. Projected means estimated to be that in the future. When an economist makes a forecast, or a psychologist makes a prediction, based on known data, they may say that they project that the stock market will reach a certain level, or they project that 20% of the population will have ADD, etc.

Often "project" and "projection" are used when "extrapolate" and "extrapolation" are more precisely meant.
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