Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[imchongjun]

Hello, teachers.
I have trouble understanding the next sentence.

the bus gathered speed until the wind whistled breathlessly past the windows

I understand "breathless" means "not breathing", but if the wind does not breathe, how can it "whistle"? This may be a stupid question, but I don't undstand how this metaphor works.

[2006]

I understand what you are saying. The only thing I can think of is that breathing is an in and out thing, with quiet intervals between breaths. Maybe what the author means is that with a high speed the whistling is continuous, and not like the intemittent sounds of breathing. But that is just a guess.
With this kind of writing, don't spend too much time trying to understand what the writer meant.

[lotus]

Hi,

Perhaps it means that the wind whistled to harken the anticipated speed and excitement which will take your breath away. Or, that the wind whistled in a breathless manner as if it were excited (hyperventilating).

It's a contradiction in terms or an oxymoron. Examples:

a deafening silence
the living dead
being alone together
virtual reality
elementary calculus
authentic reproduction
bureaucratic efficiency
same difference
unbiased opinion
conservative liberal
a non-working mother
parting is such sweet sorrow
the wind whistled breathlessly
quiet desperation
quiet storm
cold sweat

hauntingly beautiful

music by Vangelis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeWpTq5aaH0


There are many others. They are meant to be poetic, ironic or humorous. Often, they are used to decribe something that is difficulty, if not impossible, to express or convey.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda