Results 1 to 12 of 12
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2024-05-01, 07:16 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2015
- Location
- Paris, France
- Gender
"A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
For example, which of the following would be correct?
- I can not run, let alone walk.
- I can not walk, let alone run.
My instinct is that "let alone" means "not even this one/simpler thing", so the first sentence is correct.
However, I have seen the expression being used the other way around.
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2024-05-01, 07:23 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2019
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
I would say that the second example is correct and that you're basically saying "I can't walk, so I definitely can't run". That said, I'm not a native English speaker and my source is basically "that's how I remember it being used", so take it for what it is.
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2024-05-01, 07:30 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2012
- Location
- UK
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
I am with Batcathat on this (and I am a native English speaker).
The "I cannot do X let alone Y" construction is such that not being able to do X pretty much implies not being able to do Y.
It can usually be states as "especially not" rather than "not even".
I hope this helps (and kudos for being prepared to ask).
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2024-05-01, 07:51 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2015
- Location
- Paris, France
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
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2024-05-01, 07:01 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2013
- Location
- Bristol, UK
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
In my view, both can be correct (though your first seems to be a misuse).
In your thread title, it's not a matter of A being more or less than B, it's a matter of B being more extreme than A, so if A is small, B is smaller, but if A is big then B is bigger (also hotter, colder, wetter, dryer etc.).The end of what Son? The story? There is no end. There's just the point where the storytellers stop talking.
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2024-05-01, 10:13 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- Argentina
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
I'd say "let alone" in this context means something akin to "don't even consider" or "don't even talk to me about", as in, "leave (let) [the idea of doing B] alone".
"I can't walk, don't even talk to me about running" would be the phrase that makes sense.Nothing to see here, move along.
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2024-05-05, 11:59 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
The second one is correct, and there are two ways to use it.
I can't do/be this simple thing, so why would I be able to do/be this harder thing.
"I can't even walk, let alone run".
OR I can't believe they are able to do/be this harder thing given that they shouldn't be able to do/be the easier thing.
"I can't believe they are alive, let alone conscious"."That's a horrible idea! What time?"
T-Shirt given to me by a good friend.. "in fairness, I was unsupervised at the time".
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2024-05-08, 07:18 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2024
- Location
- London, UK
- Gender
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2024-05-08, 07:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2017
- Location
- Illinois, USA
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
A diiferent, possibly easier example:
"Do you have $20?"
"I don't have $1, let alone $20"
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2024-05-08, 07:47 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Birmingham, AL
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
Tabling a motion has exact opposite meanings in America and Britain - when the British table a motion, they bring it to the table to discuss immediately. When Americans table a motion, they shove it away on a table and don't worry about it at the moment while they work on other things.
And don't even get me started on "securing the building"!Last edited by Peelee; 2024-05-08 at 07:48 PM.
Cuthalion's art is the prettiest art of all the art. Like my avatar.
Number of times Roland St. Jude has sworn revenge upon me: 1
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2024-05-09, 04:17 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2022
- Location
- Metz, France
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?
On a fateful evening, I foolishly sworn myself to follow Xykon's updated speech rule ...thing. The twelve gods know that I regretted my decision ...since then ...multiple times.
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2024-05-09, 06:17 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2015
- Location
- Paris, France
- Gender
Re: "A let alone B." Is A more or less than B?