english clarifications

[Nil-The-Frogg]

I sometimes stuck on a particular expression or turn of phrase. Not often in what I read since context generaly helps, but when I write my AAR. English expressions pop in my head from time to time without telling me where they come from. Problem is that I can't be sure of their meaning unless a dictionary (or preferably) several is kind enough to come to the rescue.

I've already posted several times in OT to ask for help with such things and effectively got answers. OTOH, a dedicated thread in AARland might help non english writers. Except if I'm the only one to care, of course.

I thought we could organize that with questions posted with a color and answers with another, leaving white for spam .

Soooo, I begin and let's have this live or die depending of the interest.

What would that mean sentence mean exactly?

You've better fear the likes of us.

If that means anything, of course...

 

[Estonianzulu]

You've better fear the likes of us.

Well, I've never heard this particular expression, but the meaning is as follows: The speaker is telling the listener that he should be afraid of the actions of the speaker and his friends (the likes of us refers to the speaker and his comrades).

 

[unmerged(7269)]

It's usually phrased "You'd better fear the likes of us." A quick-and-dirty translation is "Be afraid of us" or "Fear us."

 

[SirCliveWolfe]

What would that mean sentence mean exactly?
If that means anything, of course...

Estonianzulu is perfectly correct, however to be gramaticaly correct (which is what you want i presume) it should be;

You better fear the likes of us

You've = you have

 

[Nil-The-Frogg]

Thanks, that roughly what I wanted to mean. These pops in my head seem to be good things.
.

 

[Rensslaer]

It's usually phrased "You'd better fear the likes of us." A quick-and-dirty translation is "Be afraid of us" or "Fear us."

MacRaith, I think, is most technically correct. It should be "you'd better fear the likes of us"

Meaning, of course, "you had better fear the likes of us"

"the likes of us" refers to "people like us" or "people in our like image", but most specifically referring to them in particular.

And don't feel bad... this is one of those things 90% of most English speaker/writers would never be able to explain well!

Renss

 

[Nil-The-Frogg]

"the likes of us" refers to "people like us" or "people in our like image", but most specifically referring to them in particular.

And don't feel bad... this is one of those things 90% of most English speaker/writers would never be able to explain well!

Bad? Hell no! Now this isn't what I roughly wanted to mean anymore, but exactly what I wanted to mean.
.

 

[CatKnight]

Everyone else is right. It would translate as "You would be wise to fear us / fear people like us.

 

[Snake IV]

Great idea Froggy. This will come in handy.

 

[Nil-The-Frogg]

Great idea Froggy. This will come in handy.

Thanks. I think the whole color thingie can be discarded though...

 

[Snake IV]

Which of the following would be the best alternative.

No one of you has anything to say in any matter.
All of you have nothing to say in any matter.
No one of you has nothing to say in any matter.

Or is there maybe a better way to express yourself. Maybe "no matter" combined with some of the above alternatives?

 

[Estonianzulu]

The first one would be more correct.

 

[Rensslaer]

Which of the following would be the best alternative.

No one of you has anything to say in any matter.

Or, more appropriately, "NONE of you has anything to say in THE matter."

None being the contracted equivalent of "no one"

Or, even closer to what you may mean... "None of you has a say in the matter!" or just as good "None of you has anything to say about it." OR "None of you has anything to say..." (in that last one "in the matter" becomes assumed in context.

i.e. All these mean: Shut up because it doesn't matter what you think!

Rensslaer

 

[Snake IV]

i.e. All these mean: Shut up because it doesn't matter what you think!

Rensslaer

Precisly what I want to say. But doesn't it make just one matter if you put the there instead?

 

[Rensslaer]

Precisly what I want to say. But doesn't it make just one matter if you put the there instead?

Aaah! In THAT case (meaning multiple matters), you'd probably want to say, "None of you has anything to say about any of this" or "any of these matters".

Renss

 

[Snake IV]

Well, what I looked for was with matter in undetermand form (or what you call it in english) meaning that no one cares about what these guys say whatever the matter is. They should always shut up 'cause no one ever listens to them.

 

[stnylan]

Here is a possible alternative.

"Not one of you will have anything to say, ever, in anything."

 

[unmerged(10971)]

I think a simple "We don't care what you think!" would work nicely.

 

[CatKnight]

Or "No one cares what you think!" (Note that 'None care what you think' would be correct, but if this is dialogue the first is far more common.

 

[Snake IV]

Thanks for the help guys, I think I'll go with "You has nothing to say in any matter." It look likes the best for its purpose.