BrE: She saw back to the real man in him

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Marius Hancu - 06 Nov 2006 23:26 GMT

Hello:

Is "to see back (to)" an idiom?
Couldn't track anything re "to see back."

----
As she spoke their eyes met, and it was as if Mr. Wilcox's defences
fell. She saw back to the real man in him. Unwittingly, she had
touched his emotions.

E.M. Foster, Howard's End, p. 169
----

I think I've got the meaning right: she had been able to see deep into
his soul, but I'd like to make sure.

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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jerry_friedman@yahoo.com - 07 Nov 2006 00:41 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> I think I've got the meaning right: she had been able to see deep into
> his soul, but I'd like to make sure.

I think so. "The real man in him" is behind his "defences", so she's
seeing "back".

Signature

Jerry Friedman

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Marius Hancu - 08 Nov 2006 12:45 GMT

> > As she spoke their eyes met, and it was as if Mr. Wilcox's defences
> > fell. She saw back to the real man in him. Unwittingly, she had
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> I think so. "The real man in him" is behind his "defences", so she's
> seeing "back".

Thanks.

Marius Hancu

Reply to this Message

Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2006

BrE: She saw back to the real man in him