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Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2006Steady on!
Hello: I wonder what's the meaning of "Steady on!" in this context? Is it "carefully, but steady?" ------- [Their car has just hit a cat, and the driver is asking them to get off] That was the Grange, remarked Albert, over his shoulder, and then he jammed the brake on, and the motor slowed down and stopped. "I'm sorry," said he, turning round. "Do you mind getting out--by the door on the right? Steady on!" Howard's End, by E.M. Forster, p. 245 http://www.litrix.com/howards/howar025.htm ------- IMO, the following definition isn't right in the above: ------ Steady on! British & Australian something that you say in order to tell someone that you think what they are saying is too extreme ---Steady on, Mike! That's rather strong language to use in the presence of ladies! http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=steady.on*1+0&dict=P ------ Thank you, Marius Hancu >Hello: > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > >http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=steady.on*1+0&dict=P COD10 says in BrE it means "Calm down. Be more reasonable", but in the above context I think it simply means "Be careful".  SignatureRobin Herts, England > Hello: > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=steady.on*1+0&dict=P > ------ In your context I think "Steady on!" just means something like "be careful" (i.e. take it steadily, don't rush, don't do anything hasty). It could be used either as a caution just in advance of the person performing some action (here getting out of the car), to reprove them if they were acting carelessly while in the process of performing it, or as a more direct warning of danger (say if another car was approaching). The middle case is probably closest in meaning to the one you quote from the dictionary. matt271829-n...@yahoo.co.uk wrote: > > Hello: > > [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > approaching). The middle case is probably closest in meaning to the one > you quote from the dictionary. I've just noticed that there might also be some significance in the fact that the passenger is getting out by the door on the right. In the UK (assuming this scene is set in the UK), this means that you are getting out into path of other traffic (rather than onto the verge), so more care is required. > > > That was the Grange, remarked Albert, over his shoulder, and then he > > > jammed the brake on, and the motor slowed down and stopped. "I'm > > > sorry," said he, turning round. "Do you mind getting out--by the door > > > on the right? Steady on!" > I've just noticed that there might also be some significance in the > fact that the passenger is getting out by the door on the right. In the > UK (assuming this scene is set in the UK), this means that you are > getting out into path of other traffic (rather than onto the verge), so > more care is required. Good point. Thank you all. Marius Hancu |
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