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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007Expressions of Time: "last Thursday was a fortnight"
"Why, hang me, those are the very words my gentleman used himself when he gave himself airs, last Thursday was a fortnight, and talked about the British army to his father who made him" (Vanity Fair) I'd really appreciate it if anyone can advise how "last Thursday was a forgnight" means here. I figure it means Thursday a fortnight ago? Is this an idiomatic way of expressing time? I googled out some similar usage such as "last Sunday was a week", "last Saturday was a month". But they all came from 19th or early 20th articles. Is it still being used today, or at least in Britain? Why a "was" there? Thanks! confused >"Why, hang me, those are the very words my gentleman used himself when >he gave himself airs, last Thursday was a fortnight, and talked about [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >But they all came from 19th or early 20th articles. Is it still being >used today, or at least in Britain? Why a "was" there? No. Idiom has shortened it to "last Thursday fortnight".  SignatureDon Aitken Mail to the From: address is not read. To email me, substitute "clara.co.uk" for "freeuk.com" >>"Why, hang me, those are the very words my gentleman used himself when >>he gave himself airs, last Thursday was a fortnight, and talked about [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > No. Idiom has shortened it to "last Thursday fortnight". Wouldn't that mean a fortnight from last Thursday? I must admit I don't really understand the quoted expression, which suggests a fortnight before last Thursday to me. SignatureRob Bannister >>>"Why, hang me, those are the very words my gentleman used himself when >>>he gave himself airs, last Thursday was a fortnight, and talked about [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >really understand the quoted expression, which suggests a fortnight >before last Thursday to me. Indeed - "last Thursday was a fortnight" means that last thursday was a fortnight after the event - looking backwards in time. As opposed to "thursday fortnight" which looks forward in time to 14 days after last thursday. Leastwise, that's how I would read it. Jitze >>>> "Why, hang me, those are the very words my gentleman used himself >>>> when he gave himself airs, last Thursday was a fortnight, and [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Jitze Certes. The reference is to the argument Mr Osborne had with his son a couple of weeks earlier. Today it would me more common to hear "A fortnight last Thursday". SignatureJohn Dean Oxford The John Dean entity posted thusly: >>>>> "Why, hang me, those are the very words my gentleman used himself >>>>> when he gave himself airs, last Thursday was a fortnight, and [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >couple of weeks earlier. Today it would me more common to hear "A fortnight >last Thursday". Though I never use "fortnight", when I want to express a similar thought, I would use something like "A week ago last Thursday." > Though I never use "fortnight", when I want to express a similar > thought, I would use something like "A week ago last Thursday." It's certainly easier to understand with "ago". SignatureRob Bannister > >>"Why, hang me, those are the very words my gentleman used himself when > >>he gave himself airs, last Thursday was a fortnight, and talked about [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > really understand the quoted expression, which suggests a fortnight > before last Thursday to me. Me too. Adrian |
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