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Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009Making across the field
Hello: I've found "to proceed, head" as meanings of "to make," but not "to go": ------ [Le Bas is the housemaster] Then I noticed that there was a policeman making across the field towards Le Bas. A Dance to the Music of Time, Spring, by Anthony Powell, p. 36 ------  SignatureThanks. Marius Hancu > Hello: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > A Dance to the Music of Time, Spring, by Anthony Powell, p. 36 > ------ "To make (one's way) across" implies a certain struggle against resistance, like water current or in this probably uneven ground. "Go" is very general and vague. "Crossing" the field would also lack that idea of difficulty or slow progress. I would always include the "his way" part, and I think the lack of it is regional variation. SignatureBest -- Donna Richoux >> Hello: >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > I would always include the "his way" part, and I think the lack of it is > regional variation. How about "I made for the house", which has the same feeling to me as the quotation, but which is very different from "I made my way to the house". SignatureDavid > > "To make (one's way) across" implies a certain struggle against > > resistance, like water current or in this probably uneven ground. "Go" [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > the quotation, but which is very different from "I made my way to the > house". Yeah, "made for" has almost the opposite effect, of some speed, doesn't it? To make for cover isn't quite as strong as to dive for cover, but it's that direction. To make for home, to make for port, to make for the nearest bar -- it suggests something like going with the current as opposed to against it, going downstream, going with the prevailing wind. SignatureBest -- Donna Richoux > To make for home, to make for port, to make for the > nearest bar -- it suggests something like going with the current > as > opposed to against it, going downstream, going with the prevailing > wind. I wonder if Donna has (unwittingly?) pinpointed the origin of this curious construction. I fancy I hear Hornblower quietly saying to his trusty lieutenant, "Please be so good as to make sail for the Lizard, No. 1," whereupon No. 1 sticks his nose out and bellows to the bosun or somebody, "Make for the Lizard, you lot." SignatureNoel > > I've found "to proceed, head" as meanings of "to make," but not "to go": > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I would always include the "his way" part, and I think the lack of it is > regional variation. Thank you, Donna. Haven't seen you in a while here. Busy, I guess? Marius Hancu > Thank you, Donna. > > Haven't seen you in a while here. Busy, I guess? > > Marius Hancu I was completely without Internet connection for six weeks, a big goof by the telephone company. It was kinda peaceful and even now that service is restored, I've gotten involved in a bunch of family projects and home renovation. I can see how the a.u.e habit could creep back, though.... SignatureBest -- Donna Richoux >> Thank you, Donna. >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > service is restored, I've gotten involved in a bunch of family projects > and home renovation. Glad to see you back - I was wondering where you had got to, except that you popped up occasionally to post the FAQs. So I figured you were still breathing. > I can see how the a.u.e habit could creep back, though.... All your base are belong to us. SignatureDavid > Glad to see you back - I was wondering where you had got to, except that > you popped up occasionally to post the FAQs. So I figured you were > still breathing. Mike Barnes automated that feature some time ago. I am uncomfortably reminded of those old people whose deaths go undiscovered for months because their bills are paid automatically by the bank. >> Glad to see you back - I was wondering where you had got to, except that >> you popped up occasionally to post the FAQs. So I figured you were >> still breathing. > > Mike Barnes automated that feature some time ago. Ah, I hadn't realised. > I am uncomfortably reminded of those old people whose deaths go > undiscovered for months because their bills are paid automatically by > the bank. True. I'll worry a little more next time you disappear. SignatureDavid > Hello: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Then I noticed that there was a policeman making across the field > towards Le Bas. Yes, it means "moving" or "travelling". I was going to say that it's a contraction of "making his way across the field", but having written it, I realise that the two are different. As written, it gives a feeling of purpose or determination in the motion. But "making his way" indicates that the travel involves some slight difficulty; this isn't present in the quotation as it stands. SignatureDavid >> Hello: >> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >motion. But "making his way" indicates that the travel involves some >slight difficulty; this isn't present in the quotation as it stands. I agree it connotes purpose. M-W has a pertinent definition - make v.i. 3: set out, head <made after the fox> <made straight for home> So, the preposition is variable, and "across" fits as well as "after" or "straight for". SignatureJohn >>> I've found "to proceed, head" as meanings of "to make," but not >>> "to go": >>> ------ >>> [Le Bas is the housemaster] >>> Then I noticed that there was a policeman making across the field >>> towards Le Bas. >> Yes, it means "moving" or "travelling". I was going to say that >> it's a contraction of "making his way across the field", but >> having written it, I realise that the two are different. >> As written, it gives a feeling of purpose or determination in the >> motion. But "making his way" indicates that the travel involves >> some slight difficulty; this isn't present in the quotation as it >> stands. > I agree it connotes purpose. M-W has a pertinent definition - > make v.i. 3: set out, head <made after the fox> <made straight for > home> > So, the preposition is variable, and "across" fits as well as > "after" or "straight for". Agreed to all that, except that I think it's "making towards". He was proceeding (as in Marius's definition) towards Le Bas, across the field. The word in that context has a connotation of "navigating" for me, perhaps because "across the field" is set between the verb and the adverbial phrase, as if there were obstacles to be dealt with. >>>> I've found "to proceed, head" as meanings of "to make," but not >>>> "to go": [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] >me, perhaps because "across the field" is set between the verb and the >adverbial phrase, as if there were obstacles to be dealt with. Yes, probably so, since the definition I cited has the prepositions' objects as the object of the movement - fox, home, Le Bas. SignatureJohn |
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