Ambiguous wording

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 09 Jul 2009 21:17 GMT

I was just checking a collection of spam emails to ensure that no
genuine message had been falsely marked as spam.

I read this in one email:

One of the pluses of our drugstore is that we deliver the pills
worldwide. So no matter where you live, your medicine will get you
right in time.

"will get you right in time" appears to have two possible
interpretations:

1. "will cure you in time"
and
2. "will get to you punctually"

I think the latter is intended.

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Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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Pat Durkin - 09 Jul 2009 21:41 GMT

> I was just checking a collection of spam emails to ensure that no
> genuine message had been falsely marked as spam.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> I think the latter is intended.

I agree. The "to" seems to have been dropped. I would call that a
typo, actually. Or a see-o.

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Leslie Danks - 09 Jul 2009 21:52 GMT

>> I was just checking a collection of spam emails to ensure that no
>> genuine message had been falsely marked as spam.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> I agree. The "to" seems to have been dropped. I would call that a
> typo, actually. Or a see-o.

Or did they mean "just in time"?

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Les (BrE)

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Skitt - 09 Jul 2009 22:22 GMT

> I was just checking a collection of spam emails to ensure that no
> genuine message had been falsely marked as spam.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> I think the latter is intended.

Oh. Well, I immediately thought of M-W Online's

Main Entry: get
[...]
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): got; got or got·ten; get·ting
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse geta to get, beget;
akin to Old English bigietan to beget, Latin prehendere to seize,
grasp, Greek chandanein to hold, contain
Date: 13th century

transitive verb
[...]
f: to take vengeance on; specifically : kill
[...]

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Skitt (AmE)
not a pill-taker

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the Omrud - 11 Jul 2009 09:46 GMT

> I was just checking a collection of spam emails to ensure that no
> genuine message had been falsely marked as spam.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> I think the latter is intended.

It could also mean that a Tardis will transport you to the correct
space-time coordinates.

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David

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2009

Ambiguous wording