King: Friendly with it

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Marius Hancu - 30 Jul 2009 13:17 GMT

Hello:

What is the exact meaning of
"friendly with it?"

Is it "friendly while at it, while doing it?"

Any similar idioms with "with it?"

---
[about Millwall, a gang member]

He's a nutter, but friendly with it. His head's together which is
something you can't say about one or two of the blokes who hang around
this pub.

John King, The Football Factory, p. 5
---

--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Cheryl - 30 Jul 2009 13:44 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> John King, The Football Factory, p. 5
> ---

Yes, he's friendly while obviously a bit crazy. He won't attack you for
no reason or refuse to deal with you.

I can't think of other idioms, although you can use other adjectives.
"He's a really great guy, but jealous with it, so don't talk to his
girlfriend.'

Cheryl

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Jerry Friedman - 30 Jul 2009 14:02 GMT

> > Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> "He's a really great guy, but jealous with it, so don't talk to his
> girlfriend.'

Dialect note: This American knows the "but __ with it" expression only
from British books.

--
Jerry Friedman

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 30 Jul 2009 14:04 GMT

>Hello:
>
>What is the exact meaning of
>"friendly with it?"
>
>Is it "friendly while at it, while doing it?"

The pronoun "it" refers to his state of being a nutter.
Expanding "He's a nutter, but friendly with it" can give "He's a nutter,
but he is also friendly". That is, he is not an unfriendly nutter.

The form "He is X, but Y with it" tends to be used where the
characteristic Y is not necessarily thought of as a characteristic of
the state X.

>Any similar idioms with "with it?"
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>John King, The Football Factory, p. 5
>---

Signature

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

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Marius Hancu - 30 Jul 2009 16:52 GMT

On Jul 30, 9:04 am, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net>
wrote:

> >What is the exact meaning of
> >"friendly with it?"
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> characteristic Y is not necessarily thought of as a characteristic of
> the state X.

Thank you all.
Marius Hancu

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2009

King: Friendly with it