Waugh: may I make so bold as to

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Marius Hancu - 01 Jan 2010 13:43 GMT

Hello:

Is
"may I make so bold as to"
still used?

Very formal (or jokingly formal), I guess?

-----
[conversation on the ship, crossing the Pond]

'And may I make so bold as to ask what institutions sponsored your
husband's expedition?'

Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited, p. 806
----
--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 01 Jan 2010 14:12 GMT

>Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>Very formal (or jokingly formal), I guess?

Yes.

A Google search for

"may I make so bold as to" site:uk

finds 31 examples, all within the last few years (I think).

>-----
>[conversation on the ship, crossing the Pond]
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited, p. 806
>----

Signature

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

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Marius Hancu - 01 Jan 2010 14:30 GMT

On Jan 1, 9:12 am, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net>
wrote:

> >Is
> >"may I make so bold as to"
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Yes.

Thanks.

A Happy New Year 2010!

to all of you on AUE.

Marius Hancu

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Roland Hutchinson - 02 Jan 2010 05:54 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Very formal (or jokingly formal), I guess?

Yes, and quite frequently jokingly formal, if I may make so bold as to
say so.

> -----
> [conversation on the ship, crossing the Pond]
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited, p. 806 ----

Signature

Roland Hutchinson

He calls himself "the Garden State's leading violist da gamba,"
... comparable to being ruler of an exceptionally small duchy.
--Newark (NJ) Star Ledger ( http://tinyurl.com/RolandIsNJ )

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010

Waugh: may I make so bold as to