4 ms·
Just because an obscure idiomatic usage exists doesn't make it incorrect to use the words literally. If cats and dogs were falling out of the sky, I could corr
by bobbyi 16y ago
Just because an obscure idiomatic usage exists doesn't make it incorrect to use the words literally.
If cats and dogs were falling out of the sky, I could correctly say that it's raining cats and dogs.
Some situations beg for a certain question to be asked.
- samps 16y agoThis is a little pedantic, but "begs the question" doesn't really mean "raises the question" even literally. It sounds weird to say that someone "begs a rebuke" when they really deserve a rebuke. Even more literally, you don't say that someone on the street "begs a dollar" -- they beg for a dollar. Just as you said, some situations beg for those questions to be asked (or perhaps they beg that they be asked); they don't simply beg them.
- teaspoon 16y agoNot quite true. "I beg your pardon" and "I begged her forgiveness" are standard English.