In a couple of cases this was not the case

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Here is an interesting phrase I’ve just heard on CNN:

“… in a couple of cases this was not the case though…”

What do you think, is the speaker of that sentence a hopeless case?[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC short conversations: Answering job interview questions[YSaerTTEW443543]

2

Hi Torsten,

I think that the phrase is clumsy, however, it seems to be grammatical. I’m sure that this is exactly what you think, too, so I apologise for replying drily. Hopefully other posters will post more amusing replies.

Regards.

3

Get thee to a punnery, Torsten. :lol:

In case you’re interested in further comment, I’d say it’s also the case that you’re most likely to hear sentences like that in spoken, “off-the-cuff” cases. So, it may not be the case that the person on CNN is a complete basket case when it comes to English. That would be the worst-case scenario. Maybe CNN should decide on a case-by-case basis which sentences ought to be bleeped. :lol:

Amy

4

What is the meaning, Amy?

What is a basket case?

Tom

5

Hi Tom

Bill Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet: “Get thee to a nunnery.”
Since Torsten had decided to make a little pun in his question, I used the well-known pun “Get the to a punnery” in response (an acknowledgement of his very “punny” question). :wink:

A “basket case” is the same as a “hopeless case”.

Amy