Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

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smallwhite
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby smallwhite » Thu Mar 22, 2018 12:55 am

"Feel free to..."

I thought this expression was only to invite the listener to do what the listener wants:
"Feel free to eat as much as you like".

But I see people using it to request the listener to do what the speaker wants:
"Feel free to help me".

Which usage is correct, or both?

Thanks.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby Adrianslont » Thu Mar 22, 2018 1:29 am

smallwhite wrote:"Feel free to..."

I thought this expression was only to invite the listener to do what the listener wants:
"Feel free to eat as much as you like".

But I see people using it to request the listener to do what the speaker wants:
"Feel free to help me".

Which usage is correct, or both?

Thanks.

Both are used/fine/“correct”. I interpret the second one as sarcasm - the listener was slow to offer help. I think the popular sarcastic use of this expression is a relatively recent thing ie last decade or two.

If people are using the second example NON-sarcastically, that’s new to me.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby smallwhite » Thu Mar 22, 2018 1:44 am

Adrianslont wrote:
If people are using the second example NON-sarcastically, that’s new to me.

That's what I've been seeing:
"Feel free to correct my English/French/etc".

Thanks for the answer!
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby tcl » Thu Mar 22, 2018 2:13 am

I think the assumption in the "help me" expression above--at least my assumption--is that "feel free to..." means "don't be inhibited by considerations of politeness; you won't offend me." Of course, it could be used sarcastically or otherwise, but it doesn't strike me as inherently sarcastic by any means.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby Adrianslont » Thu Mar 22, 2018 2:21 am

smallwhite wrote:
Adrianslont wrote:
If people are using the second example NON-sarcastically, that’s new to me.

That's what I've been seeing:
"Feel free to correct my English/French/etc".

Thanks for the answer!

Ah, I know that correcting somone’s language mistakes is helping them BUT if you had given that specific example, my answer would have been different, I wouldn’t have called sarcasm. In that specific example, like tcl, i would say it means “you won’t offend me.”
I thought you meant using the exact words, “Feel free to help me” which might be said non sarcastically but I have only heard used sarcastically.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby smallwhite » Thu Mar 22, 2018 3:20 am

Got it! Thank you both.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby smallwhite » Sat Jun 30, 2018 4:14 am

I think you can answer people like this when you don't want to state your reasons:

A: Why didn't you go?
B: Because.

Question: You can also answer like this, can't you?

A: Why didn't you go?
B: Reasons.

Thanks!
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby Jim » Sat Jun 30, 2018 4:57 am

smallwhite wrote:I think you can answer people like this when you don't want to state your reasons:

A: Why didn't you go?
B: Because.


It’s not so much that you don’t want to state your reasons, but rather you don’t have any real reason. It makes me think of George Mallory’s response to the question why he wanted to climb Mount Everest: “because it’s there”.
Question: You can also answer like this, can't you?

A: Why didn't you go?
B: Reasons.

Thanks!

I’ve not come across this before, but that could well be my age. It doesn’t sound wrong, but it does sound (to my ears) like something a teenager could well say to their parents!
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby Ani » Sat Jun 30, 2018 5:42 am

In think you can say both of those but they're super rude or at least extremely casual. I might say "because" to my husband/sister with a big shrug but I'd be implying "just because". "Just because" implies you have no real reason, but "because" by itself might mean you don't want to talk about it.
I could possibly imagine using "reasons" similarly implying the other person knows your reasons and you don't want to talk further, or just that you don't want to share. Still the risk it coming across poorly is very high.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby MamaPata » Sat Jun 30, 2018 7:41 am

Both are possible yes. I agree with Ani about 'just because' vs 'because'. But I don't think 'because' or 'reasons' have to be rude. For me, I'm more likely to say that if I'm joking and suggesting I can't tell/have a secret. Depends a lot on tone of voice I guess.
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