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04-Sep-2003, 15:56
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Country: Dalian, China
Posts: 519
Member Type: Student or Learner | |  I'll buy it
I have a question for our American friends on here:
My fiancee was in her 'translation class' at university today, and her teacher insisted that the phrase "I'll buy it" means "I don't know".
I have NEVER heard it used in this way, I've only ever heard "I don't buy that" (I don't believe it) or "Do you buy that?" (Do you believe that?).
This isn't an American slang expression, is it? IMO, this teacher is getting a little mixed up...
Thanks for your help! |
04-Sep-2003, 16:56
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Country: USA
Posts: 15,527
Current Location: North Carolina First Language: English Member Type: Other | |
I wouldn't say "I'll buy that" is a slang expression, since it has been around long enough to be considered a colloquialism. It is a way of expressing that a person believes, or accepts, something that has been said. Similarly, "I don't buy that" expresses disbelief, or incredulity. Quote: |
My fiancee was in her 'translation class' at university today, and her teacher insisted that the phrase "I'll buy it" means "I don't know".
| Like you, I have never heard it used that way, and I am quite skeptical. Perhaps I will see if I can get some more opinions for you.
:) |
04-Sep-2003, 18:41
|  | Webmaster, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: England
Posts: 2,877
Current Location: London First Language: British English Member Type: Other | |
I agree with both of you - IMO they are wrong. Ron's description fits exactly with what I understand by it. 
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Red5
Webmaster, UsingEnglish.com
Please note: I am not a teacher of English, just someone who loves the language. |
04-Sep-2003, 18:55
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Country: USA
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Current Location: North Carolina First Language: English Member Type: Other | |
There is more discussion of this one here: http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/...ry&msg=14897.1
The response to my question there might help to explain that teacher's confusion.
:) |
05-Sep-2003, 00:58
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Country: Dalian, China
Posts: 519
Member Type: Student or Learner | |
Cheers Ronbee :)
By the way, the teacher insisted that in future, when students don't know the answer to a question, they should stand up and say "I'll buy it". What an odd class.  |
05-Sep-2003, 03:28
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Country: USA
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Current Location: North Carolina First Language: English Member Type: Other | |
Quote: |
Originally Posted by shane Cheers Ronbee :)
By the way, the teacher insisted that in future, when students don't know the answer to a question, they should stand up and say "I'll buy it". What an odd class. | Odd indeed! Those students are going to get some strange reactions should they ever use that expression with a native speaker. Is that teacher Chinese?
8) |
05-Sep-2003, 07:51
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Country: Dalian, China
Posts: 519
Member Type: Student or Learner | |
Quote: |
Originally Posted by RonBee
Odd indeed! Those students are going to get some strange reactions should they ever use that expression with a native speaker. Is that teacher Chinese?
8)
| Yes she is Chinese. She comes from Dalian Foreign Language Institute, apparently (which is usually a very good school!) |
05-Sep-2003, 16:15
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
Posts: 27,067
Current Location: Phnom Penh First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | |
That's more common in the negative- 'I'm not buying that', meaning I don't accept it. |
05-Sep-2003, 16:18
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Country: Dalian, China
Posts: 519
Member Type: Student or Learner | |
So let me get this straight: According to this teacher, 'I'll buy it' means 'I don't know'. Can we assume then, Tdol, that 'I'm not buying that' means 'I know'?? :wink:  |
05-Sep-2003, 17:04
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
Posts: 27,067
Current Location: Phnom Penh First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | |
I think the teacher has got the wrong end of the stick. | | |
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