inconvenience the Democrats by dying

[jiamajia]

Robert Byrd inconvenienced the Democrats by dying.

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I bet it is good English, for I heard a native speaker say that on Radio. My question is: can we say 'Robert Byrd inconvenienced the Democrats with his death' to mean the same? Thank you.

[Barb_D]

It's said with irony. Very few people would ever intentionally choose to inconvenience someone with his own death. The use of "by dying" implies a deliberate choice, and adds to the irony, more than a neutral "his death" does.

[jiamajia]

It's said with irony. Very few people would ever intentionally choose to inconvenience someone with his own death. The use of "by dying" implies a deliberate choice, and adds to the irony, more than a neutral "his death" does.

Yes, I agree. The speaker is a conservative talker. It sounded a bit odd to me and that is why I posted the thread.

[SoothingDave]

A long time incumbent like Byrd was assured of re-election. With his death, it is possible the seat may be won by the Republican party.