Results 1 to 4 of 4
Like Tree1Likes
  • 1 Post By bhaisahab

Thread: balanced precariously on the narrow....

  1. #1
    Silverobama is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • China
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    648

    Default balanced precariously on the narrow....

    Hi,

    What does this sentence mean?


    He balanced precariously on the narrow window-ledge.


    Thanks a lot

  2. #2
    bhaisahab's Avatar
    bhaisahab is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    16,152
    Teacher

    Default Re: balanced precariously on the narrow....

    Quote Originally Posted by Silverobama View Post
    Hi,

    What does this sentence mean?


    He balanced precariously on the narrow window-ledge.


    Thanks a lot
    What do you think it means; do you understand "balance" and precarious?
    Silverobama likes this.

  3. #3
    Silverobama is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • China
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    648
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: balanced precariously on the narrow....

    I understand.

    I think it means "He almost couldn't balance himself on the narrow window-ledge", but the problem is, according to its Chinese translation, it means "he almost fell from the narrow window-ledge", does the sentence imply that he fall from the narrow window-ledge?


    Thanks a lot

  4. #4
    JMurray is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • New Zealand
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    712

    Default Re: balanced precariously on the narrow....

    I think it means "He almost couldn't balance himself on the narrow window-ledge", but the problem is, according to its Chinese translation, it means "he almost fell from the narrow window-ledge", does the sentence imply that he fall from the narrow window-ledge?

    SilverO.
    I can see the confusion. The Chinese translation stresses the idea that he was nearly falling. But to say that he was "balanced precariously" does mean that he was successfully balanced there, although still in great danger.

    not a teacher

Similar Threads

  1. [General] narrow escape
    By vil in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-Sep-2010, 08:56
  2. help me to narrow this topic please?
    By nice_bear in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 04-Apr-2010, 00:56
  3. go on a balanced diet
    By joham in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 29-Mar-2010, 13:35
  4. [Idiom] narrow escape
    By Nurul_atiqah in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 07-Mar-2010, 11:58
  5. balanced with/by
    By Sunshine in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 18-May-2009, 11:05

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0