Need Help!

Hello teachers,

What do those mean? Those actually come from the book, "Bridget Jones's Diary".

1. "I will not allow in-tray to rage out of control"

I was kind of thinking that it might mean she will not let her mailbox to be filled with junk mails or something... Do you think that's what it is?

2. "Go to gym three times a week not merely to buy sandwich."

Does that mean she goes to the gym just to buy sandwich?

3. Alcohol units 14 (but effectively covers 2 days as 4 hours of party was on New Year's Day)

I don't understand this at all. I know that she had alcohol units of 14 but why does this cover 2 days? And why does 4 hours of party on New Year's Day cover 2 days?

Thank you for your help! And I hope you don't mind me keep asking you questions about this book.

Catie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by catie

Hello teachers,

What do those mean? Those actually come from the book, "Bridget Jones's Diary".

1. "I will not allow in-tray to rage out of control"

I was kind of thinking that it might mean she will not let her mailbox to be filled with junk mails or something... Do you think that's what it is?

2. "Go to gym three times a week not merely to buy sandwich."

Does that mean she goes to the gym just to buy sandwich?

3. Alcohol units 14 (but effectively covers 2 days as 4 hours of party was on New Year's Day)

I don't understand this at all. I know that she had alcohol units of 14 but why does this cover 2 days? And why does 4 hours of party on New Year's Day cover 2 days?

Thank you for your help! And I hope you don't mind me keep asking you questions about this book.

Catie

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1. It sounds as if the person is working very hard to handle whatever comes into her in-tray so it doesn't accumulate a large amount of unhandled work. The use of "tray" makes it sound like a desk in an office. If it were e-mail, would most likely use "box".

2. That makes little sense. I would guess that the person means that exercise needs to be balanced with eating.

3. Alcohol units is strange. I assume that means drinks. This person has 14 drinks at a New Year's Eve party, but is rationalizing it as spread over two days, since the party continued past midnight on the first day.

Thank you for your reply. I now understand #1 but regarding #2, it was actually "I will not go to gym three times a week not merely to buy sandwich." I forgot to put "I will". And FYI: This is Bridget's New Year's resolution.

I was confused by what you said. Doesn't this mean that she won't go to the gym just to buy sandwich there anymore? Instead, she will go to the gym to work out not to buy sandwich at the gym??

And finally about #3, I also forgot to put the date here. This was actually written on January 1st, New Year's Day. So if she says, "4 hours of party was on New Year's Day", does she really mean January 1? Because there is no January 2 and she skips her diary to January 3. So I was wondering if she meant January 1 not December 31, New Year's Eve. If that's the case, I'm more confused...

Thank you for your help,
Catie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by catie

Thank you for your reply. I now understand #1 but regarding #2, it was actually "I will not go to gym three times a week not merely to buy sandwich." I forgot to put "I will". And FYI: This is Bridget's New Year's resolution.

I was confused by what you said. Doesn't this mean that she won't go to the gym just to buy sandwich there anymore? Instead, she will go to the gym to work out not to buy sandwich at the gym??

And finally about #3, I also forgot to put the date here. This was actually written on January 1st, New Year's Day. So if she says, "4 hours of party was on New Year's Day", does she really mean January 1? Because there is no January 2 and she skips her diary to January 3. So I was wondering if she meant January 1 not December 31, New Year's Eve. If that's the case, I'm more confused...

Thank you for your help,
Catie

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I think you have put an extra "not" in there. It is likely that her resolution is to go to the gym more often. It would be unusual to buy a sandwich at a gym.

The last one still means that the New Year's Eve Party started on Dec. 31st and lasted until 4:00 AM on New Year's Day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by catie

2. "Go to gym three times a week not merely to buy sandwich."

Does that mean she goes to the gym just to buy sandwich?

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See: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Salon...get_diary.html

Catie, the initial quote you had was correct. :wink:

The quote alludes to the fact that Bridget has a problem with self-control, and presumably likes snacking.

The quote is contrasting the 'healthy' hobby of going to the gym with the 'unhealthy' habit of eating too much, and does so to be humorous.

Hope that helps. :D