with/by your hair

[angliholic]

Can you lift an elephant with your hair?
If your classmates were very strong, they should have been able to pick you up and swing you around by your hair.



Why does the first sentence uses with your hair while the second by? What are the different meanings between them? Thanks.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by angliholic

Can you lift an elephant with your hair?
If your classmates were very strong, they should have been able to pick you up and swing you around by your hair.



Why does the first sentence uses with your hair while the second by? What are the different meanings between them? Thanks.

Another perplexing question and it's getting late. I'm gonna leave this one to some fresh brain cells.

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by angliholic

Can you lift an elephant with your hair?
If your classmates were very strong, they should have been able to pick you up and swing you around by your hair.



Why does the first sentence uses with your hair while the second by? What are the different meanings between them? Thanks.

The best way I can put it is that you might be able to lift an elephant with the help of your hair, and that your classmates are swinging you round by means of holding your hair.

"with" here has the meaning indicating the instrument used to perform an action or the material used for a purpose.

"by" = through the means of doing something

[angliholic]

Got it! Thanks, Anglika, for your help.