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11-Sep-2004, 06:05
| | Member | | Join Date: Dec 2003 Country: Taiwan
Posts: 458
Current Location: Taiwan First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 29
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| |  suck "at" or not?
When I looked up the word "suck" in my dictionary,
some of the example sentences use the preposition "at" after suck and some don't.
Why and what's the rule?
The example sentences are:
You can't get a good suck at a drink if the straw is damaged.
Th baby was sucking at his mother's breast.
She sucked the orange dry.
He sucked at his pipe.
Suck a lozenge for your sore throat.
The child sucked her thumb. |
11-Sep-2004, 06:11
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Posts: 12,997
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| | Re: suck "at" or not?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Eway When I looked up the word "suck" in my dictionary,
some of the example sentences use the preposition "at" after suck and some don't.
Why and what's the rule?
The example sentences are:
You can't get a good suck at a drink if the straw is damaged.
Th baby was sucking at his mother's breast.
She sucked the orange dry.
He sucked at his pipe.
Suck a lozenge for your sore throat.
The child sucked her thumb. | at is used with instruments: use a straw to get at the drink, use the nipple to get at the breast milk, and use a pipe to get at the smoke.
straw, nipple, and pipe are instruments.
All the best, :D |
12-Sep-2004, 02:55
| | Member | | Join Date: Dec 2003 Country: Taiwan
Posts: 458
Current Location: Taiwan First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 29
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
| | Re: suck "at" or not?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by Eway When I looked up the word "suck" in my dictionary,
some of the example sentences use the preposition "at" after suck and some don't.
Why and what's the rule?
The example sentences are:
You can't get a good suck at a drink if the straw is damaged.
Th baby was sucking at his mother's breast.
She sucked the orange dry.
He sucked at his pipe.
Suck a lozenge for your sore throat.
The child sucked her thumb. | at is used with instruments: use a straw to get at the drink, use the nipple to get at the breast milk, and use a pipe to get at the smoke.
straw, nipple, and pipe are instruments.
All the best, :D | Thanks a lot!!
And one more question...
Since one of the example sentences is "He sucked at his pipe",
is it also correct to say "He sucked at his cigeratte"? |
12-Sep-2004, 13:43
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 0
Thanked 40 Times in 39 Posts
| | Re: suck "at" or not?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Eway Thanks a lot!!
And one more question...
Since one of the example sentences is "He sucked at his pipe",
is it also correct to say "He sucked at his cigeratte"? | You're welcome. :D
Suck at/on his pipe; Suck at/on his cigarette. (OK) |
13-Sep-2004, 00:09
| | | Re: suck "at" or not?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by Eway Thanks a lot!!
And one more question...
Since one of the example sentences is "He sucked at his pipe",
is it also correct to say "He sucked at his cigeratte"? | You're welcome. :D
Suck at/on his pipe; Suck at/on his cigarette. (OK) | I think you drag on a cigarette or take a drag on a cigarette. I don't think it's common to use the word "suck" in regards to cigarettes. But again, you can suck on your toe nails and who is to tell you it's wrong. |
13-Sep-2004, 11:39
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
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Thanked 40 Times in 39 Posts
| | Re: suck "at" or not?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Natalie27 Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by Eway Thanks a lot!!
And one more question...
Since one of the example sentences is "He sucked at his pipe",
is it also correct to say "He sucked at his cigeratte"? | You're welcome. :D
Suck at/on his pipe; Suck at/on his cigarette. (OK) | I think you drag on a cigarette or take a drag on a cigarette. I don't think it's common to use the word "suck" in regards to cigarettes. But again, you can suck on your toe nails and who is to tell you it's wrong. | Aside from 'take a drag on a cigarette', there's take a haul. What 'haul' has to do with it, I don't know.   |
13-Sep-2004, 18:34
| | | Re: suck "at" or not?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by Natalie27 Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by Eway Thanks a lot!!
And one more question...
Since one of the example sentences is "He sucked at his pipe",
is it also correct to say "He sucked at his cigeratte"? | You're welcome. :D
Suck at/on his pipe; Suck at/on his cigarette. (OK) | I think you drag on a cigarette or take a drag on a cigarette. I don't think it's common to use the word "suck" in regards to cigarettes. But again, you can suck on your toe nails and who is to tell you it's wrong. | Aside from 'take a drag on a cigarette', there's take a haul. What 'haul' has to do with it, I don't know. | Point taken. Thanx. :D | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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