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Thread: As silent/quiet as the grave

  1. #1
    Not_Dead is offline Newbie
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    Default As silent/quiet as the grave

    Hi.

    I'm having trouble with this idiom: "as silent/quiet as the grave". I don't know which one of these two (underlined) words is the appropriate one to use. I tried searching for it on the web, but I've noticed most online dictionaries have it written in both ways.
    Still, my English book wants me to pick one. Can you help me? Does it even make that big of a difference?
    Last edited by Not_Dead; 12-Jan-2012 at 20:58.

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    5jj
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    Default Re: As silent/quiet as the grave

    Quote Originally Posted by Not_Dead View Post
    I tried searching for it on the web, but I've noticed most online dictionaries have it written in both ways. I agree with your dictionaries. Both are fine.
    Still, my English book wants me to pick one. Can you help me? Get a different English book.
    Does it even make that big of a difference (or: 'that much of a difference')? No.
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    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


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    Not_Dead is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: As silent/quiet as the grave

    I would be very happy to change it to something else, but it's the one we use at class, so I'm forced to deal with it.
    Thank you. This really cleared things up for me.

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    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: As silent/quiet as the grave

    We do talk of the silence of the grave, and are much less likely to use the quiet of the grave. In your example, I agree that both forms are fine.

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