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jiang

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Dear teachers,

This is a sentence from The Old Man and the Sea:
I brought the fish in too green.

I think it should be "I brought the fish in ' and "too green"

What does this "too green " mean?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang
 

SoothingDave

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Like a fruit that is not ready for picking yet. It is too young to harvest.
 

jiang

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Hi SoothingDave,

Thank you very much for your explanation. I am sorry I should have given you more information:
This is a sentence from The Old Man and the Sea:
I brought the fish in too green and he nearly tore the boat to pieces.
The translation of the text is "the fish is " full of enery",but I think your explanation makes sense. The only thing that confuse me is if it is too young it must be a small fish. But if it is a small fish how can it nearly tear the boat into pieces?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang
 

5jj

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It seems that 'too green' means here that the fisherman had not played with it for long enough to make it tired.

An example, as if we needed one, of how important it is to give us enough context.
 

jiang

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Hi 5jj,

This is from The Old Man and the Sea. The following is the context:

How old was I when you first took me in a boat?
Five and you nearly were killed when I brought the fish in too green and he nearly tore the boat to pieces. Can you remember?
I can remember you throwing me into the bow where the wet coiled lines were and feeling the whole boat shiver and the noise of you clubbing him like chopping a tree down and the sweet blood smell all over me.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang
 
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