by the tone

Status
Not open for further replies.

emel18200

New member
Joined
Aug 29, 2013
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Turkish
Home Country
Turkey
Current Location
Turkey
how is the expression "by the ton" being used?
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Ton or tone?
 

konungursvia

VIP Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
How is the expression "by the ton" [strike]being[/strike] used?

Welcome to the forum.

Where did you see the phrase "by the ton" for the first time? What was the complete sentence which contained it?
 

probus

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
By the ton means very greatly or extensively.

We ate tomatoes by the ton, i.e. we ate a huge amount of tomatoes. Or, the factory produced garbage by the ton.

Also used metaphorically. For example, of a poltician, he told lies by the ton. Or, he took bribes by the ton.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
On the other hand, emel's title read 'by the tone'.

'I could tell by the tone of his voice that he was furious.'

We're speculating here, aren't we? Let's hope emel gets back to us soon to put us out of our misery.

Rover
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
How is the expression "by the ton" [STRIKE]being [/STRIKE]used?
I'd hesitate to rule out the "being" without knowing whether the OP has simply forgotten to include the example sentence. The question could be "How is "by the ton/tone" being used in this example which I have omitted by mistake?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top