scold in heat, rebuke in heart, beat in heart...

[ahsanul.irfan]

"No matter how much you fear your enemy, you can scold him in your heart, since you're doing it in your heart."

Does "scold in heart" fit here?

 

[5jj]

None of that makes any sense to me.

 

[ahsanul.irfan]

None of that makes any sense to me.

By "scold in your heart" I meant that I won't scold my enemy physically, I will scold him in my heart.

How can I say it?

 

[Barque]

You may be scared of confronting someone but you can always curse them in your mind.

If you're trying to make up another aphorism, remember that things that are obvious aren't suitable to aphorisise (if there's such a word) about.

 

[ahsanul.irfan]

You may be scared of confronting someone but you can always curse them in your mind.

Can't I say "I will scold you/punch you/kick you/rebuke you in my heart"?

 

[Barque]

If you like. But none of those is natural English.

Who will you say it to? You don't want to say anything to that person, so it's all in your mind and your thoughts don't need words. If you actually say it to someone, you aren't keeping it "in your heart". Do you follow me?

 

[ahsanul.irfan]

If you like. But none of those is natural English.

"No matter how much you fear your enemy, you can scold him in your heart, since you're doing it in your heart."

Does it make sense to you?

 

[Barque]

I understand what you mean. But, as I already said, it isn't natural English.

Do you want English advice or someone to pour your thoughts out to? We can only help with the first.

 

[ahsanul.irfan]

I understand what you mean. But, as I already said, it isn't natural English.

Do you want English advice or someone to pour your thoughts out to? We can only help with the first.

How would you say my first sentence?

 

[Barque]

I gave you a suggestion in post #4.

 

[emsr2d2]

I don't understand any of it, to be honest. Are you going a long-winded way of saying "Even if I can't [physically] punch my enemy, I can do it in my imagination"?

I'm not sure you entirely understand the meaning of "scold". It's what cross parents or teachers do to their kids or students. It's very mild - maybe a bit of finger-pointing, tutting and a bit of a telling off. You've gone on to connect it with punching and kicking someone, but then you tried to use "rebuke" in the same context.

You can scold or rebuke someone when they've done something wrong. That doesn't make them your enemy.