She sent a message with John to say that she couldn't come.

[JACEK1]

Hello everybody!
She sent a message with John to say that she couldn't come.
The above sentence is taken from Cambridge Dictionaries Online, entry: to send = to cause something to go from one place to another, especially by post.

What I don't understand is why "with" is used. Shouldn't "through" or "by" be used instead?

She sent a message through John to say that she couldn't come.

She sent a message by John to say that she couldn't come.

Is it about collocation?

I would be grateful for a reply.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/send_1?q=send

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello everybody!
She sent a message with John to say that she couldn't come.
The above sentence is taken from Cambridge Dictionaries Online, entry: to send = to cause something to go from one place to another, especially by post.

What I don't understand is why "with" is used. Shouldn't "through" or "by" be used instead?

She sent a message through John to say that she couldn't come.

She sent a message by John to say that she couldn't come.

Is it about collocation?

I would be grateful for a reply.

send verb (POST) - definition in British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionary Online

You could use "through" as well. It doesn't work with "by".

 

[billmcd]

Literally, for John to carry the message with him either mentally or in written form.

 

[Tdol]

It implies that John was going there anyway and that her message was an additional element rather than the reason for him going there.

 

[BobK]

:up: And 'with' would work if it was a written message - and not just John saying 'She sends her apologies'.

b