'Add up to' and 'ask after'

**nyggus** · 12-Jan-2006, 17:25

Does it sound natural to you? -
"John asked after you yesterday. I told him that your poor health together with your overweight adds up to your bad form."

Thanks & Best,
Nyggus

**Jeremy Taylor** · 12-Jan-2006, 20:59

The first part works. The second part doesn't (and it's a very rude thing to say to a friend!)
Jeremy
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jeremytaylor/

**nyggus** · 12-Jan-2006, 21:03

Originally Posted by Jeremy Taylor

The first part works. The second part doesn't (and it's a very rude thing to say to a friend!)
Jeremy
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jeremytaylor/

Thanks, Jeremy. Sure it does, I was just inquiring about the correctness of the use of the phrasal verbs. I wouldn't say it to my friend, certainly!!!

Is it a correct use?

Nyggus

**nyggus** · 13-Jan-2006, 19:27

Originally Posted by Jeremy Taylor

The first part works. The second part doesn't (and it's a very rude thing to say to a friend!)
Jeremy
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jeremytaylor/

Suppose that those words are directed to a guy who has stolen our girlfriend.

**woodhouse** · 13-Jan-2006, 19:58

Hi Nyggus,
John asked about you yesterday, I told him that on account of your bad health and the problems you are facing regarding your weight, together adds up to your current state of health.
-If he had taken our girlfriend, then I would want to know why we were sharing her? My girlfriend maybe...Bad form would/could be disrespecting her.
Woodhouse

**nyggus** · 13-Jan-2006, 20:20

Originally Posted by woodhouse

Hi Nyggus,
John asked about you yesterday, I told him that on account of your bad health and the problems you are facing regarding your weight, together adds up to your current state of health.
-If he had taken our girlfriend, then I would want to know why we were sharing her? My girlfriend maybe...Bad form would/could be disrespecting her.
Woodhouse

Well, Woodhouse, my wife wouldn't like that at all...

Sorry, but it was just a classical typo - I missed 'y' in 'your'.

It happens (in my case typos, not sharing of girlfriends

)

Best!

**ebb** · 15-Jan-2006, 05:36

"Ask after" is, I believe, a British idiom. Americans would say "Ask about".

"I saw Jack at the baseball game, and he asked about you." You'll get strange looks in Omaha with "ask after." He might have asked after you, had the encounter transpired at the cricket match. I leave that to our British cousins.

**woodhouse** · 15-Jan-2006, 17:46

Hi cousin Ebb,
ask after (VB) to make polite inquiries about the health of: he asked after you.
Yet also, to ask about sb/sth.
With regards to cricket, well that`s a different question altogether...Here`s seeing you...is that said in Omaha...which reminds me about the stories of Des Moines...who was that author???

Woodhouse