eisenpony
New member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2014
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- English
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- Canada
- Current Location
- Canada
A colleague of mine used this to refer to something that is not true. e.g., My professor is anything if fair -- meaning that his professor is definitely not fair.
Personally, I would have said "My professor is anything but fair", but I actually like the subtle meaning implied by the word if. It seems to suggest that if I, as an observer, wanted to assert this professor was in fact fair, then the speaker would claim my instincts are so off that I might believe anything is true.
I have never heard anyone else use the phrase but am wondering if it is more common elsewhere. Have you heard it? do you think it is correct?
Personally, I would have said "My professor is anything but fair", but I actually like the subtle meaning implied by the word if. It seems to suggest that if I, as an observer, wanted to assert this professor was in fact fair, then the speaker would claim my instincts are so off that I might believe anything is true.
I have never heard anyone else use the phrase but am wondering if it is more common elsewhere. Have you heard it? do you think it is correct?