[General] stand in my girl’s light

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you tell me whether I am right about my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

No, Governor. Don’t say that. I am not the man to stand in my girl’s light. Here’s a career opening for her, as you might say… (B. Shaw, “Pygmalion”)

stand in someone’s light = stand in someone’s way, put obstacles in someone’s path

V.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes.

 

[BobK]

Dear teachers,

Would you tell me whether I am right about my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

No, Governor. Don’t say that. I am not the man to stand in my girl’s light. Here’s a career opening for her, as you might say… (B. Shaw, “Pygmalion”)

stand in someone’s light = stand in someone’s way, put obstacles in someone’s path

V.

Sort of - but it's a rather indirect sort of obstacle. He's not talking about physically/actually impeding her advancement. It's not so much 'standing in someone's way'; it's behaving in a way that makes their life slightly less comfortable.

I think you probably know this, but the image is to do with the convention by which a person is said to possess the light they're using. If I'm reading a book and someone stands between me and the window, I might say 'You're in my light'.


b

PS The link between natural light and actual possessions is enshrined in the law of Ancients Lights (File:Ancient lights 16092006.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).