The person is at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[kohyoongliat]

When something nasty happens, such as a traffic accident, it is common to say "The person is at the wrong place at the wrong time." Do native speakers use such a sentence?

Thanks.

 

[MikeNewYork]

When something nasty happens, such as a traffic accident, it is common to say "The person is at the wrong place at the wrong time." Do native speakers use such a sentence?

Thanks.

Yes, but it is normally in the past tense -- was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

[emsr2d2]

In BrE, we would also use "was". We would, however, say "in the wrong place at the wrong time". It's such a well-known phrase that simply saying "Wrong place, wrong time" will be understood by most people.

 

[kohyoongliat]

In BrE, we would also use "was". We would, however, say "in the wrong place at the wrong time". It's such a well-known phrase that simply saying "Wrong place, wrong time" will be understood by most people.

However, the sentence doesn't sound logical.

 

[emsr2d2]

However, the sentence doesn't sound logical.

To which sentence are you referring?

 

[kohyoongliat]

To which sentence are you referring?

When something nasty happens, such as a traffic accident, it is common to say "The person is at the wrong place at the wrong time." Do native speakers use such a sentence?

The sentence in bold.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The sentence in bold.

Why does it seem to be illogical to you?

 

[emsr2d2]

As you can tell from the rest of this thread, "He was at the wrong place at the wrong time" is correct in AmE and "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time" is correct in BrE.

Are you saying that you find both of those illogical?

 

[MikeNewYork]

As you can tell from the rest of this thread, "He was at the wrong place at the wrong time" is correct in AmE and "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time" is correct in BrE.

Are you saying that you find both of those illogical?

In AmE, we use both forms. I Googled the phrases an found that both generated about 19 million hits.

 

[kohyoongliat]

As you can tell from the rest of this thread, "He was at the wrong place at the wrong time" is correct in AmE and "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time" is correct in BrE.

Are you saying that you find both of those illogical?

Thanks, emsr2d2.

I find the part in bold above illogical.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks, emsr2d2.

I find the part in bold above illogical.

It is a bit idiomatic. It says that if the person had been at a different place at that time, the person would not have had an accident. It also says that if the person had been at that place at a different time, there would have been no accident. We also use "right place/right time for something good (and lucky) that happens.

 

[kohyoongliat]

It is a bit idiomatic. It says that if the person had been at a different place at that time, the person would not have had an accident. It also says that if the person had been at that place at a different time, there would have been no accident. We also use "right place/right time for something good (and lucky) that happens.

Thanks, Mike.

Logical explanation.