won't be handed everything...

[azz]

a. You are not going to be handed everything. You have to earn it.

I think this is good English, but what does "it" stand for?
"Everything"?
Or "having everything"? Or "being handed everything"?

Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

a. You are not going to be handed everything. You have to earn it.

I think this is good English, but what does "it" stand for?
"Everything"?
Or "having everything"? Or "being handed everything"?

Thank you.

You have to earn everything (you are handed).

 

[emsr2d2]

A more common phrase (idiom) is "You won't be handed everything on a plate."

 

[azz]

Well, if you will not be handed everything, you will be handed some things! And you must earn those things you are not handed.

But maybe in this case 'you won't be handed everything' actually means 'you will be handed nothing'. In any case, it seems that 'it' refers back to 'everything'.

Many thanks.

 

[SoothingDave]

A more common phrase (idiom) is "You won't be handed everything on a plate."

"On a silver platter" here.

 

[Barb_D]

But maybe in this case 'you won't be handed everything' actually means 'you will be handed nothing'.

No!
You won't be handed anything = You will be handed nothing.
You won't be handed everything = There are some things that you will not be handed.

 

[azz]

Many thanks to all of you!

[h=2][/h] a. You are not going to be handed everything. You have to earn it.

No!
You won't be handed anything = You will be handed nothing.
You won't be handed everything = There are some things that you will not be handed.

That was my problem with this sentence. If you will be handed some thing, then you will only have to earn the other things!

b. You are not going to be handed everything, You have to earn some things.
makes sense to me.

c-You are not going to be handed anything. You have to earn everything.
also makes sense.

The original does not make sense to me. It is not logical although it sounds fine.

Thanks.