What is the difference between “nearly drowned” and “nearly rescued”?
I am pondering over the meaning of the riddle:
Would you rather be nearly drowned or nearly rescued?
Could some one explain the meaning of the two phrases "nearly drowned" & "nearly rescued" ?
Also what does the riddle actually mean ?
speech
edited 1 hour ago
Michael_B
2,6751715
asked 2 hours ago
stormfieldstormfield
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stormfield is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
I am pondering over the meaning of the riddle:
Would you rather be nearly drowned or nearly rescued?
Could some one explain the meaning of the two phrases "nearly drowned" & "nearly rescued" ?
Also what does the riddle actually mean ?
speech
edited 1 hour ago
Michael_B
2,6751715
asked 2 hours ago
stormfieldstormfield
1063
New contributor
stormfield is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Where did you hear this?
– Zebrafish
2 hours ago
I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.
– stormfield
2 hours ago
This is like "half-dead"
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I am pondering over the meaning of the riddle:
Would you rather be nearly drowned or nearly rescued?
Could some one explain the meaning of the two phrases "nearly drowned" & "nearly rescued" ?
Also what does the riddle actually mean ?
speech
edited 1 hour ago
Michael_B
2,6751715
asked 2 hours ago
stormfieldstormfield
1063
New contributor
stormfield is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I am pondering over the meaning of the riddle:
Would you rather be nearly drowned or nearly rescued?
Could some one explain the meaning of the two phrases "nearly drowned" & "nearly rescued" ?
Also what does the riddle actually mean ?
speech
speech
edited 1 hour ago
Michael_B
2,6751715
asked 2 hours ago
stormfieldstormfield
1063
New contributor
stormfield is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
Michael_B
2,6751715
asked 2 hours ago
stormfieldstormfield
1063
New contributor
stormfield is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
Michael_B
2,6751715
edited 1 hour ago
Michael_B
2,6751715
edited 1 hour ago
Michael_B
2,6751715
2,6751715
asked 2 hours ago
stormfieldstormfield
1063
New contributor
stormfield is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
stormfieldstormfield
1063
asked 2 hours ago
stormfieldstormfield
1063
1063
New contributor
stormfield is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
stormfield is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
stormfield is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Where did you hear this?
– Zebrafish
2 hours ago
I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.
– stormfield
2 hours ago
This is like "half-dead"
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Where did you hear this?
– Zebrafish
2 hours ago
I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.
– stormfield
2 hours ago
This is like "half-dead"
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
Where did you hear this?
– Zebrafish
2 hours ago
Where did you hear this?
– Zebrafish
2 hours ago
I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.
– stormfield
2 hours ago
I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.
– stormfield
2 hours ago
This is like "half-dead"
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
This is like "half-dead"
– Cascabel
2 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).
The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.
answered 2 hours ago
VeskahVeskah
1714
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If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!
There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".
Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.
answered 2 hours ago
BoldBenBoldBen
5,529817
add a comment |
You almost drowned.
vs.
You were almost rescued.
In the former, you're alive.
In the latter, you're dead.
answered 1 hour ago
Michael_BMichael_B
2,6751715
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).
The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.
answered 2 hours ago
VeskahVeskah
1714
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Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).
The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.
answered 2 hours ago
VeskahVeskah
1714
New contributor
Veskah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).
The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.
answered 2 hours ago
VeskahVeskah
1714
New contributor
Veskah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).
The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.
answered 2 hours ago
VeskahVeskah
1714
New contributor
Veskah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 2 hours ago
answered 2 hours ago
VeskahVeskah
1714
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Veskah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered 2 hours ago
VeskahVeskah
1714
answered 2 hours ago
VeskahVeskah
1714
1714
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Veskah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
Veskah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
add a comment |
If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!
There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".
Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.
answered 2 hours ago
BoldBenBoldBen
5,529817
add a comment |
If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!
There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".
Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.
answered 2 hours ago
BoldBenBoldBen
5,529817
add a comment |
If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!
There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".
Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.
answered 2 hours ago
BoldBenBoldBen
5,529817
If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!
There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".
Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.
answered 2 hours ago
BoldBenBoldBen
5,529817
answered 2 hours ago
BoldBenBoldBen
5,529817
answered 2 hours ago
BoldBenBoldBen
5,529817
answered 2 hours ago
BoldBenBoldBen
5,529817
5,529817
add a comment |
add a comment |
You almost drowned.
vs.
You were almost rescued.
In the former, you're alive.
In the latter, you're dead.
answered 1 hour ago
Michael_BMichael_B
2,6751715
add a comment |
You almost drowned.
vs.
You were almost rescued.
In the former, you're alive.
In the latter, you're dead.
answered 1 hour ago
Michael_BMichael_B
2,6751715
add a comment |
You almost drowned.
vs.
You were almost rescued.
In the former, you're alive.
In the latter, you're dead.
answered 1 hour ago
Michael_BMichael_B
2,6751715
You almost drowned.
vs.
You were almost rescued.
In the former, you're alive.
In the latter, you're dead.
answered 1 hour ago
Michael_BMichael_B
2,6751715
answered 1 hour ago
Michael_BMichael_B
2,6751715
answered 1 hour ago
Michael_BMichael_B
2,6751715
answered 1 hour ago
Michael_BMichael_B
2,6751715
2,6751715
add a comment |
add a comment |
stormfield is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
stormfield is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
stormfield is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Where did you hear this?
– Zebrafish
2 hours ago
I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.
– stormfield
2 hours ago
This is like "half-dead"
– Cascabel
2 hours ago