It beats the alternative
In the book "How an economy grows and why it crashes" by Peter D. Schiff, page 4, paragraph 2 has the sentence
Wake, fish, eat, sleep. Not much of a life, but hey, it beats the alternative.
For 'it beats the alternative', who beat who and who won?
usage
edited yesterday
Holyprogrammer
401112
asked yesterday
it_is_a_literatureit_is_a_literature
6121718
add a comment |
In the book "How an economy grows and why it crashes" by Peter D. Schiff, page 4, paragraph 2 has the sentence
Wake, fish, eat, sleep. Not much of a life, but hey, it beats the alternative.
For 'it beats the alternative', who beat who and who won?
usage
edited yesterday
Holyprogrammer
401112
asked yesterday
it_is_a_literatureit_is_a_literature
6121718
This routine is not much of a life but is definitely better than death.
– Andrew Tobilko
yesterday
Someone said to Voltaire, "Life is hard." Voltaire replied, "Compared to what?" (Commonly attributed to the French philosopher)
– Ben
yesterday
add a comment |
In the book "How an economy grows and why it crashes" by Peter D. Schiff, page 4, paragraph 2 has the sentence
Wake, fish, eat, sleep. Not much of a life, but hey, it beats the alternative.
For 'it beats the alternative', who beat who and who won?
usage
edited yesterday
Holyprogrammer
401112
asked yesterday
it_is_a_literatureit_is_a_literature
6121718
In the book "How an economy grows and why it crashes" by Peter D. Schiff, page 4, paragraph 2 has the sentence
Wake, fish, eat, sleep. Not much of a life, but hey, it beats the alternative.
For 'it beats the alternative', who beat who and who won?
usage
usage
edited yesterday
Holyprogrammer
401112
asked yesterday
it_is_a_literatureit_is_a_literature
6121718
edited yesterday
Holyprogrammer
401112
asked yesterday
it_is_a_literatureit_is_a_literature
6121718
edited yesterday
Holyprogrammer
401112
edited yesterday
Holyprogrammer
401112
edited yesterday
Holyprogrammer
401112
401112
asked yesterday
it_is_a_literatureit_is_a_literature
6121718
asked yesterday
it_is_a_literatureit_is_a_literature
6121718
asked yesterday
it_is_a_literatureit_is_a_literature
6121718
6121718
This routine is not much of a life but is definitely better than death.
– Andrew Tobilko
yesterday
Someone said to Voltaire, "Life is hard." Voltaire replied, "Compared to what?" (Commonly attributed to the French philosopher)
– Ben
yesterday
add a comment |
This routine is not much of a life but is definitely better than death.
– Andrew Tobilko
yesterday
Someone said to Voltaire, "Life is hard." Voltaire replied, "Compared to what?" (Commonly attributed to the French philosopher)
– Ben
yesterday
This routine is not much of a life but is definitely better than death.
– Andrew Tobilko
yesterday
This routine is not much of a life but is definitely better than death.
– Andrew Tobilko
yesterday
Someone said to Voltaire, "Life is hard." Voltaire replied, "Compared to what?" (Commonly attributed to the French philosopher)
– Ben
yesterday
Someone said to Voltaire, "Life is hard." Voltaire replied, "Compared to what?" (Commonly attributed to the French philosopher)
– Ben
yesterday
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The alternative to life is death.
Not much of a life, but life is better than death.
"It beats the alternative" is a phrase I've used for many years, but I didn't know the origin. This Article gives a possible source.
Finally, I read a quote of Billy Casper’s, a really good golfer in the
1960’s. Age seemed to have brought upon him something known as
Furniture Disease. I think I have a little case of that. What may you
ask is Furniture Disease?
That’s the place and time in life that you get to when your chest
begins to slide into your drawers. Oh the woes of getting older; but
remember, it beats the alternative!
answered yesterday
djnadjna
5,622815
I agree with virolino's first version, it's not clear what's the alternative in the context provided. Why do you discard a different way of living as an alternative: wake, go to work, work, buy food, eat, more work, return home, buy more food, dinner, sleep.
– RubioRic
yesterday
2
Because "it's not much of a life but it beats the alternative" is a reference to an old joke.
– djna
yesterday
1
Ah, you think that it references "Getting old sucks ... but it beats the alternative"
– RubioRic
yesterday
Yes, I think the exact match of the phrasing is strongly suggestive!
– djna
yesterday
add a comment |
X beats Y
means
X is better than Y
In your example, "Wake,fish,eat,sleep" is better. However, the "Y" (the alternative) is missing (at least in your quote). Maybe Y = being dead.
Edited to add: I found the original page of the book. The meaning is obvious: there is no technology available, no supermarkets, no anything, except the water with fish. No fishing = no eating = death.
answered yesterday
virolinovirolino
1,574119
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The alternative to life is death.
Not much of a life, but life is better than death.
"It beats the alternative" is a phrase I've used for many years, but I didn't know the origin. This Article gives a possible source.
Finally, I read a quote of Billy Casper’s, a really good golfer in the
1960’s. Age seemed to have brought upon him something known as
Furniture Disease. I think I have a little case of that. What may you
ask is Furniture Disease?
That’s the place and time in life that you get to when your chest
begins to slide into your drawers. Oh the woes of getting older; but
remember, it beats the alternative!
answered yesterday
djnadjna
5,622815
I agree with virolino's first version, it's not clear what's the alternative in the context provided. Why do you discard a different way of living as an alternative: wake, go to work, work, buy food, eat, more work, return home, buy more food, dinner, sleep.
– RubioRic
yesterday
2
Because "it's not much of a life but it beats the alternative" is a reference to an old joke.
– djna
yesterday
1
Ah, you think that it references "Getting old sucks ... but it beats the alternative"
– RubioRic
yesterday
Yes, I think the exact match of the phrasing is strongly suggestive!
– djna
yesterday
add a comment |
The alternative to life is death.
Not much of a life, but life is better than death.
"It beats the alternative" is a phrase I've used for many years, but I didn't know the origin. This Article gives a possible source.
Finally, I read a quote of Billy Casper’s, a really good golfer in the
1960’s. Age seemed to have brought upon him something known as
Furniture Disease. I think I have a little case of that. What may you
ask is Furniture Disease?
That’s the place and time in life that you get to when your chest
begins to slide into your drawers. Oh the woes of getting older; but
remember, it beats the alternative!
answered yesterday
djnadjna
5,622815
I agree with virolino's first version, it's not clear what's the alternative in the context provided. Why do you discard a different way of living as an alternative: wake, go to work, work, buy food, eat, more work, return home, buy more food, dinner, sleep.
– RubioRic
yesterday
2
Because "it's not much of a life but it beats the alternative" is a reference to an old joke.
– djna
yesterday
1
Ah, you think that it references "Getting old sucks ... but it beats the alternative"
– RubioRic
yesterday
Yes, I think the exact match of the phrasing is strongly suggestive!
– djna
yesterday
add a comment |
The alternative to life is death.
Not much of a life, but life is better than death.
"It beats the alternative" is a phrase I've used for many years, but I didn't know the origin. This Article gives a possible source.
Finally, I read a quote of Billy Casper’s, a really good golfer in the
1960’s. Age seemed to have brought upon him something known as
Furniture Disease. I think I have a little case of that. What may you
ask is Furniture Disease?
That’s the place and time in life that you get to when your chest
begins to slide into your drawers. Oh the woes of getting older; but
remember, it beats the alternative!
answered yesterday
djnadjna
5,622815
The alternative to life is death.
Not much of a life, but life is better than death.
"It beats the alternative" is a phrase I've used for many years, but I didn't know the origin. This Article gives a possible source.
Finally, I read a quote of Billy Casper’s, a really good golfer in the
1960’s. Age seemed to have brought upon him something known as
Furniture Disease. I think I have a little case of that. What may you
ask is Furniture Disease?
That’s the place and time in life that you get to when your chest
begins to slide into your drawers. Oh the woes of getting older; but
remember, it beats the alternative!
answered yesterday
djnadjna
5,622815
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
djnadjna
5,622815
answered yesterday
djnadjna
5,622815
answered yesterday
djnadjna
5,622815
5,622815
I agree with virolino's first version, it's not clear what's the alternative in the context provided. Why do you discard a different way of living as an alternative: wake, go to work, work, buy food, eat, more work, return home, buy more food, dinner, sleep.
– RubioRic
yesterday
2
Because "it's not much of a life but it beats the alternative" is a reference to an old joke.
– djna
yesterday
1
Ah, you think that it references "Getting old sucks ... but it beats the alternative"
– RubioRic
yesterday
Yes, I think the exact match of the phrasing is strongly suggestive!
– djna
yesterday
add a comment |
I agree with virolino's first version, it's not clear what's the alternative in the context provided. Why do you discard a different way of living as an alternative: wake, go to work, work, buy food, eat, more work, return home, buy more food, dinner, sleep.
– RubioRic
yesterday
2
Because "it's not much of a life but it beats the alternative" is a reference to an old joke.
– djna
yesterday
1
Ah, you think that it references "Getting old sucks ... but it beats the alternative"
– RubioRic
yesterday
Yes, I think the exact match of the phrasing is strongly suggestive!
– djna
yesterday
I agree with virolino's first version, it's not clear what's the alternative in the context provided. Why do you discard a different way of living as an alternative: wake, go to work, work, buy food, eat, more work, return home, buy more food, dinner, sleep.
– RubioRic
yesterday
I agree with virolino's first version, it's not clear what's the alternative in the context provided. Why do you discard a different way of living as an alternative: wake, go to work, work, buy food, eat, more work, return home, buy more food, dinner, sleep.
– RubioRic
yesterday
2
2
Because "it's not much of a life but it beats the alternative" is a reference to an old joke.
– djna
yesterday
Because "it's not much of a life but it beats the alternative" is a reference to an old joke.
– djna
yesterday
1
1
Ah, you think that it references "Getting old sucks ... but it beats the alternative"
– RubioRic
yesterday
Ah, you think that it references "Getting old sucks ... but it beats the alternative"
– RubioRic
yesterday
Yes, I think the exact match of the phrasing is strongly suggestive!
– djna
yesterday
Yes, I think the exact match of the phrasing is strongly suggestive!
– djna
yesterday
add a comment |
X beats Y
means
X is better than Y
In your example, "Wake,fish,eat,sleep" is better. However, the "Y" (the alternative) is missing (at least in your quote). Maybe Y = being dead.
Edited to add: I found the original page of the book. The meaning is obvious: there is no technology available, no supermarkets, no anything, except the water with fish. No fishing = no eating = death.
answered yesterday
virolinovirolino
1,574119
add a comment |
X beats Y
means
X is better than Y
In your example, "Wake,fish,eat,sleep" is better. However, the "Y" (the alternative) is missing (at least in your quote). Maybe Y = being dead.
Edited to add: I found the original page of the book. The meaning is obvious: there is no technology available, no supermarkets, no anything, except the water with fish. No fishing = no eating = death.
answered yesterday
virolinovirolino
1,574119
add a comment |
X beats Y
means
X is better than Y
In your example, "Wake,fish,eat,sleep" is better. However, the "Y" (the alternative) is missing (at least in your quote). Maybe Y = being dead.
Edited to add: I found the original page of the book. The meaning is obvious: there is no technology available, no supermarkets, no anything, except the water with fish. No fishing = no eating = death.
answered yesterday
virolinovirolino
1,574119
X beats Y
means
X is better than Y
In your example, "Wake,fish,eat,sleep" is better. However, the "Y" (the alternative) is missing (at least in your quote). Maybe Y = being dead.
Edited to add: I found the original page of the book. The meaning is obvious: there is no technology available, no supermarkets, no anything, except the water with fish. No fishing = no eating = death.
answered yesterday
virolinovirolino
1,574119
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
virolinovirolino
1,574119
answered yesterday
virolinovirolino
1,574119
answered yesterday
virolinovirolino
1,574119
1,574119
add a comment |
add a comment |
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This routine is not much of a life but is definitely better than death.
– Andrew Tobilko
yesterday
Someone said to Voltaire, "Life is hard." Voltaire replied, "Compared to what?" (Commonly attributed to the French philosopher)
– Ben
yesterday