two questions

[butter_fly]

1. I was told I got my knickers in a twist - that's when I got furious. But
after a while I thought it would be good to find out about the origin of this
saying. Any idea?

2. 'I hadn't enough money to live on.' Is that correct?

[Gość: asha]

1. I haven't got an idea as to the origins of this saying but the second
question should be - I haven't enough money to live on
or
I haven't got enough money to live on.
Hope that's OK

[butter_fly]

Gość portalu: asha napisał(a):

> 1. I haven't got an idea as to the origins of this saying but the second
> question should be - I haven't enough money to live on
> or
> I haven't got enough money to live on.
> Hope that's OK


Fine but my sentence was in the past: "I hadn't"

[Gość: asha]

Yes you're right - the sentence is correct if you you are talking about the
past.

[Gość: etbl]

Then you should say:

"I didn't have enough money to live on."

[butter_fly]

Gość portalu: etbl napisał(a):

> Then you should say:
>
> "I didn't have enough money to live on."

Thanks! That's what I thought but then I found it in Martinet's book. (He
hadn't much money.) Any comments now?

[Gość: NorthAmerican]

didn't have American English
hadn't British English

[Gość: NorthAmerican]

You can also consider using "for living" instead of "to live on" (but yours is
correct AFAIK)

[Gość: awalk]

butter_fly napisała:

> 1. I was told I got my knickers in a twist - that's when I got furious. But
> after a while I thought it would be good to find out about the origin of this
> saying. Any idea?
>
> 2. 'I hadn't enough money to live on.' Is that correct?

1. Why did you get furious?
hmm... I don't know the origin but here is the meaning of this expression:
(UK and ANZ informal humorous) If you get your knickers in a twist, you become confused, worried or annoyed about something.
Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, let me explain the situation.

2. It is correct but used in older English.
Nowadays 'I hadn't got' or 'I didn't have' is used.

[butter_fly]

Gość portalu: awalk napisał(a):
> 1. Why did you get furious?

Because I was already angry, worried and upset and his telling me I was angry,
worried and upset made me even more so. That's how things work.
> hmm... I don't know the origin but here is the meaning of this expression:
> (UK and ANZ informal humorous) If you get your knickers in a twist, you
become
> confused, worried or annoyed about something.
> Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, let me explain the situation.
>
> 2. It is correct but used in older English.
> Nowadays 'I hadn't got' or 'I didn't have' is used.

Yes, thanks

[Gość: awalk]

Yes, one can get furious in such circumstances.

I haven't found the origin but I've found some synonims. Perhaps they'll help
in your search. One thing is for sure these expressions are really humorous. :)

panties in a ruffle expr n :
syn. knickers in a twist, boxers in a bunch, panties all bunched up, panties in
a knot, jock in a bind.

[Gość: wierzbowa]

To have knickers in a twist – it’s Scottish idiom, you could translate it as –
“nie denerwuj sie”

[tynski]

butter_fly napisała:


> 2. 'I hadn't enough money to live on.' Is that correct?


Absolutely.
It implies that you were poor and that your being poor was a permanent state,
at least at that time.


Think about these:

We hadn't any money so I didn't go to college.

Our neighbors had houses, cars, horses.... We hadn't any money and I felt I
didn't belong in the neighborhood.


The fact remains that "I didn't have enough enough money to live on." is more
likely in AmE in the same circumstances.

[Gość: steph]

'I didn't have enough money' is also much more likely in British English. In
fact, I don't believe anyone would say 'I hadn't/hadn't got'. Grammar correct
but usage obsolete at the best.

[Gość: steph]

As to the 'knickers in a twist' it apparently originates from the 1970s
British TV programme for kids 'The Basil Brush Show'.
'Don't get your tits in a tangle' is similar though the origin seems unknown.

[zegar4]

Gość portalu: steph napisał(a):

> 'I didn't have enough money' is also much more likely in British English. In
> fact, I don't believe anyone would say 'I hadn't/hadn't got'. Grammar correct
> but usage obsolete at the best.


Just out of curiosity, I've googled for "hadn't any".
Guess what, more than fourteen thousand showed up.

Here are some of them, to the point:

I hadn't any money for a lawyer, just a law student, and he helped me.

Now I've been broke I hadn't any money
Without a penny in your pocket it just ain't funny
You've got to toe the line and earn yourself a dime

I am delighted the idea has been taken seriously.
I did the preliminary tests to make sure the trees survived the fall,
and it all worked. But I hadn't any money for a development budget.

Some archaism.
I bet you can run across an "I hadn't any..." more often than the "Grammar
correct but usage obsolete at the best."