Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
couldn\'t look my husband or my parents nearly knowing that
English answer:
nearly = in the eye
Added to glossary by
Phong Le
Dec 12, 2013 12:58
10 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
couldn't look my husband or my parents nearly knowing that
English
Bus/Financial
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
We talked about the order, and then he asked me for the favor.
He says he’s very very close to getting a massive construction contract with the local government.
He just needs to convince the decision maker that his company is the best one for the job.
So, he wants two things from me;
first he wants me to ask my brother‐in‐law to support the application, and he also told me
there is this marketing fund which a few other people have contributed to, and it is this money
that will help clinch the deal.
I didn’t want to say no immediately, he is my third biggest customer.
But the marketing fund? It just didn’t feel right.
Now he said that the money would be for the head of planning, my brother‐in‐law, to help him make the right decision.
He said he’d be ever so grateful if I could help.
I felt really awkward especially involving my brother‐in‐law.
Ultimately I was being asked to contribute to a bribe.
I know these things happen, but I pride myself from working ethically and within the law.
It’s not the first time I’ve been tempted, but I couldn't look my husband or my parents nearly
knowing that I’ve done this.
He says he’s very very close to getting a massive construction contract with the local government.
He just needs to convince the decision maker that his company is the best one for the job.
So, he wants two things from me;
first he wants me to ask my brother‐in‐law to support the application, and he also told me
there is this marketing fund which a few other people have contributed to, and it is this money
that will help clinch the deal.
I didn’t want to say no immediately, he is my third biggest customer.
But the marketing fund? It just didn’t feel right.
Now he said that the money would be for the head of planning, my brother‐in‐law, to help him make the right decision.
He said he’d be ever so grateful if I could help.
I felt really awkward especially involving my brother‐in‐law.
Ultimately I was being asked to contribute to a bribe.
I know these things happen, but I pride myself from working ethically and within the law.
It’s not the first time I’ve been tempted, but I couldn't look my husband or my parents nearly
knowing that I’ve done this.
Responses
+9
3 mins
Selected
nearly = in the eye
replace "nearly" with "in the eye" and it makes sense.
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Note added at 10 hrs (2013-12-12 23:12:29 GMT)
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My responses below to peer comments are not intended to be in any way insulting, personal or directed towards the commenters.
Responses like mine crop up all over this place.
But WHY? They only detract from the level of professionalism.
Do contributors want to become popular by brown-nosing everyone?
Now be well! I insist!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2013-12-12 23:12:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
My responses below to peer comments are not intended to be in any way insulting, personal or directed towards the commenters.
Responses like mine crop up all over this place.
But WHY? They only detract from the level of professionalism.
Do contributors want to become popular by brown-nosing everyone?
Now be well! I insist!
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Charles Davis
34 mins
|
Oh thank you so much Charles, hope your dreams come true.
|
|
agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: :-)
38 mins
|
Oh Gallagy, be well, please
|
|
agree |
Victoria Britten
: Or "in the face", cf.1045's answer
1 hr
|
Yes, amazing, may the sun keep shining on you
|
|
agree |
Stephanie Ezrol
: Very clearly "in the eye" on the video
1 hr
|
Now, that's so special, thank you ever so much.
|
|
agree |
Arabic & More
: Yes, especially after listening to the video.
1 hr
|
Wow, such insight. Amel for president. :-)
|
|
agree |
Terry Richards
2 hrs
|
You're so wise. :-)
|
|
agree |
Ashutosh Mitra
4 hrs
|
and please have a wonderful Friday
|
|
agree |
Peter Simon
: But sorry, it's not about 'not by a native', but by sb not speaking good enough E
9 hrs
|
cough, how's the rash? :-)
|
|
agree |
Tony M
: Now we know it's a transcription error, that explains the fault mechanism.
2 days 6 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
46 mins
I couldn't look AT my husband or my parents IN THE FACE, knowing that I'D DONE THIS.
IMHO, this 'sounds' better in all variants of the English language ...
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Victoria Britten
: Partly: "look X & Y in the face, knowing..." OR "look at X & Y, knowing..." (I prefer the first).
17 mins
|
Merci Victoria pour votre opinion ...
|
|
agree |
Terry Richards
: I think it would be slightly better without the "AT" but it's the right general idea.
42 mins
|
Thank you Terry ...
|
Discussion
In fact, the vital extra context we were all missing here was the fact that this was originally a SOUNDTRACK, and so what we are dealing with is a transcription error — which of course opens up all sorts of new possiiblities!
I have to admit I am still slightly puzzled how anyone could mistake the -iy sound of 'eye' for the '-ee' sound of '-ly'...
Check it out:
http://youtu.be/3NHeb03L7q4
I can imagine that 'nearly' might have been a transcription error for 'merely'; but even so, "couldn't look my husband..." just doesn't make sense. The more usual expression would be: "I couldn't look my husband or my parents in the eye/face knowing that I’ve done this."
I think you must have a text written by a non-native speaker (cf. also "Knowing that I've done this..." instead of 'knowing I'd done this...'
In which case, 'nearly' would need to be interpreted as 'meet the gaze of...' — in other words, I couldn't look them straight in the eye.