On 2007-05-16, Alex Martelli <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Aldo Cortesi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>> Thus spake Steven D'Aprano ([EMAIL PROTECTED]):
>>
>> > Perhaps you aren't aware that doing something "by eye" is idiomatic
>> > English for doing it quickly, roughly, imprecisely. It is the opposite of
>> > taking the time and effort to do the job carefully and accurately. If you
>> > measure something "by eye", you just look at it and take a guess.
>>
>> Well, Steve, speaking as someone not entirely unfamiliar with idiomatic
>> English, I can say with some confidence that that's complete and utter
>> bollocks (idomatic usage for "nonsense", by the way). To do something "by
>> eye" means nothing more nor less than doing it visually. Unless you can
>> provide a citation to the contrary, please move on from this petty little
>> point of yours, and try to make a substantial technical argument instead.
>
> I can't find any reference for Steven's alleged idiomatic use of "by
> eye", either -- _however_, my wife Anna (an American from Minnesota)
> came up with exactly the same meaning when I asked her if "by eye" had
> any idiomatic connotations, so I suspect it is indeed there, at least in
> the Midwest.
That's what it means to me (I'm also from the upper midwest).
One also hears the phrase "eyeball it" the the same context:
"You don't need to measure that, just eyeball it."
--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! BARBARA STANWYCK
at makes me nervous!!
visi.com
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