and I "nearly missed" it, didn't I hit it?
2007-01-22 04:47:55 · 7 answers · asked by Jim C 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
sounds like you did.
2007-01-22 04:51:40 · answer #1 · answered by Habt our quell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's funny! Yeah, nearly miss and nearly hit should be opposites but in common usage are the same.
I'm supposing that when we say this and other phrases like it, we are taking the shortest route from a noun to a verb.
In this case, we want to take a "near miss" and make a verb (phrase) out of it, so instead of the tiresome, "I had a near miss when I shot that rocket at the airplane," we have your example.
Of course, you are paying attention and are wondering about the phrase "near miss," too. Right? Almost an oxymoron.
2007-01-22 12:56:57 · answer #2 · answered by writealready 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I suppose, because you nearly missed meaning you hit it. and you NEARLY missed, but you didn't actually miss. You still hit it.
2007-01-22 12:52:41 · answer #3 · answered by Joyce 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you 'nearly missed', you hit it. If you 'missed nearly', you missed it. Either way, you're going to Guantanamo.
2007-01-22 12:55:57 · answer #4 · answered by speakeasy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Crazy?
2007-01-22 12:50:30 · answer #5 · answered by Bruce C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nearly missed it? are you sure you didn't hit it? b/c if you did you could get in biggggggg trouble.... good luck on that one buddie...
2007-01-22 12:55:33 · answer #6 · answered by Yemi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no not unless you shot it down and it crashed
2007-01-22 12:51:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋