In discussing our plans to go to lunch today, I and a fellow teacher were trying to decide whether or not to go on foot. The distance to the restaurant is quite walkable, but just far enough so that the limited time we get for lunch grows short. She said, "so it's closer by car then?" I readily agreed.
At that moment I recalled that I've heard that expression a great deal in my time here. It's closer by car. The fact of the matter is, of course the restaurant gets no closer if we go by car; it's not like us taking a car prompts the destination to spontaneously move closer to the starting point.
Of course in English we say "it's faster to get there by car." In Japanese, many people say "it's closer."
Nothing special, just a smile-inducing observation. I'll admit the idea of the restaurant growing a pair of enormous bird legs was appealing.
Comments
I got 43 Ghits on "closer by car"; I didn't examine each one but it seems, roughly, that maybe half of them are used in the same sense as here.
Of course it's more correct to say "faster by car" than "closer", but the latter doesn't bother me that much; in fact, it seems a fairly accurate depiction of the perceived experience.
I'm more interested though in why you imagine the restaurant growing legs. Especially bird legs.
???
Posted by: Ibadairon | May 27, 2006 12:52 PM
You have to admit, bird legs are pretty interesting to imagine when sprouting from inanimate objects (especially large ones!).
Posted by: Justin | May 28, 2006 8:40 PM
Especially large birds legs or especially large objects?
Posted by: Ibadairon | May 29, 2006 9:35 PM
I think for them to be physically possible, they would have to be especially large bird legs to support an especially large object...no?
Posted by: Justin | May 30, 2006 5:26 PM