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Re: The...the...

From:Tim May <butsuri@...>
Date:Wednesday, April 26, 2006, 8:20
caeruleancentaur wrote at 2006-04-25 17:03:41 (-0000)
 > Sally Caves <scaves@...> wrote:
 >
 >
 > >The higher the lower.   Makes no sense--in English.
 >
 > The higher the pole vaulter went, the lower the spirits of the
 > opposition sank.
 >
 > It really does depend on context.  :-)
 >
 > Charlie

I don't think that's what Sally meant.  Certainly you can use "the
higher the X, the lower the Y" in context, but I don't think you _can_
ever say "the higher the lower" as you can "the more the merrier" or
"the sooner the better".

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Roger Mills <rfmilly@...>The...the... (and other comparisons)