Albeit, the term "abandon" has an honourable history as synonym for Rome's 5th-century retreat from BritainFunny how the site says that in 1782 "Britain abandons its American colonies." Should read, Brits were sent a packin' with fannies to match their coats.
http://www.englishclub.com/english-language-history.htm
Britain abandons its American colonies
Moderator: EC
- Joe
- Admin/Teacher
- Posts: 1797
- Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:56 am
- Status: Teacher of English
- Location: England
Britain abandons its American colonies
The following comment was received from Luis, a learner of English in the USA:
- seanhcthsn
- Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 1:48 am
- Status: Teacher of English
Re: Britain abandons its American colonies
That's true the Brits were sent a packin! Happy 4th of July. Happy learning to everyone.Josef wrote:The following comment was received from Luis, a learner of English in the USA:
Albeit, the term "abandon" has an honourable history as synonym for Rome's 5th-century retreat from BritainFunny how the site says that in 1782 "Britain abandons its American colonies." Should read, Brits were sent a packin' with fannies to match their coats.
http://www.englishclub.com/english-language-history.htm
-
- Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 6:43 pm
- Status: Learner of English
Re: Britain abandons its American colonies
Nice! Yes, I would say letting the British off the hook by using the term 'abandons' definitely does not accurately reflect what took place. I believe a bit of a struggle took place before the Red Coats just volutarily packed up their stuff and "abandoned" the colonies...I could be wrong ;)
- Joe
- Admin/Teacher
- Posts: 1797
- Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:56 am
- Status: Teacher of English
- Location: England
Re: Britain abandons its American colonies
It's really all down to the age-old inability of Americans to understand (British) understatement. There's an important language point in there somewhere.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood
eBooks: English Prepositions List | Essential Business Words | Learn English in Seven
eBooks: English Prepositions List | Essential Business Words | Learn English in Seven