Difference between “They left him for dead.” and “They left him for death.”
As for me, "They left him for dead" seems to mean they thought he was dead and so they left.
"They left him for death" seems to mean either "they left him because they were afraid of being killed" or "they left him for the purpose of death"
Am I right?
Is there anyone who can clarify these two sentences?
meaning-in-context
asked Feb 15 at 13:44
Steve KimSteve Kim
10438
add a comment |
As for me, "They left him for dead" seems to mean they thought he was dead and so they left.
"They left him for death" seems to mean either "they left him because they were afraid of being killed" or "they left him for the purpose of death"
Am I right?
Is there anyone who can clarify these two sentences?
meaning-in-context
asked Feb 15 at 13:44
Steve KimSteve Kim
10438
1
Related post on the English site: What does “left for dead” mean?
– NotThatGuy
Feb 15 at 15:23
They left him for death is unidiomatic. It means: to think he was dead.
– Lambie
Feb 17 at 17:05
add a comment |
As for me, "They left him for dead" seems to mean they thought he was dead and so they left.
"They left him for death" seems to mean either "they left him because they were afraid of being killed" or "they left him for the purpose of death"
Am I right?
Is there anyone who can clarify these two sentences?
meaning-in-context
asked Feb 15 at 13:44
Steve KimSteve Kim
10438
As for me, "They left him for dead" seems to mean they thought he was dead and so they left.
"They left him for death" seems to mean either "they left him because they were afraid of being killed" or "they left him for the purpose of death"
Am I right?
Is there anyone who can clarify these two sentences?
meaning-in-context
meaning-in-context
asked Feb 15 at 13:44
Steve KimSteve Kim
10438
asked Feb 15 at 13:44
Steve KimSteve Kim
10438
asked Feb 15 at 13:44
Steve KimSteve Kim
10438
asked Feb 15 at 13:44
Steve KimSteve Kim
10438
asked Feb 15 at 13:44
Steve KimSteve Kim
10438
10438
1
Related post on the English site: What does “left for dead” mean?
– NotThatGuy
Feb 15 at 15:23
They left him for death is unidiomatic. It means: to think he was dead.
– Lambie
Feb 17 at 17:05
add a comment |
1
Related post on the English site: What does “left for dead” mean?
– NotThatGuy
Feb 15 at 15:23
They left him for death is unidiomatic. It means: to think he was dead.
– Lambie
Feb 17 at 17:05
1
1
Related post on the English site: What does “left for dead” mean?
– NotThatGuy
Feb 15 at 15:23
Related post on the English site: What does “left for dead” mean?
– NotThatGuy
Feb 15 at 15:23
They left him for death is unidiomatic. It means: to think he was dead.
– Lambie
Feb 17 at 17:05
They left him for death is unidiomatic. It means: to think he was dead.
– Lambie
Feb 17 at 17:05
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
"They left him for dead" is idiomatic and quite common in English literature. It does not mean that the person left was dead, but that he was left in a state in which death seemed likely, or they wrongly assumed he was dead. It is as if he was as good as dead.
A comparable sentence to "they left him for dead" might be "they took him for a fool", which means that "they" wrongly assumed he was a fool.
"They left him for death" is not something I have ever heard. Sometimes in literature "death" is personified, either as something like the mythical "grim reaper" or just as a metaphysical conceit. I suppose that if it was your intention to suggest that somebody had been left for a personified "death" to come for then you could use this, but it is not idiomatic and so my short answer would have to be that this is not correct. "Dead" is an adjective, whereas "death" is a noun (the state of being dead) so you just as you would not say "he is death" to mean they are dead, neither could you say that someone was assumed to be "death".
Lastly, if there is no assumption that the person is already dead and has been left "dying" (but it is assumed that he will die), the idiomatic phrase would be "they left him to die".
answered Feb 15 at 13:53
AstralbeeAstralbee
12k1045
7
The correct way of saying what I would assume you meant by "they left him for death" would be "they left him to die".
– CompuChip
Feb 15 at 14:25
1
@Kat Metaphysical conceit is the correct term.
– Théophile
Feb 15 at 18:37
1
I agree that mostly it just seems incorrect. Personified death is usually capitalized too, as in, "I turned around and saw Death. He was about 8 feet tall and looked like he could use a sandwich." As CompuChip says, we could reason out that they probably meant "They left him to die" but "they left him for death" is, at the very least, an unusual way to phrase it.
– JamieB
Feb 15 at 19:24
I agree but with regards to the second (...for death); I feel that a good scenario for this would be: That the subject of the statement is well but some impending disaster is about to befall and while others have issued a warning they will remain and death will take them. Still personification but a possible distinction being leaving someone to die of injuries verses leaving someone to their own folly.
– Quaternion
Feb 15 at 22:31
The opposite interpretation of "left him for death" is possible: one member of a group of suicide bombers chickened out of the mission, but the others continued their jouney to the target location.
– alephzero
Feb 16 at 11:26
|
show 2 more comments
"They left him for dead" means that they assumed that he was dead and left him
"They left him for death" means that they left him to let him die.
In both cases they do not offer any help and it seems intentional in the first case and unintentional in the second.
That's how I take it.
answered Feb 16 at 12:39
Jeet JainJeet Jain
1
New contributor
Jeet Jain is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
"to leave for dead"
to abandon someone or something believing that they are dead, even though they may still be alive
Two friends are talking ...
Friend 1: Why are you so happy? Did you win the lottery?
Friend 2: Something like that. I had bought some stock in a company many years ago and then the company got into some serious trouble and the share price plummeted to almost nothing. I left it for dead and never really thought about it again until yesterday when I received a letter in the mail informing me that the company had recovered and that my stock was now worth more than ten times what I paid for it.
Friend 1: Wow. That's great news. <br>
answered Feb 17 at 14:57
RobertRobert
193
New contributor
Robert is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
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"They left him for dead" is idiomatic and quite common in English literature. It does not mean that the person left was dead, but that he was left in a state in which death seemed likely, or they wrongly assumed he was dead. It is as if he was as good as dead.
A comparable sentence to "they left him for dead" might be "they took him for a fool", which means that "they" wrongly assumed he was a fool.
"They left him for death" is not something I have ever heard. Sometimes in literature "death" is personified, either as something like the mythical "grim reaper" or just as a metaphysical conceit. I suppose that if it was your intention to suggest that somebody had been left for a personified "death" to come for then you could use this, but it is not idiomatic and so my short answer would have to be that this is not correct. "Dead" is an adjective, whereas "death" is a noun (the state of being dead) so you just as you would not say "he is death" to mean they are dead, neither could you say that someone was assumed to be "death".
Lastly, if there is no assumption that the person is already dead and has been left "dying" (but it is assumed that he will die), the idiomatic phrase would be "they left him to die".
answered Feb 15 at 13:53
AstralbeeAstralbee
12k1045
7
The correct way of saying what I would assume you meant by "they left him for death" would be "they left him to die".
– CompuChip
Feb 15 at 14:25
1
@Kat Metaphysical conceit is the correct term.
– Théophile
Feb 15 at 18:37
1
I agree that mostly it just seems incorrect. Personified death is usually capitalized too, as in, "I turned around and saw Death. He was about 8 feet tall and looked like he could use a sandwich." As CompuChip says, we could reason out that they probably meant "They left him to die" but "they left him for death" is, at the very least, an unusual way to phrase it.
– JamieB
Feb 15 at 19:24
I agree but with regards to the second (...for death); I feel that a good scenario for this would be: That the subject of the statement is well but some impending disaster is about to befall and while others have issued a warning they will remain and death will take them. Still personification but a possible distinction being leaving someone to die of injuries verses leaving someone to their own folly.
– Quaternion
Feb 15 at 22:31
The opposite interpretation of "left him for death" is possible: one member of a group of suicide bombers chickened out of the mission, but the others continued their jouney to the target location.
– alephzero
Feb 16 at 11:26
|
show 2 more comments
"They left him for dead" is idiomatic and quite common in English literature. It does not mean that the person left was dead, but that he was left in a state in which death seemed likely, or they wrongly assumed he was dead. It is as if he was as good as dead.
A comparable sentence to "they left him for dead" might be "they took him for a fool", which means that "they" wrongly assumed he was a fool.
"They left him for death" is not something I have ever heard. Sometimes in literature "death" is personified, either as something like the mythical "grim reaper" or just as a metaphysical conceit. I suppose that if it was your intention to suggest that somebody had been left for a personified "death" to come for then you could use this, but it is not idiomatic and so my short answer would have to be that this is not correct. "Dead" is an adjective, whereas "death" is a noun (the state of being dead) so you just as you would not say "he is death" to mean they are dead, neither could you say that someone was assumed to be "death".
Lastly, if there is no assumption that the person is already dead and has been left "dying" (but it is assumed that he will die), the idiomatic phrase would be "they left him to die".
answered Feb 15 at 13:53
AstralbeeAstralbee
12k1045
7
The correct way of saying what I would assume you meant by "they left him for death" would be "they left him to die".
– CompuChip
Feb 15 at 14:25
1
@Kat Metaphysical conceit is the correct term.
– Théophile
Feb 15 at 18:37
1
I agree that mostly it just seems incorrect. Personified death is usually capitalized too, as in, "I turned around and saw Death. He was about 8 feet tall and looked like he could use a sandwich." As CompuChip says, we could reason out that they probably meant "They left him to die" but "they left him for death" is, at the very least, an unusual way to phrase it.
– JamieB
Feb 15 at 19:24
I agree but with regards to the second (...for death); I feel that a good scenario for this would be: That the subject of the statement is well but some impending disaster is about to befall and while others have issued a warning they will remain and death will take them. Still personification but a possible distinction being leaving someone to die of injuries verses leaving someone to their own folly.
– Quaternion
Feb 15 at 22:31
The opposite interpretation of "left him for death" is possible: one member of a group of suicide bombers chickened out of the mission, but the others continued their jouney to the target location.
– alephzero
Feb 16 at 11:26
|
show 2 more comments
"They left him for dead" is idiomatic and quite common in English literature. It does not mean that the person left was dead, but that he was left in a state in which death seemed likely, or they wrongly assumed he was dead. It is as if he was as good as dead.
A comparable sentence to "they left him for dead" might be "they took him for a fool", which means that "they" wrongly assumed he was a fool.
"They left him for death" is not something I have ever heard. Sometimes in literature "death" is personified, either as something like the mythical "grim reaper" or just as a metaphysical conceit. I suppose that if it was your intention to suggest that somebody had been left for a personified "death" to come for then you could use this, but it is not idiomatic and so my short answer would have to be that this is not correct. "Dead" is an adjective, whereas "death" is a noun (the state of being dead) so you just as you would not say "he is death" to mean they are dead, neither could you say that someone was assumed to be "death".
Lastly, if there is no assumption that the person is already dead and has been left "dying" (but it is assumed that he will die), the idiomatic phrase would be "they left him to die".
answered Feb 15 at 13:53
AstralbeeAstralbee
12k1045
"They left him for dead" is idiomatic and quite common in English literature. It does not mean that the person left was dead, but that he was left in a state in which death seemed likely, or they wrongly assumed he was dead. It is as if he was as good as dead.
A comparable sentence to "they left him for dead" might be "they took him for a fool", which means that "they" wrongly assumed he was a fool.
"They left him for death" is not something I have ever heard. Sometimes in literature "death" is personified, either as something like the mythical "grim reaper" or just as a metaphysical conceit. I suppose that if it was your intention to suggest that somebody had been left for a personified "death" to come for then you could use this, but it is not idiomatic and so my short answer would have to be that this is not correct. "Dead" is an adjective, whereas "death" is a noun (the state of being dead) so you just as you would not say "he is death" to mean they are dead, neither could you say that someone was assumed to be "death".
Lastly, if there is no assumption that the person is already dead and has been left "dying" (but it is assumed that he will die), the idiomatic phrase would be "they left him to die".
answered Feb 15 at 13:53
AstralbeeAstralbee
12k1045
edited Feb 15 at 14:42
answered Feb 15 at 13:53
AstralbeeAstralbee
12k1045
answered Feb 15 at 13:53
AstralbeeAstralbee
12k1045
answered Feb 15 at 13:53
AstralbeeAstralbee
12k1045
12k1045
7
The correct way of saying what I would assume you meant by "they left him for death" would be "they left him to die".
– CompuChip
Feb 15 at 14:25
1
@Kat Metaphysical conceit is the correct term.
– Théophile
Feb 15 at 18:37
1
I agree that mostly it just seems incorrect. Personified death is usually capitalized too, as in, "I turned around and saw Death. He was about 8 feet tall and looked like he could use a sandwich." As CompuChip says, we could reason out that they probably meant "They left him to die" but "they left him for death" is, at the very least, an unusual way to phrase it.
– JamieB
Feb 15 at 19:24
I agree but with regards to the second (...for death); I feel that a good scenario for this would be: That the subject of the statement is well but some impending disaster is about to befall and while others have issued a warning they will remain and death will take them. Still personification but a possible distinction being leaving someone to die of injuries verses leaving someone to their own folly.
– Quaternion
Feb 15 at 22:31
The opposite interpretation of "left him for death" is possible: one member of a group of suicide bombers chickened out of the mission, but the others continued their jouney to the target location.
– alephzero
Feb 16 at 11:26
|
show 2 more comments
7
The correct way of saying what I would assume you meant by "they left him for death" would be "they left him to die".
– CompuChip
Feb 15 at 14:25
1
@Kat Metaphysical conceit is the correct term.
– Théophile
Feb 15 at 18:37
1
I agree that mostly it just seems incorrect. Personified death is usually capitalized too, as in, "I turned around and saw Death. He was about 8 feet tall and looked like he could use a sandwich." As CompuChip says, we could reason out that they probably meant "They left him to die" but "they left him for death" is, at the very least, an unusual way to phrase it.
– JamieB
Feb 15 at 19:24
I agree but with regards to the second (...for death); I feel that a good scenario for this would be: That the subject of the statement is well but some impending disaster is about to befall and while others have issued a warning they will remain and death will take them. Still personification but a possible distinction being leaving someone to die of injuries verses leaving someone to their own folly.
– Quaternion
Feb 15 at 22:31
The opposite interpretation of "left him for death" is possible: one member of a group of suicide bombers chickened out of the mission, but the others continued their jouney to the target location.
– alephzero
Feb 16 at 11:26
7
7
The correct way of saying what I would assume you meant by "they left him for death" would be "they left him to die".
– CompuChip
Feb 15 at 14:25
The correct way of saying what I would assume you meant by "they left him for death" would be "they left him to die".
– CompuChip
Feb 15 at 14:25
1
1
@Kat Metaphysical conceit is the correct term.
– Théophile
Feb 15 at 18:37
@Kat Metaphysical conceit is the correct term.
– Théophile
Feb 15 at 18:37
1
1
I agree that mostly it just seems incorrect. Personified death is usually capitalized too, as in, "I turned around and saw Death. He was about 8 feet tall and looked like he could use a sandwich." As CompuChip says, we could reason out that they probably meant "They left him to die" but "they left him for death" is, at the very least, an unusual way to phrase it.
– JamieB
Feb 15 at 19:24
I agree that mostly it just seems incorrect. Personified death is usually capitalized too, as in, "I turned around and saw Death. He was about 8 feet tall and looked like he could use a sandwich." As CompuChip says, we could reason out that they probably meant "They left him to die" but "they left him for death" is, at the very least, an unusual way to phrase it.
– JamieB
Feb 15 at 19:24
I agree but with regards to the second (...for death); I feel that a good scenario for this would be: That the subject of the statement is well but some impending disaster is about to befall and while others have issued a warning they will remain and death will take them. Still personification but a possible distinction being leaving someone to die of injuries verses leaving someone to their own folly.
– Quaternion
Feb 15 at 22:31
I agree but with regards to the second (...for death); I feel that a good scenario for this would be: That the subject of the statement is well but some impending disaster is about to befall and while others have issued a warning they will remain and death will take them. Still personification but a possible distinction being leaving someone to die of injuries verses leaving someone to their own folly.
– Quaternion
Feb 15 at 22:31
The opposite interpretation of "left him for death" is possible: one member of a group of suicide bombers chickened out of the mission, but the others continued their jouney to the target location.
– alephzero
Feb 16 at 11:26
The opposite interpretation of "left him for death" is possible: one member of a group of suicide bombers chickened out of the mission, but the others continued their jouney to the target location.
– alephzero
Feb 16 at 11:26
|
show 2 more comments
"They left him for dead" means that they assumed that he was dead and left him
"They left him for death" means that they left him to let him die.
In both cases they do not offer any help and it seems intentional in the first case and unintentional in the second.
That's how I take it.
answered Feb 16 at 12:39
Jeet JainJeet Jain
1
New contributor
Jeet Jain is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
"They left him for dead" means that they assumed that he was dead and left him
"They left him for death" means that they left him to let him die.
In both cases they do not offer any help and it seems intentional in the first case and unintentional in the second.
That's how I take it.
answered Feb 16 at 12:39
Jeet JainJeet Jain
1
New contributor
Jeet Jain is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
"They left him for dead" means that they assumed that he was dead and left him
"They left him for death" means that they left him to let him die.
In both cases they do not offer any help and it seems intentional in the first case and unintentional in the second.
That's how I take it.
answered Feb 16 at 12:39
Jeet JainJeet Jain
1
New contributor
Jeet Jain is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"They left him for dead" means that they assumed that he was dead and left him
"They left him for death" means that they left him to let him die.
In both cases they do not offer any help and it seems intentional in the first case and unintentional in the second.
That's how I take it.
answered Feb 16 at 12:39
Jeet JainJeet Jain
1
New contributor
Jeet Jain is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Feb 16 at 12:39
Jeet JainJeet Jain
1
New contributor
Jeet Jain is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered Feb 16 at 12:39
Jeet JainJeet Jain
1
answered Feb 16 at 12:39
Jeet JainJeet Jain
1
1
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New contributor
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
Jeet Jain is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
add a comment |
"to leave for dead"
to abandon someone or something believing that they are dead, even though they may still be alive
Two friends are talking ...
Friend 1: Why are you so happy? Did you win the lottery?
Friend 2: Something like that. I had bought some stock in a company many years ago and then the company got into some serious trouble and the share price plummeted to almost nothing. I left it for dead and never really thought about it again until yesterday when I received a letter in the mail informing me that the company had recovered and that my stock was now worth more than ten times what I paid for it.
Friend 1: Wow. That's great news. <br>
answered Feb 17 at 14:57
RobertRobert
193
New contributor
Robert is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
"to leave for dead"
to abandon someone or something believing that they are dead, even though they may still be alive
Two friends are talking ...
Friend 1: Why are you so happy? Did you win the lottery?
Friend 2: Something like that. I had bought some stock in a company many years ago and then the company got into some serious trouble and the share price plummeted to almost nothing. I left it for dead and never really thought about it again until yesterday when I received a letter in the mail informing me that the company had recovered and that my stock was now worth more than ten times what I paid for it.
Friend 1: Wow. That's great news. <br>
answered Feb 17 at 14:57
RobertRobert
193
New contributor
Robert is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
"to leave for dead"
to abandon someone or something believing that they are dead, even though they may still be alive
Two friends are talking ...
Friend 1: Why are you so happy? Did you win the lottery?
Friend 2: Something like that. I had bought some stock in a company many years ago and then the company got into some serious trouble and the share price plummeted to almost nothing. I left it for dead and never really thought about it again until yesterday when I received a letter in the mail informing me that the company had recovered and that my stock was now worth more than ten times what I paid for it.
Friend 1: Wow. That's great news. <br>
answered Feb 17 at 14:57
RobertRobert
193
New contributor
Robert is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"to leave for dead"
to abandon someone or something believing that they are dead, even though they may still be alive
Two friends are talking ...
Friend 1: Why are you so happy? Did you win the lottery?
Friend 2: Something like that. I had bought some stock in a company many years ago and then the company got into some serious trouble and the share price plummeted to almost nothing. I left it for dead and never really thought about it again until yesterday when I received a letter in the mail informing me that the company had recovered and that my stock was now worth more than ten times what I paid for it.
Friend 1: Wow. That's great news. <br>
answered Feb 17 at 14:57
RobertRobert
193
New contributor
Robert is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Feb 17 at 14:57
RobertRobert
193
New contributor
Robert is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Feb 17 at 14:57
RobertRobert
193
answered Feb 17 at 14:57
RobertRobert
193
193
New contributor
Robert is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Robert is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Robert is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Related post on the English site: What does “left for dead” mean?
– NotThatGuy
Feb 15 at 15:23
They left him for death is unidiomatic. It means: to think he was dead.
– Lambie
Feb 17 at 17:05