Have you ever ever heard a word that you simply didn’t perceive? Or, worse, a word that you simply idea you understood however that became out to mean the other?
This may occasionally appear not going, however the truth is it’s rather conventional. The vintage instance is “actually,” which at the start supposed that one thing in truth took place however now regularly method the other.
In a sizzling minute has additionally modified in the similar approach.
These days, we’ll have a look at every other word that follows this trend, “what a time to be alive.”
What’s the meaning of the word “what a time to be alive”?
The word “what a time to be alive” can be used sincerely or satirically. Used sincerely, it method somebody is amazed by way of a technological or social advance. Satirically, the word can be used to make amusing of one thing they believe to be a ridiculous use of generation or a regressive social exchange.
The grammar of “what a time to be alive”
To start with look, “what a time to be alive” may appear to be simplest part a sentence. (In grammatical phrases, now not a clause however a word.) The place is the topic? The thing? There’s slightly even a verb.
Grammatically talking, this word has a darkish secret: its awkward phraseology accommodates what is basically a dummy topic.
That may make you extra at a loss for words than you already are, however endure with us. We’ll quickly free up this grammar thriller.
In English, dummy topics are such things as “there” or “is” that stand in when a sentence would another way sound extraordinary.
The usual instance is “There’s a particular person out of doors to see you.” Right here, it is advisable simply as simply say “A particular person is out of doors to see you.”
In “what a time to be alive,” the phrase “what” fills a an identical position. Necessarily, this is equal to pronouncing “what a time it’s to be alive.”
Any time you spot “what” used firstly of a sentence like this, it doesn’t simply suggest “it’s.” The phrase additionally acts as an intensifier, suggesting that some high quality is excessive.
For instance, “what a man” in point of fact method “What a nice man he’s.”
Now that we’ve tackled the tough grammar of “what a time to be alive,” you almost certainly have already got a just right thought of its meaning.
However wait! There’s extra! Let’s take a have a look at the two techniques this word can be used.
The unique meaning of “what a time to be alive”
The oldest examples of “what a time to be alive” date to the early twentieth century, when Hugh Walpole wrote a e book known as The Younger Enchanted.
In that e book, a personality known as Peter will get a task as a newspaper editor.
Stuffed with pleasure on the form his lifestyles is taking, he appears out on the international, coated in daylight and chance, and says “What a time to be alive in!”
The use of this word nowadays carries a an identical meaning. Typically, you’ll be able to suppose of this word as meaning one thing like “Lifestyles is excellent and I’m so satisfied to be right here.”
On the other hand, nowadays it virtually all the time refers to some type of technological or social advance fairly than simply somebody being stuffed with hope about their occupation possibilities.
Any individual witnessing life-changing generation for the primary time or seeing one thing that they believe socially and politically is much more likely to use this than somebody getting a promotion for realizing the meaning of aggressive parity in strategic control.
Let’s have a look at some examples.
Instance Sentences
“These days, magnificence, we’ll be splitting atoms with this transportable accelerator.”
“Splitting atoms? Holy cow, what a time to be alive!”
Right here, the scholar expresses how surprised they’re at what science has achieved.
“In case you take into accounts it, the web is type of insane. You’ll glance up billions of items of knowledge with out even leaving your house.”
“And nowadays, you’ll be able to even do it on a telephone the dimensions of your hand. What a time to be alive!”
On this instance, the second one speaker expresses a an identical type of amazement at what the web and cellphones will let you do.
Ironic makes use of of “what a time to be alive”
To recap, the word “what a time to be alive” at the start supposed one thing like “Wow, I’m so happy I’m alive to see this.”
On the other hand, over time the word has taken on an extra meaning which is the complete opposite.
In different phrases, you’ll be able to additionally use the word “what a time to be alive” to categorical how a lot of a waste of time and sources one thing is.
That is normally used for generation that turns out spectacular however is in point of fact needless.
The truth that this expression can mean two reverse issues may appear complicated.
On the other hand, it’s beautiful simple to inform what meaning is meant
Instance Sentences
“Did you spot that business? They’re promoting a toaster that connects to your wireless and sends you a textual content message when your toast is burning.”
“Burnt toast notifications… What a time to be alive.”
Wireless enabled toasters are a nice instance of unnecessarily sophisticated generation.
Does any one in point of fact want that?
The second one speaker on this instance without a doubt thinks that the one actual query right here is whether or not to use cringy vs cringey.
Whats up fellow !! It’s me, James. I’m the proud proprietor of uggscanadaugg.ca. Languages have all the time been my interest and I’ve studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology on the College of USA. It’s my utmost excitement to proportion with all of you guys what I find out about languages and linguistics on the whole.
