English/grammar question

lawguy

lawguy

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I'm having a discussion with a family member regarding the phrase:

"She doesn't suffer fools lightly."

Is that phrase grammatically correct and proper, or not? Thanks.
 
ut0pia

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I think it's gramatically correct but it doesn't make sense ot me
but of course those are two separate things...
 
natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by ut0pia

I think it's gramatically correct but it doesn't make sense ot me
but of course those are two separate things...
Click to expand...
It means that the person doesn't have much patience for someone who is being foolish.

I think the actual phrase uses the word "gladly" and not "lightly" and I think it comes from the Bible. Don't know what book or verse though.
 
ut0pia

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

It means that the person doesn't have much patience for someone who is being foolish.

I think the actual phrase uses the word "gladly" and not "lightly" and I think it comes from the Bible. Don't know what book or verse though.
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Oh, I was confused because it seemed like "suffering lightly" is an oxymoron?? since suffer means going through something painful or difficult, how can you possibly do that lightly since lightly refers to something enjoyable or easy??

But I guess what you said makes sense now, since I guess there could be different degrees of suffering, one easier or lighter than another
 
laureen227

laureen227

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Originally Posted by ut0pia

Oh, I was confused because it seemed like "suffering lightly" is an oxymoron?? since suffer means going through something painful or difficult, how can you possibly do that lightly since lightly refers to something enjoyable or easy??

But I guess what you said makes sense now, since I guess there could be different degrees of suffering, one easier or lighter than another
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also, there's a negative in the sentence. therefore, she does NOT suffer fools lightly - i guess, instead, she suffers them HEAVILY?
 
threecatowner

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Originally Posted by LDG

"She" is the subject, "does suffer" is a compound verb. "Not" and "lightly" are adverbs, and fools is the object.
Click to expand...
Thank you, LDG - you took me back to English class 1975ish with that sentence diagramming!
:
 
mrblanche

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In this case, "suffer" means tolerate or even encourage.

"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not..."

We also got the word "sufferage," meaning the right to vote or being allowed to vote, from the same usage. It's fairly archaic.
 
jennyr

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'Suffer fools gladly is a well-known phrase used by St Paul in his second letter to the people of Corinth. The full verse reads, "ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise." This is thought to have been sarcastic and that he was warning the Corinthians against his rivals in the church.'

Got this from Wikipedia. Yes,'suffer' in this sense means to tolerate or support the presence of.
 
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