Quirks in our Language - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

twitchy · 11-14-2003, 12:14 AM

Mainly I wanna know

why is it a "pair of scissors, pants or pliers" when in fact there is only one of them? Is there some reason for it at all?

RoNiN240sx · 11-14-2003, 12:19 AM

or a pair of glasses. maybe it's cause scissors have two blades, pants have two legs, and glasses have two lenses, i dunno.

Bliss · 11-14-2003, 01:20 AM

what, then, about a pair of underwear? two leg holes?

I'm guessing that sometime way back a "pair" just meant one, or something of that nature. But, this is English and we've have rules only to break them, so this isn't much use. LOL

hookedup240 · 11-14-2003, 05:31 PM

english is the hardest language to learn....i guess these are a few of the reasons why.

masta · 11-14-2003, 11:03 PM

The word "pair" has more than one meaning:

You guys are only thinking of the meaning where it means a set of two people or things used together or regarded as a single unit.

It also has somewhat the opposite meaning where it means a unit consisting of two joined or corresponding parts.

twitchy · 11-15-2003, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by masta
The word "pair" has more than one meaning:

You guys are only thinking of the meaning where it means a set of two people or things used together or regarded as a single unit.

It also has somewhat the opposite meaning where it means a unit consisting of two joined or corresponding parts.

thank you!

11-14-2003, 12:14 AM	#1
twitchy Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,579 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Quirks in our Language Mainly I wanna know why is it a "pair of scissors, pants or pliers" when in fact there is only one of them? Is there some reason for it at all? __________________ Who the hell needs a sig anyhow

11-14-2003, 12:19 AM	#2
RoNiN240sx Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: SoCal 909 Posts: 226 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	or a pair of glasses. maybe it's cause scissors have two blades, pants have two legs, and glasses have two lenses, i dunno. __________________ 1996 240sx SE...Drifting Low

11-14-2003, 01:20 AM	#3
Bliss Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego/Bay Area Age: 39 Posts: 686 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	what, then, about a pair of underwear? two leg holes? I'm guessing that sometime way back a "pair" just meant one, or something of that nature. But, this is English and we've have rules only to break them, so this isn't much use. LOL __________________ -Ben

11-14-2003, 05:31 PM	#4
hookedup240 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NJ Age: 41 Posts: 1,149 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	english is the hardest language to learn....i guess these are a few of the reasons why. __________________ 1991 240sx se 5spd - sold 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege

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11-14-2003, 11:03 PM	#5
masta Zilvia Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 271 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The word "pair" has more than one meaning: You guys are only thinking of the meaning where it means a set of two people or things used together or regarded as a single unit. It also has somewhat the opposite meaning where it means a unit consisting of two joined or corresponding parts.