Talk:thin

RFV

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Rfv-sense: "overly strict". Is this real? I don't find support in other dictionaries, nor can I figure out which sense of strict would apply. --Hekaheka (talk) 19:21, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

Maybe the botany sense? But overly seems implausible for such a context. DCDuring TALK 20:48, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

Haven't heard of it, and doesn't seem very likely. Equinox ◑ 21:07, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

Deleted the disputed sense. --Hekaheka (talk) 20:50, 27 March 2012 (UTC)

Linking verb vs unchanged adverb

Page 21 of Garner's fourth edition reads

One must analyze the sentence rather than memorize a list of common linking verbs. Often unexpected candidates serve as linking verbs—e.g.:

• “The rule sweeps too broad.” (The writer intends not to describe a manner of sweeping, but to say that the rule is broad.)

• “Before the vote, the senator stood uncertain for several days.) (The word describes not the manner of standing, but the man himself.)

A similar issue arises with an object complement, in which the sequence is [subject + verb + object + complement]—e.g.:

• “Chop the onions fine” (The sentence does not describe the manner of chopping, but the things chopped. The onions are to become fine [= reduced to small particles].)

• “Slice the meat thin.”

An elliptical form of this construction appears in the dentists’ much-beloved expression, Open wide (= open your mouth wide)

However, I find it contradictory that dictionaries include an adverbial meaning with the adequate sense for fine and thin, as well as the adverbs in -ly for phrases such as thinly-sliced ham or finely chopped herbs (oed.com/oed2/00251139 ; oed.com/oed2/00251175; oed.com/oed2/00084909; oed.com/oed2/00084930).

Collins has both adverbs Thin(ly) with the same meaning.

THIN (adverb): ​in a way that produces a thin piece or layer of something, I like my bread sliced thin.

The adverb tight includes specific grammatical points: ahdictionary.com or oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com.

TIGHT oed.com/oed2/00252669 vs TIGHTLY oed.com/oed2/00252684 --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:23, 25 August 2020 (UTC)