Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Home » Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
Search
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
"Looking forward to"
Guest
1
2014/08/24 - 10:37am
Print

Why does "Looking forward to"imply positive anticipation for something?

Robert
553 Posts
(Offline)
2
2014/08/25 - 10:56am
Print

Language happens doesn't it?  Somehow 'looking daggers' doesn't mean please hand me the carving knife.

Guest
3
2014/08/25 - 2:36pm
Print

My guess is that it's not so much the "forward" as the "looking" that suggests positive anticipation.

Looking forward to X ...

Looking implies searching, anticipating, awaiting, longing. For example: Looking for a win by the Packers this Thursday.

Negative anticipation is usually obvious from context. For example: Looking forward to a tax bill in the mail this week.

Forum Timezone: UTC -7
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
A Conversation with Dr Astein Osei
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1268
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 46
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Menu

Recent posts