A construction I can't understand... maybe colloquial

emmaprad · 05-09-2007, 09:12 PM

Hi everybody.
This is a phrase from an interview, I think it's rather informal.

"I guess he's a policeman, but it seems to me is one rank up from dogcatcher."

I've some problems to understand "is one rank up from".
Which construction is it? Which is the meaning?
Thanks a lot
Emma

jierbe31 · 05-10-2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmaprad

Hi everybody.
This is a phrase from an interview, I think it's rather informal.

"I guess he's a policeman, but it seems to me is one rank up from dogcatcher."

I've some problems to understand "is one rank up from".
Which construction is it? Which is the meaning?
Thanks a lot
Emma

Hello,

I would understand this as "un cran au dessus", meaning he is not just "un simple flic" but probably an officer.
Hope it helps.

emmaprad · 05-10-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jierbe31

Hello,

I would understand this as "un cran au dessus", meaning he is not just "un simple flic" but probably an officer.
Hope it helps.

Dear jierbe31,
thank for helping me. So, "dogcatcher" is a slang expression for "cop"?
Emma

jierbe31 · 05-10-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmaprad

Dear jierbe31,
thank for helping me. So, "dogcatcher" is a slang expression for "cop"?
Emma

Hello Emma,

I was just inferring, sorry if I misled you.

And I'm afraid I'm no slang expert either.
The only similar word to "dogcatcher" I could find is "dogsbody" meaning a subordinate who does the unpleasant and unskilled tasks.
Would it tend to prove I was right?

emmaprad · 05-10-2007, 04:41 PM

If "dogcatcher" has a slang meaning near to "dogsbody", the policeman probably is not an officer, but something in a lower rank (and so, less than a policeman).
Maybe could be useful an indication by a mother tongue...
Thank you very much, jierbe 31 for your help and kindness.

Emma

jierbe31 · 05-10-2007, 05:18 PM

My last try!
The sentence says he is a policeman. OK
He is not an officer. OK
He is not of a lower nor a higher rank. OK
What's in between then?
Would "subordinate" be suitable?
Or does it apply to officers only?

emmaprad · 05-10-2007, 05:56 PM

I think that's excellent. Thank you for your patience!

Emma

05-09-2007, 09:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
emmaprad Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 30 emmaprad is an unknown character at this point	A construction I can't understand... maybe colloquial Hi everybody. This is a phrase from an interview, I think it's rather informal. "I guess he's a policeman, but it seems to me is one rank up from dogcatcher." I've some problems to understand "is one rank up from". Which construction is it? Which is the meaning? Thanks a lot Emma
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05-10-2007, 04:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
emmaprad Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 30 emmaprad is an unknown character at this point	If "dogcatcher" has a slang meaning near to "dogsbody", the policeman probably is not an officer, but something in a lower rank (and so, less than a policeman). Maybe could be useful an indication by a mother tongue... Thank you very much, jierbe 31 for your help and kindness. Emma
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05-10-2007, 05:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
jierbe31 International Forum Great Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Midi-Pyrénées France Posts: 1,015 Blog Entries: 2 jierbe31 is on a distinguished road	My last try! The sentence says he is a policeman. OK He is not an officer. OK He is not of a lower nor a higher rank. OK What's in between then? Would "subordinate" be suitable? Or does it apply to officers only?
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05-10-2007, 05:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
emmaprad Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 30 emmaprad is an unknown character at this point	I think that's excellent. Thank you for your patience! Emma
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