The Meaning of Control
July 19, 2017
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19/7/17 Did you know that ‘Control’ does not mean what you think it means?
Check this out. This is interesting.
Control
The word control is a “false friend” for people who speak many languages of European origin. In English, control generally means manage, direct, not check or inspect. Compare:
Control
The word control is a “false friend” for people who speak many languages of European origin. In English, control generally means manage, direct, not check or inspect. Compare:
- The crowd was too big for the police to control. (= … to keep in order.)
- The police were checking everybody’s papers. (NOT …
controllingeverybody’s papers.) - I found the car difficult to control at high speeds.
- I took the car to the garage and asked them to have a look at the steering. (NOT …
to control the steering.)
Note, however, that the noun control is used with the meaning of “inspection point” in expressions like passport/customs control.
