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    Expression

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    Meisyita Qothrunnada
    The document discusses the phrase 'sackcloth and ashes' which refers to expressing guilt or sadness. It originated from the Bible and means wearing rough clothing made of goat hair as a sign of punishment and humility. The phrase can be used sincerely to apologize or sarcastically to exaggerate a small mistake. It also references things turning to ashes and rising from the ashes, meaning situations changing for better or worse.

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    Expression

    Uploaded by

    Meisyita Qothrunnada
    12 views2 pages
    The document discusses the phrase 'sackcloth and ashes' which refers to expressing guilt or sadness. It originated from the Bible and means wearing rough clothing made of goat hair as a sign of punishment and humility. The phrase can be used sincerely to apologize or sarcastically to exaggerate a small mistake. It also references things turning to ashes and rising from the ashes, meaning situations changing for better or worse.

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    The document discusses the phrase 'sackcloth and ashes' which refers to expressing guilt or sadness. It originated from the Bible and means wearing rough clothing made of goat hair as a sign of punishment and humility. The phrase can be used sincerely to apologize or sarcastically to exaggerate a small mistake. It also references things turning to ashes and rising from the ashes, meaning situations changing for better or worse.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    12 views2 pages

    Expression

    Uploaded by

    Meisyita Qothrunnada
    The document discusses the phrase 'sackcloth and ashes' which refers to expressing guilt or sadness. It originated from the Bible and means wearing rough clothing made of goat hair as a sign of punishment and humility. The phrase can be used sincerely to apologize or sarcastically to exaggerate a small mistake. It also references things turning to ashes and rising from the ashes, meaning situations changing for better or worse.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    In American English, guilt or sadness is often expressed by the symbol of ashes – the gray matter left

    over from a fire. For example, if you are feeling really bad about something you did, you might say you
    are wearing sackcloth and ashes.

    The phrase is repeated in several places in the Bible, the Christian holy book. The word “sackcloth”
    refers to a kind of clothing that feels rough on the skin. It was sometimes made of goat hair. Wearing
    something made of sackcloth was a sign that a person was trying to punish himself.

    As for the ashes part, the willingness to be touched by dirty material showed that a person was humble
    and that he understood he would someday die.

    Yes, the image is pretty serious. You can use the expression in a somewhat serious way, too. Let’s say
    you forgot that you invited your boyfriend or girlfriend to a special birthday date. Your beloved waited
    for you, for hours, crying, in the rain. Much later, you sit up in bed and remember your missed
    appointment.

    You immediately call your partner and say that you are so sorry. You promise to wear sackcloth and
    ashes for the rest of the month.

    Of course, you do not really have to put on a shirt made of animal hair. But you could show you are
    sorry in a different way. Maybe you cook your partner dinner every night for a week, or buy a
    meaningful gift.

    You can also use the phrase “sackcloth and ashes” in a sarcastic way. This means you say it, but do not
    really mean it. Let’s say you have done some very small bad thing, like borrowed your co-worker’s coffee
    cup without asking. And now, she won’t let you forget it. Every time you walk by, she holds her cup close
    to her and gives you an angry look. She also tells all your other co-workers not to trust you with any of
    their supplies, such as pens or plastic spoons. At the next team meeting, she asks your boss for a lock so
    she can keep her cup safe from you. “Okay, okay!” you might say. “I'm sorry! Do I have to wear sackcloth
    and ashes?”

    Your angry co-worker just might say yes. She is clearly enjoying raking you over the ashes. In other
    words, she repeatedly brings up a past mistake. The phrase calls to mind a fire that has almost gone out,
    but that can be started again with a little effort.

    Of course, being sarcastic is not always a good idea. It rarely makes other people want to forgive you.
    You would probably be better off apologizing honestly to your co-worker. But saying something nice
    when you are angry can be difficult. The sweet words might turn to ashes in your mouth. In fact, as an
    expression, anything can turn to ashes. A hopeful feeling, a relationship – maybe even your job if your
    co-worker keeps complaining about you – all can dry up and disappear.

    Fortunately, most things can also rise from the ashes. In other words, what was thought to be dead or
    destroyed can return to life, often in a new and better way.
    That is a good image to remember during periods of difficulty or loss. Usually, the situation does not last.
    In time, things get better, and you might soon find yourself playing music and dancing again.

    Name : Meisyita Qotrunnada

    Class : 2A

    NIM : 2223190064

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