How should I interpret “between Neville and Ron” in the context of this Harry Potter passage?

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They (Hermione and Ron) did not stop arguing all the way down to Snape's dungeon, which gave Harry plenty of time to reflect that between Neville and Ron he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho that he could look back on without wanting to leave the country.



Harry Potter




I don't understand "between Neville and Ron" in this context. Can someone help to explain it in the context?










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  • ell.stackexchange.com/questions/194802/…

    – Alex
    Jan 31 at 20:17















5
















They (Hermione and Ron) did not stop arguing all the way down to Snape's dungeon, which gave Harry plenty of time to reflect that between Neville and Ron he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho that he could look back on without wanting to leave the country.



Harry Potter




I don't understand "between Neville and Ron" in this context. Can someone help to explain it in the context?










share|improve this question
























  • ell.stackexchange.com/questions/194802/…

    – Alex
    Jan 31 at 20:17













5












5








5


2







They (Hermione and Ron) did not stop arguing all the way down to Snape's dungeon, which gave Harry plenty of time to reflect that between Neville and Ron he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho that he could look back on without wanting to leave the country.



Harry Potter




I don't understand "between Neville and Ron" in this context. Can someone help to explain it in the context?










share|improve this question

















They (Hermione and Ron) did not stop arguing all the way down to Snape's dungeon, which gave Harry plenty of time to reflect that between Neville and Ron he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho that he could look back on without wanting to leave the country.



Harry Potter




I don't understand "between Neville and Ron" in this context. Can someone help to explain it in the context?







meaning-in-context






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edited Feb 1 at 13:46









V2Blast

14518




14518










asked Jan 31 at 8:02









dandan

5,23722675




5,23722675












  • ell.stackexchange.com/questions/194802/…

    – Alex
    Jan 31 at 20:17

















  • ell.stackexchange.com/questions/194802/…

    – Alex
    Jan 31 at 20:17
















ell.stackexchange.com/questions/194802/…

– Alex
Jan 31 at 20:17





ell.stackexchange.com/questions/194802/…

– Alex
Jan 31 at 20:17










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















25














Compare:



Between school and my job, I don't have much time for anything else.



The phrase means "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) school and my job" there is no time left over for other activities.



So, in your example, it would be "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) Neville and Ron" a good two-minute conversation with Cho was unlikely. The nature of those encroachments or demands is supplied by context. For example, it could be that the two of them, whether individually or as a duo, were monopolizing Cho's time, or monopolizing Harry's time, or that they were goofing off with each other so that there were constant hijinks and never a quiet moment where Harry could talk with Cho. Whatever. You'd have to look to the wider context in the book to get a sense of how Ron and Neville were interfering in this.






share|improve this answer
































    8














    According to the Oxford Dictionary



    between [preposition]




    By combining the resources or actions of (two or more people or other entities)




    I didn't remember what's happening exactly at that point of the book but it may mean that if you add [combine] the time that Harry spends with Neville plus the time that Harry spends with Ron [two people] then he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho.



    I want to remark that the relevant part in relation with your question is combine whatever they both are doing. What they are doing exactly is not present in your excerpt.



    Probably in the context of the book the whole sentence is not about Neville and Ron wasting Harry's time but they are combining their actions somehow to prevent Harry for having a conversation with Cho.






    share|improve this answer

























    • Hmmm, that doesn't sound very convincing.

      – dan
      Jan 31 at 8:41






    • 1





      @Dan As I said, I don't remember exactly what's happening but something that Neville and Ron [between them] are doing prevents Harry for having a conversation with Cho.

      – RubioRic
      Jan 31 at 8:59






    • 2





      @dan Yes, it could be, the relevant part is that "between them" means that the "combined efforts of Neville and Ron" are spoiling Harry's chances with Cho. That's what I was trying to express.

      – RubioRic
      Jan 31 at 10:07






    • 2





      @dan: I think efforts is the misleading aspect of an otherwise good explanation.

      – Tᴚoɯɐuo
      Jan 31 at 10:24






    • 4





      @Tᴚoɯɐuo Well, I updated my post replacing "efforts" by "actions" before your comment. I hope this made it less misleading. :-)

      – RubioRic
      Jan 31 at 10:29


















    4














    In the context of the book, if memory serves, Cho came upon Harry while he was sitting with Neville on the Hogwarts Express just after Neville's Mimbulus mimbletonia exploded, covering Harry in stinksap, which he found embarrassing. Later, Ron angrily challenges Cho on her support of a Quidditch team and picks a fight with her, also embarrassing Harry.



    In your quote, Harry is saying that because of Neville and Ron combined, it seems that every time he tries to talk to Cho, he is embarrassed. It is not necessarily implying that Neville and Ron are working together to embarrass him (or that they are even doing it intentionally) but that their combined actions are making it impossible for him to have a positive conversation with Cho.






    share|improve this answer


















    • 1





      The other answers are technically correct in their definitions of the phrase, but not in their application to the story. In the context of the story this is the correct answer.

      – Alex
      Jan 31 at 20:14






    • 1





      @Alex It's not often I get to let my Harry Potter geekdom and my love of grammar intersect.

      – thumbtackthief
      Jan 31 at 21:02






    • 1





      Check out dan's profile then. There are several hundred questions, most of which are based on Harry Potter.

      – Alex
      Jan 31 at 21:08










    Your Answer








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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    25














    Compare:



    Between school and my job, I don't have much time for anything else.



    The phrase means "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) school and my job" there is no time left over for other activities.



    So, in your example, it would be "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) Neville and Ron" a good two-minute conversation with Cho was unlikely. The nature of those encroachments or demands is supplied by context. For example, it could be that the two of them, whether individually or as a duo, were monopolizing Cho's time, or monopolizing Harry's time, or that they were goofing off with each other so that there were constant hijinks and never a quiet moment where Harry could talk with Cho. Whatever. You'd have to look to the wider context in the book to get a sense of how Ron and Neville were interfering in this.






    share|improve this answer





























      25














      Compare:



      Between school and my job, I don't have much time for anything else.



      The phrase means "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) school and my job" there is no time left over for other activities.



      So, in your example, it would be "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) Neville and Ron" a good two-minute conversation with Cho was unlikely. The nature of those encroachments or demands is supplied by context. For example, it could be that the two of them, whether individually or as a duo, were monopolizing Cho's time, or monopolizing Harry's time, or that they were goofing off with each other so that there were constant hijinks and never a quiet moment where Harry could talk with Cho. Whatever. You'd have to look to the wider context in the book to get a sense of how Ron and Neville were interfering in this.






      share|improve this answer



























        25












        25








        25







        Compare:



        Between school and my job, I don't have much time for anything else.



        The phrase means "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) school and my job" there is no time left over for other activities.



        So, in your example, it would be "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) Neville and Ron" a good two-minute conversation with Cho was unlikely. The nature of those encroachments or demands is supplied by context. For example, it could be that the two of them, whether individually or as a duo, were monopolizing Cho's time, or monopolizing Harry's time, or that they were goofing off with each other so that there were constant hijinks and never a quiet moment where Harry could talk with Cho. Whatever. You'd have to look to the wider context in the book to get a sense of how Ron and Neville were interfering in this.






        share|improve this answer















        Compare:



        Between school and my job, I don't have much time for anything else.



        The phrase means "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) school and my job" there is no time left over for other activities.



        So, in your example, it would be "given the combined (encroachments or demands of) Neville and Ron" a good two-minute conversation with Cho was unlikely. The nature of those encroachments or demands is supplied by context. For example, it could be that the two of them, whether individually or as a duo, were monopolizing Cho's time, or monopolizing Harry's time, or that they were goofing off with each other so that there were constant hijinks and never a quiet moment where Harry could talk with Cho. Whatever. You'd have to look to the wider context in the book to get a sense of how Ron and Neville were interfering in this.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Jan 31 at 12:18

























        answered Jan 31 at 10:22









        TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo

        113k788182




        113k788182























            8














            According to the Oxford Dictionary



            between [preposition]




            By combining the resources or actions of (two or more people or other entities)




            I didn't remember what's happening exactly at that point of the book but it may mean that if you add [combine] the time that Harry spends with Neville plus the time that Harry spends with Ron [two people] then he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho.



            I want to remark that the relevant part in relation with your question is combine whatever they both are doing. What they are doing exactly is not present in your excerpt.



            Probably in the context of the book the whole sentence is not about Neville and Ron wasting Harry's time but they are combining their actions somehow to prevent Harry for having a conversation with Cho.






            share|improve this answer

























            • Hmmm, that doesn't sound very convincing.

              – dan
              Jan 31 at 8:41






            • 1





              @Dan As I said, I don't remember exactly what's happening but something that Neville and Ron [between them] are doing prevents Harry for having a conversation with Cho.

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 8:59






            • 2





              @dan Yes, it could be, the relevant part is that "between them" means that the "combined efforts of Neville and Ron" are spoiling Harry's chances with Cho. That's what I was trying to express.

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 10:07






            • 2





              @dan: I think efforts is the misleading aspect of an otherwise good explanation.

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 31 at 10:24






            • 4





              @Tᴚoɯɐuo Well, I updated my post replacing "efforts" by "actions" before your comment. I hope this made it less misleading. :-)

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 10:29















            8














            According to the Oxford Dictionary



            between [preposition]




            By combining the resources or actions of (two or more people or other entities)




            I didn't remember what's happening exactly at that point of the book but it may mean that if you add [combine] the time that Harry spends with Neville plus the time that Harry spends with Ron [two people] then he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho.



            I want to remark that the relevant part in relation with your question is combine whatever they both are doing. What they are doing exactly is not present in your excerpt.



            Probably in the context of the book the whole sentence is not about Neville and Ron wasting Harry's time but they are combining their actions somehow to prevent Harry for having a conversation with Cho.






            share|improve this answer

























            • Hmmm, that doesn't sound very convincing.

              – dan
              Jan 31 at 8:41






            • 1





              @Dan As I said, I don't remember exactly what's happening but something that Neville and Ron [between them] are doing prevents Harry for having a conversation with Cho.

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 8:59






            • 2





              @dan Yes, it could be, the relevant part is that "between them" means that the "combined efforts of Neville and Ron" are spoiling Harry's chances with Cho. That's what I was trying to express.

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 10:07






            • 2





              @dan: I think efforts is the misleading aspect of an otherwise good explanation.

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 31 at 10:24






            • 4





              @Tᴚoɯɐuo Well, I updated my post replacing "efforts" by "actions" before your comment. I hope this made it less misleading. :-)

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 10:29













            8












            8








            8







            According to the Oxford Dictionary



            between [preposition]




            By combining the resources or actions of (two or more people or other entities)




            I didn't remember what's happening exactly at that point of the book but it may mean that if you add [combine] the time that Harry spends with Neville plus the time that Harry spends with Ron [two people] then he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho.



            I want to remark that the relevant part in relation with your question is combine whatever they both are doing. What they are doing exactly is not present in your excerpt.



            Probably in the context of the book the whole sentence is not about Neville and Ron wasting Harry's time but they are combining their actions somehow to prevent Harry for having a conversation with Cho.






            share|improve this answer















            According to the Oxford Dictionary



            between [preposition]




            By combining the resources or actions of (two or more people or other entities)




            I didn't remember what's happening exactly at that point of the book but it may mean that if you add [combine] the time that Harry spends with Neville plus the time that Harry spends with Ron [two people] then he would be lucky ever to have two minutes of conversation with Cho.



            I want to remark that the relevant part in relation with your question is combine whatever they both are doing. What they are doing exactly is not present in your excerpt.



            Probably in the context of the book the whole sentence is not about Neville and Ron wasting Harry's time but they are combining their actions somehow to prevent Harry for having a conversation with Cho.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Jan 31 at 15:46

























            answered Jan 31 at 8:20









            RubioRicRubioRic

            4,84811034




            4,84811034












            • Hmmm, that doesn't sound very convincing.

              – dan
              Jan 31 at 8:41






            • 1





              @Dan As I said, I don't remember exactly what's happening but something that Neville and Ron [between them] are doing prevents Harry for having a conversation with Cho.

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 8:59






            • 2





              @dan Yes, it could be, the relevant part is that "between them" means that the "combined efforts of Neville and Ron" are spoiling Harry's chances with Cho. That's what I was trying to express.

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 10:07






            • 2





              @dan: I think efforts is the misleading aspect of an otherwise good explanation.

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 31 at 10:24






            • 4





              @Tᴚoɯɐuo Well, I updated my post replacing "efforts" by "actions" before your comment. I hope this made it less misleading. :-)

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 10:29

















            • Hmmm, that doesn't sound very convincing.

              – dan
              Jan 31 at 8:41






            • 1





              @Dan As I said, I don't remember exactly what's happening but something that Neville and Ron [between them] are doing prevents Harry for having a conversation with Cho.

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 8:59






            • 2





              @dan Yes, it could be, the relevant part is that "between them" means that the "combined efforts of Neville and Ron" are spoiling Harry's chances with Cho. That's what I was trying to express.

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 10:07






            • 2





              @dan: I think efforts is the misleading aspect of an otherwise good explanation.

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 31 at 10:24






            • 4





              @Tᴚoɯɐuo Well, I updated my post replacing "efforts" by "actions" before your comment. I hope this made it less misleading. :-)

              – RubioRic
              Jan 31 at 10:29
















            Hmmm, that doesn't sound very convincing.

            – dan
            Jan 31 at 8:41





            Hmmm, that doesn't sound very convincing.

            – dan
            Jan 31 at 8:41




            1




            1





            @Dan As I said, I don't remember exactly what's happening but something that Neville and Ron [between them] are doing prevents Harry for having a conversation with Cho.

            – RubioRic
            Jan 31 at 8:59





            @Dan As I said, I don't remember exactly what's happening but something that Neville and Ron [between them] are doing prevents Harry for having a conversation with Cho.

            – RubioRic
            Jan 31 at 8:59




            2




            2





            @dan Yes, it could be, the relevant part is that "between them" means that the "combined efforts of Neville and Ron" are spoiling Harry's chances with Cho. That's what I was trying to express.

            – RubioRic
            Jan 31 at 10:07





            @dan Yes, it could be, the relevant part is that "between them" means that the "combined efforts of Neville and Ron" are spoiling Harry's chances with Cho. That's what I was trying to express.

            – RubioRic
            Jan 31 at 10:07




            2




            2





            @dan: I think efforts is the misleading aspect of an otherwise good explanation.

            – Tᴚoɯɐuo
            Jan 31 at 10:24





            @dan: I think efforts is the misleading aspect of an otherwise good explanation.

            – Tᴚoɯɐuo
            Jan 31 at 10:24




            4




            4





            @Tᴚoɯɐuo Well, I updated my post replacing "efforts" by "actions" before your comment. I hope this made it less misleading. :-)

            – RubioRic
            Jan 31 at 10:29





            @Tᴚoɯɐuo Well, I updated my post replacing "efforts" by "actions" before your comment. I hope this made it less misleading. :-)

            – RubioRic
            Jan 31 at 10:29











            4














            In the context of the book, if memory serves, Cho came upon Harry while he was sitting with Neville on the Hogwarts Express just after Neville's Mimbulus mimbletonia exploded, covering Harry in stinksap, which he found embarrassing. Later, Ron angrily challenges Cho on her support of a Quidditch team and picks a fight with her, also embarrassing Harry.



            In your quote, Harry is saying that because of Neville and Ron combined, it seems that every time he tries to talk to Cho, he is embarrassed. It is not necessarily implying that Neville and Ron are working together to embarrass him (or that they are even doing it intentionally) but that their combined actions are making it impossible for him to have a positive conversation with Cho.






            share|improve this answer


















            • 1





              The other answers are technically correct in their definitions of the phrase, but not in their application to the story. In the context of the story this is the correct answer.

              – Alex
              Jan 31 at 20:14






            • 1





              @Alex It's not often I get to let my Harry Potter geekdom and my love of grammar intersect.

              – thumbtackthief
              Jan 31 at 21:02






            • 1





              Check out dan's profile then. There are several hundred questions, most of which are based on Harry Potter.

              – Alex
              Jan 31 at 21:08















            4














            In the context of the book, if memory serves, Cho came upon Harry while he was sitting with Neville on the Hogwarts Express just after Neville's Mimbulus mimbletonia exploded, covering Harry in stinksap, which he found embarrassing. Later, Ron angrily challenges Cho on her support of a Quidditch team and picks a fight with her, also embarrassing Harry.



            In your quote, Harry is saying that because of Neville and Ron combined, it seems that every time he tries to talk to Cho, he is embarrassed. It is not necessarily implying that Neville and Ron are working together to embarrass him (or that they are even doing it intentionally) but that their combined actions are making it impossible for him to have a positive conversation with Cho.






            share|improve this answer


















            • 1





              The other answers are technically correct in their definitions of the phrase, but not in their application to the story. In the context of the story this is the correct answer.

              – Alex
              Jan 31 at 20:14






            • 1





              @Alex It's not often I get to let my Harry Potter geekdom and my love of grammar intersect.

              – thumbtackthief
              Jan 31 at 21:02






            • 1





              Check out dan's profile then. There are several hundred questions, most of which are based on Harry Potter.

              – Alex
              Jan 31 at 21:08













            4












            4








            4







            In the context of the book, if memory serves, Cho came upon Harry while he was sitting with Neville on the Hogwarts Express just after Neville's Mimbulus mimbletonia exploded, covering Harry in stinksap, which he found embarrassing. Later, Ron angrily challenges Cho on her support of a Quidditch team and picks a fight with her, also embarrassing Harry.



            In your quote, Harry is saying that because of Neville and Ron combined, it seems that every time he tries to talk to Cho, he is embarrassed. It is not necessarily implying that Neville and Ron are working together to embarrass him (or that they are even doing it intentionally) but that their combined actions are making it impossible for him to have a positive conversation with Cho.






            share|improve this answer













            In the context of the book, if memory serves, Cho came upon Harry while he was sitting with Neville on the Hogwarts Express just after Neville's Mimbulus mimbletonia exploded, covering Harry in stinksap, which he found embarrassing. Later, Ron angrily challenges Cho on her support of a Quidditch team and picks a fight with her, also embarrassing Harry.



            In your quote, Harry is saying that because of Neville and Ron combined, it seems that every time he tries to talk to Cho, he is embarrassed. It is not necessarily implying that Neville and Ron are working together to embarrass him (or that they are even doing it intentionally) but that their combined actions are making it impossible for him to have a positive conversation with Cho.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Jan 31 at 18:11









            thumbtackthiefthumbtackthief

            26318




            26318







            • 1





              The other answers are technically correct in their definitions of the phrase, but not in their application to the story. In the context of the story this is the correct answer.

              – Alex
              Jan 31 at 20:14






            • 1





              @Alex It's not often I get to let my Harry Potter geekdom and my love of grammar intersect.

              – thumbtackthief
              Jan 31 at 21:02






            • 1





              Check out dan's profile then. There are several hundred questions, most of which are based on Harry Potter.

              – Alex
              Jan 31 at 21:08












            • 1





              The other answers are technically correct in their definitions of the phrase, but not in their application to the story. In the context of the story this is the correct answer.

              – Alex
              Jan 31 at 20:14






            • 1





              @Alex It's not often I get to let my Harry Potter geekdom and my love of grammar intersect.

              – thumbtackthief
              Jan 31 at 21:02






            • 1





              Check out dan's profile then. There are several hundred questions, most of which are based on Harry Potter.

              – Alex
              Jan 31 at 21:08







            1




            1





            The other answers are technically correct in their definitions of the phrase, but not in their application to the story. In the context of the story this is the correct answer.

            – Alex
            Jan 31 at 20:14





            The other answers are technically correct in their definitions of the phrase, but not in their application to the story. In the context of the story this is the correct answer.

            – Alex
            Jan 31 at 20:14




            1




            1





            @Alex It's not often I get to let my Harry Potter geekdom and my love of grammar intersect.

            – thumbtackthief
            Jan 31 at 21:02





            @Alex It's not often I get to let my Harry Potter geekdom and my love of grammar intersect.

            – thumbtackthief
            Jan 31 at 21:02




            1




            1





            Check out dan's profile then. There are several hundred questions, most of which are based on Harry Potter.

            – Alex
            Jan 31 at 21:08





            Check out dan's profile then. There are several hundred questions, most of which are based on Harry Potter.

            – Alex
            Jan 31 at 21:08

















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