What is the difference between “nearly drowned” and “nearly rescued”?

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-1















I am pondering over the meaning of the riddle:




Would you rather be nearly drowned or nearly rescued?




Could some one explain the meaning of the two phrases "nearly drowned" & "nearly rescued" ?



Also what does the riddle actually mean ?










share|improve this question
























  • Where did you hear this?

    – Zebrafish
    Feb 7 at 23:37











  • I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.

    – stormfield
    Feb 7 at 23:37






  • 5





    A nearly drowned person is alive. A nearly rescued person is not. So yes I would rather be nearly drowned, despite however much I might complain.

    – mckenzm
    Feb 8 at 5:17
















-1















I am pondering over the meaning of the riddle:




Would you rather be nearly drowned or nearly rescued?




Could some one explain the meaning of the two phrases "nearly drowned" & "nearly rescued" ?



Also what does the riddle actually mean ?










share|improve this question
























  • Where did you hear this?

    – Zebrafish
    Feb 7 at 23:37











  • I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.

    – stormfield
    Feb 7 at 23:37






  • 5





    A nearly drowned person is alive. A nearly rescued person is not. So yes I would rather be nearly drowned, despite however much I might complain.

    – mckenzm
    Feb 8 at 5:17














-1












-1








-1








I am pondering over the meaning of the riddle:




Would you rather be nearly drowned or nearly rescued?




Could some one explain the meaning of the two phrases "nearly drowned" & "nearly rescued" ?



Also what does the riddle actually mean ?










share|improve this question
















I am pondering over the meaning of the riddle:




Would you rather be nearly drowned or nearly rescued?




Could some one explain the meaning of the two phrases "nearly drowned" & "nearly rescued" ?



Also what does the riddle actually mean ?







speech






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Feb 8 at 0:17









Michael_B

2,7151715




2,7151715










asked Feb 7 at 23:25









stormfieldstormfield

1104




1104












  • Where did you hear this?

    – Zebrafish
    Feb 7 at 23:37











  • I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.

    – stormfield
    Feb 7 at 23:37






  • 5





    A nearly drowned person is alive. A nearly rescued person is not. So yes I would rather be nearly drowned, despite however much I might complain.

    – mckenzm
    Feb 8 at 5:17


















  • Where did you hear this?

    – Zebrafish
    Feb 7 at 23:37











  • I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.

    – stormfield
    Feb 7 at 23:37






  • 5





    A nearly drowned person is alive. A nearly rescued person is not. So yes I would rather be nearly drowned, despite however much I might complain.

    – mckenzm
    Feb 8 at 5:17

















Where did you hear this?

– Zebrafish
Feb 7 at 23:37





Where did you hear this?

– Zebrafish
Feb 7 at 23:37













I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.

– stormfield
Feb 7 at 23:37





I was reading about something on quora when I stumbled upon this. Seems its from a book.

– stormfield
Feb 7 at 23:37




5




5





A nearly drowned person is alive. A nearly rescued person is not. So yes I would rather be nearly drowned, despite however much I might complain.

– mckenzm
Feb 8 at 5:17






A nearly drowned person is alive. A nearly rescued person is not. So yes I would rather be nearly drowned, despite however much I might complain.

– mckenzm
Feb 8 at 5:17











3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















15














Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.
Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).



The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.






share|improve this answer




















  • 2





    Note that people sometimes confuse "near(ly)" with "narrow(ly)". If you narrowly drowned, you were nearly rescued (= you drowned). If you were narrowly rescued, you nearly drowned (= you were rescued).

    – Flater
    Feb 8 at 8:27



















5














You almost drowned.



vs.



You were almost rescued.



In the former, you're alive.



In the latter, you're dead.






share|improve this answer






























    4














    If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!



    There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".



    Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.






    share|improve this answer























    • "most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people" I wonder what people few centuries after us would be talking about. "Yes, 21st century people had this strange humour based on images with text overlaid on them."

      – VLAZ
      Feb 8 at 12:52











    • @vlaz Of course, most humour generally dates very quickly. Even the most accessible stuff like Three Men in a Boat, The Diary of a Nobody and The Importance of Being Earnest isn't as funny now as it used to be. I think it's a combination of the change of language and, probably more importantly, the changes in the social background that mean that a lot of the references don't have the immediate resonance.

      – BoldBen
      Feb 9 at 12:14










    Your Answer








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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    15














    Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.
    Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).



    The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.






    share|improve this answer




















    • 2





      Note that people sometimes confuse "near(ly)" with "narrow(ly)". If you narrowly drowned, you were nearly rescued (= you drowned). If you were narrowly rescued, you nearly drowned (= you were rescued).

      – Flater
      Feb 8 at 8:27
















    15














    Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.
    Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).



    The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.






    share|improve this answer




















    • 2





      Note that people sometimes confuse "near(ly)" with "narrow(ly)". If you narrowly drowned, you were nearly rescued (= you drowned). If you were narrowly rescued, you nearly drowned (= you were rescued).

      – Flater
      Feb 8 at 8:27














    15












    15








    15







    Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.
    Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).



    The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.






    share|improve this answer















    Nearly drowned means you almost died by means of drowning, but did not drown. This means you survived.
    Nearly rescued means you almost were saved by a third-party, but were not saved. This means you are still being affected by the situation (in this case, drowning to death).



    The riddle hinges on this distinction. It's better to almost die but not die, than to be almost saved from dying but still die.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Feb 7 at 23:49

























    answered Feb 7 at 23:37









    VeskahVeskah

    30615




    30615







    • 2





      Note that people sometimes confuse "near(ly)" with "narrow(ly)". If you narrowly drowned, you were nearly rescued (= you drowned). If you were narrowly rescued, you nearly drowned (= you were rescued).

      – Flater
      Feb 8 at 8:27













    • 2





      Note that people sometimes confuse "near(ly)" with "narrow(ly)". If you narrowly drowned, you were nearly rescued (= you drowned). If you were narrowly rescued, you nearly drowned (= you were rescued).

      – Flater
      Feb 8 at 8:27








    2




    2





    Note that people sometimes confuse "near(ly)" with "narrow(ly)". If you narrowly drowned, you were nearly rescued (= you drowned). If you were narrowly rescued, you nearly drowned (= you were rescued).

    – Flater
    Feb 8 at 8:27






    Note that people sometimes confuse "near(ly)" with "narrow(ly)". If you narrowly drowned, you were nearly rescued (= you drowned). If you were narrowly rescued, you nearly drowned (= you were rescued).

    – Flater
    Feb 8 at 8:27














    5














    You almost drowned.



    vs.



    You were almost rescued.



    In the former, you're alive.



    In the latter, you're dead.






    share|improve this answer



























      5














      You almost drowned.



      vs.



      You were almost rescued.



      In the former, you're alive.



      In the latter, you're dead.






      share|improve this answer

























        5












        5








        5







        You almost drowned.



        vs.



        You were almost rescued.



        In the former, you're alive.



        In the latter, you're dead.






        share|improve this answer













        You almost drowned.



        vs.



        You were almost rescued.



        In the former, you're alive.



        In the latter, you're dead.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Feb 8 at 0:13









        Michael_BMichael_B

        2,7151715




        2,7151715





















            4














            If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!



            There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".



            Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.






            share|improve this answer























            • "most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people" I wonder what people few centuries after us would be talking about. "Yes, 21st century people had this strange humour based on images with text overlaid on them."

              – VLAZ
              Feb 8 at 12:52











            • @vlaz Of course, most humour generally dates very quickly. Even the most accessible stuff like Three Men in a Boat, The Diary of a Nobody and The Importance of Being Earnest isn't as funny now as it used to be. I think it's a combination of the change of language and, probably more importantly, the changes in the social background that mean that a lot of the references don't have the immediate resonance.

              – BoldBen
              Feb 9 at 12:14















            4














            If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!



            There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".



            Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.






            share|improve this answer























            • "most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people" I wonder what people few centuries after us would be talking about. "Yes, 21st century people had this strange humour based on images with text overlaid on them."

              – VLAZ
              Feb 8 at 12:52











            • @vlaz Of course, most humour generally dates very quickly. Even the most accessible stuff like Three Men in a Boat, The Diary of a Nobody and The Importance of Being Earnest isn't as funny now as it used to be. I think it's a combination of the change of language and, probably more importantly, the changes in the social background that mean that a lot of the references don't have the immediate resonance.

              – BoldBen
              Feb 9 at 12:14













            4












            4








            4







            If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!



            There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".



            Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.






            share|improve this answer













            If you were "nearly drowned" you just avoided drowning, by implication you were probably rescued. If you were "nearly rescued" then someone tried to rescue you but just failed. By implication you drowned!



            There is another, rather dated and much less frequently used meaning of "nearly" which is "only just". The joke in the riddle is, presumably, based on this double meaning. The question could then be taken to mean "Would you rather be almost drowned or almost rescued" or "Would you rather be only just drowned or only just rescued".



            Presumably the person who asked the riddle would, whatever answer was given, then say, something like "Oh, you'd rather be dead then". It's not a very funny joke but it could be from an old book, most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Feb 7 at 23:49









            BoldBenBoldBen

            5,711817




            5,711817












            • "most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people" I wonder what people few centuries after us would be talking about. "Yes, 21st century people had this strange humour based on images with text overlaid on them."

              – VLAZ
              Feb 8 at 12:52











            • @vlaz Of course, most humour generally dates very quickly. Even the most accessible stuff like Three Men in a Boat, The Diary of a Nobody and The Importance of Being Earnest isn't as funny now as it used to be. I think it's a combination of the change of language and, probably more importantly, the changes in the social background that mean that a lot of the references don't have the immediate resonance.

              – BoldBen
              Feb 9 at 12:14

















            • "most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people" I wonder what people few centuries after us would be talking about. "Yes, 21st century people had this strange humour based on images with text overlaid on them."

              – VLAZ
              Feb 8 at 12:52











            • @vlaz Of course, most humour generally dates very quickly. Even the most accessible stuff like Three Men in a Boat, The Diary of a Nobody and The Importance of Being Earnest isn't as funny now as it used to be. I think it's a combination of the change of language and, probably more importantly, the changes in the social background that mean that a lot of the references don't have the immediate resonance.

              – BoldBen
              Feb 9 at 12:14
















            "most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people" I wonder what people few centuries after us would be talking about. "Yes, 21st century people had this strange humour based on images with text overlaid on them."

            – VLAZ
            Feb 8 at 12:52





            "most Victorian humour seems pretty strange to 21st century people" I wonder what people few centuries after us would be talking about. "Yes, 21st century people had this strange humour based on images with text overlaid on them."

            – VLAZ
            Feb 8 at 12:52













            @vlaz Of course, most humour generally dates very quickly. Even the most accessible stuff like Three Men in a Boat, The Diary of a Nobody and The Importance of Being Earnest isn't as funny now as it used to be. I think it's a combination of the change of language and, probably more importantly, the changes in the social background that mean that a lot of the references don't have the immediate resonance.

            – BoldBen
            Feb 9 at 12:14





            @vlaz Of course, most humour generally dates very quickly. Even the most accessible stuff like Three Men in a Boat, The Diary of a Nobody and The Importance of Being Earnest isn't as funny now as it used to be. I think it's a combination of the change of language and, probably more importantly, the changes in the social background that mean that a lot of the references don't have the immediate resonance.

            – BoldBen
            Feb 9 at 12:14

















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