Drat!

Posted by Lewis October 12, 2004In reply to It's not spring, is it? posted by TheFallen on October 11, 2004

Fiona may be 18 but she barely looks it.
Shouldn't that be she barely looks like one?

Does the "she barely looks it* make sense

thanks

Yes.

Do we get a photo of this bare 18 year old Fiona or am I on the worng shelf of the internet?

You could make the meaning clearer by saying "Fiona bare, hardly looks 18"...

Harrumph. This is not the Phrase Finders I know. On the other hand, we quote e.e. cummings: "A pretty girl who naked is, is worth a million statues."

To answer the original question: the quoted sentence means that Fiona looks very young, perhaps younger than 18.

As Ms. Berg says, "barely" here means "scarcely" or "only just".

it's not fair - stimulating the imagination that way.

...and that after me having seen a convertible with a striking dark-haired woman - Number plate? "I Dyd" !!!
(absolute truth! Near Guildford yesterday)

Replies

Guildford? TheFallen 12/October/04
- Women in convertibles Bookworm 12/October/04
  - Ewww Word Camel 14/October/04
  - Women in convertibles Lotg 13/October/04
    - British convertibles paradox Word Camel 13/October/04
      - British convertibles paradox Acme 14/October/04
        
        British convertibles paradox Rude Boy 14/October/04
        
        British convertibles paradox Lexi 14/October/04
        
        The North Surrey Mafia? TheFallen 14/October/04
        
        Whoa - nice car Lotg 15/October/04