Re: Chinese-style measure words in English?

From: John O'Flaherty (quiasmox_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 12/28/04 

Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 09:23:36 -0600

Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> semiretired@my-deja.com wrote:
>
>>I can think of only two instances where I have
>>heard Chinese-style Measure Words used in English
>>
>>The one is "head" as in "head of cattle"
>>
>>The other is "off". In a factory an order for parts
>>was being given over the phone -
>>"Bolts - 2 gross, Nuts - 9 dozen, Special Spanners - 2 off"
>>Are there any other instances?
>
>
> slice of bread, piece of cake
>
> plus all the measure-words used for such individuating of mass nouns
>
> Though I don't know what this "off" is.

It's an alternative to "each". 

--
john

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