Wu Ting
How would you interpret “looking tossed around” here? “You’re going home and working tonight?” His eyes are so pale and clear, his whole complexion really, he seems to give off light rather than absorb it. Moths must fly into his flame and perish gladly. “I can stay the afternoon. But I’m so near the end of the book. It’s hard to think of much else.” “Oh, Jack will be a dull boy.” “Or my meat will go to gristle, if my stenographer is to be believed.” He leaned forward, pinched the flesh of my upper arm, clucked his tongue. Then fell back in his chair. He had a way of looking tossed around, like one half of a prizefight. How would you interpret “looking tossed around” in the last sentence? Thanks! And this excerpt is taken from The Lacuna by Kingsolver.
May 22, 2015 7:54 AM
Answers · 3
1
It sounds to me like it is close in meaning to 'He had a way of looking put upon'. Perhaps he makes it seem like he is the one who will have to patiently suffer through the other person's task of finishing a book. Perhaps this just refers to how difficult to wait by himself it will be for him. (Sorry, I am not familiar with the book, so these are just guesses.)
May 22, 2015
Disappointed
May 22, 2015
Not "tossed," "tossed around"
May 22, 2015
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