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Newman
Whats the 'umpteenth' meaning in the sentence?
I saw a birthday card today that was given to a lady of a certain age.
The message read " Happy umpteenth birthday......".
Apr 28, 2010 9:25 AM
Answers · 2
1
Hi Newman
This is an informal word, describing a number you don't want to count. It's a bit like 'yet another'. Older ladies tend to be a little bit 'sensitive' about people knowing their age, (hence your expression, 'of a certain age'). The birthday card is using this as a joke, a play on the coyness of revealing a lady's age.
Unpteenth is often used in sentences like this:
"This is the umpteenth time you've interrupted me!"
"She dropped her toy from the pram for the umpteenth time."
"You must be the umpteenth person to have asked me that question!"
April 28, 2010
for someone age undisclosed
April 28, 2010
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Newman
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English, Japanese
Learning Language
English, Japanese
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