Search from various 영어 teachers...
Jimmy Chan
Hi there,
Could you please explain the difference between "flood" and "drown"?
I already know "drown" can mean to die by being unable to breathe underwater.
But,
A whole valley was "drowned" when the river was dammed.
The whole town "flooded" when the river burst its banks.
Can you please tell the difference and which one is more serious?
additional questions
He drowned his food in tomato sauce. Why is it a disapproving sentence, according to the Cambridge dictionary?
Thank you:) I hope you have a nice day.
2022년 8월 7일 오전 11:08
답변 · 9
1
The meanings overlap. "Flood" focuses attention on the water or liquid. "Drown" focuses attention on something being submerged in the liquid. "Drown" suggests that something is fully submerged, underneath the surface.
If he "drowned" his food in tomato sauce, it suggests that the food was completely covered up and hidden underneath the sauce. It is disapproving because that it is a way of saying he used too much tomato sauce.
2022년 8월 7일
1
These idiomatic expressions are why English is so abundant and colourful.
'Drowning the food' implies 'killing' the intended flavours, ruining the cuisine. It is a criticism of the act.
Same really with drowned for flooded, implying destruction, ruination, death, of the valley's natural state, but this time not as a criticism.
2022년 8월 7일
1
Tomato sauce is very basic.
It’s also very American.
Drowning is metaphorical and extreme.
So to drown food with ‘ketchup’ is revolting.
Sauces should enhance and give pleasure to your palate…not kill or drown or overwhelm 🙂👍🏾
2022년 8월 7일
1
A whole valley - this is metaphorical. A valley can’t really drown but it gets your imagination working!
The valley was flooded- literally , really, factually.
2022년 8월 7일
1
Flood is the fact- drown is the effect
2022년 8월 7일
아직도 답을 찾지 못하셨나요?
질문을 남겨보세요. 원어민이 도움을 줄 수 있을 거예요!
Jimmy Chan
언어 구사 능력
중국어(북경어), 네덜란드어, 영어
학습 언어
네덜란드어, 영어
좋아할 수도 있는 읽을거리
How to Ask for a Raise or Promotion in English
9 좋아요 · 8 댓글
The Key to Learning a Language Faster
31 좋아요 · 8 댓글
Why "General English" is Failing Your Career (An Engineer’s Perspective)
30 좋아요 · 12 댓글
다른 읽을거리
