When do you use "poor old somebody"?
Recently I was reading stories, and I was confused that I saw a child said "good old Mum" when the Mum won a race and "poor old Dad" when the Dad fell in the water. Why did they say "poor OLD Dad" not "poor Dad"? Is it a idiom for people to emphasise their feeling?Can I say "poor old baby" when I see a baby who is abandoned by his parents?
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 7
2
You're absolutely right, Chenlei.
The pattern 'adjective + 'old' + person' is an idiomatic usage to emphasise the speaker's feeling towards that person. It can show approval (as in 'Good old..') or pity (as in 'Poor old..). It also works with other adjectives, for example, if you make a stupid mistake or misunderstanding, you might say 'Oh, silly old me!'. The 'old' has nothing to do with actual age. It would be a little odd to use it for a baby, but you could conceivably say 'Poor old..' for a child.
1
From: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/old
OLD adjective (very familiar)
[before noun] INFORMAL used before someone's name when you are referring to or talking to them, to show that you know that person well and like them:
There's old Sara working away in the corner.
I hear poor old Frank's lost his job.
0
Adding the old is usually used more in British English. In the US we just say "poor (insert)"
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!
Start Learning Today
