I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned below.

[rezaaa]

I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned below.

"You can use only to emphasize how appropriate a certain course of action or type of behaviour is". Examples: It's only fair to let her know that you intend to apply.She appeared to have changed considerably, which was only to be expected.

 

[Yankee]

Re: I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned bel

The term "only fair" is used to express that an action or activity is, at a minimum, reasonable or sensible.

 

[rezaaa]

Re: I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned bel

can you give an illuminating example?

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned bel

Can you give an illuminating example?

What's wrong with the example in post #1?

 

[rezaaa]

Re: I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned bel

I have noticed another example: It was only too true. What is the difference between example in post #1 and that? Is"only too" here just the same as "very"?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Re: I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned bel

"You can use only to emphasize how appropriate a certain course of action or type of behaviour is". Examples: It's only fair to let her know that you intend to apply.She appeared to have changed considerably, which was only to be expected.

It's used in the sense of nothing but.

It's nothing but fair. It's fair and nothing else. It can only be described as fair. It's only fair.

 

[GoesStation]

Re: I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned bel

I have noticed another example: "It was only too true." What is the difference between example in post #1 and that? Is"only too" here just the same as "very"?

No. The phrase means "Regretfully, it turned out to be true."

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Re: I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned bel

I have noticed another example: It was only too true. What is the difference between example in post #1 and that? Is"only too" here just the same as "very"?

It was nothing but very true. It was beyond true, and it was nothing else. I can only be described as truer than true.

 

[jutfrank]

Re: I have difficult time grasping the meaning of "only" in the sense i mentioned bel

What is the difference between example in post #1 and that? Is"only too" here just the same as "very"?

As post #2 points out, the phrase to notice here is it is only fair. Don't focus on the word only.

https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/it-is-only-fair