How to understand the use of “to” in “rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the...
... Harry could feel his face burning. Snape was pausing at the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh. The article sounded ten times worse when read by Snape. Even Hermione was blushing scarlet now.
“'…Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows
his heart upon a worthier candidate.’ How very touching,” sneered
Snape, rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the
Slytherins. “Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so
you can keep your minds on your potions rather than on your tangled
love lives. ...
I don't quite understand the part in bold above. It might be because the use of 'to' is confusing. "rolling up the magazine to" doesn't seem to make much sense to me. How should we understand it?
meaning-in-context prepositions phrase-meaning
asked Dec 24 '18 at 12:01
dandan
5,41622878
add a comment |
... Harry could feel his face burning. Snape was pausing at the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh. The article sounded ten times worse when read by Snape. Even Hermione was blushing scarlet now.
“'…Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows
his heart upon a worthier candidate.’ How very touching,” sneered
Snape, rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the
Slytherins. “Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so
you can keep your minds on your potions rather than on your tangled
love lives. ...
I don't quite understand the part in bold above. It might be because the use of 'to' is confusing. "rolling up the magazine to" doesn't seem to make much sense to me. How should we understand it?
meaning-in-context prepositions phrase-meaning
asked Dec 24 '18 at 12:01
dandan
5,41622878
add a comment |
... Harry could feel his face burning. Snape was pausing at the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh. The article sounded ten times worse when read by Snape. Even Hermione was blushing scarlet now.
“'…Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows
his heart upon a worthier candidate.’ How very touching,” sneered
Snape, rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the
Slytherins. “Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so
you can keep your minds on your potions rather than on your tangled
love lives. ...
I don't quite understand the part in bold above. It might be because the use of 'to' is confusing. "rolling up the magazine to" doesn't seem to make much sense to me. How should we understand it?
meaning-in-context prepositions phrase-meaning
asked Dec 24 '18 at 12:01
dandan
5,41622878
... Harry could feel his face burning. Snape was pausing at the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh. The article sounded ten times worse when read by Snape. Even Hermione was blushing scarlet now.
“'…Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows
his heart upon a worthier candidate.’ How very touching,” sneered
Snape, rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the
Slytherins. “Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so
you can keep your minds on your potions rather than on your tangled
love lives. ...
I don't quite understand the part in bold above. It might be because the use of 'to' is confusing. "rolling up the magazine to" doesn't seem to make much sense to me. How should we understand it?
meaning-in-context prepositions phrase-meaning
meaning-in-context prepositions phrase-meaning
asked Dec 24 '18 at 12:01
dandan
5,41622878
asked Dec 24 '18 at 12:01
dandan
5,41622878
edited Dec 24 '18 at 15:14
dan
asked Dec 24 '18 at 12:01
dandan
5,41622878
asked Dec 24 '18 at 12:01
dandan
5,41622878
asked Dec 24 '18 at 12:01
dandan
5,41622878
5,41622878
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The usual expression is along the lines of “sing along/tap your foot/dance/etc. to the sound of music”. It means that you’re doing something so that it matches up with the music in rhythm and (if applicable) pitch.
In the same way, Snape rolling up the magazine appeared to mesh with people laughing. It’s more literary than something with a more specific meaning here.
Interestingly enough the OED defines the expression more broadly as “To the accompaniment of; as an accompaniment to” and groups in an expression that’s probably obsolete: “to ride to hounds”, which was used when people followed hounds on horseback as they tracked something.
answered Dec 24 '18 at 13:13
LaurelLaurel
5,22211228
4
I would not say there is any element of Snape rolling up the magazine along with the rhythm of the laughter. For me it just means at the same time as the Slytherins were laughing.
– Sarriesfan
Dec 24 '18 at 14:31
2
It doesn't have to "mesh". It's simply an omission of the phrase 'to the sound of'.
– Mazura
Dec 24 '18 at 20:25
add a comment |
It's kind of a mixture between "which made the Slytherins laugh" and "while the Slytherins were laughing". The "to" combines this temporal (the two things happen at the same time) and causal relation. Different examples for using "to" like that:
"George's coffin slowly submerged into the soil to the heartrending cries of his family."
"He entered the stage to frenetic shouting by the crowd."
"John slowly poured water onto the boys head to the strange and touching sound of the monk's ancient ritual chants."
answered Dec 24 '18 at 19:46
FlobFlob
1642
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "481"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f190610%2fhow-to-understand-the-use-of-to-in-rolling-up-the-magazine-to-continued-gales%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The usual expression is along the lines of “sing along/tap your foot/dance/etc. to the sound of music”. It means that you’re doing something so that it matches up with the music in rhythm and (if applicable) pitch.
In the same way, Snape rolling up the magazine appeared to mesh with people laughing. It’s more literary than something with a more specific meaning here.
Interestingly enough the OED defines the expression more broadly as “To the accompaniment of; as an accompaniment to” and groups in an expression that’s probably obsolete: “to ride to hounds”, which was used when people followed hounds on horseback as they tracked something.
answered Dec 24 '18 at 13:13
LaurelLaurel
5,22211228
4
I would not say there is any element of Snape rolling up the magazine along with the rhythm of the laughter. For me it just means at the same time as the Slytherins were laughing.
– Sarriesfan
Dec 24 '18 at 14:31
2
It doesn't have to "mesh". It's simply an omission of the phrase 'to the sound of'.
– Mazura
Dec 24 '18 at 20:25
add a comment |
The usual expression is along the lines of “sing along/tap your foot/dance/etc. to the sound of music”. It means that you’re doing something so that it matches up with the music in rhythm and (if applicable) pitch.
In the same way, Snape rolling up the magazine appeared to mesh with people laughing. It’s more literary than something with a more specific meaning here.
Interestingly enough the OED defines the expression more broadly as “To the accompaniment of; as an accompaniment to” and groups in an expression that’s probably obsolete: “to ride to hounds”, which was used when people followed hounds on horseback as they tracked something.
answered Dec 24 '18 at 13:13
LaurelLaurel
5,22211228
4
I would not say there is any element of Snape rolling up the magazine along with the rhythm of the laughter. For me it just means at the same time as the Slytherins were laughing.
– Sarriesfan
Dec 24 '18 at 14:31
2
It doesn't have to "mesh". It's simply an omission of the phrase 'to the sound of'.
– Mazura
Dec 24 '18 at 20:25
add a comment |
The usual expression is along the lines of “sing along/tap your foot/dance/etc. to the sound of music”. It means that you’re doing something so that it matches up with the music in rhythm and (if applicable) pitch.
In the same way, Snape rolling up the magazine appeared to mesh with people laughing. It’s more literary than something with a more specific meaning here.
Interestingly enough the OED defines the expression more broadly as “To the accompaniment of; as an accompaniment to” and groups in an expression that’s probably obsolete: “to ride to hounds”, which was used when people followed hounds on horseback as they tracked something.
answered Dec 24 '18 at 13:13
LaurelLaurel
5,22211228
The usual expression is along the lines of “sing along/tap your foot/dance/etc. to the sound of music”. It means that you’re doing something so that it matches up with the music in rhythm and (if applicable) pitch.
In the same way, Snape rolling up the magazine appeared to mesh with people laughing. It’s more literary than something with a more specific meaning here.
Interestingly enough the OED defines the expression more broadly as “To the accompaniment of; as an accompaniment to” and groups in an expression that’s probably obsolete: “to ride to hounds”, which was used when people followed hounds on horseback as they tracked something.
answered Dec 24 '18 at 13:13
LaurelLaurel
5,22211228
answered Dec 24 '18 at 13:13
LaurelLaurel
5,22211228
answered Dec 24 '18 at 13:13
LaurelLaurel
5,22211228
answered Dec 24 '18 at 13:13
LaurelLaurel
5,22211228
5,22211228
4
I would not say there is any element of Snape rolling up the magazine along with the rhythm of the laughter. For me it just means at the same time as the Slytherins were laughing.
– Sarriesfan
Dec 24 '18 at 14:31
2
It doesn't have to "mesh". It's simply an omission of the phrase 'to the sound of'.
– Mazura
Dec 24 '18 at 20:25
add a comment |
4
I would not say there is any element of Snape rolling up the magazine along with the rhythm of the laughter. For me it just means at the same time as the Slytherins were laughing.
– Sarriesfan
Dec 24 '18 at 14:31
2
It doesn't have to "mesh". It's simply an omission of the phrase 'to the sound of'.
– Mazura
Dec 24 '18 at 20:25
4
4
I would not say there is any element of Snape rolling up the magazine along with the rhythm of the laughter. For me it just means at the same time as the Slytherins were laughing.
– Sarriesfan
Dec 24 '18 at 14:31
I would not say there is any element of Snape rolling up the magazine along with the rhythm of the laughter. For me it just means at the same time as the Slytherins were laughing.
– Sarriesfan
Dec 24 '18 at 14:31
2
2
It doesn't have to "mesh". It's simply an omission of the phrase 'to the sound of'.
– Mazura
Dec 24 '18 at 20:25
It doesn't have to "mesh". It's simply an omission of the phrase 'to the sound of'.
– Mazura
Dec 24 '18 at 20:25
add a comment |
It's kind of a mixture between "which made the Slytherins laugh" and "while the Slytherins were laughing". The "to" combines this temporal (the two things happen at the same time) and causal relation. Different examples for using "to" like that:
"George's coffin slowly submerged into the soil to the heartrending cries of his family."
"He entered the stage to frenetic shouting by the crowd."
"John slowly poured water onto the boys head to the strange and touching sound of the monk's ancient ritual chants."
answered Dec 24 '18 at 19:46
FlobFlob
1642
add a comment |
It's kind of a mixture between "which made the Slytherins laugh" and "while the Slytherins were laughing". The "to" combines this temporal (the two things happen at the same time) and causal relation. Different examples for using "to" like that:
"George's coffin slowly submerged into the soil to the heartrending cries of his family."
"He entered the stage to frenetic shouting by the crowd."
"John slowly poured water onto the boys head to the strange and touching sound of the monk's ancient ritual chants."
answered Dec 24 '18 at 19:46
FlobFlob
1642
add a comment |
It's kind of a mixture between "which made the Slytherins laugh" and "while the Slytherins were laughing". The "to" combines this temporal (the two things happen at the same time) and causal relation. Different examples for using "to" like that:
"George's coffin slowly submerged into the soil to the heartrending cries of his family."
"He entered the stage to frenetic shouting by the crowd."
"John slowly poured water onto the boys head to the strange and touching sound of the monk's ancient ritual chants."
answered Dec 24 '18 at 19:46
FlobFlob
1642
It's kind of a mixture between "which made the Slytherins laugh" and "while the Slytherins were laughing". The "to" combines this temporal (the two things happen at the same time) and causal relation. Different examples for using "to" like that:
"George's coffin slowly submerged into the soil to the heartrending cries of his family."
"He entered the stage to frenetic shouting by the crowd."
"John slowly poured water onto the boys head to the strange and touching sound of the monk's ancient ritual chants."
answered Dec 24 '18 at 19:46
FlobFlob
1642
edited Dec 24 '18 at 23:34
answered Dec 24 '18 at 19:46
FlobFlob
1642
answered Dec 24 '18 at 19:46
FlobFlob
1642
answered Dec 24 '18 at 19:46
FlobFlob
1642
1642
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language Learners Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f190610%2fhow-to-understand-the-use-of-to-in-rolling-up-the-magazine-to-continued-gales%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
