How to understand “I suppose it varies, just like with wizards?” in this context





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‘Yeah, well, the more the better,’ said Moody darkly. ‘We're your guard, Potter.’



‘We're just waiting for the signal to tell us it's safe to set off,’
said Lupin, glancing out of the kitchen window. ‘We've got about
fifteen minutes.’



‘Very clean, aren't they, these Muggles?’ said the witch called Tonks, who was looking around the kitchen with great interest. ‘My dad's Muggle-born and he's a right old slob. I suppose it varies, just like with wizards?’



‘Er—yeah,’ said Harry. ‘Look'—he turned back to Lupin—'what's going on, I haven't heard anything from anyone, what's Vol—?’



Several of the witches and wizards made odd hissing noises; Dedalus
Diggle dropped his hat again, and Moody growled, ‘Shut up!’



Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix




"it" in "I suppose it varies" probably refers to "kitchen" in this context. But I don't understand "just like with wizards". Any thoughts?










share|improve this question




















  • 3





    "I suppose it varies, just like [how it varies] with wizards?" || I don't have the text and I'm unsure what "it" refers to so not posting an answer, but it seems to me it actually refers to how clean muggles are. 'I suppose some muggles are cleaner than others, just like how some wizards are cleaner than others' is my take without further context.

    – M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
    Jan 7 at 8:35











  • @M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Thanks! I can add more context, but they seem not much relevant.

    – dan
    Jan 7 at 8:39











  • @M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Can we paraphrase it as: "I suppose it varies with Muggles, just like how it varies with wizards?"

    – dan
    Jan 7 at 8:47






  • 1





    Exactly! Again, my interpretation might not be correct, so you should wait for an answer. I'm too intimidated to enter Rowling's universe ;)

    – M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
    Jan 7 at 8:49











  • The interpretion for it as kitchen is quite correct, if it relates to the messy kitchen.

    – vectory
    Jan 8 at 4:10


















5
















‘Yeah, well, the more the better,’ said Moody darkly. ‘We're your guard, Potter.’



‘We're just waiting for the signal to tell us it's safe to set off,’
said Lupin, glancing out of the kitchen window. ‘We've got about
fifteen minutes.’



‘Very clean, aren't they, these Muggles?’ said the witch called Tonks, who was looking around the kitchen with great interest. ‘My dad's Muggle-born and he's a right old slob. I suppose it varies, just like with wizards?’



‘Er—yeah,’ said Harry. ‘Look'—he turned back to Lupin—'what's going on, I haven't heard anything from anyone, what's Vol—?’



Several of the witches and wizards made odd hissing noises; Dedalus
Diggle dropped his hat again, and Moody growled, ‘Shut up!’



Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix




"it" in "I suppose it varies" probably refers to "kitchen" in this context. But I don't understand "just like with wizards". Any thoughts?










share|improve this question




















  • 3





    "I suppose it varies, just like [how it varies] with wizards?" || I don't have the text and I'm unsure what "it" refers to so not posting an answer, but it seems to me it actually refers to how clean muggles are. 'I suppose some muggles are cleaner than others, just like how some wizards are cleaner than others' is my take without further context.

    – M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
    Jan 7 at 8:35











  • @M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Thanks! I can add more context, but they seem not much relevant.

    – dan
    Jan 7 at 8:39











  • @M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Can we paraphrase it as: "I suppose it varies with Muggles, just like how it varies with wizards?"

    – dan
    Jan 7 at 8:47






  • 1





    Exactly! Again, my interpretation might not be correct, so you should wait for an answer. I'm too intimidated to enter Rowling's universe ;)

    – M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
    Jan 7 at 8:49











  • The interpretion for it as kitchen is quite correct, if it relates to the messy kitchen.

    – vectory
    Jan 8 at 4:10














5












5








5









‘Yeah, well, the more the better,’ said Moody darkly. ‘We're your guard, Potter.’



‘We're just waiting for the signal to tell us it's safe to set off,’
said Lupin, glancing out of the kitchen window. ‘We've got about
fifteen minutes.’



‘Very clean, aren't they, these Muggles?’ said the witch called Tonks, who was looking around the kitchen with great interest. ‘My dad's Muggle-born and he's a right old slob. I suppose it varies, just like with wizards?’



‘Er—yeah,’ said Harry. ‘Look'—he turned back to Lupin—'what's going on, I haven't heard anything from anyone, what's Vol—?’



Several of the witches and wizards made odd hissing noises; Dedalus
Diggle dropped his hat again, and Moody growled, ‘Shut up!’



Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix




"it" in "I suppose it varies" probably refers to "kitchen" in this context. But I don't understand "just like with wizards". Any thoughts?










share|improve this question

















‘Yeah, well, the more the better,’ said Moody darkly. ‘We're your guard, Potter.’



‘We're just waiting for the signal to tell us it's safe to set off,’
said Lupin, glancing out of the kitchen window. ‘We've got about
fifteen minutes.’



‘Very clean, aren't they, these Muggles?’ said the witch called Tonks, who was looking around the kitchen with great interest. ‘My dad's Muggle-born and he's a right old slob. I suppose it varies, just like with wizards?’



‘Er—yeah,’ said Harry. ‘Look'—he turned back to Lupin—'what's going on, I haven't heard anything from anyone, what's Vol—?’



Several of the witches and wizards made odd hissing noises; Dedalus
Diggle dropped his hat again, and Moody growled, ‘Shut up!’



Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix




"it" in "I suppose it varies" probably refers to "kitchen" in this context. But I don't understand "just like with wizards". Any thoughts?







meaning-in-context harry-potter






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Jan 8 at 2:27









J.R.

101k8129249




101k8129249










asked Jan 7 at 8:28









dandan

5,59932882




5,59932882








  • 3





    "I suppose it varies, just like [how it varies] with wizards?" || I don't have the text and I'm unsure what "it" refers to so not posting an answer, but it seems to me it actually refers to how clean muggles are. 'I suppose some muggles are cleaner than others, just like how some wizards are cleaner than others' is my take without further context.

    – M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
    Jan 7 at 8:35











  • @M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Thanks! I can add more context, but they seem not much relevant.

    – dan
    Jan 7 at 8:39











  • @M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Can we paraphrase it as: "I suppose it varies with Muggles, just like how it varies with wizards?"

    – dan
    Jan 7 at 8:47






  • 1





    Exactly! Again, my interpretation might not be correct, so you should wait for an answer. I'm too intimidated to enter Rowling's universe ;)

    – M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
    Jan 7 at 8:49











  • The interpretion for it as kitchen is quite correct, if it relates to the messy kitchen.

    – vectory
    Jan 8 at 4:10














  • 3





    "I suppose it varies, just like [how it varies] with wizards?" || I don't have the text and I'm unsure what "it" refers to so not posting an answer, but it seems to me it actually refers to how clean muggles are. 'I suppose some muggles are cleaner than others, just like how some wizards are cleaner than others' is my take without further context.

    – M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
    Jan 7 at 8:35











  • @M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Thanks! I can add more context, but they seem not much relevant.

    – dan
    Jan 7 at 8:39











  • @M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Can we paraphrase it as: "I suppose it varies with Muggles, just like how it varies with wizards?"

    – dan
    Jan 7 at 8:47






  • 1





    Exactly! Again, my interpretation might not be correct, so you should wait for an answer. I'm too intimidated to enter Rowling's universe ;)

    – M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
    Jan 7 at 8:49











  • The interpretion for it as kitchen is quite correct, if it relates to the messy kitchen.

    – vectory
    Jan 8 at 4:10








3




3





"I suppose it varies, just like [how it varies] with wizards?" || I don't have the text and I'm unsure what "it" refers to so not posting an answer, but it seems to me it actually refers to how clean muggles are. 'I suppose some muggles are cleaner than others, just like how some wizards are cleaner than others' is my take without further context.

– M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
Jan 7 at 8:35





"I suppose it varies, just like [how it varies] with wizards?" || I don't have the text and I'm unsure what "it" refers to so not posting an answer, but it seems to me it actually refers to how clean muggles are. 'I suppose some muggles are cleaner than others, just like how some wizards are cleaner than others' is my take without further context.

– M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
Jan 7 at 8:35













@M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Thanks! I can add more context, but they seem not much relevant.

– dan
Jan 7 at 8:39





@M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Thanks! I can add more context, but they seem not much relevant.

– dan
Jan 7 at 8:39













@M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Can we paraphrase it as: "I suppose it varies with Muggles, just like how it varies with wizards?"

– dan
Jan 7 at 8:47





@M.A.R.ಠ_ಠ, Can we paraphrase it as: "I suppose it varies with Muggles, just like how it varies with wizards?"

– dan
Jan 7 at 8:47




1




1





Exactly! Again, my interpretation might not be correct, so you should wait for an answer. I'm too intimidated to enter Rowling's universe ;)

– M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
Jan 7 at 8:49





Exactly! Again, my interpretation might not be correct, so you should wait for an answer. I'm too intimidated to enter Rowling's universe ;)

– M.A.R. ಠ_ಠ
Jan 7 at 8:49













The interpretion for it as kitchen is quite correct, if it relates to the messy kitchen.

– vectory
Jan 8 at 4:10





The interpretion for it as kitchen is quite correct, if it relates to the messy kitchen.

– vectory
Jan 8 at 4:10










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















26














"It" in this case refers to the trait of neatness/messiness. Tonks had originally assumed, based on her exposure to Muggles through her father, that Muggles in general are messy. When faced with the neat Dursley kitchen, her assumption was challenged. She then realized that it had been a mistake to generalize from her experience to all Muggles. She thus suggests that the trait of neatness/messiness might vary amongst Muggles just like the trait could vary among wizards.



In other words, "I suppose it varies" reflects Tonks's changing view of Muggle neatness/messiness. She had originally thought that Muggles are necessarily messy; she now comes to the conclusion that the fact that some Muggles are messy does not preclude the possibility that other Muggles are neat.






share|improve this answer































    5














    it will often refer vaguely to the current topic of discussion, to an idea or notion or fact, or to a situation whether at hand or being talked about. The reference will not always be to a specific noun earlier in the sentence, as you have supposed, like kitchen.




    Some Muggles are slobs, and some are neat—it varies, just as it does with wizards.







    share|improve this answer


























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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

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      active

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      active

      oldest

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      26














      "It" in this case refers to the trait of neatness/messiness. Tonks had originally assumed, based on her exposure to Muggles through her father, that Muggles in general are messy. When faced with the neat Dursley kitchen, her assumption was challenged. She then realized that it had been a mistake to generalize from her experience to all Muggles. She thus suggests that the trait of neatness/messiness might vary amongst Muggles just like the trait could vary among wizards.



      In other words, "I suppose it varies" reflects Tonks's changing view of Muggle neatness/messiness. She had originally thought that Muggles are necessarily messy; she now comes to the conclusion that the fact that some Muggles are messy does not preclude the possibility that other Muggles are neat.






      share|improve this answer




























        26














        "It" in this case refers to the trait of neatness/messiness. Tonks had originally assumed, based on her exposure to Muggles through her father, that Muggles in general are messy. When faced with the neat Dursley kitchen, her assumption was challenged. She then realized that it had been a mistake to generalize from her experience to all Muggles. She thus suggests that the trait of neatness/messiness might vary amongst Muggles just like the trait could vary among wizards.



        In other words, "I suppose it varies" reflects Tonks's changing view of Muggle neatness/messiness. She had originally thought that Muggles are necessarily messy; she now comes to the conclusion that the fact that some Muggles are messy does not preclude the possibility that other Muggles are neat.






        share|improve this answer


























          26












          26








          26







          "It" in this case refers to the trait of neatness/messiness. Tonks had originally assumed, based on her exposure to Muggles through her father, that Muggles in general are messy. When faced with the neat Dursley kitchen, her assumption was challenged. She then realized that it had been a mistake to generalize from her experience to all Muggles. She thus suggests that the trait of neatness/messiness might vary amongst Muggles just like the trait could vary among wizards.



          In other words, "I suppose it varies" reflects Tonks's changing view of Muggle neatness/messiness. She had originally thought that Muggles are necessarily messy; she now comes to the conclusion that the fact that some Muggles are messy does not preclude the possibility that other Muggles are neat.






          share|improve this answer













          "It" in this case refers to the trait of neatness/messiness. Tonks had originally assumed, based on her exposure to Muggles through her father, that Muggles in general are messy. When faced with the neat Dursley kitchen, her assumption was challenged. She then realized that it had been a mistake to generalize from her experience to all Muggles. She thus suggests that the trait of neatness/messiness might vary amongst Muggles just like the trait could vary among wizards.



          In other words, "I suppose it varies" reflects Tonks's changing view of Muggle neatness/messiness. She had originally thought that Muggles are necessarily messy; she now comes to the conclusion that the fact that some Muggles are messy does not preclude the possibility that other Muggles are neat.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Jan 7 at 8:53









          AlexAlex

          1,231211




          1,231211

























              5














              it will often refer vaguely to the current topic of discussion, to an idea or notion or fact, or to a situation whether at hand or being talked about. The reference will not always be to a specific noun earlier in the sentence, as you have supposed, like kitchen.




              Some Muggles are slobs, and some are neat—it varies, just as it does with wizards.







              share|improve this answer






























                5














                it will often refer vaguely to the current topic of discussion, to an idea or notion or fact, or to a situation whether at hand or being talked about. The reference will not always be to a specific noun earlier in the sentence, as you have supposed, like kitchen.




                Some Muggles are slobs, and some are neat—it varies, just as it does with wizards.







                share|improve this answer




























                  5












                  5








                  5







                  it will often refer vaguely to the current topic of discussion, to an idea or notion or fact, or to a situation whether at hand or being talked about. The reference will not always be to a specific noun earlier in the sentence, as you have supposed, like kitchen.




                  Some Muggles are slobs, and some are neat—it varies, just as it does with wizards.







                  share|improve this answer















                  it will often refer vaguely to the current topic of discussion, to an idea or notion or fact, or to a situation whether at hand or being talked about. The reference will not always be to a specific noun earlier in the sentence, as you have supposed, like kitchen.




                  Some Muggles are slobs, and some are neat—it varies, just as it does with wizards.








                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Jan 7 at 11:45

























                  answered Jan 7 at 11:39









                  TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo

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