8mm Forum: [British-English] what does "free" mean in this sentence?

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 15, 2017, 12:04 AM:

Guys, this must be the problem of local idiomatic that cannot be translated precisely to my English.

I was in the middle of converstation of buying films from a friend in the UK and I have agreed with his previous mentioned price (£25). Before sending my payment, the seller offered me another films.

I said to check the color since I don't want to get faded prints.

And he came back by writing:

quote:
Hi Winbert I`ll look at the [title] cartoons but there is a degree of fade hence free if you will.

So my question, does this free mean I do not to pay anything for these faded prints (that was my thought)

or

free = up to you (if I want to pay for these faded prints)

thanks,

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on May 15, 2017, 01:25 AM:

With respect, Winbert, have you tried asking the seller?

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on May 15, 2017, 01:30 AM:

Hello Winbert
I read this as the seller offering you the faded films for free (no extra payment) but to be sure why not ask him, or just thank him for including the extra films and see how he responds.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 15, 2017, 01:31 AM:

Hi Mike...no ...the seller said that the total to become £30...so...I just paid for the faded prints [Razz]

I am asking this just to learn if there is another side of idiomatical that I don't understand.

As you live in the UK...what do you think is the situation.

cheers,

[ May 15, 2017, 05:31 AM: Message edited by: Winbert Hutahaean ]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on May 15, 2017, 04:45 AM:

It appears to me that there is geographical colloquialism at the end of this sentence.
I refer to the words hence free if you will
The word free should not be taken to mean free as in nothing to pay.

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on May 15, 2017, 10:44 AM:

Hi Winbert it was me I think re the films.

The 2 x 400 LPP digest plus 6 cartoons including 3 polyester disney cartoon prints and 3 others.

Of the cartoons if you remember some were free, some in the extra £5.

I gave you a run down of the colours etc.

If anyone fancies sending me 6 cartoons for a fiver feel welcome to drop me a line.

Sorry you seem dissapointed I thought it was a pretty good deal we worked out.

Best Mark.

Refunded the £5 Winbert, always here if any issues. Best.

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on May 15, 2017, 11:36 AM:

I guess the extra five are for the re calculated postage.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 15, 2017, 01:23 PM:

No Mark, I did not mention any name, not even the film titles were bought.

I honestly just want to learn the other side of a language since I am not an English native and live in many countries due to the nature of my job.

Panayotis, no, shipping cost is another matter. I paid £15 (so the total was £45) to make everything sent to me in New Caledonia and that was a good deal.

To be honest, I want to know if we can use the word "free" in the same sense like "it is up to you". I rise this because I rememmber the sentence "it is your own free will"

Maurice, you have given that direction, so can you explore more?

Cheers,

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on May 15, 2017, 02:52 PM:

Winbert
Having read more after my comment above, I see that I was wrong in what I said.
The expression if you will is sometimes used to qualify a word or phrase.
In this particular sentence the word free obviously meant what it said.

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