Syntactic blending: bunker down

[Dennis R. Preston]

I know that; I don't see why it is a question of syntax. I'm clearly quibbling.

dInIs

>At 09:12 AM 10/13/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>>I cannot find what syntax is blended in "I tried to reach you but the
>>line was off the hook."
>
>Phones can be off the hook, and lines can be down, but aren't normally 'off
>the hook.'
>
>Geoff

--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of Linguistics & Germanic, Slavic,
      Asian & African Languages
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1027
e-mail: preston at msu.edu
phone: (517) 432-3099