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    the more the merrier

    12­ Replies
    Topic

    the more the merrier

    Comment
    it is not possible to integrate this expression into a sentence, meaning "the more ... the better", is it?

    example: "The more I look at the photo, the merrier I like it."

    To me, this sounds awful. But a friend told me it IS used this way. I see it more as a saying, isn't it?

    Thanks for any opinions.
    Author@cetera22 Jun 09, 21:23
    Comment
    You're right, "The more I look at the photo, the better I like it" works, but you can't substitute merrier for better in that sentence.

    If you really like photos, and can't get too many of them, you might say "I love having lots of photos, the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned".

    #1Author Villager (GB) (575909) 22 Jun 09, 21:35
    Comment
    I think the phrase only works with people.

    Q: "can I come too?"
    A: "sure. the more the merrier."
    #2Authoracr8102 Jul 09, 16:03
    Comment
    #1 What does it mean: "The more I look at the photo"?

    Does the expression "to look at something (very) much" make any sense?
    #3AuthorOut of curiosity02 Jul 09, 16:12
    Comment
    @ #3: Does this help at all?

    Dictionary: "je mehr, desto besser"
    #4AuthorKinkyAfro (587241) 02 Jul 09, 16:36
    Comment
    "The expression "The more I look at the photo, the merrier I like it." sounds to me very bad in contrast to the following:

    "The more frequently (or intensely) I look at the photo the more I like it.
    #5AuthorOut of curiosity03 Jul 09, 15:45
    Comment
    Unless I am allowed to say:

    "I look a lot at something" or "I listen to the radio a lot", which is at least eccentric.

    #6AuthorOut of curiosity03 Jul 09, 15:51
    Comment
    the more i look at the photo may be some denglich expression... in german at least in slang, its fine o say "je mehr ich mir das foto ansehe..." meaning "je länger ich mir das foto ansehe..."
    #7AuthorBatan02 Feb 11, 14:44
    Comment
    #7 It's fine in English.

    2 used to say that something happens a greater number of times or for longer [≠ less]: I promised Mum that I'd help more with the housework.
    You need to get out of the house more.
    http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/more_1
    #8Author CM2DD (236324) 02 Feb 11, 14:48
    Comment
    je...desto is the...the in English

    have a look at
    je desto
    in dict.cc for examples
    #9Authormikefm (760309) 02 Feb 11, 14:50
    Comment
    je öfter ich mir das Foto ansehe, desto ...
    #10Author Pachulke (286250) 02 Feb 11, 16:46
    Comment
    Looking back at this thread, the author of post #6 seems to be mistaken. If they feel that "I look a lot at something" and "I listen to the radio a lot" are "at least eccentric", they're wrong: those sentences are OK (although the word order "look at something a lot" may be more idiomatic in some cases, IMO).
    #11AuthorKinkyAfro (587241) 02 Feb 11, 16:55
    Comment
    #11: I hadn't noticed #6 - I must be very eccentric, I listen to the radio a lot (BBC Internet, e.g.) :-)
    #12Authormikefm (760309) 02 Feb 11, 17:25
     
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