1. Bakkerbaard

    Bakkerbaard Contributor Contributor

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    Over or For

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by Bakkerbaard, Sep 8, 2021.

    I was just about to send in my definite blurb when I started doubting it again.

    Do you accidentally sell your soul over a car, or for a car?

    The actual line:
    Eddie Sterling isn’t usually a guy you’d want to read about, but he did just accidentally sell his soul over a car.
     
  2. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    I would definitely say For. You fight over something, you bond over something, but you sell your soul for something.
     
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  3. Bakkerbaard

    Bakkerbaard Contributor Contributor

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    That's what I thought.
    Or began to think, anyway. Thanks.
     
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  4. Shannon Davidson

    Shannon Davidson Member

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    Yes, the car is the prize you sold your soul for. The event that led to that is what you sold your soul over.

    "For" is correct in your sentence as it is presented.

    However... the accuracy depends entirely on what just preceded said sale. Technically, let's say your MC and the devil get into an argument. The devil owns the car. Your MC covets the car. They chat about it, and each are impressed by how much the other knows about that particular car. The devil makes some claim about the car that your MC calls BS on, so they make a bet that the devil has to prove. If your MC wins the bet, he gets the car. If the devil wins, he gets the MC's soul. In this case, you could say your MC 'lost' his soul to the devil 'over' a car.

    To truly sell your soul, you have to get something of value in exchange for said soul.
     
  5. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

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    You can argue for or over your soul, they have different meanings. You can argue over a soul: do you have one or not, for example, would be arguing over your soul.

    "accidentally sell his soul over a car". That sentence requires 'for'. You would argue 'over' a car. You would sell your soul for a car meaning you would exchange your soul for said car.
     
  6. Friedrich Kugelschreiber

    Friedrich Kugelschreiber marshmallow Contributor

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    how is it in Dutch?
     
  7. Bruce Johnson

    Bruce Johnson Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023

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    Did you post this previously? This sounds familiar.
     
  8. Bakkerbaard

    Bakkerbaard Contributor Contributor

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    Despite this ship having sailed a while ago, I'm gonna answer some anyway.

    This was actually a scene in the pre-draft.

    Voor. Which translate to for.
    I went with for, even though I'm only now realizing I should have thought of that myself.

    Old thread. This is the exact thread you are remembering, probably. I thought it was dead.
     
  9. Bruce Johnson

    Bruce Johnson Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023

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    I thought you posted the full blurb, maybe even something about him picking up his friend to help him on his quest? Or maybe his friend joining him. Maybe that's another thread involving an important car.
     
  10. Bakkerbaard

    Bakkerbaard Contributor Contributor

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    Oh yeah, you're right.
    The full blurb-thread is floating around somewhere too.

    Though there's a good chance more car focused blurbs will pop up in the future. I'm very limited in my subjects.
     

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