How to understand “I suppose it varies, just like with wizards?” in this context
‘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
edited Jan 8 at 2:27
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked Jan 7 at 8:28
dandan
5,51732879
add a comment |
‘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
edited Jan 8 at 2:27
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked Jan 7 at 8:28
dandan
5,51732879
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
add a comment |
‘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
edited Jan 8 at 2:27
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked Jan 7 at 8:28
dandan
5,51732879
‘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
meaning-in-context harry-potter
edited Jan 8 at 2:27
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked Jan 7 at 8:28
dandan
5,51732879
edited Jan 8 at 2:27
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked Jan 7 at 8:28
dandan
5,51732879
edited Jan 8 at 2:27
J.R.♦
100k8129248
edited Jan 8 at 2:27
J.R.♦
100k8129248
edited Jan 8 at 2:27
J.R.♦
100k8129248
100k8129248
asked Jan 7 at 8:28
dandan
5,51732879
asked Jan 7 at 8:28
dandan
5,51732879
asked Jan 7 at 8:28
dandan
5,51732879
5,51732879
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
"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.
answered Jan 7 at 8:53
AlexAlex
1,137210
add a comment |
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.
answered Jan 7 at 11:39
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
114k788182
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
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votes
active
oldest
votes
"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.
answered Jan 7 at 8:53
AlexAlex
1,137210
add a comment |
"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.
answered Jan 7 at 8:53
AlexAlex
1,137210
add a comment |
"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.
answered Jan 7 at 8:53
AlexAlex
1,137210
"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.
answered Jan 7 at 8:53
AlexAlex
1,137210
answered Jan 7 at 8:53
AlexAlex
1,137210
answered Jan 7 at 8:53
AlexAlex
1,137210
answered Jan 7 at 8:53
AlexAlex
1,137210
1,137210
add a comment |
add a comment |
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.
answered Jan 7 at 11:39
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
114k788182
add a comment |
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.
answered Jan 7 at 11:39
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
114k788182
add a comment |
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.
answered Jan 7 at 11:39
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
114k788182
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.
answered Jan 7 at 11:39
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
114k788182
edited Jan 7 at 11:45
answered Jan 7 at 11:39
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
114k788182
answered Jan 7 at 11:39
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
114k788182
answered Jan 7 at 11:39
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
114k788182
114k788182
add a comment |
add a comment |
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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