This was initially shown to me on the program FLCL. Mamimi Samejima smokes a stale cigarette with the words “Never Knows Best” scrawled on the paper. I searched the internet for a meaning, but nothing seemed to work well.
I am quite aware that the statement lacks sense due to the absence of a preceding word.
I presume because it is written on a cigarette and the message changes as the cigarette is smoked. To smoke is to “Never Know Best,” since cigarettes are unhealthy for you. When a cigarette is lighted, the smoker is committed to the act of smoking. In media or entertainment, a half smoked cigarette may indicate a feeling of confidence, coolness, and self-assurance, therefore the “Knows Best” only drives whatever argument the smoker is making. Those who have smoked cigarettes would tell you that the final section of the cigarette is the finest part of smoking. Of course, this is just speculation on my side. But there has to be a solution. Someone has to know what these words on a cigarette signify, right? Right?
This factoid was discovered on the FLCL DVD commentary but does not explain its significance:
Interviewer:
What does the phrase “Never Knows Best” mean?
The English scribbled on her cigarette made her laugh.
Kazuya Tsurumaki:
Oh, you mean that? It started with a cigarette on a postcard I had.
What was written on the cigarette?
It was a close-up of a cigarette with the words “Join London” written on it.
And it was most likely scribbled rather than printed.
I thought it was cool and decided to imitate it.
*giggles* It’s not a brand of cigarettes. In Japan, there is no such brand.
Interviewer:
It seemed like the title of a song to me.
Kazuya Tsurumaki:
Oh, no.
I’m not sure whether it has any actual significance.
How should I put it? Um…
*explaining* There is a best method, and not everyone can follow it.
Nobody knows how to do it the best way.
It seemed to me to mirror Mamimi’s notion that there is no future.
That it had a tone that suggested she’d given up on life.
Similarly, What is this word phrase?
1: a collection of two or more words that represent a single thought but do not make up a full phrase The phrase “they rushed out the door” is made up of the phrases “out the door.” 2: a short phrase that is often utilized. phrase is a verb that means “to phrase” or “to wording.”
But then this question also arises, What is a phrase example?
A phrase, on the other hand, may be composed of any two or more related words that do not form a sentence. “Buttery popcorn,” for example, is a phrase, but “I eat buttery popcorn” is a sentence. A phrase is never a complete sentence on its own since it isn’t a clause.
What does the phrase DO IT MEAN?
do it. : to engage in sexual activity.
What are 5 examples of phrases?
– Noun Phrase; Friday turned into a chilly, rainy afternoon. – Verb Phrase; Mary may have been waiting for you outside. – Gerund Phrase; On a hot day, ice cream may be a refreshing treat. – Infinitive Phrase; She assisted in the construction of the roof. – Prepositional Phrase; You’ll find my mother in the kitchen.
Related Questions and Answers
What is phrase in English grammar?
A phrase is a collection of two or more words that functions as a meaningful unit inside a sentence or clause in English grammar. A phrase is a grammatical unit that falls between the levels of a word and a clause. 9th of August 2019
What is a phrase for kids?
A phrase is a combination of words that gives a statement more significance. Because it lacks a full notion with a subject, verb, and predicate, a phrase is not a sentence.
How do you identify a phrase?
A phrase is a collection of words that make up a single unit in a sentence but do not include a subject, verb, or both. A phrase that lacks a subject and/or verb does not constitute a full concept or notion. 30 September 2015
How do you write a phrase?
A phrase is a collection of two or more words put together. A noun or a verb may be included in this category, but not both! It might have a noun but no verb, or vice versa. It also doesn’t have a subject or a predicate. December 29th, 2017
What are the 7 types of phrase?
– Phrase that is absolute. – Phrase with an appositive. – A Gerund Phrase is a phrase that is made up of two words. – Phrase with an infinitive. – Phrase with a noun. – Phrase with Participial Participial Participial Participial Participial Participial – A prepositional phrase is a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends with a
What is phrase and types?
A phrase is a set of words that help to make a statement more meaningful. Noun phrase, adjective phrase, adverb phrase, verb phrase, and prepositional phrase are all examples of phrases. A noun phrase is a collection of words that includes a noun (or pronoun) plus words that modify it.
How do you use phrase in a sentence?
– He was hoping the rain would cease. When it didn’t boil, she got irritated. – It’s been a long time since you’ve slept. – A massage could be appealing to you. – He was looking forward to his meal.
What is bees knee?
A highly appreciated person or thing: cat’s meow is the definition of bee’s knees.
Who said the phrase it is what it is?
According to the New York Times, the phrase “it is what it is” first appeared in a 1949 piece in The Nebraska State Journal by J.E. Lawrence. “New land is hard, robust, and sturdy,” Lawrence said while discussing the difficulties of living on the frontier in Nebraska. 29th of July, 2019
What does the expression so be it mean?
So be it was a phrase used to express resignation to the reality that one can do nothing to alter things. So be it if they insist on going.
What is a phrase and a clause examples?
The phrase is “wherever you go,” and the clause is “I shall follow.” ‘Wherever you go’ isn’t a full concept, thus it doesn’t make sense on its own. ‘I shall follow,’ on the other hand, comprises both a subject and a verb in the form of ‘I’ and ‘follow,’ respectively.
What is a phrase and a clause?
Any group of words that functions as a part of speech, such as a noun phrase (“my brother Stu“), an adjectival phrase (“in a distinct shade of blue“), or an adverbial phrase (“with elegance and tact“), is referred to as a phrase. A clause is any noun phrase with a verb; it may be a sentence, although it is not required.
Why are phrases used?
Phrases are a collection of words that work together to convey a certain aspect of speech. They are crucial because they help you to communicate more effectively in both written and spoken form. 15 December 2011
What are the features of a phrase?
This definition has three features: (1) it says that a phrase may only be made up of a group of words, meaning that a single word cannot; (2) it separates phrases from clauses; and (3) it demands that the groups of words thought to be a phrase form a single grammatical unit.
How Do You Do is a phrase?
How do you do is a polite greeting that you might say when meeting someone for the first time. What you say while shaking hands with someone for the first time is an example of “how do you do.” (formal) A greeting used upon meeting someone for the first time.
What is a phrase in English ks2?
A phrase is a collection of words that do not include a verb. When a verb is added to a sentence, it forms a clause. It’s a phrase for when two or more words are grouped together to form a larger notion or variant to explain something.
What is not a phrase?
Because a sentence lacks a subject and verb, it is unable to communicate a full notion. A clause is in contrast to a phrase. A sentence has a subject and a verb, and it may express a full thought.
Can a single word be a phrase?
Phrases may be as simple as a single word or as complex as a whole sentence. Phrases are often treated as syntactic structural components, such as constituents, in theoretical linguistics.
What’s the difference between a sentence and a phrase?
A phrase is a combination of words, either short or lengthy, that does not express a full notion. A sentence is similarly a collection of words, but it expresses a whole notion. The major distinction between phrase and sentence is this. 15 October 2015