Date:  Tue, 11 Oct 1994 19:45:23 -0700

From:  Judith Rascoe <boise[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]WELL.SF.CA.US>

Subject: Re: -"had" Constructions



Isn't there an Irish construction along the lines of "he had a drink taken".

As I understand it, it's a faintly euphemistic way of suggesting that the

subject has taken many drinks. ("He claimed he swerved to avoid the cat, but

he had a drink taken if you ask me.") In this sense it reminds me a bit of

what a Peruvian friend said about Spanish -- that lots of things seem to

happen by themselves in that language ('the vase broke itself'). The 'had O

part.' construction relieves the subject of onus. It's trying to shuffle the

action into the "I had my car sideswiped" category, where the subject is

victim.