# Can't you understand English? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 9, 2000, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764 "2000-12-09T15:41:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/1 "2000-12-09T15:41:35Z")
Ok, here is a phrase in the English language that I just don’t seem to get. I think I know but I just ain’t always sure. - present company notwithstanding.\* Not _with_ standing? Not with standing as to what, the subject being discussed? No standing as to subject matter? No standing with the present company? No standing around? Huh? And is it one word or three? Not with standing? Notwithstanding? I think it’s the _with_ part that throws me. Who thought this phrase up? Whatever it’s meaning, isn’t there an easier way of saying what you mean? Everytime I see this used in a sentence my eyes just glaze over much like they do when reading an insurance policy or legal document. I know there will be multitudes of you out there that will think, “oh hell dumb butt it just means this!” But of course you guys are too nice to actually say something like that to your old pal aha. Nevertheless ( Ohhh shit there is another one!!!) I hate it and lots of times just don’t get it. Any phrases in the English language that do this to you? ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Lord_Davidson)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/2 "2000-12-09T16:01:29Z")
It means “present company _not-withstanding_”. It basically means that your present company cannot withstand whatever tight requirements are set before you. I think. ---
**Author:** ![LazarusLong42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@LazarusLong42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LazarusLong42)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/3 "2000-12-09T16:32:32Z")
I’ve never heard it phrased that way. Generally it’s “present company excepted,” that is, whatever you’re discussing doesn’t refer to the other people in the room. “Present company notwithstanding” would mean “Even though y’all are sitting here with me, I’m going to say this.” Which is rather rude, generally. LL ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/4 "2000-12-09T16:42:32Z")
Main Entry: 1not·with·stand·ing Pronunciation: "nät-with-'stan-di[ng], -wi[th]- Function: preposition Etymology: Middle English notwithstonding, from not + withstonding, present participle of withstonden to withstand Date: 14th century : DESPITE \ – often used after its object \ It’s all one word, and your phrase means “present company excepted”. I think. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/5 "2000-12-09T16:54:05Z")
Oh hell, dumb butt it means “in spite of”. -Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1980. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/6 "2000-12-09T17:14:08Z")
Notwithstanding the fact that it was rude to call aha a dumb butt, withstanding the fact that he asked for it (is that right?) I will give an example: “Notwithstanding that fact that Carnivorousplant will not admit that he is an ass, will all the asses, including Carnivorousplant, please walk down the double yellow line in the street?” ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/7 "2000-12-09T18:18:28Z")
aahhh shet up cp you deviant swine! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/8 "2000-12-09T18:23:11Z")
Deviant?? Who’s deviant? I resemble that remark! ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/9 "2000-12-09T19:15:40Z")
> [@](#): > > I resemble that remark! Nothing more pitiful than a Stooge wannabe… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-understand-english/44764/10 "2000-12-09T19:26:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by omni-not \* > \*\* > Nothing more pitiful than a Stooge wannabe… > \*\* And I thought it was Rodney Dangerfield. Oh, the shame!