Really and Truly
Really and Truly: Genuinely, undoubtedly. This redundancy (really and truly mean the same thing, but the repetition makes for emphasis) dates from the eighteenth century. The OED holds it is a North American children’s locution, but nearly all of its citations, ranging from Henry Fielding (1742) to the present, are from adult books. Thomas Macaulay used it in his The History of England (1849), “The king is really and truly a Catholic.”
Related Terms and Synonyms
- Absolutely and Positively: This pair also combines two words that nearly mean the same thing for greater emphasis.
- Absolutely, Positively: Drop the ‘and’ and the meaning remains, just more concise.
- Really and Sincerely: Demonstrates an unyielding truthfulness.
- Entirely and Completely: For those times when partial belief just won’t cut it.
Antonyms
- Uncertain and Doubtfully: When you can’t commit to truth.
- Perhaps but Possibly: Hemming and hawing paired with more hemming.
References in Literature
- Henry Fielding, Joseph Andrews (1742): A noted figure who embedded these words within his text, signaling characters’ sincerity.
- Thomas Macaulay, The History of England (1849): When delivering assuredness of facts or firm convictions.
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “When my friend says, ‘I really and truly didn’t eat your fries,’ it means about 50% of them are gone.” – Wordy McWitt
- “Using ‘really and truly’ is like saying, ‘I meant it the first time, but I’m an overachiever.’” – Lexi Logist
Proverbs
- “Actions speak louder than words, but a quadruple emphasis doesn’t hurt.”
Recommended Reading and Entertainment
- Book: A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt - Reflects themes of integrity and truthfulness.
- Poetry: If by Rudyard Kipling - Reinforces steadfastness in the face of uncertainty.
- Movie: The Pursuit of Happyness - Portrays authentic perseverance.
- Song: True Colors by Cyndi Lauper - Emphasizes being genuine and authentic.
### Which of these is an example of redundancy for emphasis similar to 'really and truly'?
- [x] Truly and Sincerely
- [ ] Dancing in the Clouds
- [ ] Singing with spoons
- [ ] Cooking a Pancake
> **Explanation:** "Truly and Sincerely" is redundant but used for emphasis, just as 'really and truly' is.
### Identify the genuine phrase used for emphasis:
- [ ] Jumping on frog's legs
- [x] Entirely and Completely
- [ ] Scribbling rainbows
- [ ] Swimming with an Eiffel Tower
> **Explanation:** "Entirely and Completely" is a known redundant phrase for greater emphasis similar to 'really and truly'.
### True or False: 'Absolutely and Positively' is a similar form of emphasis as 'really and truly.'
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** 'Absolutely and Positively' is indeed used in a similar emphatic and redundant fashion as 'really and truly.'
### Can 'perhaps and possibly' be considered a form of double emphasis?
- [ ] Yes
- [x] No
> **Explanation:** While 'perhaps' and 'possibly' convey uncertainty, they don’t emphasize commitment like 'really and truly.'
### Which one of these is NOT a redundant phrase used for emphasis?
- [ ] Absolutely, Positively
- [x] Jumping jelly beans
- [ ] Entirely and Completely
- [ ] Really and Sincerely
> **Explanation:** 'Jumping jelly beans' is simply a playful exclamation, not an emphatic redundancy.
And there you have it: an enlightening dive into the world of emphatic redundancy! May you wield your words with precision, flair, and a pinch of exaggeration, really and truly! 🌟
