[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: "Only just".

[Cabal]

-----Original Message-----
From: HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com
[mailto:HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 10:29 PM
To: HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: "Only just".

> > zanooda2 wrote:
> > Can you guys help me with this expression? It's in SS/PS, when 
> > Hermione was supposed to keep an eye on Snape (pretending to be 
> > waiting for Flitwick outside the staff room), but then she came
> > back to the common room and said: "Snape came out and asked me
> > what I was doing, so I said I was waiting for Flitwick, and
> > Snape went to get him, and I've only just got away, I don't know
> > where Snape went".
> > 
> > I know "only just" means something like "just now", "very
> > recently" ("we've only just begun"), but dictionaries also give
> > another meaning - something like "barely", kind of like when
> > Diary!Riddle says that Ginny is alive, but "only just". 

If a student asked me, I'd say let's put it in the overall context. By that,
I mean, Hermione is explaining her tardiness, that she "only just" got away
meaning, "just now" because there was not earlier option.

If she'd said "Snape was there, and he was watching me and I only just got
away." 

The other reason I say she is referring to just now is that if take away the
contraction it is "I have only just got away" placing a definite sense time.


That's my interpretation.

md