a sentence

English translation: not clear

13:09 Dec 24, 2005

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

English term or phrase: a sentence

Could you explain the following sentence for me?

I allow myself kinda gallivant, but off down the line of depression

XiaoRan KudoZ activity Questions: 128 (none open) (3 closed without grading) Answers: 396
Local time: 20:16

Selected answer:not clear

Explanation:
I'm a native English speaker, but this sentence doesn't make sense to me either grammatically or in terms of meaning. For sure, the clause "I allow myself kinda gallivant" is incorrect, and it doesn't connect clearly to the second part of the sentence.

Selected response from:

Yvette Neisser Moreno
United States
Local time: 08:16

Grading comment

Thank you all. I believe if a sentence is hard for native English speakers, it must definitely be "not clear".
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

3 +6

I allow myself to roam somewhat (aimlessly) toward depression

Melanie Nassar

not clear

Yvette Neisser Moreno

2 +1

My impression...

Michael Barnett

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

4 mins confidence:

not clear

Yvette Neisser Moreno
United States
Local time: 08:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24

Grading comment

Thank you all. I believe if a sentence is hard for native English speakers, it must definitely be "not clear".

25 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

I allow myself to roam somewhat (aimlessly) toward depression

Explanation:
Now that you added the missing *to*, it makes a little bit of sense.

Melanie Nassar
United States
Local time: 15:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

15 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

My impression...

Explanation:
The sentence lacks a clear structure but is loaded with nuance and connotation. Discussing it is akin to analysing poetry and is certainly open to interpretation.

"I allow myself to kinda gallivant..." = I search aimlessly around for pleasure but it is just a fine line from depression.

I see it as a the remark of a person striving to fight off depression through random hedonistic pursuits.

Michael Barnett
Local time: 08:16
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 11

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