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The hall is packed to the rafters with people come to gape

English translation: See explanation

14:10 Nov 2, 2009
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / sentence explanation
English term or phrase: The hall is packed to the rafters with people come to gape
Here the sentence I wonder how to understand like this :" The hall is packed to the rafters with people come to gape."

Thank you!
macky
Local time: 11:53
Selected answer:See explanation
Explanation:
The hall is as full as it can be with people (literally, the people are piled to the roof joists) who have all come to look. "Gape" suggests that they've come to stare with open mouths, in awe or wonder.
Selected response from:

Vicky Nash
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:53
Grading comment
Thank you for help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +18See explanation
Vicky Nash
4see below.
Yasutomo Kanazawa


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +18
the hall is packed to the rafters with people come to gape
See explanation


Explanation:
The hall is as full as it can be with people (literally, the people are piled to the roof joists) who have all come to look. "Gape" suggests that they've come to stare with open mouths, in awe or wonder.


    Reference: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gape
Vicky Nash
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:53
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you for help!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sheila Wilson: great explanation
1 min
  -> Thanks :)
agree  cmwilliams (X)
6 mins
  -> Thanks :)
agree  kmtext
13 mins
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Maria Fokin
29 mins
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Jim Tucker (X)
37 mins
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Liam Hamilton
40 mins
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Stephanie Ezrol
48 mins
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Katalin Horváth McClure
57 mins
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Samantha Payn
1 hr
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Charlesp
1 hr
  -> Thanks :)
agree  B D Finch: Good explanation, even though the rafters are the sloping timbers in the slope of the roof (i.e. not joists).
1 hr
  -> Whoops, you got me, sorry, not an architect!
agree  Jenni Lukac (X): BD is correct, but otherwise a great explanation!
1 hr
  -> Thanks :)
agree  eski: Fine explanation: saludos! :)) eski
2 hrs
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Patricia Townshend (X)
2 hrs
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Rolf Keiser
3 hrs
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Travelin Ann
8 hrs
  -> Thanks :)
agree  urbom
20 hrs
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Mary O’Connor (X)
1 day 7 hrs
  -> Thanks :)
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the hall is packed to the rafters with people come to gape
see below.


Explanation:
The hall is packed with a large number of different people or things where the spectators come and stare in wonder or amazement with their mouth open.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/rafter
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gape

Yasutomo Kanazawa
Japan
Local time: 12:53
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Sheila Wilson: I believe you have taken it as "the hall is packed to the rafters, with people coming to gape"
1 hr
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