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Clear out some room in your closet with a stash of chocolate
English translation: make some room in your closet for a stash of chocolate
18:55 Nov 28, 2019
English language (monolingual) [PRO] General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase:Clear out some room in your closet with a stash of chocolate
Dear colleagues, I’m not sure I’ve understood the sentence below correctly, taken from an American parenting book: This section is about self–soothing methods. I know that the author likes chocolate very much, and chocolate can have a self–soothing effect (in my case, it definitely does!!), so the sentence might mean: making room in your closet for hiding some chocolate? My doubt is about the use of the preposition “with”… clear out with? Many thanks in advance for your valuable help!
********************** Notice, too, that as with most principles and strategies of our approach, everything here applies to adults as well. (** So maybe you want to go clear out some room in the back of your own closet with a stash of chocolate? **)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 35 mins (2019-11-28 19:30:27 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
and nothing metaphorical about closet! Wardrobes or closets are where a lot of adults hide their "stash" (for some "non-smokers" it could be a pack of cigarettes they pull out when stressed etc., for others yes, chocolate but everyone has their own preferences)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 50 mins (2019-11-28 19:45:08 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
and see Dbox
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 days (2019-12-04 18:32:38 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
You wrote: "And "you would be pushing clothes aside to hide there" = YOU are going to hide there! (nothing to do with stashing chocolate)." YES, YES, it is exactly what I meant. The writer IS talking about hiding in the closet! See this earlier question about the same book for context: https://www.proz.com/kudoz/english/general-conversation-gree... I am also perfectly aware that "go, with a stash of chocolate [in your hand] to the back of your closet" - is not idiomatic English, it was my paraphrasing, but again, as you also pointed out, "it's absolute nonsense to clear something out WITH CHOCOLATES!". That is precisely why I asked whether it was a possibility that the writer meant to associate "with" with "go" (the only other verb in the sentence, aside from "want"). Even though it is described as an "American parenting book", the English does not seem perfect. So, based on the full context, what is meant here is that You may want clear out some space in the closet, so that when you feel the need to calm down, or get away from it all, you could hide there and munch on some chocolate that you thoughtfully stashed there for this very purpose.
Quite a few people seem to have misunderstood the prepositional verb CLEAR OUT which means >>make space/room by removing /getting rid of stuff already there. You can CLEAR something/somewhere OUT WITH friends or WITH the help of boxes/rubbish bags but it's absolute nonsense to clear something out WITH CHOCOLATES!
No, "go, with a stash of chocolate [in your hand] to the back of your closet" - is not idiomatic English at all and I just can't imagine anyone saying that. And "you would be pushing clothes aside to hide there" = YOU are going to hide there! (nothing to do with stashing chocolate).
unfortunately I'm not English mothertongue and I can't say whether your suggestion may be right... I think, though, the author would like to "hide" some chocolate there for future use... I think it is used somewhat ironically, to make the reader smile...
Isn't is possible that the writer meant to connect "go" with "with"? I mean "go, with a stash of chocolate [in your hand] to the back of your closet" - you would be pushing clothes aside to hide there, so maybe that's what is meant by clearing out? Otherwise, I could only think of clearing space in the closet and then placing some chocolate there for future use. But the phrasing is strange.
I'm trying to pace myself as I will be out most of tomorrow for a social occasion so need to work tonight...just need to stay away from here! OK back to work!
That's actually the same for me, too! I sometimes have some chocolate together with some coffee to stay alert! Thank you so much for your time and try to have some sleep, though!
LOL. Funnily enough I had some chocolate myself about 10 mins ago! Not as a soother but as a stimulant as I have to work tonight and this weekend to get a big job finished for Monday am! I don't need to hide it in a closet though, just keep it away from the dogs (so it's on top of the fridge if you ever break into my house and are looking for my stash)!!
and still confusing. It's badly written because as I said clear out means =make room FOR not "with" something so I think it means make sure you have enough space in your closet to always have a stash of chocolate handy
interpretation of the sentence: Does it say: "create some space in your closet so as to hide some chocolate" or - go and take out some of the chocolate you've previously hidden there (so you'll be clearing out some space)...
before this, there is a description of a range of strategies that children can put into practice to soothe themselves before intense emotions take over. One of these strategies is for example a "calm cave", which can be "A small pup tent in the living room can serve this purpose, as can a corner of a closet, or a sheet over a desk or table." Maybe, when the author says "in your own closet" he indirectly refers to this strategy for kids, while "hiding" chocolate would be for adults... I don't think, however, that he means that adults need to grow up, but instead they can have their self-soothing strategies, as well, although sometimes different from those of kids...
what comes before this? It looks to be that it's saying adults need to grow up and not have stashes of chocolate in their closets but at the moment it could be read the other way too.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
19 mins confidence:
clear out some room in your closet with a stash of chocolate
clear out some room in your closet with a stash of chocolate
Explanation: Dear haribert,
I would read it differently. It seems to me to be referring to the adult reader, suggesting they should use whatever method has just been discussed (not in your example, but I assume it refers to children) to work on their own issues, using the stash of chocolate for comfort during this process. The closet would therefore be metaphorical.
Regards, Sarah
Sarah Maidstone Germany Local time: 05:04 Works in field Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you so much, Sarah, for your contribution!
I agree with you: it refers to the adult reader... but I'm not sure "closet" is used (only) metaphorical...
clear out some room in your closet with a stash of chocolate
get rid of some of what's in your closet and fill the space with your hidden chocolate
Explanation: or: the hoard of chocolate you hide (in its place)
David Hollywood Local time: 00:04 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 116
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, David, for your contribution!
4 days confidence:
clear out some room in your closet with a stash of chocolate
clear out some room *to fill it* with chocolate
Explanation: the "with" is mostly mannerism. She didnt intent to make it into a phrasal verb, and that is acceptable considering the target audience. the intended meaning is the one I added as the answer.
Pedro Montoro Françozo Brazil Local time: 00:04 Specializes in field Native speaker of: Portuguese
clear out some room in your closet with a stash of chocolate
take a stash of chocolate and clear some space at the back of your closet
Explanation: My first reading of this is simply that we all need some encouragement to do things that are boring and we put off! So, the idea would be to treat yourself to some chocolate and go and do the thing you've been putting :)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 days (2019-12-03 22:03:39 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
*putting off
Lucy Phillips United Kingdom Local time: 04:04 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
clear out some room in your closet with a stash of chocolate
make some room in your closet for a stash of chocolate
Explanation: (or whatever takes your fancy!)
yes, as self-soothing strategies for adults
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 35 mins (2019-11-28 19:30:27 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
and nothing metaphorical about closet! Wardrobes or closets are where a lot of adults hide their "stash" (for some "non-smokers" it could be a pack of cigarettes they pull out when stressed etc., for others yes, chocolate but everyone has their own preferences)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 50 mins (2019-11-28 19:45:08 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
and see Dbox
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 days (2019-12-04 18:32:38 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
glad to have helped
Yvonne Gallagher Ireland Local time: 04:04 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 659
Grading comment
Thank you so much, Yvonne, for your precious help! Many sincere thanks also to all other colleagues!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you so much, Yvonne! I'm the "chocolate-type"! My doubt referred above all to the syntax of the sentence... Might it be interpreted as "go and take out some of the chocolate you've previously hidden there (that's why you'll be clearing out some space)..."?
