Leave of absence!!

Beja

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One expression that I don't understand.. I know the intention of the person who says it.. but I thought 'leave' itself means going absent.. so they are duplicate words.
Can one say "stay of presence"?
 

William Lancee

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Merriam-Webster

leave NOUN

Definition of leave (Entry 2 of 3)

1 a: permission to do something
b: authorized especially extended absence from duty or employment

2 an act of leaving : DEPARTURE

My Interpretation...

Having permission to be away from work for an extended time: a leave of abscence.
Apparently this is such a common permission that in many cases this is just called a "leave"

I suppose other permissions could be "a leave to work from 10am to 7pm"

And to refer to your "stay of presence": "a leave to be present, despite having covid-19"
 

William Lancee

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I just realized that "By your leave Your Majesty" followed by a wave to the door, means: "With your permission may I leave"

@Beja, all languages have odd expressions and idioms, distorted over time to sound meaningless. My two favorite English one's are:

1. A Mare's nest - meaning a disappointment after a hopeful approach. A Mare is a female horse, they don't have nests.
2. You can't have your cake and eat it - how else are you going to eat it?
 
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rabbitBUSH

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yup its all odd :
  • (archaeic) "going to take my leave" - means "I am going/ leaving here, now." [as noted above]
  • (in my work environment / here in this and other countries) the same phrase means - My employment contract/ the law (here) allocates me d-days holiday/ vacation (paid) and I am availing myself of the opportunity. Hence, I am given leave by my employer to not come to work for a while.
  • (in my work environment / here in this and other countries) "to take Leave of absence" means, often, to be away from work Unpaid - but not always unpaid. Its often used when a student, for instance, wants to be away from lectures for some (hopefully acceptable) reason. It would not normally be used when taking formal holiday time-off. I can mean one is temporarily suspending participation in some or other activity.
one can have alot of idle fun googling stuff like bizarre english phrases, weird sayings (like :" sometimes when I close my eyes I can't see"
A different kettle of fish
All mouth and no trousers
pefect storm - huh?


etc etc. . . .
 

Beja

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Thanks guys.. and now I know leave is used to mean a noun (not a command verb). But still logically I would say 'permission' of absence.

@rabbitBUSH:
If you saw Jack tomorrow tell him.. How on earth Jack can be seen tomorrow today!!. that's future.. more logical is 'If you will see Jack tomorrow'
Just a joke for change
 
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rabbitBUSH

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Just a joke for change
Ah....a case of the - future past pluperfect present grammatical construct. Got it.

Only in the USA to paraphrase The Boss.
 
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