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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

What does it mean here "was not to be"?

Hi teachers,

Could you help me with the following text about financial bailout? Thanks.

At the government's urging, Dimon had agreed to take over Bear Stearns in March in a whirlwind 48-hour deal, a transactiont hat established Dimon as the government's banker of last resort. "Some are coming to Washington for help," Shelia Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., later said. "Others are coming to Washing to help."

Ultimately, the Morgan Stanley deal was not to be.

>Does it mean the deal did not fall under either case?

Thanks

Tinanam
  

Top answer

I take it as a reference to fate. A similar expression: It was simply not in the cards. The expression does not attempt to give reasons.

— Avangi

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4 Answers
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I take it as a reference to fate.

A similar expression: It was simply not in the cards.

The expression does not attempt to give reasons.

You could say with less flair, "In the end, it simply did not happen."
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Hi Avangi,

Thanks for your help.

May be I'm not all clear. Could you tell me whether the part "Some..." and "Others.." have anything to do with the next paragraph "...was not to be"?

Thanks

Tinanam
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Anonymous have anything to do with the next paragraph
Not directly, - no.

This is a narrative - a news story. It describes events taking place over several days. Of course they're all related, but the lady's remark which you quote was just thrown in for color, as was the final "conclusion." Her remark was intended to be sage - clever
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Hi Avangi,

Thanks again.

Good day.

Tinanam
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