haribert (asker) Jan 17, 2020:

Dear colleagues, in the final version of the book the sentence has actually been corrected in

"(So maybe you want to go clear out some room in the back of your own closet for a stash of chocolate?)

So, Yvonne got it right!

Katalin Horváth McClure Dec 11, 2019:

@Yvonne 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.

Yvonne Gallagher Dec 4, 2019:

CLEAR OUT =make space (in this context) 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!

Yvonne Gallagher Dec 4, 2019:

@ Katalin 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).

haribert (asker) Dec 2, 2019:

Hi, Katalin, thank you for your contribution, 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...

Katalin Horváth McClure Nov 29, 2019:

Isn't it possible, that... 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.

Yvonne Gallagher Nov 28, 2019:

Yes Haribert, 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!

haribert (asker) Nov 28, 2019:

Hi, Yvonne! 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!

Yvonne Gallagher Nov 28, 2019:

@ Haribert 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)!!

Yvonne Gallagher Nov 28, 2019:

@ Haribert Yes. You just don't clear out space "with"!

haribert (asker) Nov 28, 2019:

Thank you very much, Yvonne! Sorry, I was writing while you were answering! But now I've understood!
Thanks again!
Now I'll go and have some chocolate to soothe myself!!

haribert (asker) Nov 28, 2019:

Hi, Yvonne, so there may be a mistake in the original sentence? Instead of "with", it should be "for"...

Yvonne Gallagher Nov 28, 2019:

@ Haribert 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

Yvonne Gallagher Nov 28, 2019:

@ Haribert Thanks! OK so it's soothing stuff both for adults and children. "Clear out some space" means make some room FOR something and that's what confused me.

haribert (asker) Nov 28, 2019:

Actually, my doubt refers to the literal 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)...

haribert (asker) Nov 28, 2019:

Hi, Yvonne, 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...

Yvonne Gallagher Nov 28, 2019:

@ Asker 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.