Question
Updated on
27 Oct 2016
- Japanese
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English (US)
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French (France)
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English (UK)
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Question about English (US)
What does Is it common to shorten a name of musical band, and call it with adding "the"? mean?
What does Is it common to shorten a name of musical band, and call it with adding "the"? mean?
(A man was going to perform on a stage with his college band, but he got hit by one of the members.)
Man: I wanted to open with Toto. Skip wanted to open with Steely Dan.
His friend: Oh, you can’t open with The Dan!
Do you shorten any name of a band, and call it with "the"? Or any other reasons to call them like this?
Thank you.
Man: I wanted to open with Toto. Skip wanted to open with Steely Dan.
His friend: Oh, you can’t open with The Dan!
Do you shorten any name of a band, and call it with "the"? Or any other reasons to call them like this?
Thank you.
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27 Oct 2016
Featured answer
- English (US)
No, it's pretty clear he is just nicknaming Steely Dan, here.
Dan (short for Daniel) is a very common name and it is extremely unlikely that someone would just name their band that.
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- English (US)
It's not common, but some people might, mainly as slang
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- Japanese
- English (US)
Some artists may have a nickname that starts with "the". I think Bruce Springsteen is called "the boss" sometimes.
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- English (US)
I think the band Reel Big Fish is sometimes called "the fish" or at least they called themselves that in a music video.
I don't think it's common though.
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- Japanese
@CLund That's good to know. Thank you!
If you don't mind me asking you an additional question, could it also mean that the speaker knows another band called "Dan," and uses "the" to separate them? Is there a possibility of it?
If you don't mind me asking you an additional question, could it also mean that the speaker knows another band called "Dan," and uses "the" to separate them? Is there a possibility of it?
- English (US)
No, it's pretty clear he is just nicknaming Steely Dan, here.
Dan (short for Daniel) is a very common name and it is extremely unlikely that someone would just name their band that.
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- Japanese
@CLund That solves my question perfectly! Thanks a million for your kind and lucid explanation as always. You're a lifesaver!
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