Couldn't definition is - could not. You use why couldn't in questions to express your surprise or annoyance that someone has not done something. The King is dragged into campaigning on behalf of the Opposition during a general election which Urquhart wins, creating a constitutional crisis and finally forcing the King to abdicate in favour of his teenage son, whom Urquhart expects to be a much less influential Monarch. Blog, Headteacher Mr Steve Mills 3 Comments . I couldn't possibly have known what @bravoandy would come to mean nor how the love for him would grow. In the novel, he commits suicide by jumping to his death. Urquhart is shot dead at the unveiling of the Margaret Thatcher memorial, having been Prime Minister for 4,228 days – one day longer than Thatcher. Recommend to friends. In the novel, Urquhart allows himself to be killed by an assassin who is out for revenge, martyring himself in the process by pushing his wife out of the way and saving her life. Public participation over, it’s back to the codes and games of normal council business. He frequently quotes Shakespeare, particularly Macbeth.[9]. These include threatening to publish photographs of Education Secretary Harold Earle in the company of a rent boy; causing Health Secretary Peter MacKenzie to accidentally run over a disabled man; and forcing Foreign Secretary Patrick Woolton to withdraw by blackmailing him with an audiotape of a one-night stand that Urquhart himself orchestrated. "House of Cards" is an entertaining and frightening tale. Shortly afterward, Urquhart is driven to Buckingham Palace to be invited by the Queen to form a government as Prime Minister. The charming characters she draws look like they could have walked out of the 1920s. help definition: 1. to make it possible or easier for someone to do something, by doing part of the work yourself or…. Michael Dobbs stated that the inspiration behind Urquhart came during a drinking session at a swimming pool after a tense encounter with Margaret Thatcher, deliberately creating a character moulded around the initials "FU". expression used for warning that, although something seems to be over, settled, new events that could change the situation may occur, You want to reject this entry: please give us your comments (bad translation/definition, duplicate entries...), English Portuguese translation in context, Free: Learn English, French and other languages, Reverso Documents: translate your documents online, Learn English watching your favourite videos, All English simple definitions from our dictionary. ment (kŏm′ĕnt) n. 1. a. Urquhart also notes that he detests the welfare state and contemporary youth culture. Even Urquhart's best-known phrase - "you might think so, I couldn't possibly comment" - has been credited to Andrew Davies, the scriptwriter. For example, if you say `I couldn't be happier', you mean that you are extremely happy. You use could to talk about a possibility, ability, or opportunity that depends on other conditions. Find out what is the full meaning of OF on Abbreviations.com! When civil unrest erupts in Cyprus, Urquhart orders a military raid that results in the deaths of several civilians, including children. Language - Language - Language and culture: It has been seen that language is much more than the external expression and communication of internal thoughts formulated independently of their verbalization. I mean, he was totally commanded to do it by god. couldn't agree more Agree completely. We also smacked anyone who said “A”. In the 2013 U.S. remake of the House of Cards trilogy, Urquhart's place is filled by Francis "Frank" Underwood (Kevin Spacey),[12] a Democratic representative from South Carolina's 5th district and House Majority Whip. as meaning that the map is failing to pick up changes in real time, which is bad but not AS bad as not being able to see any land when I zoom out, which is what I'm experiencing. 08/05/2020. share. could've, couldn't, could do with sth, couldn't care less, could care less. Following the resignation of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the moderate but indecisive Henry Collingridge emerges as both Thatcher's successor and the leader of the Conservative Party; the party wins the next general election with a reduced majority. 100% Upvoted. The statement by itself doesn't make clear what the reason might be #10 Author dude (253248) 02 Apr 18, 03:20; Comment: Made me think of "Yes, Minister" and is used there to mean "Yes" without explicitly saying so. I couldn't possibly comment." His catchphrase, when questioned about his plans, was usually, “You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment.” No one has any shame anymore, and we're supposed to celebrate it. About me – Just as you think life couldn’t possibly get any worse…. Most of his leaks are to Mattie Storin, a young reporter for a tabloid newspaper called The Chronicle. Couldn’t possibly be because he happened to be near them and was horny. Urquhart exploits his position as Chief Whip to leak inside information to the press to undermine Collingridge, ultimately forcing him to resign. Enrich your vocabulary with the English Definition dictionary It is absolutely a manipulative phrase designed to encourage but to absolve the responder from accountability while implying knowledge of the situation. Having gained great power and influence, he wonders how to use them. [Informal] E.g. I couldn't possibly comment Personal stuff by William Perrin that doesn't fit with his other sites. Could I stay tonight?..., Could I speak to you in private a moment, John?..., He asked if he could have a cup of coffee..., Couldn't I watch you do it? Could've is the usual spoken form of `could have', when `have' is an auxiliary verb. i couldn't possibly definition in English dictionary, i couldn't possibly meaning, synonyms, see also 'couldn't',before you could (or can) say Jack Robinson',could or can do with',for all I care or I couldn't care less'. Urquhart wins the confidence of the King's estranged wife and uses his influence in the press to reveal intimate and scandalous secrets concerning the Royal Family. How to use couldn't in a sentence. Looking for the definition of OF? Review ‘‘You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!’’ Modality studies: Contemporary research and future directions. In the TV series Urquhart's bodyguard, Corder, arranges his assassination with the consent of his wife (who is implied to be Corder's lover) to stop the dark secrets from Urquhart's past being revealed. He could have made a fortune as a lawyer..., He did not regret saying what he did but felt that he could have expressed it differently. 0 comments. Part II Leo Francis Hoye Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China Received 19 May 2004; received in revised form 24 December 2004; accepted 21 January 2005 Abstract This is the second part of a two … The ending of the novel and TV series differ significantly (indeed, only the ending and popularity of the TV series prompted the author Michael Dobbs to write the sequels). It was a non-confirmation confirmative statement, used by Urquhart whenever he could not be seen to agree with a leading statement, with the emphasis on either the "I" or the "possibly… How to use couldn't in a sentence. For my return journey, I felt I could afford the extra and travel first class..., I could see that something was terribly wrong..., When I left school at 16, I couldn't read or write..., There was no way she could have coped with a baby around. How to use methodology in a … Translation English Cobuild Collins Dictionary, Collaborative Dictionary     English Cobuild, be satiated/sated ; you might say 'I'm stuffed to the gills' to refuse more food meaning that you can't. Home; About me – Just as you think life couldn’t possibly get any worse…. Comments Invited: Send Comments to rthomaso@umich.edu Disclaimer: ... Semantics is the study of the meaning of linguistic expressions. About me – Just as you think life couldn’t possibly get any worse…. I moved to a remote area and am on two international boards. For Oxford University academic, see, BBC Breakfast News June 2013, interview with Michael Dobbs, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, explain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, unrest that preceded independence in 1956, "Exposed: the man who would be king: House of Cards is back and this time Francis Urquhart has turned really nasty. I'm glad to hear you say that." "[15], This article is about the fictional politician. Urquhart is the main character in Dobbs's House of Cards trilogy of novels and television series: House of Cards (1990), To Play the King (1993) and The Final Cut (1995). You use could not or couldn't to say that someone was unable to do something. `Welcome back' was all they said. Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. This is the safest route of course, it means only distributing content for which a market has already been proven to exist. “I didn’t have access to that information so I couldn’t possibly have retaliated. → ¡no puede ser verdad! To see what your friends thought of this quote, please sign up! Besides this, his strong belief in discipline and the rule of law shapes his foreign policy in Cyprus, where he authorises the use of force against schoolgirls who are blocking military vehicles.[11]. You use could in questions when you are making a polite request or asking for permission to do something. Celebrated Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl (March 26, 1905–September 2, 1997) remains best-known for his indispensable 1946 psychological memoir Man’s Search for Meaning (public library) — a meditation on what the gruesome experience of Auschwitz taught him about the primary purpose of life: the quest for meaning, which sustained those who survived. she will do everything she possibly can to help you → hará todo lo que esté en su mano or todo lo que pueda para ayudarte he never does it if he can possibly help it → siempre que puede evitarlo lo evita [6], The character also took inspiration from contemporary Conservative politicians, including the fearsome Conservative Party whip Tristan Garel-Jones. You use this expression to strongly state an opinion. ISSN 1760-6233 In the TV drama, he throws Mattie off the roof to her death, and claims she committed suicide. I could have kissed them!..., She could have screamed with tension. Search i couldn't possibly comment and thousands of other words in English Cobuild dictionary from Reverso. Traduzioni in contesto per "l couldn't possibly comment" in inglese-italiano da Reverso Context: Well, l couldn't possibly comment. He was portrayed in the BBC TV adaptations by Ian Richardson, who won a BAFTA award for his performance. Definition of Auckland in the Definitions.net dictionary. Get this from a library! He is currently Assistant Editor of Journal of Pragmatics where one of his main duties is maintaining and preparing the different indexes. Thank you so much @everyoutfitonsatc It was a blissful walk down memory lane and a sweet thrill to recognize … I couldn't possibly comment" – has entered the national lexicon, and has been quoted in the A written note intended as an explanation, illustration, or criticism of a passage in a book or other writing; an annotation. Trahan has withdrawn from The American Express after … I couldn’t possibly comment! His wife comments that he needs a challenge. I think first and foremost it serves as a good catch phrase for Frank Underwood. With a tame monarch and no threat in sight, Urquhart is secure as Prime Minister. The second installment starts with Urquhart, in his second term as Prime Minister, feeling a sense of anti-climax. Ian Richardson, playing the intelligent and ruthless Francis Urquhart, immediately draws the viewer into the tale with his wry comments to the camera, discreet confidences just between the two of you, and compels you to accompany him as the tale moves from an amusing political fantasy to something altogether darker. Andrew Davies ponders his record, "David Fincher, Beau Willimon & Kate Mara on Netflix's 'House of Cards, "Kevin Spacey's leading-man problem: the star of the 13-hour "House of Cards" is as impenetrable as ever", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Francis_Urquhart&oldid=994047425, Fictional Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, Characters in British novels of the 20th century, Articles that need to differentiate between fact and fiction from October 2013, All articles that need to differentiate between fact and fiction, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 December 2020, at 21:07. Methodology definition is - a body of methods, rules, and postulates employed by a discipline : a particular procedure or set of procedures. All rights reserved. Gaby Lopez is looking forward to the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. "Well, I couldn't possibly comment" could mean that person is not authorized to answer or simply doesn't know the answer. You use could when you are expressing strong feelings about something by saying that you feel as if you want to do the thing mentioned, although you do not do it. You can complete the definition of i couldn't possibly comment given by the English Cobuild dictionary with other English dictionaries : Wikipedia, Lexilogos, Oxford, Cambridge, Chambers Harrap, Wordreference, Collins Lexibase dictionaries, Merriam Webster ... English-Simple Definition dictionary : translate English words into Simple Definition with online dictionaries. In speech, you use how could in questions to emphasize that you feel strongly about something bad that has happened. Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Could is a modal verb. [2] Nevertheless, despite finding him "an irritating bugger", Richardson found Urquhart "a joy to play". I’m Kev, a 43 year-old Welshman living in Märsta in Sweden. For the Americans that don’t know where Sweden is, it’s that strange penis-like bit of land next to Finland (which is next to Russia). So what could possibly go right is, as we step outside and breathe the air and walk the ground and see the others, we realize that that’s what we have to protect; that the object of the game is not to create a digital womb around us with algorithms that can predict our every want and need the way our mothers couldn’t when we were babies, but rather, to engage in the living … The rest of the players are a great bunch of lads and I couldn't be happier..., The news couldn't have come at a better time. Loser. [2], Richardson based his portrayal of the character on a representative of the British Council whom he met whilst touring with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Japan. Urquhart's party turns on him, and it appears inevitable that he will be forced out of office. Doctors told him the disease could have been caused by years of working in smokey clubs..., An improvement in living standards could be years away... You use could not or couldn't to indicate that it is not possible that something is true. I can't understand it, I can't believe it, I can't accept it, something that you say which expresses your opinion on something or which gives an explanation of it, Phrase used when someone has brought all the evidences to support his point of view; "I'm done with explanations", if you can't be arsed to do something, you can't be bothered to do it (you are too lazy to do it), expression used when referring to something that is unlikely to happen soon (not in the time interval that one can resist holding his breath), E.g. CORRECTION: Thanks to PaulQ for reminding me that "You may think that, but I couldn't possibly comment" is in fact the catch-phrase of Francis Urquhart, an MP not a civil servant, in House of Cards, which was a more earnest (and slightly later) BBC treatment of political machinations. Urquhart was educated at Fettes (although he often wears an Old Etonian tie in the BBC adaptation) where, although not noted for brilliance, he was recognized for his diligence and industriousness. "[8] Urquhart's catchphrase – "You might think that. Learn more. Sort by. By the time of The Final Cut, Urquhart has been in power for 11 years, and refuses to relinquish his position until he has beaten Margaret Thatcher's record as longest serving post-war Prime Minister. b. A series of annotations or explanations. You use could, or couldn't in questions, when you are making offers and suggestions. Information and translations of having in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on … The end results will be known soon enough. You use could to indicate that something is possibly true, or that it may possibly happen. Well, I could, but… I guess from Shropshire Council’s point of view, when you’ve been wrong-footed on one matter it’s a bit of a bugger to have the other foot kicked from under you, so best grab on to whatever’s closest to hand to maintain a bit of balance. I Couldn't Possibly Comment: Sketches & Follies from the Commons Again [Parris, Matthew] on Amazon.com. You use could to say emphatically that someone ought to do the thing mentioned, especially when you are annoyed because they have not done it. In the end, I suspect that the filmmakers of the U.S. version know the legacy they're carryiny, and will do an intelligent, well-crafted job. : Why was she upset? Read more quotes from Michael Dobbs. 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'S catchphrase – `` you might well think that, Mattie recover any soon? university.! Bad that has happened note intended as an explanation, illustration, or could n't be expected to the! Elizabeth, as `` a joy to Play the King sees Prime Minister, a... Natural language, such as English or Navajo, or could n't care less, could less.