How to understand “he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban” in this context












10















Dumbledore was trying to sort it all out ... what did that mean? how much power did Dumbledore have to override the Ministry of Magic? Was there a chance that he might be allowed back to Hogwarts, then? A small shoot of hope burgeoned in Harry's chest, almost immediately strangled by panic—how was he supposed to refuse to surrender his wand without doing magic? He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion.



Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix




I don't quite understand the meaning of "he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban". On the other hand, why didn't it put "he'd be lucky to escape from Azkaban"? How should we understand it in this context?










share|improve this question



























    10















    Dumbledore was trying to sort it all out ... what did that mean? how much power did Dumbledore have to override the Ministry of Magic? Was there a chance that he might be allowed back to Hogwarts, then? A small shoot of hope burgeoned in Harry's chest, almost immediately strangled by panic—how was he supposed to refuse to surrender his wand without doing magic? He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion.



    Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix




    I don't quite understand the meaning of "he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban". On the other hand, why didn't it put "he'd be lucky to escape from Azkaban"? How should we understand it in this context?










    share|improve this question

























      10












      10








      10








      Dumbledore was trying to sort it all out ... what did that mean? how much power did Dumbledore have to override the Ministry of Magic? Was there a chance that he might be allowed back to Hogwarts, then? A small shoot of hope burgeoned in Harry's chest, almost immediately strangled by panic—how was he supposed to refuse to surrender his wand without doing magic? He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion.



      Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix




      I don't quite understand the meaning of "he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban". On the other hand, why didn't it put "he'd be lucky to escape from Azkaban"? How should we understand it in this context?










      share|improve this question














      Dumbledore was trying to sort it all out ... what did that mean? how much power did Dumbledore have to override the Ministry of Magic? Was there a chance that he might be allowed back to Hogwarts, then? A small shoot of hope burgeoned in Harry's chest, almost immediately strangled by panic—how was he supposed to refuse to surrender his wand without doing magic? He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion.



      Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix




      I don't quite understand the meaning of "he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban". On the other hand, why didn't it put "he'd be lucky to escape from Azkaban"? How should we understand it in this context?







      meaning-in-context






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      asked yesterday









      dan

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      4,75522569






















          2 Answers
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          16














          The meaning is:




          He'd be lucky to escape being sent to Azkaban.

          He'd be lucky to avoid Azkaban.




          Or




          He'd be lucky to escape being sentenced to serve a term in Azkaban.




          That's why there's no from. The sentence does not speak about an attempt to escape from the prison.






          share|improve this answer























          • Thanks! But I don't get the whole sentence is saying: "He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion." Can you help to explain it a bit?
            – dan
            yesterday










          • @dan - If Harry fights against Ministry workers, the Wizard Court will not only expel him from Hogwarts but also send him to the Azkaban prison. If Harry does not fight, they will take away his wand.
            – CowperKettle
            yesterday






          • 7




            @dan - It's not "he is lucky to", it's "he would be lucky to". The word would implies "if". If he escaped a prison sentence after fighting with officials, he would be considered quite a lucky boy.
            – CowperKettle
            yesterday








          • 6




            I really think this answer would benefit from noting that "he'd be lucky to escape jail" or "he'd be lucky to escape prison" is a very well established phrase in English, and JKR has substituted 'Azkaban' as a magical equivalent
            – Au101
            yesterday






          • 1




            @chrylis Sure :) It's just that, from my experience of Harry Potter, there are many instances where words, phrases and so on are consciously and pleasingly "wizarding-world-ed" (if you see what I mean). And this seems like a quite clear "wizarding-world-ification" ( :P ) of "he'd be lucky to escape jail"
            – Au101
            20 hours ago





















          8














          Further to CowperKettle's correct answer...



          escape can be used as a transitive verb:




          He was charged with treason but escaped imprisonment by pleading insanity.



          The art thief escaped detection by dressing as a security guard.




          There it can be understood to mean "managed to avoid".




          He escaped the island on a raft.




          There it means "freed himself from the confinement of the island", and there you can use from if you like: "...escaped from the island..."






          share|improve this answer























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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            16














            The meaning is:




            He'd be lucky to escape being sent to Azkaban.

            He'd be lucky to avoid Azkaban.




            Or




            He'd be lucky to escape being sentenced to serve a term in Azkaban.




            That's why there's no from. The sentence does not speak about an attempt to escape from the prison.






            share|improve this answer























            • Thanks! But I don't get the whole sentence is saying: "He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion." Can you help to explain it a bit?
              – dan
              yesterday










            • @dan - If Harry fights against Ministry workers, the Wizard Court will not only expel him from Hogwarts but also send him to the Azkaban prison. If Harry does not fight, they will take away his wand.
              – CowperKettle
              yesterday






            • 7




              @dan - It's not "he is lucky to", it's "he would be lucky to". The word would implies "if". If he escaped a prison sentence after fighting with officials, he would be considered quite a lucky boy.
              – CowperKettle
              yesterday








            • 6




              I really think this answer would benefit from noting that "he'd be lucky to escape jail" or "he'd be lucky to escape prison" is a very well established phrase in English, and JKR has substituted 'Azkaban' as a magical equivalent
              – Au101
              yesterday






            • 1




              @chrylis Sure :) It's just that, from my experience of Harry Potter, there are many instances where words, phrases and so on are consciously and pleasingly "wizarding-world-ed" (if you see what I mean). And this seems like a quite clear "wizarding-world-ification" ( :P ) of "he'd be lucky to escape jail"
              – Au101
              20 hours ago


















            16














            The meaning is:




            He'd be lucky to escape being sent to Azkaban.

            He'd be lucky to avoid Azkaban.




            Or




            He'd be lucky to escape being sentenced to serve a term in Azkaban.




            That's why there's no from. The sentence does not speak about an attempt to escape from the prison.






            share|improve this answer























            • Thanks! But I don't get the whole sentence is saying: "He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion." Can you help to explain it a bit?
              – dan
              yesterday










            • @dan - If Harry fights against Ministry workers, the Wizard Court will not only expel him from Hogwarts but also send him to the Azkaban prison. If Harry does not fight, they will take away his wand.
              – CowperKettle
              yesterday






            • 7




              @dan - It's not "he is lucky to", it's "he would be lucky to". The word would implies "if". If he escaped a prison sentence after fighting with officials, he would be considered quite a lucky boy.
              – CowperKettle
              yesterday








            • 6




              I really think this answer would benefit from noting that "he'd be lucky to escape jail" or "he'd be lucky to escape prison" is a very well established phrase in English, and JKR has substituted 'Azkaban' as a magical equivalent
              – Au101
              yesterday






            • 1




              @chrylis Sure :) It's just that, from my experience of Harry Potter, there are many instances where words, phrases and so on are consciously and pleasingly "wizarding-world-ed" (if you see what I mean). And this seems like a quite clear "wizarding-world-ification" ( :P ) of "he'd be lucky to escape jail"
              – Au101
              20 hours ago
















            16












            16








            16






            The meaning is:




            He'd be lucky to escape being sent to Azkaban.

            He'd be lucky to avoid Azkaban.




            Or




            He'd be lucky to escape being sentenced to serve a term in Azkaban.




            That's why there's no from. The sentence does not speak about an attempt to escape from the prison.






            share|improve this answer














            The meaning is:




            He'd be lucky to escape being sent to Azkaban.

            He'd be lucky to avoid Azkaban.




            Or




            He'd be lucky to escape being sentenced to serve a term in Azkaban.




            That's why there's no from. The sentence does not speak about an attempt to escape from the prison.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited yesterday

























            answered yesterday









            CowperKettle

            28.4k1089168




            28.4k1089168












            • Thanks! But I don't get the whole sentence is saying: "He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion." Can you help to explain it a bit?
              – dan
              yesterday










            • @dan - If Harry fights against Ministry workers, the Wizard Court will not only expel him from Hogwarts but also send him to the Azkaban prison. If Harry does not fight, they will take away his wand.
              – CowperKettle
              yesterday






            • 7




              @dan - It's not "he is lucky to", it's "he would be lucky to". The word would implies "if". If he escaped a prison sentence after fighting with officials, he would be considered quite a lucky boy.
              – CowperKettle
              yesterday








            • 6




              I really think this answer would benefit from noting that "he'd be lucky to escape jail" or "he'd be lucky to escape prison" is a very well established phrase in English, and JKR has substituted 'Azkaban' as a magical equivalent
              – Au101
              yesterday






            • 1




              @chrylis Sure :) It's just that, from my experience of Harry Potter, there are many instances where words, phrases and so on are consciously and pleasingly "wizarding-world-ed" (if you see what I mean). And this seems like a quite clear "wizarding-world-ification" ( :P ) of "he'd be lucky to escape jail"
              – Au101
              20 hours ago




















            • Thanks! But I don't get the whole sentence is saying: "He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion." Can you help to explain it a bit?
              – dan
              yesterday










            • @dan - If Harry fights against Ministry workers, the Wizard Court will not only expel him from Hogwarts but also send him to the Azkaban prison. If Harry does not fight, they will take away his wand.
              – CowperKettle
              yesterday






            • 7




              @dan - It's not "he is lucky to", it's "he would be lucky to". The word would implies "if". If he escaped a prison sentence after fighting with officials, he would be considered quite a lucky boy.
              – CowperKettle
              yesterday








            • 6




              I really think this answer would benefit from noting that "he'd be lucky to escape jail" or "he'd be lucky to escape prison" is a very well established phrase in English, and JKR has substituted 'Azkaban' as a magical equivalent
              – Au101
              yesterday






            • 1




              @chrylis Sure :) It's just that, from my experience of Harry Potter, there are many instances where words, phrases and so on are consciously and pleasingly "wizarding-world-ed" (if you see what I mean). And this seems like a quite clear "wizarding-world-ification" ( :P ) of "he'd be lucky to escape jail"
              – Au101
              20 hours ago


















            Thanks! But I don't get the whole sentence is saying: "He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion." Can you help to explain it a bit?
            – dan
            yesterday




            Thanks! But I don't get the whole sentence is saying: "He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion." Can you help to explain it a bit?
            – dan
            yesterday












            @dan - If Harry fights against Ministry workers, the Wizard Court will not only expel him from Hogwarts but also send him to the Azkaban prison. If Harry does not fight, they will take away his wand.
            – CowperKettle
            yesterday




            @dan - If Harry fights against Ministry workers, the Wizard Court will not only expel him from Hogwarts but also send him to the Azkaban prison. If Harry does not fight, they will take away his wand.
            – CowperKettle
            yesterday




            7




            7




            @dan - It's not "he is lucky to", it's "he would be lucky to". The word would implies "if". If he escaped a prison sentence after fighting with officials, he would be considered quite a lucky boy.
            – CowperKettle
            yesterday






            @dan - It's not "he is lucky to", it's "he would be lucky to". The word would implies "if". If he escaped a prison sentence after fighting with officials, he would be considered quite a lucky boy.
            – CowperKettle
            yesterday






            6




            6




            I really think this answer would benefit from noting that "he'd be lucky to escape jail" or "he'd be lucky to escape prison" is a very well established phrase in English, and JKR has substituted 'Azkaban' as a magical equivalent
            – Au101
            yesterday




            I really think this answer would benefit from noting that "he'd be lucky to escape jail" or "he'd be lucky to escape prison" is a very well established phrase in English, and JKR has substituted 'Azkaban' as a magical equivalent
            – Au101
            yesterday




            1




            1




            @chrylis Sure :) It's just that, from my experience of Harry Potter, there are many instances where words, phrases and so on are consciously and pleasingly "wizarding-world-ed" (if you see what I mean). And this seems like a quite clear "wizarding-world-ification" ( :P ) of "he'd be lucky to escape jail"
            – Au101
            20 hours ago






            @chrylis Sure :) It's just that, from my experience of Harry Potter, there are many instances where words, phrases and so on are consciously and pleasingly "wizarding-world-ed" (if you see what I mean). And this seems like a quite clear "wizarding-world-ification" ( :P ) of "he'd be lucky to escape jail"
            – Au101
            20 hours ago















            8














            Further to CowperKettle's correct answer...



            escape can be used as a transitive verb:




            He was charged with treason but escaped imprisonment by pleading insanity.



            The art thief escaped detection by dressing as a security guard.




            There it can be understood to mean "managed to avoid".




            He escaped the island on a raft.




            There it means "freed himself from the confinement of the island", and there you can use from if you like: "...escaped from the island..."






            share|improve this answer




























              8














              Further to CowperKettle's correct answer...



              escape can be used as a transitive verb:




              He was charged with treason but escaped imprisonment by pleading insanity.



              The art thief escaped detection by dressing as a security guard.




              There it can be understood to mean "managed to avoid".




              He escaped the island on a raft.




              There it means "freed himself from the confinement of the island", and there you can use from if you like: "...escaped from the island..."






              share|improve this answer


























                8












                8








                8






                Further to CowperKettle's correct answer...



                escape can be used as a transitive verb:




                He was charged with treason but escaped imprisonment by pleading insanity.



                The art thief escaped detection by dressing as a security guard.




                There it can be understood to mean "managed to avoid".




                He escaped the island on a raft.




                There it means "freed himself from the confinement of the island", and there you can use from if you like: "...escaped from the island..."






                share|improve this answer














                Further to CowperKettle's correct answer...



                escape can be used as a transitive verb:




                He was charged with treason but escaped imprisonment by pleading insanity.



                The art thief escaped detection by dressing as a security guard.




                There it can be understood to mean "managed to avoid".




                He escaped the island on a raft.




                There it means "freed himself from the confinement of the island", and there you can use from if you like: "...escaped from the island..."







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited yesterday

























                answered yesterday









                Tᴚoɯɐuo

                109k683176




                109k683176






























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