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Tue 27 Jan, 2015 04:32 am
Failed to understand the usage "in" here.
" have a piece of metal go off in his face" seems to mean " have a piece of metal go off and hit his face". I don't understand what "in" means here.
Context:
Jungwirth’s colleague Philip Mason was determined to find out what was really going on — despite the hazards. In one run, he removed his face shield to blow out a small fire, only to have a piece of metal go off in his face, scratching his cheek. To get a reliable reaction — sodium sometimes oxidizes on the surface and will not explode — Mason used an alloy of sodium and potassium that is liquid at room temperature.
Note important surrounding clues!!
he removed his face shield to blow out a small fire, only to have a piece of metal explode in his face,
@PUNKEY,
PUNKEY wrote:
Note important surrounding clues!!
he removed his face shield to blow out a small fire, only to have a piece of metal explode in his face,
So "go off" means "explode" here?
@oristarA,
Yes. They were apparently trying to create a small explosion, or at least a violent chemical reaction.
Quote:sodium sometimes oxidizes on the surface and will not explode
@oristarA,
oristarA wrote:
So "go off" means "explode" here?
Yes. Bombs, fireworks, etc in informal language "go off" when they explode.
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