You cannot live twice

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Because life is for you but once.

Well, do you guys think whether the expression "you cannot live twice" is natural in English?
Someone says you can use "you cannot take two" to convey the same meaning.
Take two? I doubt it.
What do you say?
What other forms are there that have the same significance?

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Type: Question • Score: 8 • Views: 1,018 • Replies: 17

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View best answer, chosen by oristarA

Sounds kind of goofy. There is a common expression in English, "you only live once." Would that work for you?

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@oristarA,

Quote:

Well, do you guys think whether the expression "you cannot live twice" is natural in English?

Pretty ordinary collo

Quote:

…...
Take two? I doubt it.
What do you say?

Can't recall ever having heard the expr used this way

Quote:

What other forms are there that have the same significance?

Forms of what pray Ori

0 Replies

@oristarA,

"What other forms are there that have the same significance?"

You're only here the once.

1 Reply

"What other forms are there that have the same significance?"

Life is not a dress rehearsal.

Joe(If you do it right, once is enough)Nation

1 Reply

@Lordyaswas,

Lordyaswas wrote:

"What other forms are there that have the same significance?"

You're only here the once.

the once? Is this proper English?

1 Reply

@oristarA,

It doesn't sound common but it's possible, Ori.

Ori: Someone says you can use "you cannot take two" to convey the same meaning.

A: When god is handing out lives, you cannot take two.

0 Replies

@oristarA,

If you are asking whether this is how many people say it in Britain, then yes.

I only did it the once.
I only did it the one time.
I only did it on the one occasion.

All pretty much in common usage. Different people from different parts of the country would maybe favour one over the others, but none of them look or sound wrong to me, an average Englishman.

1 Reply

@Lordyaswas,

Quote:

I only did it the once.
I only did it the one time.
I only did it on the one occasion.

Yes, sounds just like my Irish Nana.

Joe(of the O'Sullivan Sullivans)Nation

0 Replies

@Joe Nation,

Thanks for the Ribbon.

Joe(I liked JTT's: it's one I'd never heard before)Nation

1 Reply

@oristarA,

Ichigoichie

http://www.stockkanji.com/images/words/Japanese%20Proverbs/J6008VS2AS.gif

Each moment only once

Or you may prefer to contemplate the elision

Each moment once

1 Reply

@nacredambition,

Unless you're a cow.

Cow's can re-live moments any number of times.

It's known as deja moo.

0 Replies

@Joe Nation,

Joe Nation wrote:

Thanks for the Ribbon.

If you don't want to save up enough ribbins to become the president of Burundi, you can trade in 8 of them for a $10 Starbucks card.

2 Replies

@chai2,

Or tie them in a bow around bridegrooms wotsits on stag nights.

1 Reply

@chai2,

How many ribbons does it take to become a Hamster-for-a-Day?

Joe(I want to avoid getting that many.)Nation

0 Replies

@Lordyaswas,

Quote:

Or tie them in a bow around bridegrooms wotsits on stag nights.

Around these parts we leave, um, those parts to the professionals.

Joe(Boys, meet Crystal, Cindi, Passion and special guest, Erodikah)Nation

1 Reply

@Joe Nation,

We just tie the poor sod to a lampost in the High Street, sans trousers.

This guy has been let off lightly......

http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/9E/D46F502CB1EC10B9987BBD5B58DEE6.jpg

1 Reply

@Lordyaswas,

Lordy: We just tie the poor sod to a lampost in the High Street, sans trousers.

How so? Is he not sans trousers, Lordy?

0 Replies

You cannot live twice

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