Somebody "have (got) no place doing something"

English translation: "...no place doing" common enough

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Somebody "have (got) no place doing something"
Selected answer:"...no place doing" common enough
Entered by: Yvonne Gallagher

21:29 Apr 2, 2013
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Slang / Similar and Interchangeable idioms
English term or phrase: Somebody "have (got) no place doing something"
Actually, it is widespread standard usage to say "Hey! You've got no BUSINESS tellING/To tell me how to go about my assingments". This is documented in a number of lexicons -- of both English loosely and of idioms/slang. Having said that, it turns out that the same usage, now substituting PLACE for BUSINESS rifes as well. Nevertheless, do you know how many lexical references I found of PLACE? Not one. Now, if any colleague could provide links to dictionaries attesting as oficial usage the pattern, I would be so grateful.
Regards.
FNO
"...no place doing" common enough
Explanation:
I haven't been able to find this expression in dictionaries either but that doesn't mean it is not used. There are lots of expressions that you will not find in dictionaries.

As you say, all you need to do is Google ""have no place doing", then "have no place telling", and it's quite obvious that the expression is in current use with nothing formal or pompous about it. So yes, I understand what Tony is saying about the use of this expression in formal ways but but I believeit's still in use as meaning "(you/he/she/they) have/ has no business (=place) telling/doing. It is probably more common to use the expression

"it's not your/his etc place to... "

but I've also heard it the other way
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/not place



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Note added at 22 hrs (2013-04-03 19:54:48 GMT)
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Yes, so besides having the meaning, have no place/business telling... this also has the meaning "have no RIGHT to tell ..." i.e. not have the authority to...

Selected response from:

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 20:19
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2"...no place doing" common enough
Yvonne Gallagher
Summary of reference entries provided
NS OED
Tony M

Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
somebody "have (got) no place doing something"
"...no place doing" common enough


Explanation:
I haven't been able to find this expression in dictionaries either but that doesn't mean it is not used. There are lots of expressions that you will not find in dictionaries.

As you say, all you need to do is Google ""have no place doing", then "have no place telling", and it's quite obvious that the expression is in current use with nothing formal or pompous about it. So yes, I understand what Tony is saying about the use of this expression in formal ways but but I believeit's still in use as meaning "(you/he/she/they) have/ has no business (=place) telling/doing. It is probably more common to use the expression

"it's not your/his etc place to... "

but I've also heard it the other way
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/not place



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2013-04-03 19:54:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, so besides having the meaning, have no place/business telling... this also has the meaning "have no RIGHT to tell ..." i.e. not have the authority to...



Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 20:19
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: So it seems; my first reaction was that I don't say it. It seems to mean the same as "no business"; i.e., no right. "Not your place to" seems to me slightly different: you're not important enough.
3 hrs
  -> Thanks Charles, yes, it can be read in several ways

agree  Tina Vonhof (X): I think in 'proper' slang it would be "it ain't your place".
5 hrs
  -> thanks Tina! yes, "it ain't your place" quite common
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Reference comments


30 mins peer agreement (net): +2
Reference: NS OED

Reference information:
Definition #9

A proper or appropriate position; fig. a fitting time or occasion; reasonable opportuinty or grounds

I'm not sure this is terribly current usage, and certainly not slang; to my ears, it is a rather dated and quite formal expression.

Tony M
France
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Jim Tucker (X): I don't see it as antiquated; can easily imagine using it myself. Would say it's neither slang nor formal.
9 hrs
  -> Thanks, Jim! No, I wouldn't say 'antiquated', just maybe more of my parent's generation than my own...
agree  David Moore (X): Come on Tony, even you're not that young any more...It's not old-fashioned to me either., so I agree with Jim.
10 hrs
  -> Thanks, David! Oh well, I'm just a down-to-earth sort of guy, I don't use pompous language like this ;-)
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