What is the full sentence of 'X to the rescue'?

3

Almost all well-formed English sentences have a verb. Most grammar books for ELLs suggest that we can understand imperative sentences as having the implied "You" as the subject. For example,

Sit down. (= You sit down.)

I noticed that in a movie I watched, it has this sentence, Judah Buckner to the rescue, which can be generalized to the construction: X to the rescue.

Though the meaning is clear, I would like to know how to analyze this construction as a sentence. Should I regard it as a fragment? Or should I understand it as an ellipsis, as shown below?

Superman to the rescue.
  (= Here is Superman to the rescue.?)
  (= Here comes Superman to the rescue.?)

Damkerng T.

Posted 2014-01-25T00:42:29.530

Reputation: 27 649

2I think of it as, "Here comes..." – Jim – 2014-01-25T01:06:52.497

An imperative sentence with an implied you subject is still a sentence. X to the rescue isn't; it's a fragment (technically, an ejaculation) with an idiosyncratic form. Any suitable addition can turn it into a complete sentence, such as "It's..." – chrylis -cautiouslyoptimistic- – 2014-01-25T03:04:37.657

@chrylis I think OP understands that it's not a formally complete sentence, in the TenthGradeEnglish sense, but it is a complete utterance; he is asking how it would best be expressed as a formal sentence. – StoneyB on hiatus – 2014-01-25T03:48:58.147

Answers

3

Similar to the comment, I'd read it as:

Judah Buckner is coming to the rescue!

This would probably be said by Judah Buckner himself, speaking in third person.

stackUnderflow

Posted 2014-01-25T00:42:29.530

Reputation: 390

2+1 I sorta like OP's "Here comes", but you've put your finger on the classic context: it's a self-proclamation, ►**!!Olaf Trygvasson, Gentleman Adventurer!!**◄ – StoneyB on hiatus – 2014-01-25T03:55:25.627

Asked: 2014-01-25T00:42:29.530

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Active: 2016-10-20T18:46:38.397