Reader question:

Please explain this sentence, particularly “from here on out”:

Those polls, already a fairly accurate snapshot of what is likely to happen in November, get more predictive by the day from here on out.

My comments:

The 2024 American election takes place in November, so let’s assume “those polls” were about the American election.

Those polls have given us a fairly good grasp (a fairly accurate snapshot) of what’s likely to happen in November because they’ve largely been reflective of reality. On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden is the only candidate to vote for. On the Republican side, challengers to former President Donald Trump have one after another dropped out.

If you have followed the polls, you realize that all along, polls have been pointing to the same outcome: a rematch in November between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

So the polls had been predictive and correct. Now, with challengers to Donald Trump dropping by the wayside, those polls are going to be even more predictive.

In other words, poll results are more and more predictable.

From here on out, meaning from now onward all the way to the election.

“From here” means from now, here as in “here and now”. “On” means “onward”, henceforth. “Out” implies permanence, meaning all the way forward till the end, till the clock runs OUT, if you will.

So, from here on out means FROM HERE ON till time runs OUT, i.e. till the very end.

Phew! I’m relieved.

Anyways, I’ve done my best. Just remember, “from here on out” is used to indicate that something changes from now on and that change is going to stay the rest of the way.

All right, here are a few recent media examples:

1. The war of words between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis continues to escalate, all as some of the biggest names in the GOP pick sides ahead of an anticipated intraparty slugfest for the next year that could spawn a new MAGA era.

DeSantis, 44, bragged that he “broke” Twitter Spaces when he made his official entrance into the 2024 presidential race in front of a large online audience on Wednesday, culminating many months of speculation whether he would launch a campaign and challenge the former president. He shared an optimistic forward-looking approach, saying that candidates “must end the culture of losing that has infected the Republican Party in recent years.”

Trump, the 76-year-old GOP front-runner according to virtually every poll conducted prior to DeSantis’ official entry, attacked the Florida governor for weeks and has continued the attacks, claiming that his foe's campaign launch was “disastrous” while adding that his state’s COVID-era policies paled in comparison to those enacted by New York and former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo.

DeSantis, who has been encouraged by some Republican strategists to take the proverbial gloves off and counter some of Trump’s rhetoric, did that just on Thursday by saying the Trump camp is fixated on his candidacy because it views him as the biggest political threat.

“Who is going to be the leader to be able to win the election, like we did in Florida, and get in to implement the type of policies that are going to get the country back on track?” DeSantis told Good Morning NH on Thursday. “I think a lot of what he's doing is showing everybody that he understands that I’ve got a good chance to beat him.

“Because he doesn’t criticize anybody else now, it’s only me. They wouldn’t do that if they didn’t think that I had a chance, because I think they realize I am offering folks a record of achievement that’s second to none. They know that I’m more likely to win the election.”

...

“It’s no holds barred from here on out because the stakes are so high and time is short, so it’ll be interesting to contrast the styles of each other,” said Susan MacManus, distinguished professor emeritus at the University of South Florida. “We know what Trump’s style looks like, but will DeSantis’ be somewhat more subtle but direct?

“We really don’t have a good idea yet, but it’s obviously the case that they’re the two leading candidates at this point and everybody’s gonna be focused on it. January is not that far away.”

- MAGA Civil War Heats Up, Newsweek.com, May 27, 2023.

2. Richard Lewis, the comic and star of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has died, The Post can confirm. He was 76.

Lewis passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles, California, home after suffering a heart attack on Tuesday night.

“His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for all the love, friendship, and support and asks for privacy at this time,” his publicist, Jeff Abraham, said in a statement.

Lewis announced last April that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and was retiring from stand-up comedy.

“I have Parkinson’s disease, but I’m under a doctor’s care and everything is cool,” the veteran actor-comic said in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, at the time. “I’m finished with standup. I’m just focusing on writing and acting from here on out.

“But you know, the last three and a half years I’ve had sort of a rocky time,” the “Leaving Las Vegas” actor lamented. “And people have said, ‘Gee I haven’t heard from you, are you still touring?’ Well, here’s really what happened.”

Lewis, who starred alongside Larry David in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” as a semi-fictionalized version of himself, spoke about his Parkinson’s diagnosis in a Vanity Fair interview published last week.

“It changed my outlook in that it’s been a combination of forcing myself to look back and be grateful. I’ve had such an amazing life. I still do. I’m a lucky man,” he said.

“I got in touch with more gratitude and also acceptance. It’s imperative that I accept the fact that I have Parkinson’s. If you don’t accept it, then it lingers around your brain and you get morbid and depressed. You lose energy.”

- ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ star and comedy legend Richard Lewis dead at 76, NYPost.com, February 28, 2024.

3. The San Antonio Spurs are facing the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, and star rookie Victor Wembanyama has been ruled out. San Antonio has released their injury report for this game, and Wembanyama has been ruled out with a right ankle sprain.

Wembanyama will join Warriors star Steph Curry on the inactive list for this game, as Curry also has an ankle injury that will sideline him for a bit. While this game is of course not very important for the Spurs, as they have already been eliminated from playoff contention, each game from here on out is massive for Golden State.

Entering this game 1.5 games back of the 8th seed Dallas Mavericks, Golden State has their sights set on running them down to escape a win or go home scenario in the play-in tournament. While climbing even higher would be ideal for Golden State, getting to 8th is crucial.

Not expected to be without Curry for too long, Golden State will have to find ways to win without him for the next few games. Curry should not be out much longer than a few games, and could potentially return even sooner than that.

- Victor Wembanyama’s Injury Status vs. Golden State Warriors Revealed, SI.com, March 9, 2024.

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About the author:

Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.

（作者：張欣  編輯：丹妮）