It takes all sorts (to make the world go round) <o:p></o:p>
I overheard this expression yesterday while I was out and about in Birmingham. Normally, people just say “it takes all sorts”, and the rest is implied. Here is an example: <o:p></o:p>
“I read in the newspaper today that a man won an award for living as a goat with other goats for a year, and even used two artificial legs. (sigh) I suppose it takes all sorts.”<o:p></o:p>
My story about the goat-man is true by the way. He was British, but I am not sure if this achievement is something we should be proud of!<o:p></o:p>
Anyway, the meaning is this: we may think that some people are crazy, but even the crazy people have their place in the world; we should accept this, even if we are reluctant.
Can you give us your own short stories which finish with, “It takes all sorts”?
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Do you know of any common expressions with this structure: “It takes + noun + to + base infinitive”?<o:p></o:p>
[The original phrase seems to be “it takes all sorts to make
a world”, according to Oxford and Cambridge, although I must confess I have
never heard this.
Cambridge and other sources indicate that the US equivalent
expression is: “It takes all kinds.”
“kind” and “sort” are synonyms.]
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http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/it-takes-all-sorts-to-make-a-world<o:p></o:p>
We say "Each person gets crazy in their own way" ("Каждый с ума сходит по-своему"). So, it takes all sorts. And the world still goes round!
Thanks, Michael.
Oops. Please tell me this time I'm right. The man is crazy enough.
-It’s snowing outside but a man is swimming in the river. I suppose it takes all sorts.<o:p></o:p>
Hi Fenfen, Your second sentence - about the mountain - is perfect. In your first sentence, the behaviour is not crazy and so the expression doesn't apply. My example about the goat-man illustrated that some people are crazy.
Thanks for your comment, Natalia.