How to understand “with two minutes to go to the bell” in this context?












1















“After the lesson,” Snape snapped.



Under the pretext of holding up a measuring cup to see if he'd poured
out enough armadillo bile, Harry sneaked a sidelong glance at the pair
of them. Karkaroff looked extremely worried, and Snape looked angry.



Karkaroff hovered behind Snape's desk for the rest of the double
period. He seemed intent on preventing Snape from slipping away at the
end of class. Keen to hear what Karkaroff wanted to say, Harry
deliberately knocked over his bottle of armadillo bile with two
minutes to go to the bell, which gave him an excuse to duck down
behind his cauldron and mop up while the rest of the class moved
noisily toward the door.




The scene is in Snape's Potion class. I don't understand "with two
minutes to go to the bell". I think "the bell" is supposed to ring for the class dismissal here. But what does "go to the bell" mean? And "with two minutes" is confusing too. What does it mean exactly in this context?



-- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire






meaning-in-context







share|improve this question





























    1















    “After the lesson,” Snape snapped.



    Under the pretext of holding up a measuring cup to see if he'd poured
    out enough armadillo bile, Harry sneaked a sidelong glance at the pair
    of them. Karkaroff looked extremely worried, and Snape looked angry.



    Karkaroff hovered behind Snape's desk for the rest of the double
    period. He seemed intent on preventing Snape from slipping away at the
    end of class. Keen to hear what Karkaroff wanted to say, Harry
    deliberately knocked over his bottle of armadillo bile with two
    minutes to go to the bell    , which gave him an excuse to duck down
    behind his cauldron and mop up while the rest of the class moved
    noisily toward the door.




    The scene is in Snape's Potion class. I don't understand "with two
    minutes to go to the bell    ". I think "the bell" is supposed to ring for the class dismissal here. But what does "go to the bell" mean? And "with two minutes" is confusing too. What does it mean exactly in this context?



    -- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire






    meaning-in-context







    share|improve this question



























      1












      1








      1








      “After the lesson,” Snape snapped.



      Under the pretext of holding up a measuring cup to see if he'd poured
      out enough armadillo bile, Harry sneaked a sidelong glance at the pair
      of them. Karkaroff looked extremely worried, and Snape looked angry.



      Karkaroff hovered behind Snape's desk for the rest of the double
      period. He seemed intent on preventing Snape from slipping away at the
      end of class. Keen to hear what Karkaroff wanted to say, Harry
      deliberately knocked over his bottle of armadillo bile with two
      minutes to go to the bell      , which gave him an excuse to duck down
      behind his cauldron and mop up while the rest of the class moved
      noisily toward the door.




      The scene is in Snape's Potion class. I don't understand "with two
      minutes to go to the bell      ". I think "the bell" is supposed to ring for the class dismissal here. But what does "go to the bell" mean? And "with two minutes" is confusing too. What does it mean exactly in this context?



      -- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire






      meaning-in-context







      share|improve this question
















      “After the lesson,” Snape snapped.



      Under the pretext of holding up a measuring cup to see if he'd poured
      out enough armadillo bile, Harry sneaked a sidelong glance at the pair
      of them. Karkaroff looked extremely worried, and Snape looked angry.



      Karkaroff hovered behind Snape's desk for the rest of the double
      period. He seemed intent on preventing Snape from slipping away at the
      end of class. Keen to hear what Karkaroff wanted to say, Harry
      deliberately knocked over his bottle of armadillo bile with two
      minutes to go to the bell      , which gave him an excuse to duck down
      behind his cauldron and mop up while the rest of the class moved
      noisily toward the door.




      The scene is in Snape's Potion class. I don't understand "with two
      minutes to go to the bell      ". I think "the bell" is supposed to ring for the class dismissal here. But what does "go to the bell" mean? And "with two minutes" is confusing too. What does it mean exactly in this context?



      -- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire






      meaning-in-context




      meaning-in-context






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 3 hours ago

























      asked 4 hours ago









      dan

      4,36022565




      4,36022565






















          1 Answer
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          You are correct that the bell signifies the end of the class. However, the word "go" should not be joined with "to the bell"; rather you should read it as with "two minutes to go | to the bell". The phrase "to go" is a way of saying "the time that is left until something will happen". In this case the something is the bell ringing, and the time until it will happen is two minutes.



          So putting this together, the phrase means "when there were two minutes left until the bell would ring". At that point Harry knocks over his bottle because that will give him an excuse to remain in the classroom even after the bell rings and everyone else leaves, which will enable him to eavesdrop on Snape and Karkaroff while they talk without realizing he is there.






          share|improve this answer





















          • That makes sense! Thanks!
            – dan
            4 hours ago










          • @dan You’re welcome.
            – Alex
            4 hours ago











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          1 Answer
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          active

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          You are correct that the bell signifies the end of the class. However, the word "go" should not be joined with "to the bell"; rather you should read it as with "two minutes to go | to the bell". The phrase "to go" is a way of saying "the time that is left until something will happen". In this case the something is the bell ringing, and the time until it will happen is two minutes.



          So putting this together, the phrase means "when there were two minutes left until the bell would ring". At that point Harry knocks over his bottle because that will give him an excuse to remain in the classroom even after the bell rings and everyone else leaves, which will enable him to eavesdrop on Snape and Karkaroff while they talk without realizing he is there.






          share|improve this answer





















          • That makes sense! Thanks!
            – dan
            4 hours ago










          • @dan You’re welcome.
            – Alex
            4 hours ago
















          2














          You are correct that the bell signifies the end of the class. However, the word "go" should not be joined with "to the bell"; rather you should read it as with "two minutes to go | to the bell". The phrase "to go" is a way of saying "the time that is left until something will happen". In this case the something is the bell ringing, and the time until it will happen is two minutes.



          So putting this together, the phrase means "when there were two minutes left until the bell would ring". At that point Harry knocks over his bottle because that will give him an excuse to remain in the classroom even after the bell rings and everyone else leaves, which will enable him to eavesdrop on Snape and Karkaroff while they talk without realizing he is there.






          share|improve this answer





















          • That makes sense! Thanks!
            – dan
            4 hours ago










          • @dan You’re welcome.
            – Alex
            4 hours ago














          2












          2








          2






          You are correct that the bell signifies the end of the class. However, the word "go" should not be joined with "to the bell"; rather you should read it as with "two minutes to go | to the bell". The phrase "to go" is a way of saying "the time that is left until something will happen". In this case the something is the bell ringing, and the time until it will happen is two minutes.



          So putting this together, the phrase means "when there were two minutes left until the bell would ring". At that point Harry knocks over his bottle because that will give him an excuse to remain in the classroom even after the bell rings and everyone else leaves, which will enable him to eavesdrop on Snape and Karkaroff while they talk without realizing he is there.






          share|improve this answer












          You are correct that the bell signifies the end of the class. However, the word "go" should not be joined with "to the bell"; rather you should read it as with "two minutes to go | to the bell". The phrase "to go" is a way of saying "the time that is left until something will happen". In this case the something is the bell ringing, and the time until it will happen is two minutes.



          So putting this together, the phrase means "when there were two minutes left until the bell would ring". At that point Harry knocks over his bottle because that will give him an excuse to remain in the classroom even after the bell rings and everyone else leaves, which will enable him to eavesdrop on Snape and Karkaroff while they talk without realizing he is there.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 4 hours ago









          Alex

          5155




          5155












          • That makes sense! Thanks!
            – dan
            4 hours ago










          • @dan You’re welcome.
            – Alex
            4 hours ago


















          • That makes sense! Thanks!
            – dan
            4 hours ago










          • @dan You’re welcome.
            – Alex
            4 hours ago
















          That makes sense! Thanks!
          – dan
          4 hours ago




          That makes sense! Thanks!
          – dan
          4 hours ago












          @dan You’re welcome.
          – Alex
          4 hours ago




          @dan You’re welcome.
          – Alex
          4 hours ago


















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