English Language & Usage Asked by waterloomatt on February 12, 2021
Taken from the article’s title in Independent:
Fox news cuts away from McEnany press conference: ‘I can’t in good
countenance continue showing this’
As I understand it, countenance means facial expression. So in this case, the title’s meaning would be, "I can’t with a straight-face continue…" or "I can’t continue composed…"
Do I have that right, or would the phrase "in good conscience" be more suited here?
It seems likely that Cavuto blended the idioms "in good conscience" and "cannot countenance".
You couldn't, in good conscience, ask her to pay the whole bill! (without feeling guilty) -Cambridge
Jake would not countenance Janis's marrying while still a student. (do not agree with it and will not allow it to happen.) -Collin's
Answered by Guesty McGuestFace on February 12, 2021
"Countenance" actually refers to the face itself rather than facial expression, so this attempt to justify Niel Cavuto's mistake is itself incorrect. The idiom is "in good conscience". The other, which you attempt to justify does not exist. Although I applaud Cavuto's decision to cut off Ms. McEnany's litany of falsehoods, his conflation of the two phrases is lamentable.
Answered by Alvin Hill on February 12, 2021
'countenance', as a verb, means to admit as acceptable or possible, to tolerate, to permit, to put up with; so Cavuto could have said, "I can't countenance (what she said)", but introduced by "I can't in good...", it needs a noun, not a verb, so "conscience" would be the expected phrasing.
Answered by J.R. on February 12, 2021
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