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Re: as well as any

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on April 09, 2009 at 08:18

In Reply to: as well as any posted by Chen on April 09, 2009 at 08:05:

: I want to know what is the meaning of this phrase: as well as any
: e.g.They understood presidential politics as well as any in the country.
: How does this phrase come about? Can any one give me other examples? Thanks a lot!

The core phrase here is not "as well as any" but "as well as". You could also say "They understood presidential politics as well as I do" or "as well as we all do" or, if you were being sarcastic, "as well as a donkey does". In the example you quote, "any" is just a (slightly literary) substitute for "anyone". (VSD)