"Here is Sub-Zero."
"Now... Plain Zero!"
(Lol, haha, :)
"Hey Lighthead! Hey Christmas Tree!"
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MovieChat Forums > The Running Man (1987) Discussion > "Here is Sub-Zero."
Is ‘plain zero’ even a phrase? I always thought I was missing some context to get this ‘joke’, or is it just terrible writing..?
sharesame
imma guess terrible writing
In this context it meant that Sub-Zero was now just zero, as in nothing, since he's dead.
shareYes, using the modifier "plain" in place of a previous modifier lowers the significance of the thing being modified.
Here are three items from the definition that fit:
Obvious to the perception or mind; evident: synonym: apparent.
Straightforward; frank or candid.
Common in rank or station; average; ordinary.
He's no longer Sub-zero, he's now just plain zero.
Obvious zero.
Straightforward zero
Ordinary zero
In other words, he's no longer Sub-zero the successful stalker, he's just a zero. A plain zero.
He had to split.
shareHe had to split.
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