ATD p186

[Paul Mackin]

On Nov 25, 2006, at 9:19 AM, Monte Davis wrote:

>> "...it seemed like that the whole firmament was coming unstitched."
>
> Get used to the "like that" construction -- lots more coming.
>
> My fiirst take was that it was a western US regionalism, but I  
> think I've
> noticed it in several narrative voices, so it may have been  
> idiomatic in the
> period. Anybody have a DARE handy?
>
>
>



Think it was merely regional.

I associate "like that" meaning "as if" with people arriving is  
California from the Dust Bowl (Kansas, Oklahoma)  in the Thirties.

Another variation would be "like as if" This would be more Arkansas.

Just going by memory. No authority to cite.