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39,900 | 119,257 | 76823_0 | Is it possible to use the word "shot dead" for unfortunate or sudden demise of a person not due to a gun shot? |
39,901 | 148,828 | 76823_0 | On tonight's broadcast of NPR's _All Things Considered_ , host Robert Siegel interviewed Ralph Keyes, who "writes about words for _American Scholar_ magazine." The topic was a contest run by the magazine to find suitable English replacement words (neologisms, in this case) for four words which have been borrowed into English but have entered common parlance to varying degrees: mensch, frisson, schadenfreude, and sympatico/sympathique. While the proposed neologisms were on the whole underwhelming, I did come to wonder: is there a word for the conscious replacement of foreign words with English substitutes, either as an editorial action in a specific work or as a broader, sociolinguistics endeavor? 'Anglicization' came to mind, but I think of that more with respect to spelling or pronunciation ( _i.e._ , not wholesale word replacement). Is there a term for this process? (Incidentally, isn't it the French who have a semi-governmental process to guard against foreign word borrowings, at least as far as the official language,mwhatever that means, is concerned? If so,mother obviously 'anglicization' can't be right, assuming this French body performs a similar effort to replace foreign words with French alternatives, officially or un....) |
39,902 | 148,823 | 76823_0 | I always heard this phrase from school, but never understood the actual meaning of it or how this phrase originated. What does this actually mean, and why was it Rome and not any other city? What is so special about Rome in this phrase? |
39,903 | 35,020 | 76823_0 | Where did the word "umpteenth" come from, and why is it a "teen", if it is supposed to represent a very large number? |
39,904 | 129,683 | 76823_0 | I know that "already" is mainly used with present perfect. I want to emphasise that something was known 20 years ago. Are the following the same? > I knew it already 20 yrs ago > I knew it as early as 20 yrs ago. And is this structure correct? > This has been known already since 1993 (I guess I cannot say "ago" in pres.perfect). |
39,905 | 155,155 | 76823_0 | Do anyone have an idea about the exact etymology of this word? Also, would it be correct to use the same word when referring to a live broadcasting on television? Or would the term videobomb be more appropriate? |
39,906 | 63,392 | 76823_0 | This is another bit of unusual English (to an American) that I picked up from Terry Pratchett's writings. Characters in the books have told others to "Eat their tea", in the literal sense. Is this a common British usage of the term? Does "tea" in this context refer to both the drink and the food that one would eat at teatime? Would "Take your tea" be more a common phrase? |
39,907 | 9,878 | 76823_0 | This might be a tad off-topic, but I am looking for an English-specific answer. When I’m using italic text to denote emphasis or a quotation, should the italicisation extend to the punctuation surrounding the italicised words? If the punctuation marks are _not_ italicised, in most digital fonts the italic letters will crash horribly—or at least intrude awkwardly—into the Roman punctuation. It’s especially problematic with parentheses, and lowercase Fs. Since I don’t have the luxury of typesetting all of my documents in lead, I’ve taken to either italicising the punctuation, or inserting a thin space (for lowercase F) or a hair space (for other letters) before the closing punctuation. Examples: * What is _that_? ⇒ What is _that?_ ⇒ What is _that_ ? * Solid (or _fluff_ ). ⇒ Solid (or _fluff)._ ⇒ Solid (or _fluff_ ). * ( _Good times_!) ⇒ _(Good times!)_ ⇒ ( _Good times_ !) I know this is a nitpicky thing (hell, even I think so, and I’m the one asking), but is there a standard way to address it? Just because this is the internet, it doesn’t mean we need to totally disregard the typesetting facilities that _are_ available. |
39,908 | 9,874 | 76823_0 | I can't remember when and where I had this discussion, but I remember being corrected when I was speaking by a stranger saying that it is never correct to say _give me half of this_ ; instead, the grammatically correct phrase would be _give me one half of this_. I've never been a pro at where numbers fit in with the English language, so maybe someone here could shed some light on this. |
39,909 | 151,062 | 76823_0 | I don't know how to say it but "at all" used in yes or no questions has a specific function. I would maybe call it "asking for a basic reality" but I don'T know if that makes sense to anyone. > Do you drink milk at all? I feel like "at all" does not work with w-questions. > Where is the bar at all? * Are there examples where it does work? |
39,910 | 32,558 | 76823_0 | Here are my examples: > We need to change the price of this item. > > We need to change the pricing of this item. To me the second option feels right but why? |
39,911 | 142,697 | 76823_0 | What would have been said around 1900 for a woman saying she needed to go to the bathroom in the state of Virginia? |
39,912 | 187,860 | 76823_0 | We are using the following topic for a speech contest and there is a question as to punctuation > Respect, where has it gone? or > Respect. Where has it gone? |
39,913 | 28,310 | 76823_0 | I'm wondering where the term "ballpark estimate" comes from? Sometimes "ballpark" is said stand-alone to mean a rough estimate, as in "these numbers are a ballpark". I understand it must come from baseball or some other sport. Does it refer to the idea that a batter might point in the direction he'll hit the ball? Or is it something that relates to a rough guess at the attendance that day? What part of the ballpark or sports does one use a rough estimate? |
39,914 | 28,314 | 76823_0 | What's the difference between describing a number or place as _cardinal_ versus _ordinal_? They both seem to have to do with the order of things. For example, when saying "He is the first in his class", is _first_ ordinal or cardinal? What are the usage differences here? |
39,915 | 112,567 | 76823_0 | Example: > Some say 19 is too young to have a baby, but where do you **draw the line**? |
39,916 | 140,360 | 76823_0 | I was told that saying _**Like I said**_ isn't grammatically correct although it is used a lot. That we should use _**As I said**_ instead. Is it true? |
39,917 | 160,434 | 76823_0 | I am preparing a technical document for a new version of a web application I have created, and towards the beginning of the document I am going to list a few of the terms I will be using in the document, along with a short definition or explanation of how I am using the term. This is just to make sure that the words are understood the way I intend. There is a word for just such a list. I know there is. I just can't come up with it. Aarrgghh! |
39,918 | 165,407 | 76823_0 | The music "Glad you came" by The Wanted has the following verses > Turn the lights out now, now I'll take you by the hand > > Hand you another drink, drink it if you can > > Can you spend a little time, time is slipping away > > Away from us so stay, stay with me I can make > > Make you glad you came Is there a term for it? |
39,919 | 147,311 | 76823_0 | Which of the following two forms of the sentence is better? 1. "Managers can use these findings to bound estimates, to assess the realism of road maps, to recognise unsustainable growth, to judge the health of a software development project, and to predict a system's hardware footprint." 2. "Managers can use these findings to bound estimates, assess the realism of road maps, recognise unsustainable growth, judge the health of a software development project, and predict a system's hardware footprint." |
39,920 | 55,410 | 76823_0 | _"He's into me for fifty quid"_ means _"He owes me fifty pounds"_. It's common enough in the UK, but I'm fairly sure I've heard it in American movies too ( _bucks_ or _grand_ there, not _quid_ , obviously), so I don't think it's particularly a UK expression. But since I just had reason to say it, I got to wondering "Why 'into'?", and realised it's a bit odd. Is it just short for _"in debt to"_? When I say it, I feel like _"into"_ is one word, and a quick Google shows that's how people write it, but if you just miss out the word _"debt"_ you'd still have two words left. Anyone know the origin/first use? |
39,921 | 117,905 | 76823_0 | I see this phrase written very often, and in legal documents, which are at least in theory more often correct than the "average" text: > in case of cancel, ... It sounds incorrect, and I suppose it is, but is there a context where this phrase is grammatically correct, or more appropriate than _in case of cancellation_? The only use for _cancel_ as noun that I know of is "a mark made on a postage stamp to show that it has been used", which is not the case here (the phrase is being used in a contract clause about cancellation of purchase). **Edit:** By carefully looking at the examples, they all seem a bit crappy in terms of English quality. Also, some of them seem to alternate between _cancellation_ and _cancel_ indiscriminately. http://www.pragueresidences.com/terms.php http://www.astanapengembak.com/bali-free-and-easy-package.html http://www.chambre-avec-vue.eu/rentagreement.pdf http://billetavion.opodo.fr/opodo/flights/fareNotes?pnr=24X57E&opodoConfNum=0014179106&locale=fr_FR_109 http://www.villa-pavlina.cz/EN/cenik.htm http://www.larrakoetxea.com/precios_en.html http://www.hostels.com/es/albergues/rio-de-janeiro/best-rio-hostel/35087 http://www.lazycow.com/nav/terms **Edit 2:** I agree, my question is not very useful. If it should be kept in the hope that Google will help some of those poor translators to avoid the same mistake, or if it should be erased, I'm not sure. Either way is fine for me, but I do not know how to actually improve the question. I'll delete it if recommended to. |
39,922 | 117,906 | 76823_0 | While filling in a UK form I just encountered the following question: > How many credit cards held? This was followed by a free-form text field. So they are either asking 1. ‘how many credit cards have you ever held in your hands in total,’ 2. ‘how many credit cards have you held in your hands at most at any one time,’ or 3. ‘how many credit cards have you currently got registered in your own name.’ Judging by the context it's obviously the third. Next question: > Current account held? [ ] Yes [ ] No What? My first thought was that there was a plural "s" missing, and they're really asking _how many_ accounts I have like in the last question, or else the account number of my current account, but they want a _binary_ answer. So are they asking 1. ‘do you have an account at all,’ 2. ‘is your account in some nebulous "held" state,’ 3. ‘is the account you're currently using registered in somebody else's name (applicable to minors or dependants),’ or 4. something completely different? |
39,923 | 117,900 | 76823_0 | Consider this headline: > Horrific Accident On Live TV Captivates The Internet Dictionary.com gives the following definitions for _captivate_ : > 1. to attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or > excellence; enchant. > 2. Obsolete . to capture; subjugate. > and the following for _engross_ : > 1. to occupy completely, as the mind or attention; absorb. > 2. to write or copy in a clear, attractive, large script or in a formal > manner, as a public document or record. > 3. to acquire the whole of (a commodity), in order to control the market; > monopolize. > It seems to me “engross” is more appropriate. Are there other verbs that better suit this context? |
39,924 | 55,416 | 76823_0 | Is there a word in English which would encompass both the action of increasing or decreasing [the value of] something? I am looking at a word similar to _modify_ , _change_ or _alter_. But the first two do not denote the fact that the current value would be slightly changed and I feel the the last one is a bit general. |
39,925 | 111,415 | 76823_0 | I've always thought I should use "for ages" when, for example, I meet a person who I haven't seen for a long time, but recently I came across another expression, "in ages," as in "I haven't seen you in ages." Is it correct to say this? |
39,926 | 56,148 | 76823_0 | > A man of great deserts, it would seem is most liable to be small minded, for > what would he do if his deserts were not as great as they are? - Nicomachean > Ethics: Aristotle. I'm not looking for the philosophic meaning but rather how the word desert is being used here. Is it to imply vacuousness? |
39,927 | 56,140 | 76823_0 | I cannot find an antonym for _to suggest_ with the force of _to suggest that p is false_ if _to suggest_ is used with the force of _to suggest that p is true_. The context is a sentence that looks approximately like: > The proposition that proper names have senses is suggested by _P_. The > proposition that proper names are definitionally equivalent to definite > descriptions is [...] by _Q_. Where _P_ and _Q_ are lists of reasons that aren't important here. The meaning of the passage should be equivalent to the following: > The truth of the proposition that proper names have senses is suggests by > _P_. The falsity of the proposition that proper names are definitionally > equivalent to definite descriptions is suggested by _Q_. I recall having attempted to find a suitable word to replace [...] in the first set of sentences before. However, I was unsuccessful and rephrased the passage. Even if the passage would work best rephrased, such a word would be useful For reference, the context is an introduction to a discussion of the problems raised by _P_ and _Q_. |
39,928 | 56,147 | 76823_0 | Most British people probably best recognise the colloquial meaning of shy from the traditional fairground throwing game called the coconut shy but it is also occasionally used in everyday English. According to the Online Etymological Dictionary the _throw_ meaning is the more recent (1787) and a connection between the two is uncertain. If there is no connection, how did this meaning of shy originate? |
39,929 | 110,028 | 76823_0 | I'm trying to think of a word that describes a person who's skillful, intelligent, capable, interesting, etc. Think of the character in the most interesting man in the world commercials. What's one word that would describe him? Some that I've thought of don't have quite the right tone: > Champion, Badass, Baller Is there one word that fits the bill? |
39,930 | 126,852 | 76823_0 | I am writing a small essay as a homework and I found that I used the expression "having seen" or in general "having done". I wonder if there are any synonyms which I could use to better my text. example: `Having learnt about Dante, my interest grew further.` |
39,931 | 110,023 | 76823_0 | The noises made by electronic devices (lamps, electronic chargers, etc.) sound to me like a high-pitched，barely audible "zzzzzz". In my mind is the word "buzz". Beyond that I don't really know. What word should I use to describe them? |
39,932 | 110,020 | 76823_0 | > “He brought the umbrella swishing down through the air to point at Dudley.” > (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) I guess the sentence could be parsed as below: [He] [brought] [A: the umbrella swishing down through the air] [B: to point at Dudley.] (A: direct object of brought, B: result or aim of the previous saying.) But, I cannot have confidence with the parsing. Could you show me how to see the construction? |
39,933 | 196,156 | 76823_0 | I.E. Which of these is correct? A. You are cool, funny, and among the most popular of students at this school. B. You are cool, funny, and are among the most popular of students at this school. If neither is correct, how would I say what I am trying to say? |
39,934 | 51,241 | 76823_0 | What is the grammar of the verb 'dare' in the following example? > The pizza was nice but, _dare_ I say it, the salad was awful. Is it some type of imperative? |
39,935 | 195,985 | 76823_0 | I'm coming up with a tagline for my business – 'Where flavour does the talking'. I'm basically trying to get across the idea that flavour is the main focus. Any ideas? |
39,936 | 118,610 | 76823_0 | For example, many religious traditions consider austerity and renunciation from material pleasures a virtue. Randian libertarianism characterizes selfishness as a virtue. To consider as divine is to _deify_ , to declare as innocent is to _exonerate_ , to hold as a virtue is to —? |
39,937 | 104,331 | 76823_0 | I am going through some of my old school notes about English idioms and the text describes idioms as having a _non productive syntactic structure_. I don't understand and couldn't find anything more about the 'non productive' part of the phrase. |
39,938 | 118,612 | 76823_0 | The _Official SAT Study Guide, Second Edition_ 's second practice test's writing section contains the following question, with the objective to choose the answer that is most correct. > Through his novels Thomas Wolfe reveals to us both the pain and the beauty > of his boyhood in the American South. > > (A) [no change] > > (B) By means of Thomas Wolfe's novels, which reveal to us both the pain and > the beauty of his boyhood in the American South. > > (C) Not only the pain is revealed to us in Thomas Wolfe's novels but he also > describes the beauty of his boyhood in the American South. > > (D) Thomas Wolfe, through the medium of his novels, reveals to us both the > pain with the beauty of his boyhood in the American South. > > (E) As a novelist, Thomas Wolfe thus revealing to us the pain and the beauty > of his boyhood in the American South. B through E are all blatantly incorrect, so the only remaining option is A, which is listed as the correct answer. However, everyone I've asked agrees that that sentence requires a comma after the word _novels_ , because _Through his novels_ is functioning as an appositive phrase. Is there something I'm missing here, or are all of these sentences incorrect? |
39,939 | 104,335 | 76823_0 | I've always said things like "If you ate the said candy." and "If you count the said rocks." I've also heard many people say "If you ate said candy." and "If you count said rocks." This always sounds to me similar to "If you grab chair." It makes sense sometimes, like in instruction manuals, but you don't hear people say that in real life. Which one is correct? |
39,940 | 104,334 | 76823_0 | > 1: She said she would do it when she came home. > 2: She said she would do it when she comes home. Which is correct, and why? |
39,941 | 61,153 | 76823_0 | How do you say it correctly? > The publicly well-known project or > The public well-known project |
39,942 | 34,362 | 76823_0 | * I have _injured_ my ankle. * I have _damaged_ my ankle. Could you tell me the difference? How can I use injured/damaged correctly? |
39,943 | 61,158 | 76823_0 | Where does the expression "rings a bell" come from? e.g. > Bob: Have we met before? > > Geoff: Well, your face _rings a bell_. |
39,944 | 149,889 | 76823_0 | I'm looking for the appropriate English term for what I'd call a "große Persönlichkeit" in German. * This is _not_ about someone who is famous, * neither about someone who tries to appear superior than others by making them small * but means someone who is wise, reflected, (possibly brave), emotionally stable and independent (in the positive sense), superior (in a way that doesn't oppress but rather the opposite) and has a good influence on other people, also by being a good example * This rough translation of a more or less idiomatic rule of thumb may also help to explain: A "große Persönlichket" will help other people to grow, while a "kleine Persönlichkeit" (small? personality?) will keep people down/small(?)/oppress people in order to seem larger (?) Actually the last point is the context I want to explain in English. I'm really unsure which of the "groß" (great/large/big/?) terms is appropriate and whether to use personality or character or something else. |
39,945 | 120,451 | 76823_0 | Is this grammatically correct? > After multiple scientific experimentations, I can safely conclude my > hypothesis: ice cream DOES taste better after 1am. |
39,946 | 120,455 | 76823_0 | Recently I've wondered about two idioms which have a strange relationship. > Come Hell or high water and > Lord willing and the creek don't rise 1. Grammatical accuracy, alternative formulations, and questionable folk etymologies, and literal meanings aside, why do these two phrases (often used interchangably) have such different implications? My thoughts so far have centered around the former being an expression of an internal locus of control (i.e. I will _make_ this happen) and the latter of an external locus of control (i.e. I _hope_ this won't not happen). 1. Why does the more apparently positive formulation reference Hell while the less (certainly) positive one mentions the 'Lord?' |
39,947 | 25,002 | 76823_0 | > Its social web services initiatives have been **patchy at best** , so Google > hasn't managed to muscle in on Facebook or Twitter like it has with > Microsoft and Yahoo. |
39,948 | 25,003 | 76823_0 | Wherever "let go of your hand" is used, can "let go your hand" be used in its place? Is there any difference at all? |
39,949 | 144,663 | 76823_0 | What is the difference between "a desert island" and "a deserted island"? Are they synonyms? |
39,950 | 107,945 | 76823_0 | Is (1) correct, or must it be written as (2)? > 1. John told me yesterday that this contract will not be renewed when it > ends next month. > 2. John told me yesterday that this contract would not be renewed. It > would be ending next month. > |
39,951 | 144,662 | 76823_0 | > 1. His work in research and teaching have been ... > 2. His works in research and teaching have been... > 3. His work in research and teaching has been ... > If I want to express many pieces of his work, not just one piece of work, which one of the above is correct or better? |
39,952 | 151,930 | 76823_0 | There was the following sentence in the Time magazine article titled, “Plushenko’s retirement is proof he should have quit before Sochi.” It says Evgeni Plushenko should have given way to a younger generation before the Sochi Olympics began: > “The Russian figure skating association allowed him to dance a “ **control > run** ” for a committee of skating experts less than three weeks before the > Games. Although that performance was never shown to the public or the press, > the committee ruled that it was enough to give Plushenko a ticket to Sochi.” > > http://world.time.com/2014/02/13/plushenko-retirement-sochi- > olympics/#ixzz2tFitu1MT What does “control run” mean? Why is it in quotes? What is the shortest possible paraphrasing of “control run”? |
39,953 | 159,357 | 76823_0 | In the UK, I have noticed that on envelopes, the text preceding the return address has changed from "If **undeliverable** , please return to:" to "If **undelivered** , please return to:". To me, the term "undeliverable" seems more logical. Something is always "undelivered" until it has been delivered, so the "undelivered" form almost suggests that no attempt need be made at delivering it before returning it. Therefore, I'm interesting in knowing the perceived advantages and disadvantages of each phrasing, and any suggestions as to why "undelivered" seems to be the norm these days. |
39,954 | 65,381 | 76823_0 | I started out to make a program which finds out the number of syllables in a word, which is when I realized that I couldn't decide how many syllables **cry** consists of. According to Wikipedia, > A unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding > consonants, forming the whole or a part of a word; e.g., there are two > syllables in water and three in inferno According to the above definition, _cry_ does have 2 vowel sounds, so the number of syllables _should_ be 2. Technically, it should be 1, since there is a 'y' and no vowel. I want to know what the community thinks about it. |
39,955 | 150,083 | 76823_0 | 'Macbeth is written by Shakespeare', is a valid, grammatically correct sentence. But curiously it contains the verb 'to be' in the present tense, with a past participle. We can recognise that the sentence is in the passive voice, but what is the tense of the verb(s). Is 'written' working as a verb, or as another part of speech? Now we can also use 'is' and 'written' in the same sentence, but in separate clauses, such as in: 'Written by Shakespeare, Macbeth is a masterpiece'. How has the role of the verbs changed? |
39,956 | 150,084 | 76823_0 | In spite of the general guidance on conditionals found on this site, I am struggling with which tenses to use in the following sentence to properly convey what I mean: > Only if we ignored these success cases might this seem impossible. To be clear about my intended meaning, I believe that * "ignoring these success cases" is a foolhardy thing to do * "this" is very much possible [therefore, the construction should make "this seem[ing] impossible" adequately remote] Given this, is there a better combination of verb tenses for me to consider? |
39,957 | 64,479 | 76823_0 | An applications asks user to provide a phone number. When the number is wrong, the application displays a message. There can be two cases: 1) the phone is correct, but another user already used it for registration; 2) the phone is incorrect (has wrong format). Is it correct to say: 1) "This phone number is used by another user. Please provide a different one". 2) "Invalid phone number. Please check and try again.". Or may be there is a better way to write these messages? |
39,958 | 159,632 | 76823_0 | The idiomatic relationship between _out like a light_ and falling asleep (or being rendered comatose) quickly is easily understood in the context of electric lights extinguished instantly by a switch. The logic would also seem to apply to the blowing out of a candle, the turning down of the wick of an oil lamp, or the closing of a gas jet. But when and where did the application of the phrase to mean this first take shape? In searching via ngram, 19th century usage shows up, but most of those references that refer to dimming or extinguishing seem to be focused on fleeting emotions and facial expressions rather than consciousness. Numerous mid 20th century references (at least as early as the 30s) use the phrase in the modern sense. Does anyone have information as to when and where _out like a like_ started to mean rapid unconsciousness? |
39,959 | 194,161 | 76823_0 | Hopefully a simple one, but my Google-fu is letting me down. Typically, when alpabetising titles, I would move the 'The' to the end of the title but, in the case of a sequel, should that be moved to before or after a sequel numeral? For example: * Amazing Spider-Man, The * Amazing Spider-Man, The 2 * Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Which of the latter two is traditionally correct? |
39,960 | 64,472 | 76823_0 | Do the following two statements convey the same meaning? > Why would he do this to me? > > Why did he do this to me? To me both of them seem to imply something in simple past. |
39,961 | 64,470 | 76823_0 | My mom tore me a new one when, while teaching my little sister some snowboarding tips, referred to her stance as "Goofy". I told her it was the common term used in snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, wakeboarding, but she was convinced that this was just another one of my cunning attempts to undermine the confidence of her dear daughter. Wikipedia is clear on the fact that there is no negative connotation to the term, but offers little insight (and no references) on how the term came about, or whether there's ever been a more favourable technical term for 'right foot leading'. She threw the book at me, so I'd like to throw a couple back her way. What's the origin of "Goofy"? |
39,962 | 153,577 | 76823_0 | Maureen Dowd quoted Bill Maher’s description of Chris Christie as “350 pounds of toast,” in her article titled, “Christie puts the gloves on” in New York Times (February 22): > “I tend to agree with Bill Maher that **Christie is “350 pounds of toast,”** > and that he should have run for president in 2012 when he had “that new > candidate smell” because “the longer you stay in the more likely some bad > thing will stick to you.” http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/dowd-christie-puts-the- gloves-on.html?hp&rref=opinion The article of Daily KOS (February 15) titled “Bill Maher says Governor Christie is "350 pounds of toast" shows a cartoon of Chris Christie being toasted on toaster. Cambridge English Dictionary simply defines ‘toast’ as; sliced bread made warm, crisp, and brown by being put near a high heat: However, Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘toast’’ as a noun to mean a person or thing that is very popular or held in high regard by a particular group of people, beside the common notion of “sliced bread browned on both sides by exposure to radiant heat, such as a grill or fire.” Does “toast’ have the meaning of a people being examined or grilled. What does “toast” here mean? “condemnation” or “praise”? |
39,963 | 51,867 | 76823_0 | What does the expression " ** _call past_** " mean? See some usages below: > I called past the supermarket on the way home from the office. > > He just called past and asked to gather the team in the canteen. > > Gary called past to check if Jimmy was doing okay. |
39,964 | 51,866 | 76823_0 | I have a simple but important question about naming my first child. I named her, as Jae-in Kim. (pronunciation is , of course, same as Jane in English name) but it is so common that hundreds, maybe thousands of people have the name Jae-in here in Korea, so, I want spell her name Jae-inn Kim (double ‘n’ in inn) for the uniqueness. but as you know, the word “inn” has meaning a kind of accommodation. From a point of view in US/English cultures, is it ridiculous/funny that a name includes _Inn?_ Or is it okay? Since English isn’t my native language, it's hard for me to figure out its nuance. |
39,965 | 16,271 | 76823_0 | Some people always tell me to avoid using abbreviations that often used in forum talk, AKA "Internet Slang", in semi formal written conversation. Of course, I would never use the phrase TTYT, TTYL, LOL, YSVW, YW in my email. IMHO, it is still appropriate to use abbreviation as long as it is very well known and does not contain inappropriate meaning. AFAIR, phrases like BTW, ASAP, FYI, CMIIW and _etc._ are often appears in my email with customers. YMMV. What's your suggestion? How do you decide if particular abbreviation is appropriate or not to be used in semi formal written conversation (email) ? TIA. |
39,966 | 51,860 | 76823_0 | I was thinking that there should be a word for a 60th of a second, is there? Our hours and minutes are split into 60ths so it makes sense to me. Also, 60fps (frames per second) is a common framerate in game development. |
39,967 | 16,272 | 76823_0 | Can you tell me when to know which EHS (which can be either of the above two definitions) definition is correct? I read the first definition as the guidelines for the health and safety of the environment (2 things) and the second definition as guidelines for the environment, for health, and for safety (3 things). I work in an industry where the acronym is used very often and, maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I think that there is a distinct difference in those two meanings. |
39,968 | 16,279 | 76823_0 | Is this sentence fine? > He gave his opinion on this issue. I’m more against it than for it. Or what else can I say expressing the same meaning? |
39,969 | 117,279 | 76823_0 | I came across the phrase, ‘got yourself a deal’ being introduced as a vulgar American English by a character in Jeffery Archer’s, fiction “The Fourth Estate.” In the scene Keith Townsend, Australian press mogul is trying to acquire stock shares of a leading British daily newspaper from Margaret Sherwood who is one of three co-owners of the press and an ardent wish-to-be novelist, Mrs. Sherwood says to Townsend: > “After some considerable thought,” she said, “I have come to a decision.” > Keith held his breath. > > “If you have both contracts ready for me to sign by ten o’clock tomorrow > morning, then you have, **to use that vulgar American expression** , ‘ ** > _got yourself a deal_**.’” > > Keith beamed at her. - ib. P453. I consulted Cambridge, Merriam-Webster, Oxford online English dictionaries, none of which registers ‘got yourself a deal,’ as an idiom. Although I was able to find the following definitions of “You got yourself a deal” in two English language sites, I don’t know how much I can trust them: 1. Agreed! We will do business together! - gymglish 2. A reply to an obvious question. This is a reference to the short movie "Don't Sleep." Example: Eddie: Are you playing the drums? Makeo: You got yourself a deal! – Urban dictionary. Google Ngram shows that the phrase first emerged around /in 1955 and its usage has been on the sharp rise. Then questions: 1. What is the exact meaning of “You got yourself a deal"? Why 'yourself' is needed”? What's wrong with simply saying "You got a deal!'"? 2. Under what kind of occasions is this phrase usable? 3. Is this American slang, not used in Britain, Australia and Canada? 4. Is it a “ _vulgar expression_ ” as Mrs. Sherwood describes? |
39,970 | 149,221 | 76823_0 | > He added that he saw himself then also as quite attuned to things and seemed > more in touch with his surroundings than now, in an esoteric way, as one > might be who **was** trying a variety of "mind expanding" offerings, a > little meditation, a little "pot," a little peyote, some Eastern philosophy, > etc. Source Why is the bolded word in the past? |
39,971 | 117,272 | 76823_0 | I'm asking about whether or not this phrase is grammatically correct: 'children 12 and under'. I am also asking for a general analysis of constructions of this type. |
39,972 | 117,271 | 76823_0 | What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences? > 1. The relationship between a mother and daughter. > 2. The relationship between a mother and **a** daughter. > I know both are correct, but do they differ in meaning? If so, how? What does it mean when the article is placed before _daughter_? |
39,973 | 193,759 | 76823_0 | > He knows the niches of this or that genre. Which meaning is intended here? 1. He is a master at every genre and knows everything about them. 2. He has a shallow knowledge about every genre. |
39,974 | 97,318 | 76823_0 | I hear this phrase from time to time, and I really don't know what it means. Two people are debating, and one says "the difference between your position and mine is just a matter of semantics." This would seem to me to be quite an important difference. That is, if one person means one thing, and the other person means something else, then they really do have different positions. If they said "it is just a matter of terminology" or "just a matter of phrasing" I would get it. But if someone says "we differ only what we mean" ... it kinda makes me chuckle because it seems to be saying that their meaning is not important, as if the argument was primary and the positions they take a secondary consideration. So I started looking around for examples of this. I guess it seems that there is a popular notion that semantics is about very fine distinctions, such as: I think it's just a matter of semantics, not so much a difference per se Another interpretation seems to be that semantics is the difference between two ways of saying the same thing: I usually involve the students in the creation of classroom rules. To me, we are just agreeing upon how we can make our classroom a safe and fun place to be. I don’t know if it’s really so different from a DWS approach of having procedures, but “no rules.” Isn’t this just a matter of semantics? Maybe it is just a way of stopping an annoying conversation: In ordinary conversations, when people debate a point and the words they are using for discussion they often backhand this disagreement with the phrase “It’s a matter of semantics.” And then there is some usage that I simply don't understand: I recently spoke at a mens' event in which one of the participants asked me if having a good and noble heart was just a matter of semantics. -- In other words, does it really matter? And also: The Argument for and against the 6-3-3-4 system of education has raged on as stakeholders give conflicting position on whether it stays or not .... the 6-3-3-4 policy is just a matter of semantics, the government cannot take decisions without due consultations. Still, to me it is just a meaningless phrase. Am I missing an important meaning here? |
39,975 | 140,367 | 76823_0 | What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences? > I really **don't** know what she would like to have for a birthday present, > so I bought a purse. > > I really **didn't** know what she would like to have for a birthday present, > so I bought a purse. |
39,976 | 193,750 | 76823_0 | I want to use the idiom: Barking up the wrong tree. But in the situation it seems a little rude. What are the idioms/phrases similar in meaning to this idiom? |
39,977 | 97,314 | 76823_0 | I was wondering whether _alma mater_ refers to all the schools you have been in, or just to college. For example, suppose someone has an undergranduate degree from one institution, a masters degree from another, and a PhD from yet a third; would all three of those count as his _alma mater_? |
39,978 | 187,259 | 76823_0 | I guess this would be a pretty simple question to answer. Is this sentence correct: > The player appears to have not connected. I am having my doubts about the _appears to have not_ part. P.S.: Not quite sure what tags to put in, feel free to edit. |
39,979 | 105,067 | 76823_0 | Is there a word of phrase for someone who denies their own statement? It’s like when somebody snitches and then denies having done so. |
39,980 | 113,593 | 76823_0 | I'm trying to come up with a better wording for this sentence: > Please assign this to the person responsible for the job. I want to say "Please assign this to the appropriate person", but that doesn't sound _right_. What's the alternative to "person responsible for the job"? "The responsible person"? "the right person"? "the appropriate person"? None of these sound right to me. |
39,981 | 102,598 | 76823_0 | When talking about not letting one's 'ego' prevent oneself from helping his enemies: > He **__** his ego and helped his enemies. Would "swallow", "hide", "put down", "lay down" work there? |
39,982 | 107,514 | 76823_0 | There is a question already dealing with the difference between elevation and altitude: Which to use: "altitude" or "elevation" in regards to height above sea level? The difference between the terms is clear, from the first answer I quote: > "Altitude is typically only used to describe the height of an aircraft in > flight. It is a barometric measurement expressed relative to the height of a > runway or mean sea level in a given location or region (taking into account > current local atmospheric conditions), or to an arbitrary standard datum (to > eliminate the effect of localised variations in air pressure). > > Elevation is usually used to describe the height of the ground, or a feature > fixed to the ground. It is a geometric measurement expressed relative to the > mean sea level datum established for the region by the national mapping > agency." So a church somewhere in the landscape has a certain elevation and when I fly with my balloon to New Mexico I would use the term altitude. Also atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude. The situation however, is less clear cut when I talk about the weather up in the mountains. Should I say "it is -12 °C at 2000 meters of elevation" or should I rather use the term altitude here? Temperature is measured by a weather station with a sensor positioned on a post above the ground level. I tend to think that I should refer to temperature as being related to elevation as here, the atmosphere is so close to the land surface. But what is correct? |
39,983 | 36,869 | 76823_0 | Is a question "What is your body figure" grammatically correct? or "What is your body sizes?" I think this one is wrong. Which one is better? |
39,984 | 36,867 | 76823_0 | My friend is studying a subject called 'Numerical Mathematics and Computer Algorithms'. Surely mathematics is all about 'Numbers', so is ''Numerical Mathematics' a redundant statement? Please excuse my ignorance. |
39,985 | 102,592 | 76823_0 | How do native English speakers use of them? Do they have different meanings? Positive or negative? For example, I want to use it in a sentence to send my negative feelings and idea about a person who thinks all his characteristics and behaviors are showing "Iranian personality" and he has a special duty to introduce himself as a symbol of Iranian culture. But in my opinion no one can be a symbol of his/her nationality and he/she is only responsible for his/her own behaviors not a country or nation with many different idea owners and cultures. |
39,986 | 36,863 | 76823_0 | In the New York Times: > "And it worked — boy, did it work. Visitors flooded Hulu **upon** its public > opening in March 2008." Dictionary.com: > _4_. immediately or very soon after > > _5_. on the occasion of It seems to these two definitions are both fitting in this context. What's the meaning of "upon" here? |
39,987 | 36,860 | 76823_0 | I know that a lot of people use the word "Einstein" to convey someone as a genius, but I was wondering if Einstein, as a verb, is an official term. |
39,988 | 58,895 | 76823_0 | Suppose I have some measurement with interferometer number 1, let's call the result `A`, and another measurement with interferometer number 2, let's call that one `B`. Suppose that always `A>B` (in some known, fixed coordinate system and units; the numbers can be negative). What the best way to describe this in words? 1. Interferometer #1 measures a larger distance than #2. 2. Interferometer #1 measures a higher distance than #2. 3. Interferometer #1 measures a bigger distance than #2. 4. Interferometer #1 measures more than #2. 5. Interferometer #1 measures less negative than #2. 6. Interferometer #1 measures a more positive number than #2. 7. Interferometer #1 measures a less negative number than #2. I would like to use "a larger distance" but I find that unclear when comparing `A=-5` with `B=-6`. |
39,989 | 58,894 | 76823_0 | What is the best way to express the margins of (i) the bounded side of a page and (ii) the edge side? I see people referring to them as left margin and right margin, but they are inaccurate. On even-numbered pages, what these people call left margin comes to the right and what they call right margin comes to the left. For the other two sides, I think top margin and bottom margin are okay. |
39,990 | 58,890 | 76823_0 | What is the difference between _rebellion_ and _revolution_? These two words seem almost the same, except that _rebellion_ is generally more distasteful. Dictionary.com lists definitions of _rebellion_: > re·bel·lion [ri- **bel** -y _uh_ n] > > **noun** > 1\. open, organized, and armed resistance to one's government or ruler. > 2\. resistance to or defiance of any authority, control, or tradition. > and those of _revolution_: > rev·o·lu·tion [rev- _uh_ - **loo** -sh _uh_ n] > > **noun** > 1\. an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an > established government or political system by the people governed. |
39,991 | 152,622 | 76823_0 | Which of the following sentences is correct? > a) > 1\. John is taller than any student in his class. > 2\. John is taller than any other student in his class. > > b) > 1\. No student is taller than John in his class. > 2\. No other student is taller than John in his class. |
39,992 | 127,044 | 76823_0 | There is a proverb in Persian which says: > تا مرد سخن نگفته باشد > عیب و هنرش نهفته باشه This proverb literally translated means: > One's skills and weaknesses won't be seen, unless one talks. Or in simple terms it wants to **stress how much your actions and your speech reveal both your abilities and negative points.** Is there an equivalent proverb in English? |
39,993 | 49,367 | 76823_0 | The mistress definition, Oxford dictionary > a woman having an extramarital sexual relationship, esp. with a married man I am looking for the male equivalent of 'mistress' as defined above. Some sources on the net come up with 'master' and 'mastress'. But I could not find both words in dictionary as male equivalent of mistress. So, any male equivalents of mistress in formal English? |
39,994 | 159,351 | 76823_0 | How to call the scientists who work in the natural, technical, biological and other sciences? Can I call them natural scientists, technical scientists and so on? |
39,995 | 157,885 | 76823_0 | Could you please help me by clarifying the meaning of the two phrases below: * a profound analysis of the problem * profound analysis of the problem Here's the context: I want to convey information that some mathematical tool is applied to analyse extra-mathematical phenomena. Which should I use while saying: `The tool is applied in (a) profound analysis of such-and-such phenomena`? Or maybe both versions are correct, but their meaning is different? |
39,996 | 22,858 | 76823_0 | There are words in the chorus of the "Preacher and the Slave" song by Joe Hill: > You will eat, **by and by** , > In that glorious land above the sky; > Work and pray, live on hay, > You'll get pie in the sky when you die What does "by and by" mean? |
39,997 | 68,155 | 76823_0 | What word/phrase can I use to describe the activity of hiding a stupid mistake/incident, such as quickly cleaning up tea spilled by accident before anyone could notice? |
39,998 | 22,854 | 76823_0 | I'm searching for two words or expressions. The first word or expression means a situation in which there are too many items displayed on the screen, so that they cause a burden on the user and their rendering causes a burden on the CPU. The second word is a verb that I can use to describe the deletion or filtering of some of the items in order to prevent this situation. > In order to prevent `(word1)`, I need to `(word2)` the items before sending > them to the display module. I keep a list of `un(word2)ed` items and > generate a list of `(word2)ed` items from it. Perhaps something having to do with _spacing out_? (I can't use the verb "filter" because it has a different meaning in the domain, and it seems to me that it doesn't convey the meaning precisely enough.) |
39,999 | 22,855 | 76823_0 | It is for a cover letter, where I want to express my interest in the position and also to indicate that my profile matches the requirement. > I find the proposed job interesting and matched by my profile and career > goal. First, does _"I find the proposed job interesting"_ sound too ego-centric? Second, shall I break the sentence into two or keep it compact in one? Third, any better way for saying that my profile meets their requirements? Any help on any of these questions will be appreciated. |
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