Topics having to do with multiple meanings of a word or phrase.
4
votes
4answers
2k views
“A good memory” vs. “good memories”
If I say, "I don't have a good memory of my childhood", would it imply that I cant recollect it or that I have bad memories (bad stories, unhappy) childhood?
I think that "good memories" implies the ...
3
votes
2answers
55 views
Counting stops without ambiguity
A typical conversation on a bus:
Alice: Have we reached our stop yet, Bob?
Bob: No, Alice. Two more stops to go.
Alice: Do you mean "two more stops, then ours" or "one more stop, then ...
-3
votes
2answers
52 views
“Only for A, B, and C”: Includes cases where not all are present? [closed]
After submitting the report, changes can be made only for the font
size, margins, and line spacing.
Does this sentence imply that changes can be made only if all three types of changes are ...
-1
votes
2answers
62 views
Ambiguous “inline” enumerations
I am currently writing a thesis in computer science and have stumbled upon an interesting ambiguity that I would like to better understand.
Consider the following sentence:
The importance of this ...
0
votes
3answers
59 views
'Oldest' for age vs. length of time
This discussion arose around the statement
"PersonX was my oldest high-school friend"
The intention was to refer to length of time known (roughly the opposite of 'most recent') as opposed to meaning ...
8
votes
2answers
166 views
Drink 7 to 10 days after opening?
Is this label telling the consumer that it is best to consume the drink 7 to 10 days after opening it?
I know what they are getting at, but I feel like it should say "Best if consumed within 7 to ...
24
votes
4answers
6k views
How to answer a negative question without ambiguity?
I faced a problem to answer a negative question, for example When someone ask you:
Don't you have any money?
It's a yes/no question but how should one answer the question without ambiguity?
...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
Why does “issue” have a negative connotation in the US?
I have used issue as a synonym of tema in Spanish.
1
vote
6answers
916 views
What does “don't shoot yourself in the foot” mean? [closed]
What does "Don’t shoot yourself in the foot" mean?
Unfortunately, most salary decisions are based on perceived performance, not on actual performance. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot.
0
votes
2answers
83 views
Who does “who” apply to in this example?
His governors, some of them incompetent and tactless, quarrelled bitterly with the people, who were constantly demanding greater political control.
In this sentence, who are demanding greater ...
1
vote
2answers
99 views
Antedecent of “its” in “the dog attacked the cat and its friends” [duplicate]
The dog attacked the cat and its friends.
Does the sentence imply that the dog attacked the cat and the cat's friends or that it attacked the cat and the dog's friends?
How would one properly ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
“My late friends” — they're not dead!
Context: We're discussing about how we used to get penalized in school for being late to classes, many years ago.
I wanted to say:
In my old school, it was hilarious to see my late friends get
...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Is there a technical term for when verbs in a sentence appear as if they have been swapped around? [closed]
Is there a technical term for when verbs in a sentence appear as if they have been swapped around as in the example here?
'her fingers creased in gold [and] her body ringed in folds'
In this ...
5
votes
4answers
344 views
What's the proper interpretation of: “I was kissed by a girl twice”?
The other day I experienced two distinct but similar events. I wanted to convey this to a friend and this is what came to mind:
"I was kissed by a girl twice."
My question is, does this sentence say, ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Objectivity vs. Objectivism vs. Objectiveness [closed]
What are some clear-cut distinctions between objectivity, objectivism, and objectiveness?
2
votes
1answer
66 views
“sallow complexion”
In Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, in several places he describes people having a "sallow complexion".
According to Collins dictionary:
Sallow
(esp of human skin) of an unhealthy pale or ...
1
vote
5answers
98 views
“stop to do something” vs. “continue to do something”
A transcript of a recent speech by Barack Obama contains the following sentence:
Boston police, firefighters, and first responders as well as the National Guard responded heroically, and continue ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
Is “to fight with” ambiguous?
I've read about a Dutch volunteer, who died in Syria "fighting with the rebels". Obviously from the context you could understand, that he was fighting for the rebels, against the government troops. ...
6
votes
3answers
321 views
Why does “I am in your debt” mean the opposite of what it suggests?
I don't understand why if someone says:
"I am in your debt"
It seems to mean the opposite of the literal meaning.
For example, the person saying this says that (s)he is in the "debt" of the ...
1
vote
2answers
120 views
“My job is not to worry about those people” — what does “not” refer to?
In the famous leaked video, Mitt Romney says
My job is not to worry about those people
An equivalent sentence probably is
It is not my job to worry about those people
Some media in my home ...
2
votes
2answers
117 views
What is the term for this ambiguous sentence?
I apologize that I don't know how to search for this question--it may be a duplicate, or maybe I just should have learned it in English class!
I'm a teacher, and in another StackExchange, I wrote the ...
4
votes
4answers
234 views
Quintessential vs essential?
While quintessential means 'representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class' [OED], it defines essential as 'absolutely necessary; extremely important'. I have noticed frequent ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
When a sentence contains both “not” and “or”, which one has priority?
I am changing a piece of text which current reads:
Payment not deducted
to also include the situation where payments are withheld. The suggested revision of text given to me is
Payment not ...
-3
votes
1answer
66 views
Whats the meaning of “Outta” In a song of Metallica called “ain't my bit-ch” [closed]
((Dear Native English Speakers Please Help Me.))
Metallica is my favorite band and I love them but I have some serious problems in translating and understanding the meaning of the lyric entitled ...
1
vote
3answers
89 views
Is “have not worked here for a long time” ambiguous?
I have not worked here for a long time/for many years.
Is it ambiguous? Which of the two below is the correct meaning?
I have been working here, but only for a short period of time.
I once ...
0
votes
2answers
100 views
Valid? “The river is flowing.”
What is the meaning of the "the river is flowing?" Is this valid usage?
Websters, #2: River: A large quantity of a flowing substance
The river is already a flow by definition. Can the river be ...
3
votes
1answer
72 views
Interpretation of the adjective “outstanding”
In my holidays I met a woman who is originally from Australia. She told me she lived in many places due to her husband's work and also traveled much around the world. Although she's already seen many ...
-1
votes
1answer
42 views
An ambiguous sentence from the music Dreamtale
The whole sentence is
As the last ship sailed towards the distant horizon, I sat there watching on a rock. My mind slowly drifting away, forming into my...dreamtale.
I can't figure out whether ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Usage of “East Indian” to distinguish from “Native American”
I know someone who uses the term "East Indian" to refer to people from India, or whose ancestors are from India, lest they be misunderstood to mean Native American.
This struck me as unusual and ...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
Do phrases such as “by tomorrow” or “by Thursday” include the day mentioned? [duplicate]
I wasn't sure how to research this without being able to explain what I mean.
When someone says something like "I will have it done by tomorrow", does that phrase mean that they will have it done ...
0
votes
1answer
431 views
Is “in [some period]” different from “within [some period]”?
Q1: "I'll finish this job within 5 days" definitely means the job is expected to cost 5 days or less. However, does "I'll finish this job in 5 days" mean exactly the same?
Q2: Can we say, "I'll ...
4
votes
4answers
8k views
Does the term “within 7 days” mean include the 7th day? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is “in [some period]” different from “within [some period]”?
The title states it all: When an author says "within 7 days", does the author mean ...
12
votes
4answers
10k views
How should “midnight on…” be interpreted?
From what I understand, the word "midnight" is usually interpreted incorrectly.
Midnight is written as "12am" which would imply that it's in the morning. Therefore, it should be at the start of the ...
2
votes
5answers
2k views
Does “until [date]” mean “before that date”?
What does until mean in the following?
You need to deliver this product within 2 days (until August 18, 2011)
to meet your deadline and get paid.
Does this mean that I have to deliver the ...
-2
votes
1answer
111 views
“to spread over” vs. “to spread across” [closed]
I doubt whether I should use "over" or "across" for a liquid spreading "along" a surface.
-1
votes
3answers
103 views
Meaning: “Any more” in context [closed]
I am not sure about the meaning of the "any more" in the following phrase and how can I spot it:
Would the things I've said and done matter any more?
1) Would it matter any longer?
2) Would it ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
Justice as a title … where does it come from?
In the US supreme court judges, among others, are called "justice [name]". Where is this use rooted?
Obviously the term comes from Latin "justitia" originally, but that means justice as in the the ...
1
vote
1answer
196 views
Present perfect or past simple? [duplicate]
I know the basic rules about using PP and PS (like specified time in the past etc.) but in some cases, it is not clear to me:
I have finished painting. - present perfect, I just announce that.
I ...
4
votes
3answers
293 views
“Principle” or “Principal”?
I was solving a grammar exercise from the book, Word Power Made Easy, when I came across this question
A feeling of one's worth is one of the principle/principal goals of
psychological therapy.
...
3
votes
2answers
482 views
Should I follow English conventions, or write what sounds better?
How a sentence sounds when read aloud or in your head can often "sound" different for each individual doing so; however, I was reading details regarding the usage of "data" and "datum" and was ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
For the title alone
Someone has voted for one of my questions with this comment:
+1 for the title alone.
Which of these two possible meanings is the most correct:
The title itself is so nice that I would have ...
21
votes
3answers
3k views
What is the origin of “hot” as “good-looking” or “attractive”?
I'm not sure if "hot" as "warm" or "heated" existed before "hot" came to mean "good-looking" or "attractive", but if so, how did this new meaning come to be?
0
votes
2answers
72 views
Pre-clause, Post-clause
I have two possible sentences of the some situation and I am confused:
Realizing he did not belong there, he left the meeting early.
He left the meeting early, realizing he did not belong ...
-1
votes
1answer
57 views
Possessive Ambiguity: sharing a house [closed]
Could this:
Jason shared Michael's house.
be an acceptable shortened version of this:
Jason shared Michael's house with Michael.
?
-4
votes
1answer
103 views
What should be done for making this sentence more clear? [closed]
"About the scenario, there are insert transactions on every 3 seconds. In a busy day, about 3000 rows for big table, another 100 for medium table and around 30 for small table."
There is a question ...
4
votes
1answer
73 views
Fall Hard For Something
I am trying to find the right definition of "hard" in this piece of writing:
newspaper
Looking for a tranquil hideaway after years as a paparazzi magnet, Mr. Frazier bought the single-level ...
-2
votes
2answers
97 views
Ambiguities and use of infinite and “-ing” form [closed]
I was looking for videos on YouTube, in my (almost) daily exercise to attempt improving my understanding of the spoken English, when I settled for a video entitled: "Why you will fail to have a great ...
-1
votes
1answer
78 views
What does “is there any book around …” mean?
Is there any book around which I can read?
What does the above sentence mean?
"Is there any book available in the market which I can read?"
"Is there any book in this room/or nearby which I can ...
9
votes
2answers
82 views
notionistic education / teaching?
What's the right word to indicate a type of education based on memorizing facts or a superficial understanding of things, without real insight or critical mind development?
In my native language ...
1
vote
2answers
73 views
Multiple Instances of Same Noun: Does the use of “that” distinguish between them?
Consider the following sentence taken from some co-operative housing rules:
"Any costs of repairing a suite are the responsibility of the owner of a suite, which could be a different suite from ...
