Tagged Questions
0
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0answers
47 views
Connotation of the word “sprezzatura ”
According to Wikipedia, sprezzatura means
a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.
...
0
votes
2answers
134 views
Is using “eager beaver” completely benign? [closed]
Person A uses the phrase "eager beaver" to mean an enthusiastic person. Person B chuckles. Basically my question boils down to who the weirdo is, so to speak:
A, because "eager beaver" is outdated ...
2
votes
1answer
116 views
What is the difference in meaning between 'nonchalant' and 'insouciant'?
OED defines them as:
nonchalant adjective (of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm
insouciant adjective showing ...
2
votes
4answers
141 views
Difference between 'Redundant' and 'Superfluous'
(I made a search for this question on this forum but surprisingly did not find related questions. Which is odd because surely this question is asked often.)
First, the sentence I'm trying to use ...
38
votes
11answers
3k views
When to use “nude” and when “naked”
The question is quite clear.
Is there any difference (semantically or connotationally, if that's a word) between nude and naked? Nude seems more formal to me, but I'm not quite sure.
Interesting:
...
1
vote
2answers
86 views
What is the connotation or meaning of “exclusive thinking”?
How should I interpret the expression "exclusive thinking"?
The expression "exclusive thinking" is one I've seen in criticism against some views or opinions that are called "exclusive thinking".
Is ...
2
votes
3answers
349 views
What does the expression “to add another dimension to the situation” mean?
Does the expression "to add another dimension to the situation" imply that the situation has become more complex?
In Arabic we would say something like "adds another dimension to the situation that ...
1
vote
3answers
200 views
Does “intellectual gymnastics” always have a negative connotation?
As far as I know, “intellectual gymnastics” is used in a negative sense. For example, the discipline of philosophy can be belittled as “intellectual gymnastics”.
However, a university in Japan seems ...
4
votes
1answer
299 views
Does “awe” have a colloquial meaning (similar to “awesome”)?
The meaning of awe is given in dictionaries as "an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime" (this definition is from ...
1
vote
1answer
124 views
The “only…but” problem
In an effort to clarify my quandary, is it appropriate to use this statement to give condolence:
I know you were only trying to help.
Or, does only imply that you did more harm than good? It ...
5
votes
4answers
356 views
Can “zealot” have a positive connotation?
A zealot is a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
I have never seen this word used with positive connotation, but could it (without ...
4
votes
2answers
715 views
What is the difference between the adjectives “live” and “alive”?
What is the difference between "live" and "alive"? When would I better use the first and when the latter?
EDIT
Say, there are several players actively participating in a game and some others are ...
3
votes
3answers
244 views
I am afraid I look servile when I say “please” [closed]
In Korea, when I say "please", others think that I am servile.
In English, do I look servile when I use "please" in conversation? I want to know the intensity of the word "please" in servility.
3
votes
1answer
92 views
Connotation of “to expatiate”
Only the online Cambridge dictionary marks the verb “to expatiate” as ‘formal disapproving’. Nowhere else could I find the reference to a ‘disapproving’ connotation, although all the online ...
9
votes
2answers
433 views
Does “living in squalor” necessarily imply poverty?
Some definitions of squalor and its adjectival form squalid:
Merriam-Webster
squalor: the quality or state of being squalid
squalid: marked by filthiness and degradation from neglect or poverty ...
8
votes
3answers
350 views
Does the word “apparently” imply that I personally do or don't believe the statement following it?
When I say "Apparently, xyz", does that imply one of the following, and if so, which one?
From observation, I believe xyz to be true, but I leave open the possibility that I might be wrong.
I ...
-1
votes
1answer
222 views
Does “invidious” come implicit with malice or consideration? Or is it just absent of care?
"Invidious" (the often misunderstood) is known to involve harmful or threatening effects — at least insomuch as one party feels "resentful" or similarly about the situation.
So there are at least two ...
1
vote
1answer
203 views
Does the word “facility” have a negative connotation?
When I hear about "facility" I immediately associate that with a building (like a company's headquarter, store, etc). However, some people say that it can be used to mean a "WC." Is this true? Does ...
4
votes
4answers
627 views
Does “upshot” denote something positive, negative, or neutral?
I’m a non-native speaker of English, and I’ve always felt that “upshot” was used to denote positive results. But I’ve come across a few cases recently where negative or neutral outcomes were ...
4
votes
3answers
344 views
connotations of the word 'demure'
The official definition of demure is: "reserved, modest, and shy."
But does it also imply submissiveness?
1
vote
3answers
272 views
Does *tourist* have a derogatory connotation of *inexperienced* or any other meanings in the clip of Ice Age3? [closed]
As a major in tourism, I've already acknowledged that tourists' notoriety among the destination dwellers by taking pictures of anything,disregarding the unwritten rules ... Here I will not go on to ...
7
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5answers
1k views
Does the word 'gimmick' have positive or negative meaning?
Does the word gimmick have a positive or negative meaning? It is not obvious to me from a wikipedia article.
I also would be glad if someone could explain it in two words, not several paragraphs ...
4
votes
3answers
5k views
“Naïve” vs “Ignorant”
What is the difference between naïve and ignorant? I want to make sure I understand the proper meaning and connotation of each word.
For example, how would you describe a person who makes ...
1
vote
4answers
287 views
Does a claim have to be explicit?
I have heard the claim that a claim must be explicit by definition, but do not see any definition that supports this.
An example of how "implicit claim" is used from this Wikipedia page on ...
3
votes
6answers
554 views
Can the word “dehydration” imply “thirsty”? [closed]
As far as I know, dehydration means the condition of a body from which the water has been removed. Can the same word imply that the body is thirsty?
Simply put, is "I am thirsty" the same as "I am ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Is the word 'consort' still considered an insult in the modern usage?
In Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt says to Mercutio: 'Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo.' Mercutio replies 'consort! What, dost thou make us minstrels?... Zounds consorts!'
Bloodshed followed shortly.
...
1
vote
3answers
221 views
“Combination” versus “Amalgamation”
I'm looking for the key differences between combination and amalgamation. The differences between their verb forms (combine and amalgamate) is just as acceptable to me.
Combination: the act or an ...
5
votes
6answers
2k views
“Told” vs. “said to” somebody
I told him that you hate him
I said to him that you hate him
I was choosing between these two options, and I can't help thinking about the subtle differences.
For example, "I told him ...
1
vote
4answers
1k views
Does “gay” necessarily mean male homosexual?
I was under the impression that gay always refers to a male homosexual, though sometimes I see this term used to describe female homosexuals (i.e. lesbians) as well. Is it correct usage? Does it ...
1
vote
1answer
358 views
Is “elder brother” implicit in “brother”?
I just watched a film called Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.
I wonder how one knows whether he is an elder brother or a younger brother when he only says that he has a brother and does not ...
8
votes
3answers
4k views
“An awful lot”: Any negative connotation?
Today was my first time I saw people use "an awful lot of" instead of "a lot of".
It reminded me of "terribly good", which obviously has little negative connotation. But how about "an awful lot"?
...
5
votes
7answers
7k views
What's the difference between “debate” and “argument”?
These words seem to have similar meanings, possibly with different connotations.
3
votes
2answers
156 views
Connotation of “complacence”
What is the connotation of complacence? Is it a negative trait? The dictionary makes it seem like a positive attribute.
8
votes
2answers
326 views
Would you say that “headhunter” (as in recruitment) carries derogatory connotations?
I’ve seen the expression being used quite a lot in non-English speaking countries by recruiters themselves and I find it a bit odd. Have they chosen the wrong way to be cool?
9
votes
3answers
359 views
How much destruction should be in my mind's eye when I picture a city being “sacked”?
I've been reading some early medieval history lately, and much of the narrative, of course, encompasses warfare, which seems to have been almost ubiquitous in those times. Anyway, in these histories ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Getting into the Groove
What is the exact context of using this phrase? Is a positive connotation attached to it or a negative one?
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Fine semantic differences between “thus” and “therefore”
I have seen a few Q&A's with this title but none really reflects my question. I am aware both are adverbs and so forth and how they syntactically can be used equivalently, but what about ...
2
votes
3answers
323 views
Do English speaking people jeer at big feet?
(Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking through woods at night. Then Ron yelled with pain. When Hermione threw the light over him,)
Ron was lying sprawled on the ground.
“Tripped over a tree ...
3
votes
5answers
474 views
Does 'fall in with' always have a negative connotation?
Often people say,
he fell in with a bad crowd,
meaning that the person happened to form relationships with an undesirable peer group or group of people.
Does the term 'fall in with' always ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
What does a “man of leisure” do exactly? What is the definition and the connotation?
I watched the BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens' Little Dorrit some weeks ago, and have happily remembered a question I had forgotten from it just now. In this dialogue, Mr. Clennam, a dashing and ...
3
votes
5answers
1k views
What connotation exactly does the word “noddy” have in British English?
I watched a BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens' The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby the other day, and came across a bit of dialogue I couldn't quite decipher:
A character named Squeers: ...
2
votes
6answers
5k views
The phrase “God willing.”
Does "God willing" have a religious connotation to it? What are some other phrases that mean the same thing but don't have this connotation?
3
votes
5answers
4k views
“Complement” or “supplement”?
On a site similar to this one I answered a question and the OP made a comment which prompted me to complete my answer in an edit. I called it "an example" but I originally wanted to call it ...
7
votes
2answers
618 views
Does “uncanny” have a negative connotation to it?
Uncanny seems to be the word I'm looking for to describe something, but I'm worried that it might have a negative connotation to it. Does it? What are some words that are very close to having the same ...
1
vote
3answers
343 views
Housekeeping App — does it make sense?
We are providing an app which manages your finances — like a housekeeping book. Our space is limited; therefore, we want to use the slogan "Housekeeping App".
Would an English speaker know what is ...
5
votes
2answers
665 views
Why do we call snail mail “snail mail”?
Why do we call snail mail "snail mail"?
So by default mail will refer to email?
4
votes
4answers
4k views
Meaning of “have an agenda”
What does it mean when someone says he has an agenda? Is there a negative connotation to agenda? If there is, then why and what is a word that means the same thing but has a positive connotation?
10
votes
6answers
826 views
Does “oath” have an implied religious connotation?
In Singapore you don't have to swear an oath in court if you are of certain religions. Instead you affirm that you're speaking the truth:
Circumstances under which affirmation may be made
16. ...
2
votes
2answers
538 views
How can I interpret the meaning of “narrative” in different situations?
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the meaning of "narrative" is defined as:
A description of events, especially in a novel.
The act, process or skill of telling a story.
...
4
votes
3answers
311 views
What is the difference (in terms of usage and connotation) between “loath” and “loathe”?
I'm having difficulty in understanding the differences in usage (and understanding which one is used from pronunciation/context) between "loathe" and "loath" - could anyone help clarify it ?
