Tagged Questions
-1
votes
1answer
97 views
Why would you want to do that? [closed]
I recently shared with several coworkers that I wanted to go to a particular class. My coworker responded to me with the following question: "Why would you want to do that?" I responded with a ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
English equivalent for a Portuguese saying on “bad company”
In Brazilian Portuguese, we have:
"The bird who goes around with a bat wakes up hanging upside down"
Original: "Passarinho que anda com morcego amanhece de cabeça pra baixo"
The literal meaning ...
2
votes
1answer
281 views
“expecting a baby”
Can I say "we are expecting a baby" when my wife is pregnant or does that sound funny to native English speakers, saying it as a man? (In German, the phrase has become somewhat common, but it stills ...
1
vote
4answers
98 views
What is the proper phrase for being in one's official limits, probably when quoting something?
While quoting something, the consideration of the fact that it does not offend the sentiments of a community or culture one belongs to. How do we ask that in one sentence e.g Did I remain in my ...
4
votes
4answers
73 views
Expression choice for the error of being too exact? [closed]
For example, stating a street address with millimetric precision would be too exact and is therefore not applicable and not done. So you can be too exact. Is there an expression for this error or a ...
3
votes
2answers
156 views
What is it called when people wrongly anticipate something and their actions eventually make it happen? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What word means “to speak something into existence”?
This is probably something that economists would quickly recognize. It often happens that people would wrongly ...
2
votes
7answers
137 views
An expression for “a little thing that adds to common good”
Like recycling, some little things together make a big positive impact. What's an expression for "a little thing that adds to the common good"?
1
vote
3answers
1k views
How do you say “hands-on experience” with this technology to an interviewer?
Generally, I would tell an interviewer that I have "hands-on experience" with this technology, by which I mean that my experience in this field is very limited, but quite efficient and knowledgeable.
...
1
vote
4answers
252 views
Formally saying that you are laughing without euphemisms or colloquialism without referring to yourself
I want to know how one can manage to assert that they are laughing without using euphemisms or colloquialism in first person, for example in a letter, without referring to yourself, that is saying ...
2
votes
2answers
143 views
Word or phrase for mere coincidence that brings happiness
I wish to state that my exposure to a certain area was a mere coincidence, and I am happy about the area. Moreover, I want to convey the idea that the incident was like a fairytale, something no one ...
5
votes
5answers
151 views
Phrase which describes falsely improving something
Is there an aphorism or proverb in English which describes attempting to improve something fundamentally flawed by dressing it with a lot of ornament?
6
votes
7answers
261 views
Does the idiom “stop shooting the ball to my opponent” make sense?
Getting into a fight with someone, I think the other person is accusing me of being the wrong one and is trying to show that everything that has happened is my fault. Stop shooting the ball to my ...
1
vote
4answers
181 views
phrase to mean “giving the exact answer” [closed]
I was having a coversation and part of the conversation, the person asked me which part of the world I was from, and I answered him exactly "the western hemisphere". Then I asked him the same question ...
4
votes
5answers
259 views
Better way of saying “two people have worked on their stories together”
What is a better way of saying "two people have worked on their stories together"? Here's an example of a situation in which this phrase would come up:
A witness in a trial is suspected to have ...
5
votes
6answers
182 views
Is there an expression that sums up “improperly conflating two ideas that are really separate issues”? [closed]
I'm intrigued by a local sign-holder who was improperly labeled "atheist" for carrying a sign that asserted that there was no after-life for a person's consciousness. The person expressed a belief in ...
0
votes
2answers
295 views
Substitute for “The thought came to my mind” [closed]
I want a substitute for the sentence "The thought came to my mind". It should be a slightly formal substitute as I am writing a formal letter. Can someone help me with that?
2
votes
3answers
2k views
Is the expression “see you when I see you” impolite?
Once, I have received feedback that using "see you when I see you" is not very polite.
Do you have the same opinion?
What other expression should I use in case I have no clue when I will see the ...
3
votes
5answers
326 views
Is there any alternative expression to “Brace Yourself ”
I have translated an article into English. The author of the original article uses a “Bumpy ride on a plane in a hazardous weather” as an analogy to predict an unfavourable political development in a ...
1
vote
1answer
77 views
Does one say “to ring stupid” or what are appropriate alternatives?
If you want to express that something is true even if it is actually dumb, in German we can say something along
So blöd es auch klingt, aber es ist wahr.
Literally it's As stupid it also rings, ...
3
votes
2answers
16k views
Can you say “see you then/there” when arranging a meeting?
I am sending an e-mail to a colleague to arrange a meeting. In my e-mail I inform her where and when we can meet, and I would like to end the e-mail by saying something like "See you there" or "See ...
5
votes
3answers
194 views
Common phrase for “intermediate goal”
What is the most common phrase with the meaning of intermediate/interim goal/target/result? For example,
setting up interim goal in a project/agenda
calculating a intermediate result in a bigger ...
3
votes
4answers
493 views
Substitute for “give or take”
Is there a better word or way of saying give or take to refer to the possibility of inaccuracy? For example,
I will be arriving in 30 minutes, give or take 5 minutes.
I want to indicate the ...
25
votes
5answers
19k views
Polite alternatives to “as soon as possible”
I’ve found myself writing the phrase “as soon as possible” just too often. Sometimes I wonder if it sounds a little rude. How can I convey the same meaning in a more polite way but without losing ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
Phrase or idiom to mean “one at a time”
When you have too many tasks in your to-do list, you will like to clear them one at a time. Is there another way to say this? Or to say "worrying about the next one only after finishing the current ...
22
votes
14answers
3k views
Opposite of 'Midas touch'?
I'm wondering what word or phrase could be used for the counter examples of 'Midas touch' effect.
The Midas touch, or the gift of profiting from whatever one undertakes, is named for a legendary ...
1
vote
7answers
2k views
A Good Phrase to Replace “Get To Know”
This is what I want to express:
I want to get to know more algorithms that have been created.
I have thought about changing the sentence into
I want to gain a better insight into algorithms ...
24
votes
9answers
1k views
“Saving on the parrot's chocolate is futile”
In Catalan there is an expression "ser la xocolata del lloro" that can be translated as "saving by not giving chocolate to the parrot is futile", conveying the meaning that when a household wants to ...
25
votes
4answers
1k views
It's so cold that if it rains it'll snow
I want a replacement for rains in the above, as it doesn't really make sense since it won't rain, it will snow.
I think I could use precipitates but I wouldn't use that in conversation as it seems ...
1
vote
3answers
176 views
How do you call a “Director's cut/minority report/dissenting opinion” if it regards a report/book?
There is "Director's cut" for movies and "minority report/dissenting opinion" for legal issues. What do you call a (longer) report, where the author states some things a little (or very) different ...
1
vote
3answers
303 views
Two word phrase to refer to community of people who come together to exchange knowledge [closed]
I need a two word phrase to refer to a community of people (academia + non-academia) who come together to share/exchange their knowledge/ideas openly on topics of their interests/ specializations.
I ...
3
votes
2answers
323 views
An expression with the meaning of “don't care” and “do not make a ceremony of”
I wanted to explain to a seller on online auction to pack the item with care because it can be damaged in transit. I looked for the right expression to say that our postal workers sometimes don't care ...
4
votes
3answers
322 views
“Strike gold” but without the implication of searching?
Whenever I hear the phrase I struck gold the fact the person had to have done a certain search is implied to me. Is this correct?
For example, if I say:
Janet loves sex so much! I've struck gold ...
2
votes
3answers
647 views
What is a better way to say “computer person with a lot of experience in multiple parts of computer-related areas”?
I am trying to create a concise 'title' for my experience working in the computer field.
I have experience in multiple programming languages and multiple roles (manager, technician, programmer) and ...
6
votes
5answers
239 views
How can I express “sacrificing ease for quality” in a common expression?
I'm really having a hard time to even phrase the sentence I'm looking for, sorry!
Examples would include:
A programmer telling someone he wrote a small piece of code directly
in assembly instead of ...
0
votes
3answers
565 views
To put more “weight/power” into a conclusion
I am trying to find an expression which would meet my needs. In the report that I am currently writing I would like to explain that I have done a certain action in order to "put more weight/power" ...
8
votes
7answers
1k views
Is there a phrase to say that someone's hidden intentions are revealed in his/her talk or movements?
Is there an English expression to say "Le jupon dépasse" to express the fact that someone's hidden intentions are revealed in his/her talk or movements?
7
votes
6answers
426 views
What do British and American post boxes say when they don't want any advertising?
Advertising leaflets shoved en masse into mail boxes are one of the banes of modern society.
In Germany, putting a note saying "Bitte keine Werbung" ("No advertising please") on your box protects ...
0
votes
4answers
347 views
Common expression for “frame conditions” for a working concept/process
In German, the common expression "Rahmenbedingungen" (used both as plural and singular) relates, for example, to a set of conditions necessary for a business idea to work out (e.g. low taxes and wages ...
5
votes
2answers
450 views
Is there a word or an expression that describes the bad mood caused by bad weather?
"Gloomy" comes to my mind naturally for God knows what reason. I'm not sure it's appropriate or not. Maybe some even better words or expressions?
3
votes
3answers
3k views
Phrases that would be similar to “Tip of the Iceberg” but with a positive connotation
I am looking for phrases that would be similar in meaning to 'tip of the iceberg,' but has a positive connotation. My understanding is that 'tip of the iceberg' has a negative "hidden" connotation.
...
3
votes
3answers
437 views
Term for pleasure or joy obtained on top of others' misery or unhappiness [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
An idiom for deriving pleasure from another's suffering
We often experience the following:
We feel happy when our fellow classmates get a bad grade and not
...
10
votes
9answers
60k views
Any other good way of saying “Happy Birthday”?
Quite a few of my friends are having their birthdays in the coming weeks. I feel a little awkward posting plain words like "Happy Birthday" on their Facebooks.
I've decided I should come up with a ...
23
votes
12answers
2k views
Expression that means something like “killing the sheep to keep them from being kidnapped”
I'm looking for an expression that conveys an excessive risk management approach that ends up having a worse effect than what it is trying to protect against.
6
votes
6answers
268 views
“Not hindered with any knowledge”
In Dutch we use the translated equivalent of not hindered with any knowledge to indicate somebody without any knowledge on the subject. It is not necessarily negative. It can mean that somebody is ...
5
votes
6answers
1k views
What is a word or expression to describe anxiety about the passing of time?
What is a word or expression to describe a feeling of anxiety about the passing of time?
I am not referring to boredom which refers to not having anything to do or being dissatisfied with what I'm ...
10
votes
8answers
397 views
English term for pre-thinker?
I was searching for an English translation for the German Vordenker. Basically a person, often a scientist, who began or further significantly developed a new concept or theory by contributing ...
12
votes
3answers
1k views
Other expressions for “to be the devil's advocate”?
Is there another way or expression to say:
He is the devil's advocate
I don't quite like this expression, and I don't know if it is a good idea to use it in a religious context.
1
vote
3answers
562 views
Is describing someone as “higher-educated” awkward?
I’m updating my résumé and would like to convey in a condensed manner the fact that I have a Masters degree in a particular branch of the humanities (politics and society of the Middle East, but ...
3
votes
7answers
437 views
Expression for advantages of solution being disadvantages of alternatives
Is there some expression for situations where you can conclude that a solution's advantages are the same as the disadvantages of alternative solutions?
1
vote
6answers
966 views
Common antonyms to “happy ending”?
I know you may specify to something like tragic, open end to describe actually what the end is like.
But do English critics/reviewer in movie magazines use a common term for movies with bad/evil ...
