Tagged Questions
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Is 'quantitate' a synonym for 'quantify' or just a misnomer?
I have always used quantify, but have been encountering quantitate more and more in scientific literature. Is quantitate a "valid" verb and a synonym for quantify? Otherwise is there a subtle ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Meaning of “How'd you know?”: “would”, “did”, or “do”?
Does the question "How'd you know" mean:
How do you know?
How did you know?
How would you?
1
vote
2answers
79 views
What's the meaning of “Gets me every time”?
I've heard people say this several times, in response to a funny video they watched,
Gets me every time.
This time I see this response the person put a laughing emoticon at the end. Does it ...
18
votes
5answers
505 views
“Infer” vs. “imply” — can “infer” imply “imply”?
Okay that's a crazy title, but bear with me. Got into a good natured discussion with someone on another stack exchange site, and I was "correcting" him on the use of infer vs. imply.
(The ...
-1
votes
1answer
124 views
Correct use of “happen”
A friend of mine told me that the following sentence is incorrect (copied from an exercise)
Do all sentences tell us what the speaker would like to happen?
He claims that it should read:
Do ...
2
votes
2answers
61 views
“Starting with” vs. “starting from”
I would like to ask about the difference between the two phrases starting with and starting from.
Take the following two sentences for example:
Please give me all the names starting with A.
...
-3
votes
4answers
123 views
What is the difference between “anticipate” and “expect”?
My understanding is the following:
I anticipate everyone will come here by 10.
= "I hope it's gonna happen, but I'm not so sure about the result".
I expect everyone will come here by 10.
= ...
-2
votes
0answers
39 views
What is the slight difference between “assign”, “appoint”, and “dispatch”? [closed]
They seem similar, but how could I tell the difference between them?
0
votes
1answer
103 views
What is the difference between “toss” and “throw” [closed]
I want to know, what is the diffrence between toss and throw?
For example,
We must toss him out.
We must throw him out.
-4
votes
1answer
93 views
“Haven't” vs. “hadn't”
Are there any differences in meaning between the two sentences?
We hadn't left the place yet; we will be there in 10 minutes.
We haven't left the place yet; we will be there in 10 minutes.
...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
Meaning of “I command you for that” [closed]
I noticed this somewhere and I have no clue what it means, as I'm not a native speaker. Google hasn't helped out. Does anyone know what this means? (If you need additional context, let me know).
I ...
1
vote
2answers
131 views
“Release”, “free”, or “delete allocated memory”?
release the allocated memory.
free the allocated memory.
delete the allocated memory.
What are the differences between them?
0
votes
2answers
80 views
What is the meaning of “gather way” in “The idea gathered way”?
As far as I know "gather way" means "to attain headway" in navigation. So I believe this is a kind of idiom or something like that.
I just found this sentence with no context, so I don't know if you ...
0
votes
1answer
187 views
Do “I guess” and “I would say” have the same meaning?
I often read sentences where the idea is "I would say" but it starts with "I guess". For example:
I would say he is not coming.
I guess he is not coming.
Do both have the same meaning?
-1
votes
1answer
42 views
Usage of “flock” for a singular subject
Turned on by by his pheromones, she flocked to him.
Can we use flock when we have a singular subject?
What might be a better alternative to the verb? Something like ran, but with a connotation ...
2
votes
3answers
104 views
The difference between 'have mercy,' 'extend mercy,' and similar phrases
Is there a difference between 'having mercy' and 'extending mercy?' Are there other phrases that mean similar things?
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Differences in the Semantics of Three Tri-Part Phrasal Verbs
What are the subtle semantic differences in the following three tri-part phrasal verbs:
(1) be up against
(2) come up against
(3) run up against
0
votes
3answers
103 views
Will be waiting - verb?
I have been trying to understand how to detect subject and predicate in a sentence. So, I stumbled on this page http://www.dailygrammar.com/Lesson-113-Review.htm
The ff. example was given:
Jim ...
1
vote
2answers
55 views
Can 'it' be used plurally?
Can 'it' as a pronoun refer to many different imperative verbs? For instance, in the sentence:
Abide by thy customs, thou excellent one: grind thy corn, drink thy water, praise thy cooking,-- if ...
0
votes
1answer
85 views
“It is” + present simple
If it is build here, it will be next to a large housing estate.
Can anyone tell me if "it is build" in the above sentence is correct?
And if so, why isn't it in the form "it is" + past ...
4
votes
2answers
122 views
“had me a blast” - what use of “have” is it?
Reading the Summer love lyrics, the lyrics go as follows: "summer love, had me a blast". I know that "have a blast" means to enjoy etc. But I do not think I could say "it has me a blast".
0
votes
0answers
25 views
“I didn't know that Mary was an adult education student” — does this imply she no longer is one? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
He didn’t know where New Jersey was
“They knew what mercy is” vs. “they knew what mercy was”
Should we use past tense in "Lugo admitted he is the father"?
Present or ...
1
vote
3answers
273 views
What does “popping bottle” symbolise?
I keep hearing the phrase "popping bottle" in contemporary music. Does it simply mean "opening an alcoholic drink"? Why do they keep using it?
I invented swag, poppin bottles, putting supermodels ...
3
votes
3answers
173 views
What is the difference between “carry out a crime” and “commit a crime”
Do these both have the same meaning?
John carried out a crime.
John committed a crime.
-2
votes
2answers
123 views
What is the difference between “nudge” and “push” [closed]
I am trying to nudge them towards a practical solution.
What does nudge imply here? Can't we just use something like push?
Is the word outdated or still in use?
I'm not trying to avoid using ...
10
votes
3answers
202 views
What is the origin of the word “conk”?
Is it obsolete to use this word? Where does it come from? I couldn't find the origin of this term.
Can I use the phrase "The machine conked out" or should I replace conked out with something else?
1
vote
2answers
345 views
“It was my birthday yesterday” vs. “My birthday was yesterday”
Is there a difference between the following sentences?
It was my birthday yesterday.
My birthday was yesterday.
When should I use "it was something yesterday/a few days ago/..." and when ...
3
votes
1answer
97 views
Framing with real evidence
Normally to frame somebody means
3 informal produce false evidence against (an innocent person) so that they appear guilty
Now what in case of a cautious criminal who took care to hide/remove ...
2
votes
2answers
158 views
“Regress” vs. “retrogress”
What do each of them mean exactly? Is either (or both) the opposite of "progress"?
Could someone please explain the difference?
To add some context:
When I look up the definitions I see the ...
-1
votes
1answer
199 views
Do “figure out” and “realize” mean the same? [closed]
Talking about noticing something, do both mean the same?
For example:
I just figured out that the ball is blue.
I just realized that the ball is blue.
2
votes
3answers
813 views
“Gain/acquire/gather/get experience”
According to my Longman dictionary, gain experience and get experience seem to mean the same:
gain/get experience: The programme enables pupils to gain some experience of the world of work.
But ...
2
votes
4answers
128 views
“To latch in a recess/groove” vs. “to catch in a recess/groove”
Is there a difference in meaning when used in a technical context? For example, does a fork latch in a recess when pressed or does it catch in the recess?
0
votes
2answers
114 views
What does “to be caught in a controversy” mean?
Can I use something like "I am caught in a controversy" to express that I am witnessing and confused by the controversy between other entities?
1
vote
0answers
59 views
“shown to produce” [closed]
I am struggling with understanding of the following:
It might be shown to produce the same changes in the sound of the
voice as saddness.
I do not get why there is "shown to produce", it is ...
7
votes
4answers
348 views
“Bury” — noun meaning?
I would swear that years back I saw a definition of the word bury and it contained a noun, not only a verb. If my memory serves me well, the noun meaning was associated with church.
Today I cannot ...
4
votes
3answers
189 views
Meaning of the phrase “hacked by someone” — but not in context of computers
What does it mean when a girl says that she "hasn't been hacked [by a boy]"? Dictionaries give us only computer-related meanings of "hack"; does it have any other meaning?
3
votes
1answer
110 views
Meaning of “nip”
Nip is defined differently in two different dictionaries. From OALD, nip is defined as “to give somebody or something a quick painful bite or pinch”, whereas in MWLD, it is defined as “to bite or ...
-1
votes
1answer
216 views
“Learn” vs. “study” difference [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there any subtle difference between “to study” and “to learn”?
What is the difference between "to learn" and "to study"? Can you study without ...
1
vote
3answers
505 views
What's the difference between “get up” and “stand up”?
I'm translating Bob Marley's song "Get up, stand up" and, consulting my dictionary, I can't understand the difference between these two verbs.
I have understood the overall meaning of this song, of ...
11
votes
1answer
281 views
Why “off ” in jerk off, jack off, get off?
I wonder why the particle off is used in these verbs. I know their meanings, but I don’t understand why off is used. Does anyone know why?
1
vote
2answers
223 views
“She can argue her point” right or wrong? [closed]
Is it OK to say in that way?
She can argue her point.
For example, to say it when describing a person. Meaning she knows what she is talking about and her speech can be proved by certain facts, ...
1
vote
3answers
148 views
Is 'used to' describing something changed?
I'm an English learner but I found that here are different ideas on "used to" among others and me. I think 'used to' is used to describe something changed now.
I used to be afraid of snakes. (But ...
1
vote
1answer
157 views
“Take a look at” vs. “look at” [closed]
I am not a native speaker. Could you please explain the difference between the phrases "take a look at" and "look at"?
For example:
Take a look at this issue.
Look at this issue.
What ...
2
votes
4answers
390 views
“Take a decision” vs. “decide”
I realise there is a small element of subjectivity, but for the purposes of efficient use of the English language, I wonder if one should say "take a decision" or simply "decide". I feel like many, if ...
5
votes
3answers
353 views
Can the verb “wish + that clause” express open possibility?
We often use "wish + that clause" to express a past/present counterfactual statement or a future unlikely event (i.e. remote possibility):
I wish I hadn't quit my job. (But I quit my job.)
I ...
0
votes
1answer
173 views
Sentences which could be read as meaning its opposite as well
I recently saw this headline on the Granuaid front page: Havelange 'paid millions in bribes'
In this case, Havelange received the bribes, but the headline still works. It struck me that its naive ...
3
votes
2answers
725 views
“Reset” or “re-set”?
As far as I know there are two different meanings of the word "reset":
to restore an object/value to a previous/initial state - that's the most widely use of the word;
to set the value/state a ...
27
votes
8answers
4k views
If someone is electrocuted, do they have to die or can they just be injured?
Is it correct to say I electrocuted my friend if he was only injured by electricity?
4
votes
3answers
5k views
“Agree on” vs. “agree with” vs. “agree to”
What are the differences between "agree on", "agree with" and "agree to"?
3
votes
3answers
86 views
“Admix” vs. “shuffle”
What is the difference between the verbs admix and shuffle?
I'm not a native speaker, and in the case shown in the image below, I'd rather use shuffle.
