This tag is for questions about the meaning of a longer passage of English.
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Fiction and non-fiction references together
What is the best way to mix fictional and non-fictional references in a text eg;
Billy and Mike are fictional and wrote a song (fictionally) that is sung by a singer played by an actress whose name ...
-4
votes
1answer
41 views
Meaning of “function” in “I cannot stay here. I have a function tonight.” [closed]
I cannot stay here. I have a function tonight.
What does function mean here? Is it oftentimes related to church activities?
-1
votes
1answer
43 views
What's the meaning of “roll out” here? [closed]
The following is an advice given to someone who is looking for ways to make a couple thousand bucks in a short period:
With no deets on your situation it's really hard to help you. But I will say ...
0
votes
1answer
70 views
What exactly does this sentence mean?
Consider the violinist Jascha Heifetz, known for his blank expression when performing. A 1925 article remarked on his deportment: "Cold, calm, dispassionate, he stands on the platform and performs ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
Visual connotation associated with “lucid”
I'm interested in the definition and connotation of "lucid" when it comes to physical objects: what does a lucid object look like?
From Merriam-Webster:
suffused with light : luminous
translucent
...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
Is it possible to “defy the laws of physics”?
Assuming that it's impossible to circumvent the laws of physics, is it possible to defy them?
That is, in order to defy something, do you necessarily have to have some success in resisting it, or ...
6
votes
2answers
145 views
“Dignity” vs. “respect”
Today, I read an article, and one sentence talked about
treating other people with dignity and respect
I had thought I understood the difference between the words dignity and respect. But then ...
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Use of word 'significant' in non-technical sections of a paper [closed]
As the resident data analyst, I write the Quantitative Analysis sections for policy papers at my work. In doing so I use the word significant if and only if I am discussing statistical significance.
...
-2
votes
2answers
69 views
will be repaired in x weeks' time: how precise/vague is it? [closed]
(I have completely rewritten the question in an attempt to make it clearer)
In a certain British English exam, you are given a statement, and must then go through three sentences and choose the one ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Meaning in context of 'founding population'
Bryan Sykes, an Oxford scientist, wrote a book called "The Seven Daughters of Eve" in which, using studies of mitochondrial DNA, he had claimed to be able to trace nearly all living Europeans back ...
12
votes
2answers
166 views
Does the word, ‘peruse’ have a single meaning of ‘attentive reading,’ or double, contradicting meanings of ‘attentive’ and ‘cursory’ reading?
I’m confused to find opposite definitions in the same word, ‘peruse’ in Readers English Japanese Dictionary published by a leading foreign language dictionary publisher in Japan.
It defines ‘peruse’ ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
What context is this sentence used in? [migrated]
What is the exact meaning of following sentence? And in what situations is such a formation used?
"We don't call it city of music for nothing"
6
votes
1answer
116 views
'Remit' an antonym of itself?
Perhaps I don't fully understand the word, but it always confuses me.
When talking about money:
The money was remitted.
Which means that the money was transmitted/transferred successfully.
But ...
5
votes
2answers
85 views
What is the difference between “each to one’s own,” and “a law unto-oneself”? Are they totally different idioms?
I came across two different idioms, “a law untothemselves” and “each to his own” in the scene then British Army Captain, later a global media tycoon, Dick Armstrong, plotting to rob Julius Hahn, a ...
2
votes
2answers
77 views
Meaning of “high as cheese”
A Margaret Atwood story taking place in a summer camp features the following passage:
The smell of grime and sweaty feet and wood smoke is getting too
potent at close quarters; the sleeping bags ...
2
votes
4answers
76 views
What does ‘tame’ mean in ‘tame scandal’ and ‘tame squabble’ on golf course?
In association with my question about the names of foods that have a risk of turning into an offensive remark, there was the following statement in New Yorker’s (May 25) article titled “Sergio Garcia ...
-1
votes
1answer
49 views
My every desire? Correct in a song? [closed]
It's correct to say "you're every my desire" in a song?
If not, how can I say it in another way?
Thank you very much!!!
2
votes
4answers
74 views
“Implicate” vs. “incriminate”
I am exploring possible differences in the meanings of 'implicate/incriminate' from using different direct objects. Assume the context is police interrogation:
He implicated/incriminated his ...
1
vote
3answers
55 views
Is it acceptable to say “badly efficient”
If you didn't want to say someone is "inefficient", how would you concisely describe someone who has bad efficiency - badly/poorly efficient doesn't sound quite right, or is this ok?
-1
votes
1answer
65 views
What does the expression “wheels on the shoulder” mean?
A local policeman, Calvin Bridges, thought it was odd that I was going about ten miles an hour and had two wheels on the shoulder. When I failed the straight-line walk, he took me off to the ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
What does “lit” mean, in The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat, by Dr Seuss contains the following:
I do not like this said the fish as he lit. I do not like it, not
one little bit.
What on earth does lit mean in this context?
A guess ...
-1
votes
0answers
32 views
The other norths [closed]
If 'true north' is as Mitch says (and I like his answer best) then what is the metaphorical equivalent of Grid North, and Magnetic North?
3
votes
1answer
183 views
“I have done every bad thing in the good book” - what does it actually mean?
This question might be very specific to a situation in "Revolution" but I cannot understand this sentence.
From my understanding, he was saying that he has done everything that the book (he ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Meaning of “there to” in this sentence [closed]
Sentence:
Johnson said he expects tremendous Asian buying on dips and demand by
central banks there to more than offset fast-money-type selling by
Western financial institutions.
I'm ...
-3
votes
1answer
113 views
Meaning of “as it was” in context
What does it mean "as it was" in this context?
She was awakened by a shock, so sudden and severe that if Dorothy had not been lying on the soft bed she might have been hurt. As it was, the jar ...
0
votes
1answer
98 views
What does “though” mean in these sentences?
I knew these are American English sentences, and they are informal. However, I would like to know what exactly it means, or it simply means nothing, and people merely want to add something unnecessary ...
2
votes
1answer
140 views
What does 'trout-shouldered' mean?
In an episode of the television show Archer one character refers to another as being "trout-shouldered."
“This pathetic, trout-shouldered excuse for a boom operator is Chet Manly."
What might this ...
1
vote
1answer
128 views
I can't make heads or tails of this paragraph. It's a complex pun. (Warning: mildly “bad language” and urban lingo.)
Here it is:
It's your brother's MR. T PUPPET, which of course is kept in the apartment with a sense of profound humorous irony. But as usual with your BRO's exploits, this is no ordinary irony, or ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
use of phrasal verb “reach out” meaning to contact someone [closed]
This morning when I was writing a note I've got myself in doubt about using the reach out phrasal verb. My intention is to tell a person that I tried to reach him out, but, this is the doubt. What is ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
What does “unmatched value” mean in the following sentence [closed]
What does "unmatched value" mean in the following sentence?
Should a business turn down a client for unmatched values
-2
votes
2answers
57 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
1answer
98 views
Meaning of 'take it to the hoes'
I came across the following sentence:
You can just take it to the hoes on Broadway if you need to get your freak on.
And not only can I not understand the phrase 'take it to the hoes' but I also ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
What are “shrewd turns”?
In John Webster's play, The Duchess of Malfi, Antonio says of the Duke:
He never pays debts unless they be shrewd turns,
And those he will confess that he doth owe.
I really don't understand ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
What does “put the top down” mean? [closed]
Well, I have been searching the meaning of "put the top down", but I didn't find anything useful. Let me show you a little bit the context.
I'm gonna put the top down
I'm gonna talk about old times
...
-2
votes
1answer
154 views
What does “put on a show” mean? [closed]
This is verse one of the song Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 (sorry it looks so spread out I tried to single line it, but didn't work):
Just shoot for the stars
If it feels right
Then aim for ...
-1
votes
1answer
116 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
127 views
What does “Dollars to <something>” mean in the context?
I found it through the comments below:
What a shame. Dollars to your aunt's cherry the next thing to go will be the Beach Races - I'd put money on it.
And also here in the comments.
-1
votes
1answer
66 views
Is “encrusted with dust” correct? [closed]
A big black vehicle rumbles through the streets of the slum. Its battered exterior is encrusted with dust.
"Encrusted" means that water or oil has been combined with dust (or something) and then ...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
Meaning of “it” in “it [. . .] settled into its unbreakable parts”
Please help me understand the meaning of “settled into its unbreakable parts” as used in this excerpt below from Flannery O’Connor’s The Violent Bear It Away:
He was sitting forward on the seat, ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
What are metal pans and covers of a staircase?
What are metal pans and its covers of a staircase and what do they look like as mentioned in the following account?
My boss and I were carrying 160lb sliding glass doors up an unfinished staircase ...
0
votes
2answers
100 views
Meaning of “that” in “holomorphic function in the sector S that is continuous”
I have encountered a confusing sentence in a math textbook:
Suppose F is a holomorphic function in the sector S that is continuous
on the closure of S.
What does that mean in the above ...
-1
votes
1answer
45 views
They give very less attention to the him [closed]
Ron gets inside room filled with people. They give very less attention to the him.
Here what I mean by "give very less attention" is - out of all the people in the room only few people looks at ...
1
vote
2answers
84 views
Difference between “technically possible” and “physically possible”?
Do you think these expressions can be used interchangeably? I find little or no differene between the two meanings. Does this question need more context?
-1
votes
1answer
73 views
“when all is said and done”, finger should be “level” [closed]
Person A tried to catch a falling patio door and ended up losing a fingertip, a nail, and a broken finger joint as the door slammed his fingers against the dock plate. He went to the ER afterwards and ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
What does it mean to “offer a plea for a caution”? [closed]
This is a sentence in a letter to request waiving a fine. The sentence is:
I offer the following plea for a caution in this instance.
Also, it seems to me that caution is more correct than a ...
-2
votes
1answer
72 views
The ironic correlation of the words “Ineffable” and “Circumlocution”
Both the word "Ineffable" and "Circumlocution" are contradictory by definition. For context;
first The very existence of the words shows defies its definition; so should one say "indescribable" as ...
-1
votes
1answer
75 views
What does the meaning of the phrase “couldn't be more”?
I have a question about the word "optimistic" from the Peter Klein's resignation letter. He wrote:
One noteworthy characteristic of Finance is the regularity of its
rhythm – month end, quarter ...
2
votes
2answers
434 views
“10 Commonly Misunderstood Words In English”
We have all probably misunderstood words and then used them in the wrong context from time to time, so a little update might come in handy. This infographic from Grammar called
10 Commonly ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
Meaning of “conferred obligation” and “conferring obligation”
What does “a conferred obligation” mean? Given that confer has a positive sense to it as a transitive verb, could it be used to refer to an obligation which is favorable for the obligor or considered ...
2
votes
1answer
113 views
Meaning of the German “ersatz” in English [closed]
As a native German I know some well-known uses of German phrases, but I was
astonished that a book from a British reporter I am reading today used "ersatz"
without explanation.
Is the word "ersatz" ...
