Tagged Questions
-1
votes
0answers
29 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?
-1
votes
1answer
105 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
2answers
76 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?
2
votes
1answer
82 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
644 views
What is the meaning of “six ways from Sunday”? [closed]
This is a line from the book Test Driven Development by Kent Beck:
Fortunately, we are well rested and relaxed and unlikely to make
mistakes, which is why we will go in teeny-tiny steps, ...
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
163 views
Poetics of the Word Beautiful and its Implications [closed]
Background:
Let us say that a couple is looking at the sunset. The man turns to his wife and says, "Beautiful." That is, although he could be referring to his wife, he is referring to the sunset.
...
-2
votes
1answer
83 views
The meaning of “crime and grime” [closed]
What does the expression crime and grime mean? It was mentioned from this comment:
My dad's SUV got jacked when I was living in Saga Bay. Don't live in FL anymore. Too much f-king crime and grime. ...
0
votes
1answer
147 views
Meaning of 'That old rocking chair's going to get me' [closed]
In the Joni Mitchell song Stormy Weather, there's this line:
That old rocking chair's going to get me
What does that mean? I suppose that old rocking chair is a symbol of something, but what? ...
4
votes
1answer
171 views
Expressions in Tim Minchin's “Cont.”
In his song "Cont.", Tim Minchin uses two expressions I cannot find in a dictionary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmTexiEZmL8
Can somebody explain the meanings?
"..., who lean on their horn..." ...
4
votes
1answer
119 views
The meaning of 'option' in 'like hell's own option'
More from Thomas Harris:
The coffee mugs had the thick rims that dribble down the sides. Starling watched Inelle
Corey walk heavily away like hell's own option and drank half a cup with her ...
1
vote
2answers
176 views
How to use the expression “you love it” [closed]
This question builds off of another question (Meaning of fck you) but my question pertains to the expression "you love it". Here are three examples of its usage.
1] From Youth in Revolt (Youth in ...
3
votes
1answer
168 views
What is the meaning of “the dogs live in clover”?
I was reading an issue of Atlantic Monthly from 1919 and encountered the following paragraph:
There is no further context, as these are (according to the article) translated conversations and ...
-2
votes
1answer
313 views
What is the meaning of “I don't need no stinking counters”?
The context is this video at timeline 43:26 seconds .
That's too fancy for me. I don't need no stinking counters.
What does this mean? Is it an American or British expression?
2
votes
1answer
167 views
Usage of “make it” in this context [closed]
Consider the following sentence . My boss (say Mr X) wrote this to me in an email and before this paragraph he actually gave a list of items that I need to work on :
We will have a Webex meeting ...
5
votes
1answer
166 views
What does Mitt Romney aide's remark “keep Boston off message all week” mean?
Mitt Romney seems to be haunted with the plague of gaffes of his own and his aides’.
Time magazine’s (August 4) article titled “Worse gaffe than Etch-A-Sketch” reported another gaffe that Romney’s ...
4
votes
4answers
181 views
Meaning of “to pivot to do something”
I found the use of the verb pivot in a context I can't quite understand:
We will now pivot the company's effort to date and focus on becoming a comprehensive provider of ...
What is the meaning ...
5
votes
2answers
491 views
What does the expression “we are looking to you” mean?
What does the expression "we are looking to you" mean in the following sentence?
Now that you have taken the test and have an understanding, we are looking to you to teach this to your ...
4
votes
2answers
153 views
Meaning of “went through the floor”?
Question:
I read this post:
http://answers.onstartups.com/questions/40480/how-much-traffic-is-necessary-to-generate-1000-per-month-in-advertising-revenue
Quote
I previously had a real estate ...
1
vote
2answers
224 views
Meaning of “slow boring of hard boards” [closed]
What is the meaning of "slow boring of hard boards"?
The full text is given here.
3
votes
1answer
391 views
Is “and then some” an offensive expression?
I started an internal email discussion with the title "Editorial: link issues, some spelling issues and then some".
However, upon rereading my own mail, it occurred to me that this might express ...
3
votes
1answer
91 views
What is the meaning of the phrase “made out to”, in the current context?
I have received a letter which has the following sentence. The letter is about reimbursement of my travel costs to their location.
Please note that for tax reasons all invoices have to be made ...
6
votes
3answers
4k views
What does “here's to someone/thing” mean?
I got an email from an instructor today. Towards the end of email she says:
"Here is to finishing off the semester in a positive way."
What does that mean?
1
vote
1answer
224 views
“What am I meant to have”
I heard the following on 'The Office' in episode Downsize (#1.1):
David Brent: I'm going to have to let you go first.
Dawn: What? Why?
David Brent: Why? Stealing. Thieving.
Dawn: ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Usage of “to canter through a topic”
What are the types of uses of the expression "to canter through a topic or issue"? I heard it in this context:
I don't have much time to go through this section now, so I'll canter through the ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
What's the meaning of the expression “bed burning” or “bed on fire”?
There's a song by Midnight Oil called Beds Are Burning, and the song Psycho Killer also says that "my bed's on fire".
What do those expressions mean (if they mean the same thing)?
update: Some ...
5
votes
2answers
10k views
Meaning and origin of “That dog don't hunt”
Is That dog don't hunt an American slang expression? What does it mean exactly and where does it originate? If possible, please give some examples.
3
votes
2answers
274 views
Original use of kosher in the English lanuage
Recently I saw a post on the meta.rpg.se site that asked When is editing your answer not kosher?, and it got me thinking. Why is the word Kosher used, instead of, for example, Halal, Permissible, or ...
3
votes
1answer
493 views
Post-fixing or pre-fixing “mind you” onto an informative/descriptive statement
Example:
It was quite a sunny day, mind you.
or in the middle:
It was quite a sunny day, mind you, so I packed my sunglasses.
or prefixed:
Now mind you, it was quite a sunny day...
...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Meaning of the phrase “take a pass on yelling uncle”
I have heard that phrase recently on this YouTube video "Why We Row (Inspirational)" and I can assume what it means, but I just don't understand it on the context of the speech.
... don't be ...
1
vote
1answer
119 views
What does a “stray evidence” mean?
In the following paragraph:
This plot is a stray evidence of how Pearson correlation coefficient is often incomputable and hence ineffective.
What does the expression "a stray evidence" mean?
...
4
votes
2answers
537 views
What does ‘alpha’ mean in the phrase, “A plea came for the President to be more alpha.”
I find the articles of New York Times’ columnist, Maureen Dowd, a treasure house of English expressions unfamiliar to non-native English learners. It’s stud with knotty expressions and new words to ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
What does the phrase “putting them in time out” mean?
I have a sentence, but there is an expression I can't understand. Could someone explain it to me? Here it is:
"You should treat your employees like adults instead of putting them in time out like ...
1
vote
2answers
828 views
What’s the meaning of “I don’t care…” as a reply to a poor joke?
Is he saying he doesn’t like the playful attitude? Or is he cynically referring to part of the joke?
I’m reading a Harry Potter book and found ‘I don’t care …’ in a scene. For the moment, I have ...
2
votes
1answer
277 views
Expression “shockingly enough”
Is the expression shockingly enough an understatement?
I've heard of oddly enough and took it to mean to some extent, it's odd, but the combination of shockingly and enough sounds like you are ...
1
vote
4answers
651 views
What does “you and the rest of the world” mean?
I sometimes see ‘you and …’ in English, for example “you and the other nine”, “You and your big mouth!”. This makes me sensitive to you and something.
“Okay,” said Harry slowly. “But … are you ...
7
votes
3answers
394 views
“I was fresh out of pies to throw at you”
The sentence was in Lost (TV Series).
I got the overall meaning of the sentence. But what does it exactly mean?
[SAWYER pointing a gun at JACK]
JACK: Trying to be funny?
SAWYER: Yeah, I ...
1
vote
2answers
158 views
Meaning of “Make what's-her-name feel special this Mother's Day.”
Especially, the "what's-her-name" part.
3
votes
3answers
966 views
What does “to bleed something” mean?
In Bloomberg magazine, I saw this sentence:
Rust Belt states that have bled manufacturing jobs.
Does it mean they have lost the jobs or gained more jobs?
