This tag is for questions related to definitions and nuances of meaning of a word or phrase.
2
votes
4answers
229 views
“In a while” vs. “for a while”
I recently got a message that says
Haven't heard anything from you in a while.
I always thought that the right way to say this would be to use for insdead of in. Are both versions correct? ...
-2
votes
2answers
54 views
What is the meaning of “knobbie”
What is the meaning of the word “knobbie”
from Words and phrases http://www.wordandphrase.info/
-2
votes
1answer
35 views
What is the meaning of “barinyas”
Quotation from Anarchism and Other Essays
She was outraged by the terrible treatment to which the female servants were subjected: maltreated and exploited by their BARINYAS, they fell to the tender ...
0
votes
2answers
93 views
Meaning and usage of the swear word pronounced /ˈkʰʌnt/? [closed]
I’ve been hearing the word cunt used several times now. What kind of situations do you usually use this word, and what sort of person does this swear word usually describe?
1
vote
1answer
46 views
What is the meaning of the expression “to be operated on”? [closed]
What is the meaning of the expression "to be operated on"? Could you give me some useful example for its use?
0
votes
1answer
66 views
“Questioned” or “asked”?
What is the difference between questioned and asked?
I asked him how are you?
I questioned him how are you?
Will the two sentences have a different meaning if I use questioned instead ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
Does exaggeration imply intent to misrepresent?
I've looked up a few definitions (Oxford, M-W, dictionary.com), but none make it explicit.
E.g., (one I made up)
"When professional tennis players were asked to rate the fitness of professional ...
-3
votes
0answers
41 views
What does “spend one less thing” mean? [closed]
I am reading the programming contest analysis and come across with the words.
"Having an energy E joules, we spend one less joule on the activity."
I don't understand the meaning. Does it mean spend ...
2
votes
1answer
50 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
0answers
45 views
What would you call a follower who leads? [closed]
I am highly sure there would be a term for this. If anyone could find any words with such a definition or that relate to my topic question please reply.
3
votes
5answers
182 views
Difference between “jargon” and “technical terms”
Each subject matter has its own set of terms called jargon which is expressed in its particular grammatical rules. Technical terminology or Term of Art is the specialized vocabulary of any specialized ...
0
votes
1answer
48 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
46 views
Underlie, Underlay, Underlying and Underlaying
What is the difference between "underlay", "underlie" and their present continuous forms (and adjectives) "underlying" and "underlaying"?
And what is the right word to say something like:
The ...
0
votes
2answers
101 views
Difference between ‘“folder” and “directory”
What is the difference between folder and directory in the context of computer science?
1
vote
2answers
59 views
Meaning of the word “findings”? [closed]
I need to find a word to define the products you see in the capture.
The best match I've found is findings.
Is this word the correct one? Is there a better word for these products?
4
votes
2answers
166 views
How much mmmm should be in hmmmmmmm
This is my first question here.
I am not a fluent English speaker. I just know the basics.
My question is how many m's should be there in "hmm" as when I try typing it anywhere, it suggests "hmmm," ...
-2
votes
1answer
73 views
What does the word “Hakim” sound and feel like? [closed]
I really enjoy the connotations of words, particularly now because I'm looking for a name for something. I'd like to know what this word (hakim) sounds like to native English speakers.
Obs: If ...
8
votes
2answers
193 views
Drink 7 to 10 days after opening?
Is this label telling the consumer that it is best to consume the drink 7 to 10 days after opening it?
I know what they are getting at, but I feel like it should say "Best if consumed within 7 to ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Does the verb “warn” sound very strong?
Is warn a synonym of "let someone know"?
I want to say "te mando este mensaje para avisarte de que". Can I say "I'm writing you this email to warn you about"?
-4
votes
1answer
72 views
What's a jagger in the song Moves Like Jagger? [closed]
What's jagger/a jagger in the title of the song Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5?
I've looked up the word on Urbandictionary and there are all sorts of different definitions on it. I've also found out ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
What's the difference between “review” and “overview”? [closed]
What's the difference between "review" and "overview"?
I've been thinking about these two words as synonyms. But recently I came across an article where author said he was going to make a review and ...
7
votes
2answers
127 views
difference between “this very” and “this particular”
It grew to my attention lately that I've read multiple authors using the expression "this very" like:
I will be writing on this very blog
I recommend going to this very restaurant
What's the value ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Can an object be assigned to multiple *categories*?
I am thinking about the very generic word category and was wondering:
Does the definition of the word category relate more to kind of a box (an item may only be in one and only one box at a time) or ...
1
vote
2answers
143 views
What does the expression “pissing on ice” mean?
In the film "Chinatown" Jake Gittes uses the expression "We'll be pissing on ice". What does it mean?
-2
votes
2answers
85 views
What's the meaning of “contribution” and “contribute” in computer English?
The following sentence is all about Eclipse RCP:
You may also be asking yourself why we have not used any of the Workbench’s
extension points for defining actions. After all, Eclipse is all ...
0
votes
2answers
90 views
Is it wrong to use “The Albatross is now on the sky”?
Is it wrong to use "The Albatross is now on the sky"?
Is it like we should always say "The Albatross is now in the sky"?
I would like to get an explanation for this. Thanks.
0
votes
2answers
132 views
What does “Lose the whiny entitled air” mean after the sentence “Say, ‘could you warm the soup up,’ Not, ‘How dare you serve me cold soup!’”?
There was the following sentence in New York Times’ (May 3rd) article titled, “Complaining is hard to avoid, but try to do it with a purpose,” ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
She was eight years her elder! [closed]
Would you please tell me what the following sentence mean? Who is older than who?
Janet's sister was eight years her elder.
3
votes
3answers
147 views
How offensive is a word f**k in English? [duplicate]
I hear it quite often in movies, radio , books, songs even in some interviews with actors .In my native language is a word like that very strong and awfully offensive but I think it is not that strong ...
0
votes
1answer
61 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
3answers
61 views
What is the difference between “close” and “close together”?
Examples:
His eyes were small and close (together).
The two buildings are close (together).
I can’t really understand the difference. Perhaps the second version is more emphatic.
1
vote
2answers
66 views
What does this sentence mean: “Troubles are poor things to hug. They've got too many prickers.” [closed]
This is a sentence from a book for children. I'm trying to translate it into Chinese. Not sure what this means. DO we want to hug troubles or not?
2
votes
2answers
238 views
What does Pope Francis “called out him (Pope Emeritus Benedict) on it” mean?
There was the following sentence in the article titled “Pope Francis tells Pope Benedict to stop rolling his eyes in meetings” in May 2nd New Yorker magazine - ...
-1
votes
1answer
129 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
143 views
Is “my something of choice” the same as “something of my choice”?
Would like to know if it's wrong to use "my something of choice"? Does the phrase have the same meaning as "something of my choice"?
12
votes
4answers
666 views
What does “brought up by hand” mean?
In the book Great Expectations, Pip narrates:
My sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, was more than twenty years older than I,
and had established a great reputation with herself and the neighbours
...
-5
votes
0answers
67 views
What does “wanna” means? [closed]
I have some problems with the definition "wanna". What does "wanna" means? When I shoul use "wanna" and when I should use "want"
They want to get me?
or
They wanna to get me?
0
votes
0answers
34 views
meaning of a sentence [closed]
I was reading a book in process to translate it but I didn't understand this sentence :
before coining to my office
does he mean before visiting me? what is the meaning of coining here?
-2
votes
0answers
49 views
What does “stésard” mean with regard to hotel room type [closed]
I saw the above room type and have no idea what it means
0
votes
1answer
63 views
“As good a car as it gets” — correct?
I need to understand if I could say "As good a [noun] as it gets". Would it mean "the best [noun]"? E.g.
You can buy as good a car as it gets in that store.
0
votes
1answer
71 views
Meaning of “She'll get you in Dutch”? [closed]
In the lyrics of the Coasters' 1959 song "Poison Ivy" there are the lines
She comes on like a rose but everybody knows
She'll get you in Dutch
Now you can look but you better not touch
...
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
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
1answer
95 views
What is the difference between using “over” and “against” with the word “outrage”?
Examples:
1 - An outrage against the ruling.
2 - An outrage over the ruling.
It seems that they are almost the same thing to me.
0
votes
2answers
90 views
Can we say “probable” where we have to say “possible”?
Can we say probable where we have to say possible?
What is the exact meaning of that? I have searched this, but I didn't get the perfect example of that.
1
vote
4answers
85 views
“Cyclicity” vs. “cyclicality”
I can't find the difference between these two words. I want to describe the property of something that is repeating at a fixed period (don't ask me to use periodicity, that would be for another ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
What does “Take the disguise” mean?
I was reading this particular sentence:
She took the disguise of an old woman and came to Eleusis, where she was welcomed by the family of King Celeus.
Disguise means costume. So, does it mean ...
2
votes
2answers
92 views
Is there a word that means “to hate beauty”?
For example, to love beauty is called "philocaly". Does this have an opposite?
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Is “ill at ease” perfectly interchangeable with “uncomfortable”?
There was the following sentence in a series about the art and craft of writing in New York Times (April 29) written by Tim Kreider under the title, “The Power of ‘I Don’t Know’”:
I’m always ill ...
-1
votes
1answer
92 views
What does the phrase “for the heck of it” mean? [closed]
What does the phrase "for the heck of it" mean?
For example, I just found this in a book:
— I just dusted the dining room for the heck of it!
— How thoughtful of you!
