This tag is for questions related to definitions and nuances of meaning of a word or phrase.
0
votes
2answers
28 views
How do you say the coming week in the weekend?
Now it is on Saturday(25 May 2013), how do you say the coming week(the week from 27th-)?
Next week or is it already this week? Is there any other ways to say the coming week?
0
votes
2answers
84 views
“Sometimes also” or “also sometimes”?
I have a sentence where I think I could use either of these two constructions. They seem very similar in meaning, so I'm not sure which I should prefer. There might be some subtle point of grammar ...
-1
votes
2answers
86 views
Using the adjective “expressive” to mean an object allows for expression?
My intention is to say that systems of a particular type allow users to express ideas on them. I wanted to give the concept a more concise/general name, as a title for such systems.
I called them ...
-3
votes
2answers
89 views
Meaning of “it's not even close” in this context?
In some dialog, I often see something like this:
Player A is voted as the toughest to play against and it's not even close.
What does "it's not even close" mean in this context? Does that mean ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
About inversion
Given the following sentence,
Nowhere on her title page or copyright page is there a suggestion that anyone but Walker wrote her story.
Can I invert it as follows without changing the meaning?
...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Correct pronunciation of the word “Mature”?
I need to know the correct pronunciation of the word "mature". Is it məˈtʃʊr, məˈtjʊə(r) or məˈtʊr? And which one is mostly used, across the globe.
1
vote
1answer
115 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
41 views
Which of these is longest? Eternal - Ever - Forever - Infinite -?
I'm guessing they all pretty much mean the same thing, but is there a word for the longest amount of time?
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"?
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
106 views
“Would have” and “would have no”
Could you describe about "would have ~ed & would have not ~ed".
I know "would" has the several meanings. But when I was talking with one of my friend who is a native speaker and in this following ...
-1
votes
1answer
49 views
“for which” usage
I am writing comments to my algorithm and I used this sentence to describe one variable. But I am not entirely sure if it makes sense and if I used commas right.
id of node, for which, program is ...
-1
votes
1answer
47 views
What is the difference between “Distribution Worker” and “Distributing Worker”?
I cannot differentiate when I should use a noun like "distribution" as an adjective to another noun, or when should I use an "-ing" participle as an adjective. Could you please clarify the differences ...
-3
votes
1answer
56 views
What does “cross” mean in the phrase “cross and crabby”?
What does cross mean in the phrase "cross and crabby"?
Crabby means bad-tempered and unpleasant (Oxford Learner's Dictionary).
2
votes
0answers
53 views
when to use Huge and Big
What is the difference between both : Huge and Big
take an example,
he made a huge difference to the team.
it can also be like,
he made a big difference to the team.
Does the meaning for both the ...
2
votes
0answers
92 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
122 views
What does the expression 'justified for him his own idea' mean?
I am reading a novel, and I did not understand one of the sentences in it. Following are two lines from the novel. The author is talking about a guy called Paul and her father.
They were once ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Does the word “umpty” have two different meanings?
I happened to learn the word “umpty” in association with “umpteen” appearing in the following sentence in the article titled “Obama’s Gitmo Problem” in May 24 New York Times:
Late Wednesday ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
Connotation of the word “sprezzatura ”
According to Wikipedia, sprezzatura means
a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.
...
0
votes
0answers
65 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
74 views
What does 'What kind of mischief are you up to?' mean?
One of my US users asked the following questions when she got information about my resignation from my manager.
What is this rumor I hear? What kind of mischief are you up to?
I am not sure ...
