A phrase is a group of words that make a unit of syntax with a single grammatical function.
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2answers
68 views
Difference between “Knock it off!” and “Drop it!”
What is the difference between "Knock it off!" and "Drop it!". I do translate both as "Stop it". Is there any context-based usage difference? Thank you.
2
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1answer
65 views
Is “grapple hooking” a correct phrase?
I want to say "using a grapple hook" as a verb. In context it would be like "sprinting, jumping, grapple hooking"—but that doesn't sound right. Is it correct? If not, is there a way to say it as a ...
2
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2answers
322 views
“Split in half” vs. “split in two” — which one is correct?
Does the "in" imply multiplication, in which case split in half is correct, or is it division? It sounds like the latter to me, but I've heard it used both ways.
9
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4answers
330 views
What does “This story just won’t write” mean? Is this still an acceptable English phrase today?
The New Yorker (March 20) carries an interesting story about the writing style of Time magazine posted by Calvin Trillin who worked for Time magazine as a ‘floater’ and editor in 60s under the title, ...
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2answers
112 views
“Oil blue” color
Spotted a new collocation for the word blue today, when looking for a pair of jeans – oil blue.
Admittedly, they are probably just being marketing-minded, inventing (?) such a color of jeans. ...
3
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4answers
338 views
Is there a clean version of “no sh*t, Sherlock”?
The phrase "no shit, Sherlock" or just "no shit" is a reply used when someone else points out something obvious.
I was thinking about it the other day and I realized I don't know if there is a clean ...
1
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2answers
109 views
Can I say “he lost his brave face”?
"Put on a brave face" is to express that someone try to hide it's feeling and pretend to be alright. What if someone tries but fails, can I say, "He lost his brave face after that"? Or what would be ...
3
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4answers
253 views
Any alternative phrase for “piece of cake” [duplicate]
Are there other phrases to express easiness of the situation like the above mentioned phrase?
2
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4answers
295 views
Can “famous last words” be used in positive way as a response in conversation?
I came across the phrase, ““famous last words.” I took it literally as the last word delivered by famous people. But Wikipedia defines““famous last words” other than this sense as:
used in a ...
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2answers
157 views
What does “prisoner of birth” mean?
What does prisoner of birth mean?
I was reading a Jeffrey Archer novel of the same name, but couldn't figure out what this phrase really means.
3
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2answers
140 views
Is it correct to say “don't let it trouble you”?
I am wondering if it is correct to use the sentence "Don't let it trouble you."
Would native speakers find it natural?
0
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3answers
82 views
Although correct, is “the above” to be avoided?
Although the phrase the above is not exactly incorrect, should it be avoided?
For example, imagine a letter with a heading "Re: Order for 79 purple cardboard slugs". Should a paragraph in the letter ...
1
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4answers
133 views
What's the meaning of “I put the chic in freak”?
I am a non-native speaker of English (Polish) and I teach English as a Foreign Language in Poland. A few months ago I came across this phrase / sentence printed on the student's notebook and got ...
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2answers
162 views
Phrase “I will not fail you” [closed]
This phrase "I will not fail you",
Is it formal or informal?
What are the other words used to convey the same feelings?
0
votes
1answer
60 views
Can “the fact that X” imply “X is a fact”? [closed]
A: How do I know if my professor is good?
B: Do you understand what he says?
A: Yes, but that might be because I'm a natural genius, and not
necessarily the fact that he is good at ...
1
vote
4answers
104 views
Can “how not” stand for “of course”? [closed]
In Spanish, "how not" can mean "of course". I'm not sure whether one can translate literally that expression. Is the following correct English?
When I went to the spa I chatted with Ann for a ...
1
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3answers
785 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, ...
9
votes
3answers
394 views
What does “Sleep through the Second Coming” mean?
There is the following statement in Jeffery Archer’s fiction “Kane & Abel,” in which William Kane, one of the two heroes looks at his wife sleeping soundly on bed unaware of his big problem:
...
3
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1answer
115 views
Is an implied “I know” considered correct English in this type of phrasing
I often read or hear statements like "Joe robbed the bank because I saw him running away with the money." Clearly, the literal interpretation is not the intended meaning and there is an understood "I ...
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1answer
106 views
hands on training [closed]
when can we use "hands on training" ?
Does it mean that you have some thorough knowledge or a practical knowledge about that particular thing ?
2
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1answer
91 views
Avoiding “is that” when adding an explanatory subordinate clause to a sentence in academic writing
Consider the following sentence as a starter of the final paragraph of an article:
While previous studies have proven to be valuable, a potential drawback of the type of methods used is that they ...
-2
votes
2answers
101 views
Is there a formal version of “he's the real thing”? [closed]
Is there a formal version of "he's the real thing"?
As in:
Man, she's really good at tennis!
She plays national. She's the real thing.
0
votes
6answers
145 views
I need another phrase for “as expected” or “it would follow”?
I am writing a technical paper where I have described an experiment resulting in "x". Then I go on to describe the result of a second experiment whose result was expected since the reason was deduced ...
2
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2answers
229 views
Is the usage of “in your humble opinion” correct?
We use "in my humble opinion" to express humility. But I even see usage of "in your humble opinion" to ask for others' opinions. What does it mean?
I see the usage in the original message here, ...
8
votes
4answers
374 views
Original Meaning and Derivation of “Ever and Anon”
A question posted today asks about the Use of “ever” in non-negated sentence, and one answer happens to mention the phrase "ever and anon." That phrase, with the meaning "occasionally or repeatedly," ...
1
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1answer
34 views
How to phrase multiple descriptions each applied to multiple objects
Let's say I've got two departments: Sales and Marketing. Each department generates Reports and Recommendations.
To refer to all of that, I've written: "Sales and Marketing Reports and ...
-1
votes
1answer
71 views
Meaning of “circle of fatality” [closed]
Basically, I'm having trouble with the following sentence:
Difficulty in breaking through the circle of fatality.
I'm currently looking through a random horoscope and I'm finding difficulty ...
1
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4answers
109 views
What is the proper phrase for being in one's official limits, probably when quoting something?
While quoting something, the consideration of the fact that it does not offend the sentiments of a community or culture one belongs to. How do we ask that in one sentence e.g Did I remain in my ...
1
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2answers
120 views
Meaning and usage of “stuck in the craw” [closed]
Can you please explain the meaning and give some usage examples for "stuck in the craw" expression?
Just come across this expression in following sentence (a bit lengthy):
But what stuck in the ...
3
votes
2answers
247 views
Is there a phrase for not arguing about taste?
In Hebrew there is a phrase that roughly translates:
On taste and smell there is no point in arguing.
This is of course because both are very subjective.
Is there an English phrase that passes ...
-2
votes
1answer
181 views
“Well known to” vs. “ Well known by” [closed]
When do you use well known to vs. well known by?
He was well known to his people.
This was a fact well known by him.
0
votes
1answer
61 views
Urge Her Against Him [closed]
For this:
google book
"With one hand on the small of her back, and another just a bit lower, he urged her against him again. The woman was melting his resolve and calling into question his ...
1
vote
1answer
218 views
What is the connection between motherhood and apple pie?
I know the idiom motherhood and apple pie is used to denote some principles with which few disagree. But what is the connection between motherhood and apple pie? I am not very familiar with American ...
2
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2answers
158 views
Is “Mind-meld” analogous to “Brainwashing”?
U.S. media are now abuzz about Presient Obama’s remark, “I should somehow do a Jedi mind-meld with these folks” at the press conference after sequestration meeing with Congressional leaders at the ...
1
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1answer
157 views
What does “crystal ball” mean in the context? [closed]
I just asked a question on Stackoverflow. They closed it because it needed a "crystal ball" to answer such questions.
My concept of "crystal ball" makes me interpret it as that we need some magic to ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
What is a person if they are described as a “wet hen”?
In Terry Pratchett's Discworld books (Witches Abroad in particular), the character Magrat Garlick is often called a "wet hen" by at least one of her witch colleagues.
Web searches only yielded the ...
5
votes
3answers
180 views
Phrase synonymous to “a general understanding”?
I am writing a goal where I would like to replace the phrase "a general understanding" with something synonymous.
The whole line reads:
Writes clean and concise code that reflects a general ...
-3
votes
2answers
218 views
What are some interesting phrases which suggest that you are extremely busy? [closed]
If I want to say
I’m extremely busy, I have no time, since I have my exams next month.
What are some interesting replacements for the bold text, both colloquial and written?
e.g. I am busy as a ...
1
vote
1answer
167 views
What does “fresh-off-the-vine technologies” mean?
Time magazine (February 11) carries an article reviewing the fast evolution of drone technology and problems and opportunities involved with President Obama’s “drone campaign”, under the title Drone ...
3
votes
2answers
108 views
“taste for” vs. “taste in”
What is the correct usage of 'taste for' and 'taste in'?
You have a good taste for music
You have a good taste in music.
Your taste for books is pathetic
1
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1answer
161 views
'by mistakenly, he dropped it' is it grammatically correct?
Can I use both words 'by mistakenly' together? I feel that either I can put it as ' by mistake' or as' mistakenly' but not together.
0
votes
1answer
142 views
Under which cases should an article (a/an/the) not be used? [duplicate]
The current machine has been repaired.
Current machine has been repaired.
Which is more natural? What are the subtle differences between them?
Under which cases should an article ...
1
vote
1answer
90 views
What does “get down with the kids” or “be down with the kids” mean? [duplicate]
To show how “down with the kids” she was.
He sounds like someone’s dad trying to “get down with” the kids.
Can somebody tell me what “down with” means in these sentences?
5
votes
3answers
120 views
“This is actually true” vs. [sic]
I often find myself in need of a short expression, to emphasize that what I just wrote (not quoted) is actually true. In cases of paradoxes or illogical truths for instance, like The Monty Hall ...
0
votes
2answers
97 views
Is the phrase “you can’t wait for your life to begin” a pattern phrase?
In Jeffery Archer’s popular novel, “Kane & Abel,” there is a scene where William Kane, a brilliant student of St. Paul’s and one of two leading characters of this novel seduced by the wife of the ...
2
votes
6answers
396 views
How can I say “not any time soon, but it won't take a long time either”?
I was writing an email to a client about a feature we plan to eventually release, maybe in a couple months, but they want some of the functionality now. I initially wrote:
If there's something ...
2
votes
2answers
144 views
Is “stepmother treatment” Indian English?
When I googled stepmother treatment, I found that it was mainly used in India to refer to neglect, disregard or inattention. Most of the other non-Indian links talked about the literal treatment by ...
3
votes
1answer
418 views
“personal issue”, “private issue”, “personal affair”, or “personal business”?
I need to send my boss mail explaining that because of a personal issue I need to handle, I can’t attend the conference. Which of these phrases would best express that I have my own business to deal ...
0
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4answers
155 views
Where does the phrase “fall into two camps” come from?
"People fall into two camps" is a common phrase used to describe two groups of people with opposing or different views. Where does it come from?
3
votes
2answers
474 views
“integer multiple” vs. “integral multiple”
Nine is an integer multiple of three.
Nine is an integral multiple of three.
Which is more common?
If both are accepted, what's the subtle difference between them?
