A phrase is a group of words that make a unit of syntax with a single grammatical function.
5
votes
1answer
46 views
Etymology of “typeface Weight”
My boss stated that he noticed the word "weight" is used to refer to the boldness of a character, and stated that he felt this was a new occurrence.
My gut feeling is that this is an old term, ...
13
votes
3answers
3k views
What is the difference between “here we go” and “there we go”?
As a non-native speaker, I cannot grasp any difference between the expressions "here we go" and "there we go": both expressions seem to underline an event that is going to happen immediately.
Is ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
is this sentence ok? “range from…to” [closed]
"13 of 71 units are grinding plants, in which clinker is purchased and combined with gypsum and other additives in order to manufacture portland cement. The other factories are complete industrial ...
6
votes
2answers
142 views
Etymology of “blackguard rating” in the context of the British Army during the Crimean War
From Wikipedia:
I never had such a blackguard rating in all my life – I who have had more than any woman – than from this Barry sitting on his horse, while I was crossing the Hospital Square with ...
-1
votes
2answers
43 views
Which one is correct? “I have work experience in ” or “I had work experience in”? [closed]
Which one is correct?
I have previous work experience in IBM in PHP domain during the period 2009-2010.
OR
I had previous work experience in IBM in PHP domain during the period 2009-2010.
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Would you say “wanna” when you want something? [closed]
Would you say "wanna" when you want something? For example, "I wanna a new PC", instead of "I want a new PC"?
6
votes
5answers
3k views
What is the origin of “stitched up like a kipper”?
I've heard the phrase so many times, but only now am wondering where it comes from.
I know it is used to mean that someone has been tricked, or has in some way fallen for a trap.
e.g.
Bob: So I ...
2
votes
4answers
709 views
Alternative to “as-well-as” for an academic paper
Is there some better alternative to phrase as well as for an academic writing? It sounds to me too informal.
The whole sentence is:
Improvements of both parts are possible as well as joining ...
12
votes
4answers
613 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
...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
What's the meaning of “what am I to do” [closed]
Is "what am I to do" be commonly used in daily lives?
Also what do following sentences imply?
What should I do the next?
What am I to do the next?
Please.
5
votes
3answers
12k views
What is the origin of the phrase “Top of the morning to you”?
Each morning, a colleague of mine greets me with the phrase:
Top of the morning to you!
I've tried to figure out what the meaning of this really is and how to properly respond, however there ...
3
votes
2answers
120 views
Is the phrase “congenital birth defect” redundant?
con-gen-i-tal: (m-w.com)
existing at or dating from birth [congenital deafness]
acquired during development in the uterus and not through heredity [congenital syphilis]
I ran across the phrase ...
0
votes
0answers
73 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
982 views
“What's the problem with you?” vs. “What's the matter with you?”
Is there a difference between saying What's the problem with you? and What's the matter with you?
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Is it correct to say “I would like to inquire about something?”
When I make a call to get some information regarding a matter, I generally start the conversation with "Hello, I would like to inquire about something."
Is this a correct usage? If not, what would be ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
How to use “I love you”?
In Italy, you have two options to say "I love you", I'll try to translate them the best I can:
I love you (Ti amo.)
I want you to be ok (Ti voglio bene.)
The fact is that in English, both ti amo ...
1
vote
0answers
43 views
Understanding a passage in relation with 'Clauses' and 'Phrases' [migrated]
Below is the screenshot of a passage from 'Oxford Guide to English Grammar by John Eastwood'.
The passage says A clause has a subject and a verb. Subject and Verb are the elements of a sentence or ...
8
votes
5answers
726 views
Can I use “You say Tomato, I (we) say X,” in the exactly same manner as “We agree to disagree,” in day-to-day conversation?
I found an interesting phrase, “You say Tomato, I say X” in the headline of the article of Time magazine (June 9).
The headline and lead copy read:
“You say Tomato, I say Bailout: How Spain agreed to ...
1
vote
0answers
84 views
“Got Notifications” vs. “Received Notifications”
For some reason the phrase "Got Notifications" seems rough. "Received Notifications" sounds a bit more natural.
Is there something wrong with the phrase "Got Notifications"? Is there a principle ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the origin of the phrase “Eastern Seaboard”?
Today upon hearing reports about how Hurricane Earl was going to hug the Eastern Seaboard I couldn't help but think how strange this phrase is. Is "seaboard" used in any other contexts? What is the ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the difference between an expression and a phrase?
I'm trying to decide what tags I should be using and realized I did not know the difference between these terms.
5
votes
8answers
2k views
“Does it make sense?” or “Do you understand me?”?
Suppose I tell something to my companion and I want to make sure he understands me. I thought I may simply ask "Do you understand me?". But recently I heard that in such cases I should ask "Does it ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Does “price of delayed order” mean same as “delayed order price”?
Do these two phrases have the same meaning?
price of delayed order
delayed order price
I think they are the same, but I'm not sure. Which is more common and less difficult to understand ...
-1
votes
0answers
40 views
What is the meaning of “get owned by” [closed]
I watched a video titled below;
"KJU(initial of name) gets owned by an angry pakistani reporter".
The story ends up with a reporter slapping KJU.
So do these have the same meaning; 'A slap(or ...
3
votes
4answers
3k views
What is the etymology of “bugger-lugs”?
I have recently heard the phrase bugger-lugs used to refer to a person present, as in "How much do I owe you, bugger-lugs?". I have also heard it used to refer to a moderately mischievous child ("what ...
-1
votes
1answer
82 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 ?
8
votes
2answers
185 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
95 views
Phrase for “suddenly wake up of a dream”
What is a natural thing to say when you suddenly wake up of a dream?
The impression I have in mind is of something like burst/tear apart or escape from the dream scene by waking up.
0
votes
1answer
49 views
What “pining and repining” meant in 17th century?
...like in : may be dying or even pining and repining" or "dragging the pining ang repining victim to the grave"?
-1
votes
0answers
55 views
“Take you in the sky” vs. “bring you up to the sky” vs. “get you in the sky” — which one is correct?
If I have got a pilot licence, I will take you in the sky/bring you up to the sky/get you in the sky. Which one is correct?
0
votes
1answer
117 views
Meaning of “a rage of vision”?
What is the meaning of “had sent him a rage of vision” in this excerpt:
The old man was in a position to know what his ideas were. He had lived for three months in the nephew's house on what he ...
8
votes
10answers
594 views
“You get what you deserve nothing more nothing less”
In this world we reside, what we acquire depends on what we can acquire. In other words, if we have the money to, we can buy a house; if we have the necessary educational qualifications to, we can get ...
2
votes
3answers
702 views
What does “throw back” mean?
In this sentence:
I've throw back a lot of orange juice.
what does "throw back" mean?
-3
votes
2answers
42 views
How would you concisely express 'the range of dates in which something is expected to happen'?
I need a conside expression for "the range of dates in which someone expects something might happen". For instance,
I called John to ask him for a more precise period in which he estimated he ...
-2
votes
0answers
79 views
Is the phrase “make my day” instead of “made ..” [closed]
Is it correct if want say : That would make my day ?
because it's future
2
votes
2answers
459 views
Origin of “smooth operator”
I'm interested in the origin of the term smooth operator. Does anyone know where it came from? What kind of operation?
0
votes
1answer
104 views
“For example” vs. “just to name a few”
How would you explain the differences between using "for example" and "just to name a few" in the following multiple choice:
Your smartphone might give you a wake up call, send you emails, help ...
-1
votes
1answer
91 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!
0
votes
0answers
53 views
How do you express a natural habit of a species?
I am curious to know about the plural/singular form of addressing a species. For example, which expression is correct or more appropriate:
Lion does not eat wolf
Lions do not eat wolves
Or ...
3
votes
2answers
13k views
What is the origin and meaning of the phrase 'bane of my existence'?
A friend recently used the phrase 'bane of my existence' and, while I'm familiar with the phrase, I would like to know its origin and meaning.
3
votes
1answer
62 views
“puzzled why” vs “puzzled as to why”
Is "puzzled why" correct as well? Is it just a choice of style? Or is there a difference in meaning? And if so, I'm curious (as to) what that difference is.
3
votes
1answer
89 views
What does “typed-out paralysis” mean exactly?
I found the article titled “A writing coach becomes a listener” in April 28 New York Times ...
3
votes
5answers
19k views
Which is correct: “drive safe” or “drive safely”?
Which one is correct? Similarly, is "do good" correct?
2
votes
1answer
90 views
“Off on a tangent” vs. “off tangent.”
Tonight I heard someone say, "We're going off tangent here."
I take this to be a mistaken conflation of "off on a tangent" with "off track."
However, is a shift occurring? Is "off tangent" ...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Should I say “I make a living by teaching” or “I make a living teaching”? Which one is correct? Is the preposition 'by' necessary?
I am confused about the correct usage of the phrasal verb, 'make a living'. I don't know whether I should add the preposition 'by' at the end of it.
I looked up several dictionaries, most of which ...
0
votes
1answer
3k views
Exact meaning of “sense of well being”?
I want to find the exact/literal/detailed meaning of the phrase "sense of well being". Not just "well being", but "sense of well being". (What exactly is meant by "sense"?)
Note: I understand what ...
-3
votes
0answers
65 views
What's the meaning of the phrase “knock the handle”? [closed]
Don't really know if it's a phrase, just read it somewhere.
0
votes
1answer
66 views
“Go ahead and head on over to …”
I've noticed that "go ahead and head on over to [...]" seems to prevail more and more over simply "go to [...]". This phenomenon is particularly noticeable on the Internet; not only in articles, ...
8
votes
2answers
3k views
Origin of “More X than you can shake a stick at”
What is the origin of the phrase "more X than you can shake a stick at"?
Every website I've seen on this basically says the same thing (e.g., http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sha2.htm):
Recorded ...
0
votes
3answers
84 views
The Phrase “dont worry” is rather overused [closed]
Does anyone have any other ways of saying 'don't worry' or 'don't worry about it'?
I feel the phrase is overused and implies that people actually do worry which in a lot of cases they don't.
I want ...
