A phrase is a group of words that make a unit of syntax with a single grammatical function.
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2answers
564 views
How to connect a word and a phrase with a hyphen?
For example, "file system" and "related". Is it "file system-related"? It will appear as if it is a compound of "file" and "system-related", won't it?
38
votes
4answers
20k views
When “etc.” is at the end of a phrase, do you place a period after it?
Example:
It's all about apples, oranges, bananas, etc.
VS.
It's all about apples, oranges, bananas, etc..
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votes
4answers
2k views
“The thing is, is that…”
This is a phrase I've heard many people use, and it sounds wrong to me; e.g.:
The thing about that is, is that she might take it the wrong way.
It seems to treat "The thing [...] is"—the entire ...
10
votes
1answer
748 views
The construction of “Known but to God”
The Tomb of the Unknown Solider has the engraving "KNOWN BUT TO GOD", as presumably no man knows his name, but shouldn't it read "unknown, but to God", as the default for everyone is "unknown", with ...
7
votes
7answers
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What does “had had” mean? How does this differ from “had”?
For example, what is the difference between the following two sentences:
I had a bad day
I had had a bad day
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votes
3answers
1k views
“to be all but X”
What does "all but" mean in this expression?
Today, under pressure from P2P distribution, optical disc piracy in wealthy countries is "all but eliminated" and profit margins elsewhere are slim.
...
14
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3answers
3k views
Origin of “Fits [x] to a T”?
The above phrase is something I've known for as long as I can remember, though I don't know from where. What is its origin and usage?
13
votes
12answers
2k views
Phrase for focusing on unimportant details
I'm looking for a idiom or saying that I could use when people are focusing too much on small details and not seeing the big picture.
A couple that come to mind are "being penny-wise and pound ...
8
votes
2answers
365 views
“Try to save” or “try saving”
Are both try to save the file and try saving the file grammatically correct? If so, is there any difference in meaning?
12
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1answer
1k views
14
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5answers
1k views
Is employing hyperbaton correct in English?
I've often seen the sentence structure "____ does not a ____ make" which I've now discovered is called hyperbaton.
the use, especially for emphasis, of a word order other than the expected or ...
5
votes
2answers
262 views
Is there a name for “I don't mean to…, but” phrases?
"I don't mean to change the subject, but..." but you are changing the
subject.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but..." but you are interrupting.
Is there a name for these type of "polite" ...
3
votes
5answers
19k views
Which is correct: “drive safe” or “drive safely”?
Which one is correct? Similarly, is "do good" correct?
2
votes
6answers
595 views
Is 'low speed' finally proving its merit?
Technically, you should expect the term low speed, not slow speed (which is obviously illogical).
However, it seems the two phrases co-existed as long as one can look back: with low speed fighting ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the origin of the phrase “not to mention …”
Of course whatever follows would seem to be precisely the thing that isn't to be mentioned.
EDIT: I'm assuming that the phrase must have evolved from something more complete/cumbersome, like "and of ...
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votes
3answers
2k views
What does the suffix “‑fu” mean?
Can anyone tell me what the suffix “‑fu” stands for in the following sentence?
If you want to take advantage of some other Spring-fu, like some of its aspect-oriented features, then you’ll need to ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
What does “suck it up and go” mean?
I came across the phrase, “suck it up and go” in the columnist’s answer to a question from a reader of Carolyn Hax's column in Washington Post’s “Lifestyle” section (July 2nd).
The Q&A titled ...
4
votes
4answers
392 views
What do you call the exploitation of ambiguous statements to form a logical argument?
If I were construct an argument containing the postulation
Men commit more crimes than women.
I would be guilty of a logical fallacy because this statement implies
All men commit crimes.
The ...
3
votes
3answers
498 views
“Needs cleaned” or “needs to be cleaned”
I'm from Western Pa. Until I moved away, I never realized that when I omitted the to be from phrases like needs to be cleaned, my usage was different than what most English speakers are accustomed to. ...
14
votes
2answers
2k views
“Broken my duck”? Is this a common idiom/phrase?
I steal this phrase from a comment on Meta Stack Overflow:
yep, I think I've broken my duck or so to speak :) – Kev♦ 51 mins ago
The context is one of having been basically broken into a ...
12
votes
5answers
942 views
Please explain “I Am America (And So Can You!)”
As a non-native speaker, I found Stephen Colbert’s book title I Am America (And So Can You!) a little hard to dissect. Why so can you? Why isn’t it So Are You? What’s the full phrase that And So Can ...
9
votes
4answers
8k views
Origin of the phrase, “There's more than one way to skin a cat.”
The meaning is clear, but where did this phrase originate? Was it always such a gruesome reference?
8
votes
8answers
7k views
What does “I know, right?” mean?
Not only is my seventh grader using this phrase, but her teachers are as well.
I suppose it means I totally agree with you and you totally agree with me but it sounds like there is a subtle Is that ...
5
votes
1answer
991 views
What's the origin of “I'm down with it”?
I understand it's an expression of agreement. What exactly does it mean and where did it originate from?
5
votes
3answers
3k views
What is the origin of the phrase “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”?
I thought it'd be frightfully easy to find the etymology of this cliche on the Internet, but so far I haven't had any luck...
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votes
20answers
3k views
Are there other idioms like “a stone's throw away” that both describe an activity and act as a measurement?
If something is quite close by, it could be described as being a stone's throw away; even closer might be a hop, skip and a jump. I'm interested in these "units" of measurement based on human action. ...
20
votes
8answers
28k views
Is it correct to say Person A is the “spitting image” or the “splitting image” of Person B?
I understand that when trying to describe a person who has a resemblance to another, the common term is spitting image. As in:
Person A is a spitting image of Person B.
Here's my issue, I've ...
7
votes
7answers
697 views
What are some of the most influential or obscure phrases and literary constructions drawn from the Bible?
I was reading through some English L & U SE questions, and happened across one asking about the origin of the phrase "Through a Glass, Clearly / A Scanner Darkly / In a Mirror, Darkly / ...
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4answers
11k views
What does “something 101” mean? [closed]
Many times I saw the phrase something 101, such as Microsoft Excel 101. What exactly does it mean?
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votes
6answers
4k views
Why do we say “I win” instead of “I won”?
For a long time I was wondering why there is I win instead of I won. I met such usage in a lot of games and movies.
For me, it's logical to say I won, because this winning action is done already. I ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
“anymore” vs. “any more”
any more requests
anymore requests
Are these two the same? It seems that "any more requests" is grammatically correct while "anymore requests" is not. Am I right? Why are they different?
11
votes
1answer
512 views
What is this an example of: “I couldn't fail not to disagree with you less”?
Eisenhower used it constantly to fend off reporters. Is there a term to describe this type of phrase?
8
votes
3answers
6k views
Difference between phrase, idiom and expression [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the difference between an expression and a phrase?
Difference between “phrase” and “idiom”
What is the difference between a phrase, an ...
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
553 views
Phrasing “An hour's rest”
I was just posting a question to the Homebrewing StackExchange, and I found myself pondering the proper way to express my sentiment.
I first wrote "an hour's rest", but upon review, I deemed the ...
3
votes
2answers
313 views
“A wrong answer” vs “the wrong answer”
In English, when presented with a list (real or imagined) or answers that could be given to a question, and the correct one is not given, we will say that somebody has given "the wrong answer". ...
3
votes
5answers
2k views
Usage of “so that”
I am working on a paper, and the following phrasing was suggested:
In the protein-protein interaction
(PPI) network, nodes represent
proteins and edges represent
connections between them, ...
17
votes
8answers
3k views
Ripe with Opportunity? Or Rife?
The Grammarist says I should use rife with rather than ripe with.
So far so good and I agree. But is there an exception for ripe with opportunity?
Googlefight overwhelmingly prefers ripe, and I like ...
16
votes
5answers
4k views
Origin of “Too Clever by Half”
The phrase "Too Clever by Half" is used to criticize someone for being overconfident in their thinking.
What is the origin of this phrase?
I read somewhere that it started as a backhanded compliment ...
15
votes
5answers
7k views
What is the origin of “holy smoke”?
What is the origin of holy smoke?
To what is holy smoke referring?
9
votes
3answers
4k views
6
votes
4answers
376 views
There is no headache strong enough, that a good coffee won't relieve
I heard this phrase today and I'm pretty sure that there is something wrong with it. I do not know if it is the grammar or the syntax or the meaning of the words. Can you please tell me what the ...
6
votes
1answer
411 views
“How big of a problem” vs. “how big a problem”
Quite a few phrases in English are constructed like so:
How [adjective] a [noun]...?
This is the question form of the construction, which is often answered with the negative:
Not that ...
6
votes
3answers
446 views
What is the origin of the phrase “to take a rain check”
I know what it means, but can't really see the reasoning of this phrase. Anyone with an insight?
6
votes
4answers
10k views
What is the meaning of “Many a mickle makes a muckle”?
I've heard this phrase, and don't know what a "mickle" or a "muckle" is. Hence I have no idea at all what the phrase itself is supposed to mean.
5
votes
0answers
431 views
Etymology of “to coin a phrase” [closed]
Quite simply — who coined the phrase "to coin a phrase"?
I'm sure it wasn't one person, but it's the origin that is of interest.
5
votes
2answers
4k views
“Tit for tat”—Where does this come from?
I always ask myself where this saying originates. I only know the individual words, tit and tat, but why is this a saying?
4
votes
1answer
127 views
“How did I do this” or “how did I do that”?
Is there a difference between:
How did I do this?
and
How did I do that?
If not, is there a preferred one? If they are different, when should I choose one over the other?
I am not a ...
4
votes
4answers
400 views
Is “since I'm” now an acceptable alternative to “since I was”?
In a recent episode of the television show Entourage, Ari Gold (a 40 year old man) says:
I've known her since I'm 19.
In an episode of Sex and the City, a character, who is 15, tells Carrie:
...
4
votes
5answers
2k views
“Good night” or “good evening”?
If it's 7:30pm, which of these phrases is correct, Good night or Good evening?
