Tagged Questions

-4
votes
1answer
90 views

“Haven't” vs. “hadn't”

Are there any differences in meaning between the two sentences? We hadn't left the place yet; we will be there in 10 minutes. We haven't left the place yet; we will be there in 10 minutes. ...
2
votes
2answers
124 views

When did the term 'get lost' first come to use?

Have tacked this term to be an American idiom. Does anyone know when it came to popular use or was first used there?
0
votes
3answers
3k views

“Please note” vs. “please notice” [closed]

When I'm writing a text and want to ask the reader to pay close attention to a point, should I write "Please note" or "Please notice"? Is there any difference?
3
votes
1answer
91 views

“Tabled”, US vs UK [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: What is the meaning of the expression “We can table this”? Here's an example snippet for some context. Ann had an idea. We tabled her idea. In the UK this means ...
3
votes
3answers
163 views

He considers that X is Y. vs He thinks that X is Y

The following verb in sentence 1 strikes me as strange when it has the same meaning as in sentences 2 and 3 below. He considers that blue cheese is delicious. He thinks that blue cheese is ...
1
vote
4answers
291 views

Synonyms for “curate” in US English

What synonyms are there for "curate", as in (to quote here) to select, organize, and present (suitable content, typically for online or computational use), using professional or expert knowledge ...
4
votes
2answers
173 views

Is “Songify” a well-received word as an English neology?

I came across the word “songify” for the first time in the article of October 23 NY Times titled ‘Yes We Chant’ with the sub-head, “The Gregory Brothers songify the debate, with Gregorian chanting.” ...
-3
votes
1answer
567 views

what is the difference between “hook up with” and “have sex with”? [closed]

I would like to know the subtle difference between hook up and have sex. I'm asking because hook up seems have a subtly different meaning than have sex: in the situations I've heard this word it seems ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views

Past tense of 'dive' [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: UK English: Is “dived” a valid word? Can anybody explain the difference between dived and dove in the following sentence? He  __  in to the ...
0
votes
4answers
197 views

The first batch of special prizes “have vs. has” [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Is “group” singular or plural? Which is correct? The first batch of special prizes has been distributed. The first batch of special prizes have been ...
-1
votes
3answers
137 views

What's the meaning of “root” in “you root for the favorite”? [closed]

What's the meaning of root in this context? You root for the favorite. You cry when they go away.
10
votes
6answers
970 views

Is using the present perfect old fashioned?

I was talking to a Singaporean (English is her native language. I think, closer to American rather than British) friend. I learned in English class that you can use present perfect when there is a ...
5
votes
2answers
229 views

Meaning of the verb “to pooch”?

I'm familiar with the word pooch as a cute synonym of doggy, but here is pooch used as a verb: It was just a poorly done deal and it just so happens to be the biggest deal ever for Nasdaq and they ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views

bring and take- when do you use each? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: “Bring” vs. “take” in American English “Bring” versus “take” When is it proper to use "bring" and when is it proper to use "take"? My British ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views

“Have a breakfast” or “eat a breakfast” in AmE

Which expression do Americans prefer, have a breakfast or eat a breakfast?
7
votes
6answers
6k views

'Expired' or 'Passed away'?

When someone dies, do we say they expired or passed away? Does the word expired give any more respect when used? Or less respect than passed away?
1
vote
2answers
280 views

Difference between “engage” and “hire”

For example, "We decide to engage a lawyer for the case." "We decide to hire a lawyer for the case." Is engage used particularly in British English? Do speakers of American English use engage in ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views

“Interfere in” vs. “interfere with”

I was taught that when interfere is followed by in, it means to get involved in something that doesn't concern you; when followed by with, it means to prevent something from being done. And this is ...
13
votes
2answers
5k views

Why is the phrase “should have went” so widely used?

Rarely do we hear "should have gone" in common speech. Some background: My father immigrated to the US in the late 60s. He learned English first overseas, British English. Then he studied extensively ...
1
vote
3answers
162 views

Is “dawdle” a common verb in American English?

Is "dawdle" a common verb in American English? In my limited experience I have never heard Americans use it.
6
votes
4answers
6k views

Which is more correct: “burgled” or “burglarized”?

Which is more correct: We were burgled yesterday. or We were burglarized yesterday. I'm from the U.K. and never use burglarized but my friend from the U.S.A. seems to think it's OK.
19
votes
7answers
10k views

Can 'revert' be used as a synonym of 'reply'?

I am a native speaker of American English, and I have only ever heard this usage of the word revert from one person. This person is not a native English speaker (he is from India), so he may just be ...
11
votes
4answers
3k views

Can or should “ask” ever be used as a noun?

"The ask is that you provide me with..." I started hearing "ask" being used as a noun a few years ago. Is this a recent trend? Is it an East Coast thing, unique to North America, or just unique to ...
3
votes
3answers
8k views

Difference between “get” and “take”

What is the difference between "get" and "take"? Both are used to describe receiving something. By intuition I mostly guess which one to use, but would like to know some rule which will stick in my ...