Tagged Questions
-5
votes
1answer
121 views
Why is the noun 'sex' uncountable? [closed]
According to the definition of the noun 'sex' in dictionaries, it means 'the PHYSICAL ACTIVITY that two people do together in order to produce babies or for pleasure.' If so, why isn't it countable?
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3
votes
3answers
85 views
Parallelism with “in order to”
Which of the following is grammatically correct, or are they both gramatically correct?
We use this product in order to increase work efficiency and to streamline testing.
We use this product in ...
4
votes
2answers
206 views
Is “Would rather have had one’s tooth pulled than doing,” an idiom or common saying?
I found the following quote from Sally Ozonof the MIND Institute of the University of California, who discovered that some children who exhibit symptoms of autism recover completely in “Quotation of ...
1
vote
2answers
638 views
Why do we say “I envy you your <something>”?
That construction has always bothered me.
People will say it's because you envy a person not a thing, and that on the surface is okay, but then why isn't it I envy you for your thing, or because of ...
1
vote
2answers
231 views
Is “my place” correct and common in British English?
I was recently told that "my place", such as in "let's go to my place" is not commonly used in British English? Is that the case and what would you say instead?
2
votes
1answer
175 views
Can “You are an officer and a gentleman” be used to praise a good deed done by a person completely unrelated to armed forces?
Can "You are an officer and a gentleman" be used to praise a good deed done by a person completely unrelated to armed forces?
I would like to praise a friend of mine for an act of kindness. Is it ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
Use of sequences like “In modern's US” [closed]
Is it correct to use possessive case for referring to the time in consideration, like in
in today's US
in modern's US
in last century's England
etc?
-4
votes
2answers
109 views
'Fill an appeal' or 'file an appeal'? [closed]
I encountered both expressions but I am not sure which is correct.
Should I use "fill an appeal" or "file an appeal"?
10
votes
3answers
259 views
Is the word “borderline lunacy” a ‘stand-alone’ phrase or just an accidental combination of ‘borderline’ and ‘lunacy’?
I saw the word borderline lunacy in the scathing comment of a Republican strategist on Mitt Romney’s statement en route to London, Israel and Poland in Washington Post’s (7/31) article titled “Does ...
0
votes
2answers
226 views
Subtle distinction between “at once” and “all at once”?
According to OALD both "all at once" and "at once" can mean at the same time.
I can't do everything all at once
I can't do two things at once.
Don't all speak at once!
These examples ...
1
vote
0answers
1k views
“To a T” or “To a Tee”, and where does it come from? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Origin of “Fits [x] to a T”?
I frequently hear the phrase "To a T[ee]", but I'm not sure that I've ever seen it written. What is the correct way to write ...
3
votes
1answer
442 views
Is “Give (get) space” a common usage for “give (get) flexibility / freedom”?
NSNBC (March 26) reported that President Obama was overheard telling Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to “give him space" until after November during his meetings in South Korea on missile defense, ...
1
vote
2answers
510 views
How does one write “day in and day out”
I work like a dog day in and day out.
day-in and day-out?
day in, and day out?
, day in and day out?
Please advise.
2
votes
3answers
3k views
Usage of “as per”
Could you show me how to use the word as per in a sentence? Can I make sentences something like the following:
I changed the image as per the suggestion of my boss.
Or could you give me an ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Where did the phrase “shut up” as an expression of disbelief or amazement originate?
I recently heard shut up used according to this definition in Urban dictionary.
shut·up (shuht-up)
--interjection
1. An expression of disbelief.
2. Amazement; astonishment.
I've only ...
1
vote
1answer
113 views
“Loviest-doviest” or “lovey-doviest”?
I know that this term in its comparative form would 'lovier-dovier', but somehow I can't decide whether it is "loviest-doviest" or "lovey-doviest" Which is the correct form?
