Questions tagged [expressions]
This tag is for questions about expressions. Expressions are words or phrases used to convey an idea, or else a particular term used conventionally to express something. Consider phrase-requests and expression-requests if you are looking for an expression, phrase-meaning if you are unsure about the usage of a given phrase.
5,661
questions
6
votes
5
answers
9k
views
What word should I use to describe a kid who has pooped in their underwear?
I have seen some kids who can't go to the restroom in time and their poops stain on their underwear. I would like to know what word I can use to describe this situation?
- 6,166
0
votes
0
answers
62
views
Can any member in this group kindly explain to me the meaning of 'Storying' in the context of narrative qualitative ethnographic research? [closed]
I keep coming across the term storying in articles on narrative research. The authors however do not explain how the term storying is different in meaning and connotation from the term storytelling or ...
- 6,166
1
vote
3
answers
7k
views
The meaning of the expression "Never laugh at live dragons"
I'm a big Tolkien fan and have read LOTR and The Hobbit many times. However, there's one quote from The Hobbit that I've never fully understood, and that is the phrase, "Never laugh at live dragons". ...
-1
votes
0
answers
29
views
What does the phrase, 'as thus construed', mean? [closed]
What is the meaning of the phrase, 'as thus construed'?
I was writing an essay and felt that phrase was appropriate, but I looked it up with quotes on google and found only references in some legal ...
1
vote
3
answers
80
views
Ignorance is the opposite of bliss
The proverb "ignorance is bliss" is used to express that somebody feels better by not knowing all the details about a topic.
In an existing thread titled "ignorance is not bliss", ...
- 70.8k
0
votes
0
answers
17
views
How to use “ respectively” correctly [closed]
Is it correct to say
I had an early start on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and worked 8, 9.5 and 10 hours respectively.
- 6,166
0
votes
0
answers
18
views
Can I say 'Every other N-th (third, fourth) <something>'? [closed]
I know that I can use 'every other' to refer to something that takes one and skips the next and so on.
'Every other' example:
A B C D E F G
^...^...^...^
Could I say "every other third" to ...
- 121
5
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Origin of “ish kabibble” as an interjection i.e. 'What, me worry?'
In New York in the mid-70s, my ethnic German bride-to-be introduced me to an expression :
“ish kabibble”
At the moment, I thought it kind of catchy, and have used it ever since in milder WTF ...
- 65.2k
1
vote
4
answers
4k
views
Does “everywhere and nowhere” mean “irrelevant”?
An Italian student, a young man of twenty, came to me today with a bunch of papers in his bag. It was the questions and answers to a multiple choice English quiz. We're talking hundreds of questions. ...
- 1
16
votes
8
answers
16k
views
Origin of “Put up your dukes”
This link claims that one cannot be sure of origin of this phrase. Three explanations are given here, but they are not very convincing (I am not a native speaker).
In one of our newspapers, ...
10
votes
13
answers
4k
views
Use of the word "Dutchy" to describe a personality trait
When I first became interested in genealogy and started asking my grandparents about their parents and grandparents, they both described my grandmother's grandmother as "Dutchy". I initially thought I ...
0
votes
0
answers
24
views
what does the word "another" refers to in the sentence : "he could not forget or pardon a lapse in another"? [migrated]
I am quoting from The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Second Stain, by Arthur Conan Doyle : “Mr. Holmes, I will tell you everything,” cried the lady. “Oh, Mr. Holmes, I would cut off my right hand ...
- 2,014
0
votes
1
answer
237
views
Idioms or expressions defining either getting paid fully or being appreciated
I am looking for a common English expression/idiom that defines a situation below:
I have done some work for someone, and in return, they are not going to pay me the full payment. Then I will tell ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
how to properly use expression '3000 strong' army?
i recall reading some phrase to express when one wants to assess the size of a group or army:
"he has 3000-strong army", not in a sense "strong army" but to estimate the size of ...
- 376
20
votes
3
answers
89k
views
Difference between "Do it yourself" and "Do it by yourself"
What is the difference between "Do it yourself" and "Do it by yourself"? How and when should I use each of them?
- 8,310
4
votes
3
answers
882
views
What does 'that looks about it' mean?
(I'm South Korean, so non-native question here.)
I saw the sentence 'that looks about it'.
Does it mean that something is seemingly almost done?
I searched this expression on google but I couldn't ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
66
views
Inspiration catalyst? Looking for a term that describes seemingly out of the blue inspiration
I'm looking for a term for a curious situation that I've found myself in a couple of times.
A person discusses a new concept/invention.
I am a part of that conversation or simply overhear it.
I ...
- 6,567
-2
votes
1
answer
73
views
Was "wasn't Chaplin in that one?" an expression in the 1920s?
Boardwalk Empire has Nucky saying to his showgirl ("Billy Kent" a smart person who made little jokes often) girlfriend as he describes helping feed his impoverished family as a child when ...
- 65.2k
-2
votes
0
answers
29
views
Does "I'm gonna get it" mean that I'm going to get scolded or punished? [migrated]
As per the title: is I'm gonna get it an idiomatic, fixed expression? I cannot find any reference online where they provide a definition/explanation of such an expression.
I'm almost certain that in ...
- 80.5k
5
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Origin of "around the bend", meaning insane
Recently, American presidential candidate Joe Biden pointed out ……
…that Trump had said at one of his rallies that the country had "turned the corner" on the pandemic.
He riposted…
“As ...
- 271
6
votes
8
answers
36k
views
Origins of the phrase “You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”?
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
This phrase is famously used in Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan. The metaphor itself is so simple and powerful I'm sure it would'...
3
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What is the origin of the term 'blue ruin' for low-end gin?
I've looked on google and so far I can only find definitions and usage examples. I'm particularly curious where the 'blue' comes from as 'ruin' makes intuitive sense
3
votes
4
answers
60k
views
"Named" vs "called"
Over on Stackoverflow, I keep seeing questions wherein posters say:
*I have an item named SoAndSo (a table, a file, etc.).
Shouldn't it be:
*I have an item called SoAndSo.
Is "named" an acceptable ...
-1
votes
1
answer
35
views
Use of 'Cheers to that" [closed]
I have a doubt concerning the usage of the expression 'Cheers to that'.
I know it's usually used to celebrate a statement. But, I have sometimes heard it being used more as a reply to show agreement.
...
- 24.3k
59
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What word denotes a belief that apparently inanimate objects actually express a malicious, autonomous will?
I came across this word a few years ago, but can't find it now. I do not mean deodand, animism, pathetic fallacy, scapegoating, anthropomorphism, or personification (Word for attaching blame to ...
- 36.7k
1
vote
2
answers
91
views
Is it idiomatic to say "call of the blood"?
I've been struggling with this one...
I'm trying to figure out whether it's okay to use the expression "call of the blood" to describe the phenomenon of doing something naturally (or coming ...
- 80.5k
3
votes
4
answers
21k
views
Origins of "the weak are meat, and the strong do eat"
In the movie Cloud Atlas, Tom Hanks' earliest character ('Henry Goose') and Hugo Weaving's latest character ('Georgie') use the phrase
The weak are meat, and the strong do eat
Now, I don't think ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
51
views
"my stomach told me" VS "my guts told me"
I'm an English learner and I came across this sentence:
My stomach told me that this was unprecedented.
Does this expression mean that I had a feeling or my instincts told me that something that had ...
- 1,711
0
votes
4
answers
520
views
English equivalent of the French "Mettre au placard"
I am looking for an equivalent of the French “mettre au placard”.
It literally translates as “to put in the closet” and describes the fact of assigning no missions to someone on the job without ...
- 3,231
2
votes
0
answers
48
views
How to characterize Machiavelli's phrase, "The ends justify the means"? [closed]
This question has been raised and thoroughly discussed: "How to characterize the phrase, 'The ends justify the means.'" I wish to add a thought. As I was writing a book for publication, I ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
607
views
Is there a word to describe a person who asks for advice when they know what they should do?
I constantly find myself being asked in my life by my friends and family for advice. Often, after listening to the friend or family member's dilemma, I find that the person who is asking for said ...
- 158
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
A phone call you ask your friend to make to you in middle of a date
Is there a dedicated expression for a pre-arranged phone call you receive to give you an opportunity to politely get out of a situation (e.g. a dinner date)?
6
votes
1
answer
182
views
One less thing to worry about
I am not a native English speaker but I usually feel comfortable speaking or writing in English. I also have a linguistic background. But this morning I finished a task, wiped it from my whiteboard, ...
- 107
4
votes
3
answers
712
views
The meaning of 'option' in 'like hell's own option'
More from Thomas Harris:
The coffee mugs had the thick rims that dribble down the sides. Starling watched Inelle
Corey walk heavily away like hell's own option and drank half a cup with her ...
- 1
-1
votes
2
answers
27
views
Which one is appropriate when describing belonging?
Talking of memory, which is correct?
To my heart
Or
In my heart
If talking of belonging, which one is correct?
She always belong to my heart
Or
She's always in my heart
Can I use "always ...
- 134k
1
vote
3
answers
7k
views
What does "Honor this in the breach" mean?
The text below is from a book for engineers whose content is unimportant: the purpose of my question is only to understand, "honor this in the breach".
I searched this expression on the Internet, but ...
- 256
0
votes
2
answers
50
views
How to emphasize wide range of something (in two different senses)? [closed]
In a scientific abstract, I have a sentence like this:
Yet, numerous capture-mark-recapture data sets, across wide taxonomic
range, feature transient individuals.
I want to emphasize that there are ...
- 17.1k
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Origin of "I get that" vs "I get it"
In my experience the phrase "I get that" appeared in the last 5-10 years and has picked up a lot. I see it used often in television and movies. Contrast that with "I get it" which has been around ...
CommunityBot
- 1
29
votes
4
answers
9k
views
What is the origin of the minced oath “Jiminy”?
Jiminy, by jiminy, jumpin' jiminy etc
—used as a mild oath often in the phrases by jiminy, jiminy crickets, jiminy Christmas
-Merriam Webster
In a more innocent age, and long before the ubiquitous ...
10
votes
4
answers
24k
views
"Yeah Right" expression
Where does "Yeah right" come from? Can it be used in a formal writing? If not, what is a good alternative?
1
vote
3
answers
3k
views
Alternative term/phrase to 'Rule of thumb'?
I like using the term 'rule of thumb'.
e.g., "As a rule of thumb it takes 10,000 hrs of practice to master a skill"
However it has come to my attention that it it may have a less than favorable ...
- 65.2k
0
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Expression/ idiom meaning: "Hold your shoulders back!"
I was reading the poem Father Forgets (pdf) by W. Livingston Larned.
Part of the line said, "Goodbye, Daddy!"
I frowned, and said in reply, "Hold your shoulders back!"
I couldn't find the ...
3
votes
5
answers
216
views
What terms describe humorous acceptance of a compliment?
My wife complimented a chef on his delicate fish cookery last night.
Reply: "They're great, these boil-in-the-bag dishes."
I complimented a violinist on his performance recently and ...
- 510
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
play, go , do : sports
I am having some issues with using the right verb (go, play, do) with the following activities:
to do boxing or to go boxing;
to do archery;
to do high jump;
to do javelin;
to do or to go bungee ...
- 11
0
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What does it mean - writing a minivan?
Please see the img below.
What does "write me a new minivan" mean here?
PS: I am from a non English Speaking country.
- 113
0
votes
3
answers
441
views
If a high attrition rate is observed in a workforce, how do you state it as a characteristic of a generalized individual? Highly Mobile?
Here's the context:
Statement: Attrition among the X workforce is high.
Now I want to specify this at an individual's context. As in:
"The X worker is __"
What is the correct term here?
The X worker ...
- 2,784
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Etymology and meaning of the word "stretch" in sentences like "We should eat before the final stretch"
What is the origin of stretch as it is used in the following sentence?
We should eat before the final stretch.
In this context, final stretch is used to mean 'last segment', or 'the effort needed ...
- 5,804
4
votes
7
answers
31k
views
What is the origin of the phrase "grease the skids"?
What is the origin or derivation of the phrase "greasing the skids?"
The phrase connotes preparation, in such a way as to make the subsequent activities easier. Definitions are available various ...
- 161k
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
A phrase or word that is like "on the other hand" but for opposite ideas supporting the same argument [closed]
A sentence such as "I should go cycling because my head says it is good for my longevity and on the other hand in my heart I am passionate about it" does not make much sense.
On the one hand the ...
- 80.5k
16
votes
7
answers
32k
views
Where does the phrase of "boredom punctuated by moments of terror" come from?
I have often seen war described as "interminable boredom punctuated by moments of terror," or some variant thereof. More recently, it seems that I have been hearing this phrase used to describe other ...
- 161k