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
7
votes
4
answers
10k
views
What does the expression 'Do the fish' mean?
I just recently heard this expression and couldn't quite figure out its meaning from the context, unless it means something like "take the bait."
Is this a common expression? Is it perhaps an ...
- 1,560
2
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Properly refer to the turn of the year
During a meeting I was explaining a problem that only occurs once year: when one year ends and new one begins. Specifically during the first few days of the new year. Unfortunately, I was lost for ...
- 11.2k
2
votes
2
answers
239
views
meaing of the expression: It’s a safeguard for the creep of subjectivity
"It’s a safeguard for the creep of subjectivity."
Read more
- 11.2k
11
votes
3
answers
145k
views
What does "what's the catch" mean?
It sounds like a marketing term. Does it mean "However there are some points to take note"?
- 221
3
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What does 'outsize character' mean?
I saw the following sentence in today's New York Times:
Despite questions about their coach's outsize personality, the Jets have won three playoff games in two seasons under Rex Ryan.
As the ...
- 70.1k
3
votes
3
answers
468
views
Which one is the proper alternative ? niche / field / area / domain
I'm developing software that asks user to specify a niche / field / area / domain of the document he is uploading. It can be business proposal, technical documentation, official stuff, correspondence, ...
- 811
16
votes
8
answers
57k
views
What is the origin of the phrase "when push comes to shove"?
"When push comes to shove" means "as a last resort" or "if absolutely necessary". Does anyone know why the phrase came to be used in this way?
- 36.7k
0
votes
2
answers
6k
views
What does "draw back a stump" mean?
What does it mean to "draw back a stump" in this sentence?
"Keep touching me like that, and you'll draw back a stump."
- 11.2k
3
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Etymology of "Scantily clad"
I'm aware of the meaning of "scantily clad", the internet gives some good clues on that (Side question: Does it have erotic implications in itself?). However, what do the actual words mean ("clad" ...
1
vote
2
answers
298
views
Correct term or phrase for "unidirectional gaga"
I'm not sure if such a figure of speech exists in English, and "unidirectional gaga" is certainly not correct.
But which wording expresses that a person becomes dumber from having exercised/performed ...
- 111
5
votes
4
answers
17k
views
What does "to bleed something" mean?
In Bloomberg magazine, I saw this sentence:
Rust Belt states that have bled manufacturing jobs.
Does it mean they have lost the jobs or gained more jobs?
- 11.2k
0
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Strong Wind(s) or High Wind(s)?
Which one is more popular?
I always used strong wind, but I found high winds also used some times.
- 677
7
votes
1
answer
28k
views
"Any ideas are appreciated" or "Any ideas would be appreciated"?
Lets say I'm asking a question on a popular question and answer website, and I want to close by saying that I will appreciate any submitted ideas.
The first seems awkward because at the moment of ...
- 171
14
votes
3
answers
15k
views
"Insofar" or "in so far"
A quick search suggests that insofar is the American variant of the British in so far. I always assumed it belonged to the set of expressions like hitherto, heretofore, therefore and albeit. Is there ...
- 243
5
votes
4
answers
10k
views
What does "open up a vein" mean?
I found the phrase 'open up a vein of fury' in the article of today's Washington Post as shown below.
The New Year's Day suicide bombing of a church that killed 21 people has opened up a vein of ...
- 70.1k
3
votes
2
answers
4k
views
"Self-study" vs "self-education"
I got a book titled Self-study vocabulary practice. Can I replace self-study with self-education?
Does it make sense to use self-learning in the statement of above?
- 677
5
votes
5
answers
599
views
Is "it is no calculus" correct grammar?
I often hear people saying, it's no big deal, or I am no […], etc.
I was wondering if it is acceptable to say it is no calculus in a college essay.
- 51
1
vote
2
answers
8k
views
Meaning of "Render onto Caesar the things which are Caesar's"
Render onto Caesar the things which are Caesar's
What does this sentence mean?
- 925
3
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How to use "Knock [him/them] out of the water" — is this a common (if at all used) expression?
I can't seem to find much about this expression online, and its usage eludes me somewhat.
I'm guessing that it's supposed to mean that someone is being overcome by another party, a winner in a ...
- 133
7
votes
3
answers
23k
views
What does the phrase "I have but one claim to fame" mean?
I would appreciate if someone could explain the meaning of the phrase "I have but one claim to fame". I understand every separate word, but the meaning of the whole phrase is fairly obscure to me, as ...
Maria
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
Why do we say Undisclosed or Non-Disclosure instead of Closed or Closure
According to Wiktionary, disclosure's etymology comes from Latin dis-+clausus, literally away+enclosed.
I wonder why do the term closed is not in common use as the term undisclosed.
Not Not True is ...
- 153
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Use of "parley" meaning to convert?
I sometimes use the word "parley" as a verb effectively meaning "to convert from one language or system to another". Such as
Stargate parleys the Egyptian deities into villainous star-faring ...
- 1,433
14
votes
5
answers
31k
views
How to use "you know"
For a non-native speaker like me, I am always wondering how to use you know correctly, as in the following sentence:
Alright, well, for example, like on
Saturdays, y’know, what I liked to do
...
- 1,717
27
votes
5
answers
315k
views
"Hear hear" or "here here"
Which one is it really: hear hear or here here? Where does the saying really come from?
- 1,341
7
votes
6
answers
29k
views
Where does the phrase "holy crap on a cracker" come from?
Where does the phrase "holy crap on a cracker" come from?
- 195
15
votes
5
answers
72k
views
What is the origin of the phrase "beyond the pale"?
What's the origin of the phrase 'beyond the pale'?
- 341
5
votes
4
answers
32k
views
origin of phrase 'stone the crows'
Just as the title says — where, and how, did the phrase 'stone the crows' originate?
- 2,226
0
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Meaning of "AS FOR" expression [closed]
What is the meaning of the expression "as for others" in the sentence bellow:
God does not have such a love for them
as for others
- 109
20
votes
3
answers
32k
views
Where does the phrase "Scare the Dickens out of..." originate from?
Where does the phrase "Scare the Dickens out of..." originate from? And does it refer to Charles Dickens?
tiffany
4
votes
1
answer
3k
views
pick of a bad lot
They are the pick of a bad lot.
This is a sentence from a 1892 novel. What does that mean?
- 925
1
vote
2
answers
248
views
Correct usage of "infringement of copyright"
Does the term infringement of copyright apply in the following situations?
I am attending a training session
conducted by a third-party training
company. I want to audio record the
sessions. Will ...
- 155
13
votes
4
answers
75k
views
"To date" versus "until now"
Is there a difference between these two expressions? Are they perfect synonyms?
- 1,610
8
votes
3
answers
5k
views
"drop the penny"
I was wondering what "drop the penny", "help get the penny to drop", or things similar mean? All I can understand is that it must be a metaphor. For example:
simply trying to repeat things in
...
- 9,963
10
votes
3
answers
18k
views
What is the origin of the phrase "and nothing of value was lost"?
What is the origin of the phrase "and nothing of value was lost"?
Is this from a movie, book, or show, or did it get its start on Slashdot or some other online forum?
- 227
24
votes
5
answers
186k
views
Where does "ta!" come from?
Where does the expression "ta" come from?
Wikipedia has only this to say:
"ta!", slang, Exclam. Thank you! {Informal}, an expression of gratitude
but no additional information or links about its ...
- 1,996
11
votes
1
answer
35k
views
Why do we call cinema The Seventh Art?
Why do we call cinema The Seventh Art? Why not sixth or fifth?
- 689
6
votes
1
answer
9k
views
The Meaning of "Crew Expendable"? [closed]
In a game (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare), when a soldier (Gaz) asks his commander (Captain Price) about the "rules of engagement," he is answered "crew expendable."
As they are fighting on a ship, ...
- 629
5
votes
7
answers
54k
views
Origin and meaning of "The eagle flies at midnight"
The eagle flies at midnight.
What's the origin and meaning of this idiom?
- 11.2k
10
votes
4
answers
16k
views
Is "bad loser" a valid expression?
Is the expression "(someone is a) bad loser" valid?
If it is valid, is it equal to "sore loser", or does it have a different meaning and/or use?
- 313
13
votes
3
answers
19k
views
How to use the expression "lo and behold"
How should this expression be used, and what is its origin?
- 11.2k
8
votes
4
answers
39k
views
"bibs and bobs" - what does it mean and where does it come from?
Just exactly what is a bibs and a bobs? And where the heck did that expression come from, anyway?
- 3,659
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Just wanted to "confirm my hunch"
Someone replied to me with: "Just wanted to confirm my hunch."
What is this expression usually used for?
- 1,631
2
votes
1
answer
31k
views
"I was going to" expression. How to use it correctly?
I was going to pick you tomorrow from the airport (not a big deal to me,
really), but remembered that tomorrow I'll be teaching the class, which ends at
8.
in above example, I am trying to say ...
- 11.2k
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is "fake teeth" correct?
Is the phrase "fake teeth" correct? I googled it and found out that it is used. But my English tutor says that this phrase is incorrect and the book from Hillside Press had this phrase as a mistake.
...
- 225
8
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Does "see you this weekend" in email express "will write another email this weekend"?
Perhaps people will think that I'll physically visit them?
- 1,507
8
votes
4
answers
5k
views
The origins of "Who da Man"?
This is a hard one to look up. Where (and when!) did the expression "who da man" start?
My guess is it started either in written form after the popularization of the internet (because that would jibe ...
Shannon
21
votes
3
answers
23k
views
Which is correct: "Set up something" or "Set something up" or "Setup something"?
As a programmer, I often have to use this expression:
Set the application up.
or something like that. But I'm not sure what the correct grammar is, and what this grammatical area is called in ...
- 811
10
votes
4
answers
29k
views
What is the origin of "Couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo"?
This picturesque expression, meaning 'not a very good shot with a rifle' or (of a footballer) unable to score any goals, has cropped up a few times recently in my reading. Does anyone know where it ...
- 36.7k
33
votes
3
answers
145k
views
Which is correct: coming down the "pike" or "pipe"?
Is the expression coming down the pike or coming down the pipe? I’ve always used pike, but I’ve heard a few people use pipe recently. I can see how both could make sense, but which is correct?
- 433
2
votes
5
answers
18k
views
Isn't "behind your back" in front of you?
We've all heard the phrase that usually goes along the lines of "blah blah did something behind my back". I've always thought that from your back's point of view, anything behind you is in front of it ...
- 1,453