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.
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What does the phrase "A blank is a blank is a blank" mean?
I've heard this phrase a couple times, one of them being
A number is a number is a number.
Despite some searching, I'm still unsure what this phrase means.
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You parked this under a tree, huh?
During a border-crossing car stop, in a verbal interaction between a US citizen and a peace officer, the peace officer can be heard to use the expression in the title.
"You parked us under a ...
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4
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"T minus"-expression used with preposition "in"?
"Rocket launch in T minus 1 hour".
I have a problem with how this expression is used here. Native speakers have told me that this is natural, however online definitions tell me that "T ...
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1
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Does "It would be the last time..." refer to the past or the present?
From my understanding, in direct speech/conversation (not as a narrative), "That would be the last time..." refer to the past event, and "This would be the last time..." refers to ...
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Is the use of the phrase 'There is no woman like me' for this content correct?
If someone wants to say that no one looks as beautiful as her, is it correct to write it like this?
"There's no woman like me."
For example, if I write a dialog like this, does that reply ...
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What does 'put a notch on his belt' mean? Is it a common expression?
The following is an excerpt from the USA Today of March 31.
Donald Trump's lawyer said Friday that the former president will surrender to New York authorities.
Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, told NBC'...
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What is the opposite of et seq.?
What Latin-derived abbreviation could be used in place of "and the previous ones" or "and the predecessors" i.e., the opposite of et seq.?
I can't start from the other end and use ...
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Algebraic interpretation of ambiguous verbal expressions [closed]
I am helping my daughter with Algebra. She has been asked to generate algebraic expressions for each of the following verbal statements:
"Five times the quantity of x squared plus m, minus two ...
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Could you let me know what does mean this "Need your hip waders to walk into a room"? [closed]
Could you let me know what does mean this "Need your hip waders to walk into a room" ?
Probably, someone talked a lot. and room is full of after someone talks.
And could you show me some ...
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What kind of statements are “the best pie I’ve ever eaten” and “the most beautiful mountain I’ve seen in my life” [closed]
My partner always makes statements such as those in heading. They are always sensationalised to create emphasis and drive home his enthusiasm for the subject. For example we were discussing Florence ...
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Is "throw in an ape" an expression?
In her book Toward Zero, author Agatha Christie has the following dialogue:
Kay said: ‘I don’t like my colour scheme in the livingroom. Can I have it done over, Nevile?’
‘Anything you like, beautiful....
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What does the conjunction As describe in this passage? [duplicate]
I'm not a native English speaker, so I have to find a solution for what I don't understand. sometimes a conjunction like AS is used in different ways which requires attention, so I go to ...
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In the Yakuza games, they say that "the first penguin" is a term of respect in America. Is this true?
In "Yakuza: Lost Judgement", they talk about how penguins all bunch up next to the water, but won't jump in. It's only once the "first penguin" jumps in that all of the rest feel ...
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What do you call the place that terminates a water channel?
What do you call the place that terminates a water channel, as in the image below?
The channel terminates at the concrete wall. What is the name of that? Channel terminator? Channel barrier?
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Is there an idiom to say "However hard we try/ teach, nothing goes in"?
He seems to learn nothing. However hard we teach, nothing goes in.
Is there a word equivalent, an idiom or expression to say "however hard we try/teach, nothing goes in"?
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What's the word when someone tries to change the meaning of a statement by using different definitions for specific words?
For example the second amendment in the American constitution "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" and someone argues that arms here means limbs when it clearly means guns. I ...
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What word or phrase can I use in this situation? [closed]
What would I use to indicate "continue in that likeness"?
For instance, let's say I'm correcting someone on conciseness. I tell the person to avoid sentences like "the thoughts of jake&...
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What does this sentence in Nick Hornby’s “Fever Pitch” mean?
Charlie George is one of the few seventies icons who has so far managed to avoid being deconstructed, possibly because he appears at first glance to be one of the identikit George Best/Rodney Marsh/...
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Distance between two cities measured on a straight line [closed]
How can I express a thought of a distance between two cities measured as a length of a line segment connecting them on a map, as opposite to distance of the two cities measured as length of a road ...
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What is the phrase when someone is being strict with one side of the dialogue but not the other? [duplicate]
If there's a dialogue between two and the third person who has a bias to one of the opinions constantly asks for proof and being over critical to the other opinion but not the one he believes in it's ...
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"Ink" as a term for coffee?
I've stumbled upon a thesaurus entry for the word "ink" that connects it to various words to describe coffee or caffeine, none of which I have -ever- heard in my life! I'm a coffee-drinker, ...
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What should I say to someone who is going into labor? [closed]
Today is the last day of my coworker before the expected day, which is tomorrow. What am I supposed to say to her? Can I say, "I wish you a safe delivery."?
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An expression regarding "wanting means to become able to"
There is a philosophical proverb in Persian that says:
خواستن توانستن است
It literally means "To want is to be able to"
And it promotes the ethics of doing one's best and trying.
It ...
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How to respond to someone who's done a favor to you?
I'll make it short. This is the context:
A: Thanks for buying me that product.
B: No problem.
A: How can I make up to you?
Is it okay to use the expression "to make up to someone" in this ...
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"interest + gerund" or "interest in + gerund" [closed]
Which is more appropriate usage:
"Please let me know your interest attending the game"
or
"Please let me know your interest in attending the game".
Thank you in advance.
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When did the expression "cat's breakfast" come in to usage as an example of a hodgepodge collection, assuming it ever did?
In CNN's January 8, 2023 video Retired general calls new armored vehicles US is sending Ukraine 'significant' after about 04:40 US Retired Major General (and analyst for CNN) James "Spider" ...
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Expression on a highly anticipated event, but there is a 50/50 chance that it might not actually happen
Is there an expression in English to describe an event that is highly anticipated (like a plan that someone has worked on for a long time to make happen and everyone around anticipates good results) ...
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1
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What does mean: Sunsetting a piece of software? [closed]
I found the expression Sunsetting Atom on https://github.blog/2022-06-08-sunsetting-atom/. What does it really mean?
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How to express "organization in charge" in a formal manner
I've been asked to proofread a description of a project/a request for financing. I can't help being bothered by the wording of the titles (though this may very well be part of some kind of standard ...
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The difference between "add up" and "lump"
Do these two sentences mean the same thing: "lump all the lodging charges" vs "add up all the lodging charges"? Generally, is the latter used more?
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Delay tactics in which others benefit team from your efforts
I came across a delay tactic in which other team benefit from your team's efforts.
Lets say:
Team leaders of two teams A & B are given same assignment with a deadline by a boss.
Team leader of A ...
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What is the origin and meaning of the expression "going doolally"?
Today I came across the expression "going doolally" which was aimed at an individual and I suspect it is uncomplimentary. From where did the expression originate and what does it mean?
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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 ...
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Alternatives to "the last/final word"?
Is there any alternative to the idiom "having the last/final word on something", perhaps emphasizing the fact that the speaker's intervention has effectively closed discussion on a topic?
In ...
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Why does something "strain credulity"?
Credulity, as I have understood it, approximately means "an unreasonable readiness to believe in things".
If something "strains credulity", it apparently means that it is difficult ...
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"and" vs "or" combination, what's the priority?
I'm confused by some explanations contain both "and" and "or" from the dictionaries when I'm learning English.
For example, an explanation says "quickly and suddenly or loudly&...
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"Year-end review" or "Year in review"?
I've been stuck on this one for a while. While both make sense, they seem to have significantly different meanings.
It seems likely that one originated from a misinterpretation of the other.
It would ...
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Expression for "embracing the accusations"?
Is there an expression that refers to the phenomenon of embracing accusations/rumours made against you? So, for example, if a child is told constantly that they are bad, they might grow up to be a bad ...
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1
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Is there a common expression for the 'ulnar border of the palm'?
I would like to describe the action of removing dust/sand from a surface with the ulnar border of the palm (see image, highlighted in green), but I cannot find an informal yet precise expression to ...
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Instilled - is there a better word or phrase specifically for a child getting their interest/love of something from a parent
I'm looking for something to better evoke the gratitude one might feel towards their parent (or anyone, but parent in this case) for sharing their love of something (music, reading, etc.) in such a ...
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How to define someone who is more efficient than the actual person responsible for the task?
Like we say "Holier than the pope" to define someone who acts more pious than the priest. I cannot recall expression for someone who acts over-efficiently over a matter than does not concern ...
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What does "darkest Africa" refer to?
Many times in my life, I have heard phrases such as "in darkest Africa...", seemingly to refer to somewhere in Africa. It is never explained, and appears to be considered so obvious as to ...
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Expression for the use of a personality alleged quality as argument
Is there a name for the usage of a name of an well-know personality as an argument in a conversation, not by using a citation or an opinion of him/her, but an alleged quality?
I found this to be used ...
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Looking for a more condensed version of "the world is bigger than you"
I'm looking for a shorter and more condensed version of the phrases "the world is bigger than you" or "this is greater than yourself/oneself." Something that keeps intact the ...
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Is there an idiom that means "one cunning person always can be outsmarted (tricked) by another"?
I'm looking for an idiom (or other fixed expression) meaning that when there is one cunning person who thinks much of himself, there will be another one who can outsmart him.
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Idiom/metaphor for a constant figure in a certain place
I was wondering if there were any idioms or cliched metaphors commonly used to describe someone who you can always expect to see in a certain place because they spend a lot of time there (or even ...
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Too big of a something meaning [duplicate]
The recruiter asked me this:
This might be a too big of a company you’re looking for!
I don’t get what does this mean?
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Encroach on/upon, encroach into
I was wondering if someone could explain the difference between "encroach on/upon" and "encroach into". I cannot figure out the clear difference between them. Here are two sample ...
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How common is the phrase: "Blessed be nothing"?
The phrase itself is found in one of Emerson's essays:
"Blessed be nothing," and "the worse things are, the better they are," are proverbs which express the transcendentalism of ...
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What's the meaning of "chips and nicks"? [closed]
I watched a video in which somebody had just had his car painted, but a rock fell on it and took away some of the paint. While I was translating video subtitles, I heard this expression: "chips ...
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