Questions tagged [meaning]
This tag is for questions related to definitions and nuances of meaning of a word or phrase.
0
votes
0answers
6 views
Is whooping ass and taking names a profession, pastime or a phrase indicating “that one has done well” in any type off generic undertaking?
A commendation delivered to an individual who has done well can come in many forms. One of the fancy descriptions of excellence is included in the subject line of this question. However, in the quest ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
What does a native speaker imagine when hearing “lunatic cat”?
Is "lunatic cat" like "crazy cat" or "it's nonsense, they don't say so", or something else?
According to https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lunatic there is a connection to the moon (see "...
-3
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0answers
23 views
Using label printer for scholarships [on hold]
Can I use labels on a scholarship form if it can't be filled in on computer?
-1
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0answers
15 views
A person that studies whether something is possible or not [on hold]
A person that studies whether something is possible or not and where can I speak to these people online as well
1
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0answers
30 views
Does “, which” Correspond to the Noun just before the Comma or to the Whole Sentence before the Comma?
Harvey drinks from a bottle, which looks funny.
Is it enforced that "which" corresponds here to the bottle and not to the way in which Harvey drinks?
Can ", which" be used to correspond to the full ...
7
votes
1answer
501 views
What does 'Half-Offeus' mean?
Recently I happened to watch Married With Children Ep 507. In that episode, the dad (Al Bundy) was explaining why he took a header by a granite statue in the wishing pond:
...when I slipped on some ...
2
votes
1answer
29 views
I'm getting a job (meaning)
I'm trying to understand the meaning of I'm getting a job but I can't. I know that it doesn't mean I'm looking for a job nor I got a job.
I want to understand the meaning of it because I saw a few ...
0
votes
0answers
42 views
What does “I feel about you makes my heart lone to be free” mean?
I've got a key chain with lots of objects, one of them is a little sign saying exactly "I feel about you makes my heart lone to be free", but I can't understand exactly what it means.
It looks like ...
3
votes
1answer
50 views
What is the difference between a ravine, gorge and canyon?
I recently went for a hike up a gorge and then down a ravine. What is the difference between a gorge and a ravine? And how does canyon fit in?
My impression was that there was an implied scale, where ...
-1
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0answers
23 views
What is the difference between “niche” and “calling” [on hold]
I was wondering what is the difference of "niche" and "calling" in a context that refers to someone who can't find a good career for him/her self.
The past one year John was job hopping. He couldn'...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
What do the bold numerals in parentheses mean in Merriam Webster Dictionary? [on hold]
Here is the specific word I am referring to: The bold numerals in parentheses are under the 2nd definition.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/just
Are those sub-sub senses? Or are they ...
-2
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0answers
36 views
What is a reasonable time lapse for the word 'soon'? [on hold]
My friend asked me: "Want to meet soon?", to which I said "All right". Four hours later, I called him up and asked him: "I thought you wanted to meet soon", to which he replied: "Soon as in 'some day ...
1
vote
2answers
55 views
“He is said to have known people” vs “He is said to know people”? [on hold]
I came aross a question like this：
As a public relations officer, he is said ________ some very influential people.
to know
to have known
There are two available answers ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Meaning of “virtually” in the following sentence? [migrated]
The list of things I believe,though I have no evidence for the truth
of them, is, if not infinite, virtually endless.
I found two main relevant senses:
virtually:
1 : almost entirely : NEARLY
...
-2
votes
2answers
53 views
Is there a word that can mean “education” and “formation” depending on context? [on hold]
There is a Russian word образование that can mean education and formation depending on context.
It will be great if there a word in English that also can have two of those meanings. Not necessarily ...
-4
votes
0answers
14 views
Meaning of “Somebody Isn't Gonna Take Something” [on hold]
What is the meaning of the expression of "someone isn't gonna take something"?
I heard it in some lyrics.
Oh, we're not gonna take it
No, we ain't gonna take it
Oh, we're not gonna take it, anymore
...
-1
votes
1answer
16 views
Within the next 6 months vs at least 6 months before?
The instructions say, "If you are a permanent resident whose 10-year green card has expired or will expire within the next 6 months, you may begin the renewal process"
"Additionally, if you applied ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
What does “mean” mean in this sentence?
In California, wildfires are raging again and strong winds and dry
forests mean that the flames spread over 177 kilometres and destroy
thousands of buildings.
I don't understand why 'mean' is put ...
-1
votes
0answers
12 views
Bend or bending [on hold]
Hello could someone explain to me the difference between ‘bend’ and ‘bending’ for example:
What’s the difference between “bend men” and “bending men” ?
2
votes
3answers
77 views
Why is there not a secondary definition for “bolt hole” that includes holes for bolts?
When I look up the definition for "bolt hole" on Google or in most dictionaries, I am surprised to find that the definition does not include something similar to "a hole for bolts".
The current given ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
Meaning of 'very fine' when expressing a relationship
Example:
He is very fine to work with.
From the Cambridge dictionary I get two (relevant) meanings:
SATISFACTORY (adjective)
EXCELLENT (adjective)
To me these two meanings seem very different. ...
-4
votes
0answers
33 views
What does the phrase “flop off” mean in this context? [closed]
Here is the sentence:
If you don't flip the cake correctly, it will flop off the side of the
screen.
The text is from a game's description which, unfortunately, cannot be shared here due to ...
-4
votes
0answers
29 views
What does the phrase “spin off into oblivion” mean in this context? [closed]
Here is the sentence:
If you don't flip the cake correctly, it will spin wildly off into
oblivion.
The text is from a game's description which, unfortunately, cannot be shared here due to ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
What does “it wasn't an unusual route” mean in this sentence?
I came across this sentence in the story Around the World in 80 Days, but I can't figure out what it means. Does it mean that it was an unusual route or not？
0
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0answers
15 views
I let my heart to the sea? Proper,? [closed]
I’m winding if the phrase “ I let my heart to the sea” makes sense in a poetic sense? Thank you
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Using phrasing “Room for gym” [closed]
Is it ok to use a phrase: make some room for gym (as making some time for indoor/gym activities)?
Thank you
-1
votes
1answer
21 views
Configuration of something VS Something configuration
In a to-do list, i would write that i have to configure a operating system. What's the difference in this case (if any) between "operating system configuration" and "configuration of operating system"?...
0
votes
2answers
23 views
“The decision of the Competent Authority of the Board shall be final and binding on the candidate.” what is the meaning of binding here? [closed]
"The decision of the Competent Authority of the Board shall be final and binding on the candidate."
Can anyone make me understand what is the meaning of the statement especially the bold part?
I am ...
0
votes
3answers
25 views
Can anyone make me understand what is the meaning of “stipulated” here?
"Those who have already applied under RTI Act 2005 or otherwise may apply afresh for the same along with required fee of Rs. 500/- before stipulated date. "
Can anyone make me understand ...
1
vote
3answers
34 views
Meaning of “collective ass”
I would like to know more about the purpose of word "collective" in following sentence:
We're about to get our collective ass kicked.
Did the speaker used the word "collective" here just as a ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
What is the actual meaning of Soundproofing?
This room is a soundproofing room.
Which means,
When you are in the inside room, you won't hear outside sounds.
When you are in outside, you won't hear sounds generated by inside
room
Both
-2
votes
0answers
30 views
What's the difference between zig-zag, “Sicko mode”, and abrasion? [closed]
Can you literally please tell me what is the serious difference between zig-zag , "Sicko mode", and abrasion?
1
vote
2answers
47 views
Meaning of “could” in these sentences
Good day everyone.
So I have Michael Swan's grammar book "Practical English Usage" and there's a couple of sections concerning to usage of "could".
So in 82.3 it says that we use could to talk about ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Using capital Y in you when writing to many
Can you use capital Y in you when adressing to more than 1 person?
4
votes
2answers
330 views
meaning of 'glib' in 'glib uniformity'
The phrase 'glib uniformity' has been used in at least a few books. For example, in Political Ideals (1917), Bertrand Russell wrote
The state is justified in insisting that children shall be ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
“Jelly in a vise” meaning [closed]
Jelly in a vise is a proverb mentioned in "Asian Figure" by W.S Merwin.
What does "Jelly" mean in this proverb? Does it mean gelatinous? Or the jelly that we eat?
What kind of clamp is a "Vise"?
0
votes
2answers
26 views
Word for intuition but with reasoning?
Can one use the word intuition for the following scenario:-
Tester: (Checks output file) I think A->1 (A is being mapped to 1), because I am seeing a pattern in the input and output files that was ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Meaning of “That response really put the 'luke' in lukewarm”?
I was watching a TV series when I came across this sentence. What does it mean? Where does this expression come from?
The context was the following: A mother told her daughter that she got engaged, ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
“I don't know how to work people.”
I am looking for a precise meaning of this expression "to work people".
I feel like it is similar to "to be friendly to people", "to handle people with tact", "to be good at conversing with people", ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
was given grammar [closed]
"Rone(a person's name) was given certificate" in this sentence two inferences are made one is that someone given certificate to rone. Another is rone given certificate to someone else .How to ...
6
votes
1answer
194 views
What do we call definitions we keep using for objects whose nature has changed?
Is there a name for "definitional drift," meaning a word we've used to define something in the past, but the object of definition has changed over time, yet we keep using the same word?
For example, "...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
What does “like an elephant's eye” mean?
What does “like an elephant's eye” mean from "We seldom ever have an argument, but if it is, it's about something like an elephant's eye"? The sentence is from an interview, an old couple talks about ...
2
votes
3answers
69 views
Does the word “maven” have negative connotations?
I’m interested in using the word maven to describe someone as being an expert, but don’t want to seem condescending. Does maven have any negative connotations?
-1
votes
0answers
34 views
What does “they” refer to in this sentence?
People have professional talents. With SBV, they are matched with nonprofits that need help in relevant areas.
Do they refer to "People" or " Talents" ( People's Talents )??
Also, Could I combine ...
0
votes
2answers
54 views
1
vote
4answers
55 views
Word that means 'requiring a high degree of trust'
Something like the reciprocal of 'trustworthy'.
'You need to understand how [requiring a high degree of trust] it is
to get to know the code to the safe. John has only told three people
that ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
Patience is a virtue best served cold [closed]
My college professor asked our class for any creative insight about the phrase, “Patience is a virtue best served cold.”
My - and my other classmates’s - initial reaction was that our teacher may have ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
Clarity on the definition of the word “predict” [closed]
When someone says "I look forward to your predictable path" and "please continue down your very tired and predictable path" and "your arguments are right out of a playbook", what's the meaning of '...
3
votes
1answer
97 views
Seven swans a-swimming [duplicate]
In the famous Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas", presents like "geese a-laying" and "swans a-swimming" are mentioned. What does the "a" refer to in this context?
10
votes
3answers
449 views
About the word 'finewirer' and researching obscure words
I can't seem to find anywhere where I can look up reliably the meaning and etymology of this word: finewirer. A quick search on Google gives you uses of this word in texts such as Terry Pratchett's ...
