Questions tagged [meaning]
This tag is for questions related to definitions and nuances of meaning of a word or phrase.
16,985
questions
2
votes
1
answer
323
views
Use of the adjective "spurious" to indicate properties of that which flows from a noun
While chatting with a co-worker, a repeated assertion was made (in the pithy style of Inigo Montoya to Vizzini) that my usage of the term spurious was incorrect when conveying that the output of an ...
3
votes
1
answer
268
views
Meaning of "float a deadpoint"
In a book about climbing technique (written by an American) I found the following expression:
...: floating a deadpoint from any one of a million different body positions.
While the meaning of any ...
1
vote
6
answers
4k
views
Is it OK to say "recurring again"?
I've seen people often use "recurring again".
Recurring means "occurring again"; then why do we have to add "again" along with "recurring".
Which one the following is correct way to say it ?
...
1
vote
3
answers
23k
views
What does "A mile wide, an inch deep" mean?
I read the phrase "USA intellectualism: a mile wide, an inch deep". What does it mean?
1
vote
2
answers
329
views
Usage of "insomnia" [closed]
In Swedish one would understand insomnia as a disease where you couldn't sleep night after night, but now I'm currently learning Chinese and they seem to mean (for 失眠) just having trouble sleeping one ...
6
votes
2
answers
21k
views
"All but convinced" as a way of saying that one is, in fact, convinced? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“All but” idiom has two meanings?
It seems kind of counterintuitive, but saying that:
I'm all but convinced that ponies eat leprechauns.
means
I'm ...
2
votes
5
answers
56k
views
"Director at", "founder of". What is the correct usage of "at" and "of"?
I have a twitter account and I see some people having in their profiles mention:
Company Director at ABC
and others
Company Director of ABC
Also, I come across:
Founder of ABC
and
...
0
votes
8
answers
16k
views
Use of the word "referable"
Can the word "referable" be used to denote something that can be referenced and what is the difference between "referable" and "referenceable"?
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Original use of kosher in the English lanuage
Recently I saw a post on the meta.rpg.se site that asked When is editing your answer not kosher?, and it got me thinking. Why is the word Kosher used, instead of, for example, Halal, Permissible, or ...
0
votes
1
answer
251
views
Is "vice-versa" to a dyslexic just plain redundant? [closed]
One of my friends asked me this question, but I really don't understand what it means. Please can someone explain it to me.
5
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What does "I must have you dance" mean?
What does "I must have you dance" mean? What kind of a sentence is it?
8
votes
1
answer
54k
views
Difference in meaning in "insulation" vs. "isolation"? [closed]
What is the difference between the two? I often saw them used interchangeably until a while ago
If you must use two metals farther apart than 200mV, you need to take steps to protect them, either by ...
4
votes
1
answer
6k
views
What does it mean to "drink a lot of haterade"?
A friend recently posted on their Facebook status that she has "apparently been drinking lots of haterade lately"[sic]. Does this mean other people are annoyed with her or she's annoyed with other ...
0
votes
1
answer
135
views
Is “a pile-on” in “This week’s ad wars in Iowa presage a pile-on” used as an objective or adverbially?
There was the following line in Time magazine’s (December 9) article, titled, “All Eyes on Des Moines as GOP Candidates Head into Crucial Debate.”
This week’s ad wars in Iowa presage a pile-on: ...
13
votes
1
answer
71k
views
What's the origin of the phrase "what have you"?
I've never really understood the meaning and origin of the phrase "what have you".
Examples:
You can use a pencil, a sharpie, a ballpoint, what have you.
The display room is full of stereos,...
1
vote
4
answers
2k
views
what's the meaning of "live-code approach"?
At the heart of the book is the Deitel signature “live-code approach.”
Concepts are presented in the context of complete working programs,
rather than in code snippets
What's the meaning of "live-...
12
votes
3
answers
145k
views
What is the meaning of "way better" [closed]
I sometimes hear people use "I hope you feel way better","This is way more than I was expecting" and etc. Could you explain this type of usage and what is the difference between "feeling better" and "...
-2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Intolerance and Bigotry [closed]
Consider this statement:
"I will not watch two men kissing"
Surely this is an example of bigotry? But what about:
"I will not watch reality TV"
The sentence takes the exact same form and is ...
8
votes
2
answers
404
views
Percentages of meanings in an English dictionary
Often when you look for some new word in a dictionary, you will find many definitions or meanings of the one word.
For example when you look for a word to in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary you ...
1
vote
2
answers
7k
views
What does "Shaking an idea" mean?
I heard this on a TV series, just don't know what it means:
But now I get this crazy idea, and I can't shake it.
2
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What does "intellectual fit" mean?
It appeared to me when a graduate school application form asked me
Why do you think X university is an intellectual fit for you?
What does intellectual fit mean?
-1
votes
2
answers
26k
views
Definition of "Degree Objective" in Personal Statement [closed]
I am writing my Personal Statement for my graduate school application right now.
Coming to the Degree Objective section, I became a little dizzy.
Does it require me to write which program degree I ...
3
votes
2
answers
224
views
Is "Beginner" a measurement of time, or skill? [closed]
The definition is:
A person just starting to learn a skill or take part in an activity
Which makes me think it's time-related, although I see it's used as a synonym for novice which relates to ...
1
vote
2
answers
5k
views
Meaning of "Rubber stamp" [closed]
What is the meaning of rubber stamp in "rubber stamp National Assembly"? Does this imply that the assembly has no real power? Where did this originate?
4
votes
7
answers
83k
views
Meaning of the phrase "squeeze water from a stone"
What does the phrase "(to) squeeze water from a stone" mean?
Have you ever squeezed water from a stone?
2
votes
4
answers
15k
views
Using "any" with positive sentence [closed]
Everyone can do it.
Nobody can do it.
The both sentences are very clear. I understand what they mean.
Anyone can do it
But I feel a little confused about this sentence. What does it mean?
Is it ...
2
votes
1
answer
80
views
"Making casts of the melted spaces" [closed]
How to understand the word "cast" here?
The modern British artist Helen Chadwick invented a winter game by urinating in the snow and making casts of the melted spaces.
Source: The Guardian
The "...
3
votes
2
answers
53k
views
What does "it is not an option" mean? [closed]
In general, what does it mean when people say "something is not an option"? It sounds like it means "something is a must". Am I right?
1
vote
3
answers
6k
views
What does "to become controversial" mean?
As a non-native speaker, I do not fully understand the meaning of the term "to become controversial" in the following text, which I have to translate into German:
Where translators have made their ...
2
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What will happen if I say to my boss, “"I'm not going to kiss your ring and I'm not going to kiss any other part of your anatomy."?
I was a bit surprized to find the line which was delivered by the former Governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman in December 5th Time magazine. It reads:
“In Fox News interview, Utahan tweaks the Donald, ...
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is "Theodical" disappointment? [closed]
A recent Wired article had the following sentence: "... beneath the paranoia and infighting lurked something more vulnerable, an almost theodical disappointment."
I've never encountered this word, ...
5
votes
2
answers
24k
views
Is there any difference between "has gone" and "went" in this context?
Is there any difference between these two sentences?
Mirek went to Europe on business.
Mirek has gone to Europe on business.
5
votes
2
answers
621
views
"Timeboxing" versus "time-slicing"
What is the difference between timeboxing and time-slicing? From what I can tell, it is the same concept, but timeboxing is applied to project management and time-slicing is applied to scheduling ...
0
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Fallacy vs Misconception vs Misnomer
Consider the following general statement:
Somebody with very little credibility is likely to win a debate.
Given that the opposite is most likely true, how can we best describe the above statement?...
0
votes
3
answers
3k
views
The meaning of "to cut the biscuit"
What is the meaning of this expression? Does it mean that something meets the expectations or it is up to standard?
Edit: Here is an example of usage.
http://www.edition38.com/forums/index.php?...
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Can alumnus be used for both men and women? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can you call someone who chooses to quit his/her study in college as alumnus?
Is it correct or acceptable to use alumnus for both genders?
8
votes
4
answers
21k
views
Precise meaning of "Last N days, weeks, months or years"
Would phrases like these generally be considered inclusive of the current period?
I think it's pretty clear that last week does not include the current week. But does last 2 weeks include the current ...
0
votes
3
answers
5k
views
"Sound engineering" [closed]
What does "sound engineering" mean in this context: "Establishment and use of sound engineering principles to obtain economically software that is reliable and works on real machines efficiently. (...
7
votes
10
answers
10k
views
What would you call a person who is not a student, but takes interest in exploring academic topics?
A person who is not formally enrolled as a student, researcher or faculty in some university or college but who takes interest in exploring academic topics/stuff. For e.g. Such a person could be ...
4
votes
1
answer
9k
views
What does "let's go with that" mean here?
What does Howard from The Big Bang Theory mean when he says "let's go with that"?
I think the meaning was "let's just keep thinking it's true." Am I right?
4
votes
1
answer
3k
views
'Tenure' vs. 'tenancy'
Can anyone clarify for me the differences between these two words, in their senses of "occupation by a tenant"?
3
votes
5
answers
8k
views
“Everything is not…”
I keep hearing people say everything is not… which frustrating because it is ambiguous. It could mean either
Nothing is… (for the set of all things, no thing is…)
or
Not everything is… (for ...
-1
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is "pseudonym" used for names other than authors'?
A pseudonym is a fictitious name for an author.
Is the term ever used to denote an alternate or made-up name for anything else, such as a book, a product, or another kind of object?
(The use can be ...
2
votes
1
answer
942
views
What is the origin of using the term "lease" to signify a financing agreement with option to buy out an asset, as opposed to simple rent?
A formal definition of the word "lease" makes a lease out to be very similar to "rent" in meaning:
noun \ˈlēs\
Definition of LEASE
a contract by which one conveys real estate, ...
4
votes
2
answers
58k
views
Difference in meaning of "frustrated at" and "frustrated with"
What is the difference in meaning of "frustrated at" and "frustrated with" used in sentences like
He is frustrated with me
or
He is frustrated at me
When is each of these sentences above are ...
-1
votes
2
answers
333
views
What does "animal" mean in the following context? [closed]
Does animal here mean 4a person with a particular interest or aptitude in the Merriam-Webster?
Mr. Black recalled that Mr. DiCaprio dug up obscure film footage of a young Hoover giving speeches ...
3
votes
5
answers
23k
views
How do I ask the question "Where is it made?" or "Where is it made in"?
Sometimes I feel confused about if I should add a preposition, like "come back to Seattle" or "come back Seattle".
If I want to ask a question about where something is made, how to say the question "...
4
votes
3
answers
24k
views
Difference between "read", "scan", and "skim"
What is the exact difference between read, scan, and skim? Is the difference related to the concentration on the text, or is there anything else?
The answer is really important for me, since I often ...
7
votes
2
answers
66k
views
What does "drop the beat" mean?
From Yahoo answers and other sources I could find, it is suggested this means that the beat of the song changes, however when it is mentioned in song lyrics it is usually mentioned as something ...
8
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Is a film actor a "thespian"?
Can I call a film actor a thespian, or does this term exclusively relate to acting on a theater stage?