Questions tagged [meaning]

This tag is for questions related to definitions and nuances of meaning of a word or phrase.

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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 ...
MrGomez's user avatar
  • 655
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 ...
Giovanni De Gaetano's user avatar
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 ? ...
ba1a's user avatar
  • 155
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?
quantme's user avatar
  • 161
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 ...
Ragshi's user avatar
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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 ...
Naftuli Kay's user avatar
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 ...
EnexoOnoma's user avatar
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"?
vitaut's user avatar
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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 ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
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.
nickfrancis.me's user avatar
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?
Gigili's user avatar
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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 ...
Rook's user avatar
  • 347
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 ...
jcolebrand's user avatar
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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: ...
Yoichi Oishi's user avatar
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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,...
slhck's user avatar
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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-...
enjoylife's user avatar
  • 327
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 "...
Tarik's user avatar
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-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 ...
Salim Fadhley's user avatar
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 ...
xralf's user avatar
  • 447
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.
B Faley's user avatar
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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?
xiaohan2012's user avatar
-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 ...
xiaohan2012's user avatar
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 ...
Pubby's user avatar
  • 529
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?
Portree Kid's user avatar
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?
k0stya's user avatar
  • 195
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 ...
Benjamin's user avatar
  • 1,829
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 "...
Lenik's user avatar
  • 5,155
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?
bingjie2680's user avatar
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 ...
Patrick Oscity's user avatar
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, ...
Yoichi Oishi's user avatar
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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, ...
AShelly's user avatar
  • 408
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.
Paul's user avatar
  • 685
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 ...
Kazark's user avatar
  • 633
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?...
Salim Fadhley's user avatar
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?...
James P.'s user avatar
  • 835
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?
Rajat Gupta's user avatar
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 ...
William's user avatar
  • 181
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. (...
Amumu's user avatar
  • 177
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 ...
Rajat Gupta's user avatar
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?
daisy's user avatar
  • 2,241
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"?
Sam Wilson's user avatar
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 ...
Synetech's user avatar
  • 2,333
-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 ...
The English Chicken's user avatar
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, ...
DVK's user avatar
  • 1,490
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 ...
Prabhu R's user avatar
  • 1,024
-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 ...
Danielle's user avatar
  • 155
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 "...
Melon Lu's user avatar
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 ...
HamidReza Maddah's user avatar
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 ...
going's user avatar
  • 2,219
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?
The English Chicken's user avatar

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