Questions tagged [meaning]
This tag is for questions related to definitions and nuances of meaning of a word or phrase.
15,699
questions
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Was? Dead? What did he mean?
I was talking to this guy about food, and I asked if his mom taught him how to cook when he was still living with her (he moved to my city 6 years ago). His response was: "...my mom was a great ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
how to use the word “affinity”
I have come across many sentences which use "with","to","for" with affinity in different ways. I am getting confused as to how to use this noun-preposition collocation.
...
2
votes
2answers
54 views
What word means pretending to not understand a naive question?
The situation would be something like a student asking a teacher a question. The question isn't well worded, as the student doesn't fully understand the topic on which they're asking the question, and ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
Meaning of a sentence in A History of Britain about Edward I
I faced this paragraph in "A History of Britain" by Simon Schama:
In the summer of 1263 the situation became critical. De Montfort and
his allies had captured most of southeastern England. ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
Is there any difference between 'type of message' vs 'messagetype'?
I have seen many times with non English speaking people the use of this expressions, but I don't know whether there is any difference.
Type of message
Message type (or Messagetype)
Is there any ...
0
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1answer
22 views
What meaning does the word “in her turn” indicate?
I can’t understand the meaning of the words “in her turn “in this paragraph.
What meaning does it indicate?
Please explain it
0
votes
1answer
24 views
What languages are “British” and “English/Irish”?
Found this question on a job application:
and in text format:
What is your main language?
British
English/Irish
Sign language
I've never seen quite a language combination before. Sign, obviously, ...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
Is “quirky” always a compliment?
I was once speaking to a colleague of mine about translations and I mentioned a particular translator that I would like to work with. Then my colleague made a comment like:
Her way of translating is ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
What does “there is no” mean in this sentence from my notes? [closed]
I read in my book,
I ran into a challenge with the combination of words "there is no". Does it mean "no any line", or just one line? Is it possible to make it simpler for me?
0
votes
1answer
24 views
What does “The technology that is currently in use and meets the specifications within your submission” mean?
I want to know the meaning of: The company I offered my invention to the company in my submission replied me that it has developed the technology that is currently in use and meets the specifications ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
What does “about” mean in this extract? [closed]
I'm a student studying English abroad. I couldn't understand something while reading an English article. I don't know why "about" was used in the emboldened sentence. Isn't "that's been ...
1
vote
0answers
18 views
Is there a word with a meaning roughly halfway between “adjust” and “fiddle with”?
"Adjust", "tweak", and "arrange" all seem deliberate and controlled, while "fiddle with" and "poke at" seem on the aimless side, at least to me. Is ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
What does “high-constitutional” mean? Mistyped here?
Below is a paragraph from the article from The Prospect Magazine: Revisiting John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice (URL: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/liberalism-john-rawls-jesse-norman-...
5
votes
11answers
2k views
“I am really not into it” vs “I am not really into it” [duplicate]
If someone asks help on a subject, and I am lacking in knowledge on it, which is appropriate or correct?
I am really not into it
I am not really into it
The intention is to convey that I am not well ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Which is appropriate to use “budget for” or “willing to pay” [closed]
Someone wants me to help him on assignment etc. Is it correct to ask
Whats your budget for this?
How much you are willing to pay for this?
Will 100$ work for you ? (Here I am directly giving the ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
What is “bringing a pinwheel to a prizefight”
Whats the meaning of "bringing a pinwheel to a prizefight"
I heard from legions of nervous Democratic strategists who worried that using “heal the nation” messaging against the MAGA meme ...
7
votes
1answer
353 views
Are there any publications which would indicate that American journalists understand the concept of ‘auto-coup’ or ‘self-coup'?
On the 6th of January, 2021, In the United States, it appears that we were in the midst of an armed insurrection that reached beyond the Capitol steps during sessions, penetrating even to chambers......
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Can “at all” be used in an affirmative sentence? [duplicate]
The real risk of cbdcs to the financial system may be that they eventually precipitate a new kind of run: on the idea that banks need to exist "at all".
What does 'at all' refer to here? ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
What is the word to describe the state or condition of being wanted?
For example, someone has a warrant for arrest.
What is the word to describe the state or condition of being wanted?
Jacques is wanted by the police.
Because of his ______, he has gone into hiding.
...
6
votes
1answer
361 views
What does “carry't” mean?
What does "carry't" mean? I can't find a definition for it on the web.
Here's an example of its use from Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice:
What a full fortune does the thick-lips ...
0
votes
2answers
155 views
It is clear to their fortunate [closed]
"That the best cooks are the first and best critics of their own work is an observation almost trite. It is clear to their fortunate if puzzled guests that the host’s anxious questions about ...
2
votes
5answers
561 views
What does it mean to “key into” something?
Here is an excerpt from the book called I’m Right and You’re an Idiot (by James Hoggan):
Those previous frames kept climate change at a distance for many: “It’s happening, but not in my state, or my ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
how to understand this sentence (use of 'to') : “You sometimes need to say no to people to be self-ful.” [closed]
I have faced this sentence and have found I am confused in understanding this sentence.
The problem sentence is :
"You sometimes need to say no to people to be self-ful."
1 Interpretation is ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
What does admission mean? [closed]
I’m confused. If it is said that “admission starts on [insert date here]”, does this mean I shall wait and apply on the given date of admission or am I supposed to apply as soon as possible and wait ...
2
votes
1answer
94 views
What's the meaning of the word glib?
I've been studying English for a lot of time and if there's a word that I've always struggled to understand, this word is "glib". I've read multiple definitions of this word on various ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
What does “full of sleep” mean? [closed]
In the Robert & Jean Hollander translation of Dante's Inferno, the verse:
How I came there I cannot really tell,/
I was so full of sleep/
when I forsook the one true way.
contains "full of ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
“I get my paycheck on the last day of the month” -> Does this imply I get a physical check? [closed]
Stemming from a discussion I recently had, does this statement imply that the payment I receive is physically a check? Or is it perfectly naturally to use for a situation where my payment is received ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
Is this sentence ambiguous or not?
To my way of thinking, the last sentence " The upsetting event could even be something as simple as sitting here right now, reading this book, feeling depressed, anxious, or discouraged." ...
1
vote
4answers
147 views
What does Dickens mean by “servant” in A Christmas Carol? [closed]
In the following quote from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, why does Dickens describe himself as a servant to the reader? What does he mean here?
their faithful friend and servant, C.D.
0
votes
0answers
34 views
What do you call someone when they don't believe in something then they believe in it when they see it themselves? [duplicate]
Jesse didn't believe that there are notebooks, Then when he saw it for himself he believed the was.
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Term for words meaning both a concept or its best form. Ex: “principles” means “virtue” or “any morals” (good or bad) [duplicate]
These might also be examples:
"logic/reason" as in "valid logic" or "any logic".
0
votes
3answers
68 views
to make, meaning to recognize [closed]
I watched a movie (On the rocks) and saw this dialogue:
A: I went to Sergeant O'Callaghan, Timmy... I went to his beefsteak
for his retirement...
B: That's my grandfather.
A: That's right. Gosh,
I ...
0
votes
2answers
40 views
NOUN PHRASE, Biological problem and Biology problem
what is difference between : "Biological problem" and "Biology problem" .
1
vote
1answer
64 views
What is the meaning of 'Rajasthan shades off into the fertile land of Gujarat'
What is the meaning of the phrase 'shade off into'?
Is 'off' a preposition here?
Here, Rajasthan and Gujarat are States of India.
5
votes
1answer
385 views
What is the meaning of “laid by the heels”?
I am quoting from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Gloria Scott by Arthur Conan Doyle:
It was a prosaic way of forming a friendship, but it was effective. I was laid by the heels for ten days, but ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Unusual or archaic usage of “young”
"Well, you've probably never been in a tighter place than you are
today! If there's a lunatic hiding on this island, he's probably got a
young arsenal on him - to say nothing of a knife or ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
What does “constant proportionality” mean in simple words?
I read this sentence from algorithm book:
The reason is that any split of constant proportionality yields a recursion tree of depth O(lg n).
What does mean by "constant proportionality" in a ...
0
votes
3answers
270 views
Woe be to him that reads but one book - meaning?
I saw this quote from George Herbert but have no idea where to start to understand this sentence.
0
votes
2answers
42 views
What is the meaning of put us on deals?
Early on in my career as an investment banker, I asked to work with the biggest, baddest, scariest VP that ever walked the halls of Goldman Sachs. And my staffer who put us on deals, looked at me like ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
When would the verb 'start' be used without an object?
I always thought the verb 'start' needed an object, for example 'I started writing a letter', or 'she started the car', but recently I read the below in a novel (THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND)..
Kit ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
How to Give Lexical and Grammatical Meanings [closed]
I am genuinely confused by one of the items on our Learning Task. It says we have to PICK 5 PHRASES FROM A SONG AND GIVE THEIR LEXICAL ANG GRAMMATICAL MEANING
I think I understand lexical and ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Gauge vs measure [closed]
What is difference between these two sentences in terms of meaning :
Tomorrow's game against Arsenal will be a good gauge of their promotion chances
Tomorrow's game against Arsenal will be a good ...
5
votes
2answers
372 views
Can we omit “with” in the expression glow with (something)?
I found this in the book The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane:
A folded tent was serving as a roof. The sunlight, without, beating upon it, made it glow a light yellow shade.
Maybe the ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Is “of” the same as “following”
If you say something must occur within one year "of" something else, does the use of the word "of" mean the thing can occur within one year before or following something else? Or ...
-1
votes
1answer
24 views
Can “hold on” and “hold off” be used interchangeably?
These are two different words but I've often seen them used interchangeably in various situations. For example:
I cannot hold off the fort any longer than this.
I will hold on to my faiths and ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Meaning of “currency in this field of disclosure”
Following is a part from Australian case law:
The tokens - "employer", "employee", "principal" and independent contractor-which provide the currency in this field of ...
0
votes
1answer
88 views
Does “swap A for B” imply a direction?
I am not an English native, so maybe the question is trivial. In case you're confused why I even ask: the German "tauschen" has no direction included.
You shouldn't have both CDs and DVDs, ...
1
vote
2answers
39 views
What's the meaning of “out of fear”?
"We choose our path out of fear. "
Does it mean:
(A) We choose this path because of fear;
or
(B) We choose this path to get rid of fear.
If the meaning is (A), then could I make a sentence ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
is it okay to use the word “upgrade” in this case?
In my company, we found that one of the software that comes with operating system is old and is causing the issue, we thought to replace that software with latest version but that did not happen, so ...
0
votes
0answers
57 views
Grammatical Rules of Construction. Conjunction-reduction
I'm struggling to understand the meaning of certain phrases that follow a particular pattern. Since I lack the vocabulary to define that pattern, I'll give some examples instead:
The pet-friendly ...
