Questions tagged [phrase-meaning]
The meaning of phrases.
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A term for a woman complaining about things/begging in a cute/childish way
I'm trying to find a fitting translation for a Chinese term, which means that a woman is trying to be cute in front of her man in order to get what she wants. While she does this, her voice will ...
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What does it mean when someone says “Don't call me ”boy“! ”
non native speaker here. when someone calls another person boy and the other person responds by saying "don't call me "boy" ". Does that mean the first person was calling the other person "boy" to ...
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3answers
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Meaning of 'fall foliage'? [on hold]
There is the sentence in the book which includes words like fall foliage angle. What is the intention of the author in the highlighted sentence. What the author wants to convey in this line from Phil ...
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1answer
43 views
What does “is its own” mean here?
In general I do not understand the usage of "is its own" in a sentence. A sentence containing "is its own" immediately becomes unclear to me. For example what does "is its own" mean in the following ...
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1answer
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Is 'Another Europe is possible' correct English? [on hold]
Given that we don't have a second Europe, I thought it should be something like 'A different Europe is possible'. Or does this sentence have the same meaning?
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1answer
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I want to know the meaning of “get into my bones”
From Churchill’s My Early Life,
I gained an immense advantage over the clever boys. They all went on to learn Latin and Greek and splendid things like that... We were considered such dunces that we ...
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1answer
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'End of the line' or 'End of line'? [closed]
As an English learning student, I'm having a trouble understanding the differences of these 3 expressions.
The end of line
End of the line
End of line
Could someone explain the differences ...
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1answer
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Confusion in meaning of word “classic”? [closed]
I have searched the meaning of "classic" in Cambridge dictionary, but I am not satisfied about its meaning as adjective
What is difference between terms classic and old? As we often use terms like ...
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1answer
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Is “So simple a beginning” the same as “A beginning so simple”?
There are two parts to this question:
Is "A beginning so simple" structurally (grammatically) correct?
If the above is correct, does it have the same meaning?
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What is the meaning of “make up someone's mind”? [closed]
I don't understand about meaning of word of the phrase: "make up someone's mind".
For example: he makes up his mind about something.
Thanks you for helping.
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Meaning of expression: “After the powder, the jam”
In Agatha Christie's novel "Hickory Dickory Dock" there is a scene between "employer" and "employee", where the former one begins by criticising heavily the practices of the latter but ends on a very ...
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What does it mean when someone says: “King me”? [closed]
When two children are playing chess or something like that, what does it mean when one kid says: "King me"?
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Using “apart from” midsentence
I'm looking into constructions that convey addition/inclusion.
In "[...] extracellular vesicles can regulate brain circuits and help diagnose neurodegenerative diseases – in addition to altering ...
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1answer
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Can someone elaborate the following sentence for me, specially the bold part?
Reactions to German Idealism, especially those of the neo-Kantians, logical positivists and Bertrand Russell, were also instrumental in the founding of analytic philosophy, which today reveals and ...
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1answer
45 views
What do these uncommon expressions mean?
I'm a non-native English speaker and I've heard and read a lot of expressions that I believe are supposed to mean "Goodbye"; however, I don't really know what they mean (in a literal sense) and how I'...
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1answer
40 views
Can you help me in understanding the bold part of the text?
Philosophy involves the mind turning upon itself and becoming explicitly aware of the modes of its own action, which will have been in operation for some time before their philosophical ...
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1answer
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What does “barely perceptibly” mean? [closed]
Barely perceptibly, he starts to cry.
Does barely perceptibly mean losing control?
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1answer
69 views
What is the meaning of “on an exceptional basis”?
I read an english version document, and there's some words i dont quite understand (since english is not my main language), especially the "on an exceptional basis" part, can you help me guys? Thanks ...
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“You’re going to have jump for it” meaning
The writer talks about some funny word unknown to reader yet.
From "New Ad Land Cartoon: The Most Important Word in Advertising":
David’s new Ad Land cartoon honors and celebrates the MVP word in ...
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1answer
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what does “pinned post” mean in Chinese?
I came across a phrase "pinned post" in this web page - https://purecss.io/layouts/blog/. I tried to find out its corresponding meaning in Chinese, however, I got nothing. I hope someone can explain ...
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what does “porn” mean in “word porn”? [duplicate]
I came across a website/facebook page which posts famous quotes and i wonder what does "Porn" mean in this situation ?
I also search many websites but they all believe that it has something to do with ...
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2answers
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What does “add years to my life” mean? [closed]
Please look at the following:
Dear Katharine (very dear):
I've had moments of despair during the last week which have added years to my life and put many new thoughts in my head. Always, ...
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2answers
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“Would tomorrow between 11:30-12 work for me to give you a call?” Meaning?
Can I expect someone to call me at 10:30?
Why "for me" not "for you"?
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0answers
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Does “in the area” mean the same thing as “throughout the entire area”?
Curious about the scope of the phrase "in the area," and whether it means the whole area or part of it.
For example: If someone's authority was restricted "in the area" of foreign policy, does that ...
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1answer
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What does “apathy on matters African” mean?
"America’s apathy on matters African is one reason such initiatives have slowed of late." What does "apathy on matters African" mean?
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1answer
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Mystical oriental kitten
In this article
https://aeon.co/ideas/tidying-up-is-not-joyful-but-another-misuse-of-eastern-ideas
what does this sentence mean?
"Which, to be clear, they are. Poor old Confucius features in these ...
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2answers
39 views
Plain good sense [closed]
I am not a native speaker and i want to translate an article.. Can you please tell me What does " she is full of plain good sense" mean? Is plain here an adjective?
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doubts on the meaning of the auxiliary verb “do” [closed]
In the "seventh Hymn on the Nativity", where St. Ephraim speaks about Tamar (Genesis 38), I read: "She was a widow for your sake. You did she long for, she hasted and was also a harlot for your sake. ...
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What does “more than intended with” mean here?
"China's rulers reveal more than intended with clunky propaganda about their accountability." What does "more than intended with" mean here?
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3answers
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“pay out” vs “pay off”
"pay out" vs "pay off"
In my company we are selling things and expecting to get money from customers by instalments.
English is my second language.
But I often hear things like "pay out payments" ...
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3answers
550 views
What does “the touch of the purple” mean?
I've come across a quote by Teddy Roosevelt which shows his admiration for Alexander Hamilton. It uses the phrase "the touch of the purple," but supplies little hint as to what it means.
Roosevelt ...
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1answer
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What does “step back” imply here?
"The aim would be to block investment in only the most sensitive industries, such as defence, police it rigorously in important ones, such as technology, and otherwise step back."
What does "...
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0answers
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Does the condition apply to the first part or the later
I will have 1 coffee every 2 days or less
Does the above statement mean I may have less than one coffee in two days or does it mean I may have more than one coffee in two days?
I will have one ...
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2answers
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Comprehensive problem
Would you please explain grammar of this sentence? I am confused about "as" in this sentence.
Strange as this behaviour may be , there is a very good reason for it.
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Meaning of “take a knee”
Ice Cube's intro in his newest album starts with
Yeah, you know me. Super OG.
Always down to take a knee.
What does this last sentence mean? He won‘t literally take someone’s knee I guess..
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1answer
60 views
What does “as has” mean here? [closed]
"In Britain the price of a new drug for cystic fibrosis has provoked fury, as has the government’s refusal to pay it." What does "as has" mean here?
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3answers
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Does “beat the distance” make sense?
I'm walking in a direction and there is someone who is ahead of me and walking in the same direction as me. I'm trying to catch up with him. If I say:
If I speed up, I might be able to beat the ...
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2answers
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What does “as…as” mean here?
Even as legalistic an institution as the EU ought to be able to find a way around snags such as this.
Can anyone restructure the sentence to simpler ones as it is not clear for me? For example, ...
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In contemporary use, does 'white noise' enjoy common figurative meaning?
In at least the ELU hyperlocal environment, the claim that 'white noise' has only one meaning seems to be mostly unchallenged.
For example, as commentary on a recent question (now on hold) titled "...
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What is the literary device for “our eyes opened” when describing a realization?
This is a quote from the book Night, by Elie Wiesel. In context: "We realized that we were not staying in Hungary. Our eyes opened. Too late."
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1answer
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What does “has… been” mean?
"India and Pakistan are so often at odds that there is a tendency to shrug off their spats, but not since their most recent, full-blown war in 1971 has the risk of escalation been so high." Can anyone ...
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1answer
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Can “Contract concluded” mean that it's been agreed upon?
I am a bit baffled by the phrase "Contract concluded between party A and party B" used in certain official papers originally forged in foreign language. To me it sound like the contract has already ...
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1answer
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What does “India-Pak. tensions: Have reasonably decent news from both countries, says Trump ” mean? [closed]
Can someone please explain what the phrase above means? Here what does reasonably decent news mean?
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2answers
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What does “jaw-breaking” mean?
"India’s prime minister has promised a "jaw-breaking response" to the killing of 40 Indian paramilitary police." What does “jaw-breaking response” mean?
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1answer
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What does “The training camp in [X] was deep inside ” mean?
The training camp in Balakot was deep inside
Can someone please explain what the phrase above means? Here what does deep inside mean?
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1answer
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Meaning of “penetrate at a bound”
I was reading Isaac Asimov’s Foundation recently when a phrase stuck out to me: “penetrate at a bound [to].” In context, with boldface added:
“The best men on the planets of the kingdoms are sent ...
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1answer
65 views
What would the phrase 'modern currents of thought' mean?
I am preparing for an exam in which one of the criteria to judge candidates is:
Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of
academic study ...
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1answer
25 views
Why does a Californian utility spark wildfires? [closed]
"PG&E, a Californian utility, was forced into bankruptcy protection in January after insurers and creditors fled when they concluded that it could be on the hook for billion-dollar liabilities ...
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Meaning of “bruised Trump” [closed]
I have read in the news recently the expression"bruised Trump". Can you paraphrase it for me
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What does “led by the US pressed [X]” mean?
Below is the headline of a newspaper
The international community led by the US pressed Pakistan to deny safe haven to terror groups operating from its soil and bring the perpetrators of the Pulwama ...
