Questions tagged [phrase-requests]
This tag is for questions seeking a phrase or an expression that fits a meaning. If you're specifically seeking only a single word, see the "single word requests" tag too.
5,859
questions
0
votes
3
answers
210
views
Term or phrase for an easy and yet difficult task/process [duplicate]
Is there any term or phrase to (idiomatically) describe a situation/task/process that is easy from one point of view but and at the same time difficult from another perspective.
The answer shoudl be ...
- 5,469
0
votes
5
answers
124
views
What's the word for pictures in a letter that are not attached but rather pasted after the text?
I am writing a letter with pictures, and I have used before the following sentence: "Please refer to the attached photos."
However, I have been wondering if this is normally used in English ...
- 1
2
votes
5
answers
112
views
What is a word or phrase that describes someone changes themselves in order to fit a role?
Does anyone have a clue or an idiomatic phrase for this:
When someone changes themselves in order to fit a role
Ex: When someone gets a new job, they learn new abilities to suit that role.
Ex2: When ...
- 139
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What do you call someone who likes things specifically because they are bad or poorly made?
I’ve noticed many people who seem to take pleasure in poorly made or the lowest quality things. There’s a certain level of humor to it, but is there a word that would specifically describe this kind ...
- 41
1
vote
1
answer
58
views
An expression for forgetting while sleeping
Does English have a good expression – perhaps a phrasal verb with 'sleep' – to suggest that you forgot during your night's sleep?
Let's say you get a text message and you read it a moment before you ...
-1
votes
2
answers
314
views
Where did "butt naked" come from? [duplicate]
Apparently this question was asked over a decade ago but, the answers given do not address my specific curiosity. Of course, years ago, no one said "butt naked". "Butt" was not a ...
- 13.2k
-1
votes
4
answers
80
views
A verb for a job prospect that is getting worse?
The prospect of finding a job in this field is —————— .
I am looking for a verb for the above sentence to mean the prospect is ‘getting worse’ or ‘worsening’. That is, it is getting harder and harder ...
- 3,334
-3
votes
2
answers
132
views
Describe a person “taking too long time”
What is the word for someone taking a long time to express something or to say something on their mind? Is there a word for that?
Example:
I’m a person that takes too long time to think over things.
4
votes
4
answers
475
views
A medium-agnostic word for a readthrough/playthrough/viewing?
Is there a word analogous to “readthrough” that works regardless of what kind of media it is?
That is, I’m looking to condense “an instance of going through an entire (fictional) work” down to a noun (...
- 141
2
votes
1
answer
83
views
Is there a word for a digitally infused or altered analog/traditional painting other than "mixed media?"
I am an artist and sometimes take pictures of my manually painted (analog/traditional) artworks, digitally alter them and print them to display on gallery walls. For online displays of the same ...
- 21
14
votes
10
answers
4k
views
Which English word denotes the trivialization of a statement by pretending it's idiosyncratic, a symptom of a personal bias, quirk, or other problem?
Routinely, people who don't like what they hear will trivialize it by saying things like, "Well, that's one opinion," or, "I understand that's how you feel," or, "That's OK, ...
- 157
0
votes
2
answers
31
views
Looking for terms similar to "New Era" and "Next Generation" [closed]
Looking for terms similar to "New Era" and "Next Generation" that represent being at the forefront of its industry with a focus on progress and innovation
- 9
2
votes
1
answer
737
views
How to respond to someone who's done a favor to you?
I'll make it short. This is the context:
A: Thanks for buying me that product.
B: No problem.
A: How can I make up to you?
Is it okay to use the expression "to make up to someone" in this ...
- 93
2
votes
5
answers
643
views
What would you call the opposite of a "bandwagon jumper?" [duplicate]
I'm looking for a word or phrase to succinctly describe someone who prefers to follow unpopular causes.
- 131
0
votes
1
answer
75
views
Is there a word or phrase for how a being decides what is true?
Is there any word or phrase that refers to the set of methods that a certain being will use to work out what is true and what isn't true? It should be a noun or noun phrase. The phrase must refer to ...
- 543
21
votes
10
answers
9k
views
What is a term for a phenomenon where two people doing the same job are less effective than one person doing it alone?
For example, imagine a worker in a widget factory who is responsible for checking if all the widgets on a conveyor belt are well-made. This worker is successful in their job 99% of the time. However, ...
- 824
0
votes
2
answers
132
views
Is there an idiom which means one too many?
In my professional work, I often want to use a phrase which means:
Here is an additional idea, but it may be one consideration too many and thus not useful / should be discarded.
For example in ...
- 115
0
votes
4
answers
802
views
What to call someone who comes from the same hometown?
What word or phrase can describe people who come from the same place?
It's always nice to meet ______ in a foreign land
- 3,350
2
votes
12
answers
794
views
What is a word or phrase for "perfect example of" that also communicates "proves the existence of"?
I'm looking for a word or phrase for:
Something that is not only the perfect/archetypal/quintessential example of a concept, but also unequivocally validates the existence of the concept via its very ...
- 31
0
votes
0
answers
225
views
Unambiguous alternatives for "more/less granular" for data?
In the usage notes for "granular" on Wiktionary, it points out that depending on context "more granular" could mean "bigger grains", i.e. coarser, or "smaller grains&...
- 101
12
votes
6
answers
4k
views
English equivalent of a scornful Hindi expression, 'the rope got burnt, but the force did not'
There is a sarcastic Hindi proverb that goes like this:
रस्सी जल गई पर बल नहीं गया
Rassi (rope) jal gayi (got burnt) par (but) bal (literally: strength/force) nahi (not) gaya.
The rope got burnt, but ...
- 3,084
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
How to express "organization in charge" in a formal manner
I've been asked to proofread a description of a project/a request for financing. I can't help being bothered by the wording of the titles (though this may very well be part of some kind of standard ...
0
votes
0
answers
39
views
A word or phrase to describe something “significant to one yet trivial to another”
I feel as though a word exists to describe an event or scenario that is significant to one person and trivial to another. An example of this would be the first time I met my Fiancé. I know the night ...
0
votes
1
answer
52
views
Term for the state of having tried to solve a problem for too long that a "temporary tunnel vision" develops
I stare at this bug in my code continuously for ten hours and find myself none the wiser as it stares right back at me by the end of them. Electing to give in to the reasonable part of me (small as ...
- 103
0
votes
1
answer
62
views
What is the term for when a person gets out of doing a task by saying "you are better at that than I am so you can do it"? [closed]
What is the term for when a person gets out of doing a task by saying to someone:
You are better at that than I am so you can do it.
I read an article a few years ago about this term but I cannot ...
0
votes
0
answers
54
views
Is there a positive version of "the final nail in the coffin"? [duplicate]
Say that you are considering getting chickens.
You've been noticing all the ways you would benefit, a farmer you know told you that he will have chicks for sale soon, and so on, but you don't know ...
- 220
0
votes
1
answer
84
views
year of first use of a vulgar expression? [closed]
Could someone please tell me the origin of the phrase working my ass off or derivations or variations thereof? I've seen 1930s and 1946 as answers, but no elaboration or explanation.
- 13
-1
votes
1
answer
109
views
Idioms that mean watch your back
I am looking for an idiom or phrase that means to make sure your back is covered or to limit your exposure from behind. Something that connotes the idea of sitting in the corner of the room like Wild ...
- 141
6
votes
6
answers
826
views
What is a term for saying something without actually providing any useful information?
Is there a word or phrase for saying something in an intentional manner to use such generic language as to avoid including any useful details? Example:
We have pivoted to align our business strategy ...
- 1,059
0
votes
1
answer
62
views
expression/idiom for a useless task? [closed]
I kept thinking of a flightless task, which I don't think is an actual expression.
I am looking for a manner of speaking that captures the idea of shielding a group of people from a set of facts that ...
- 39
0
votes
1
answer
97
views
Four word, two part phrase containing 'head empty'
I'm trying to recall this phrase that implies someone is carefree, well-meaning but either not very bright in general or is momentarily mentally vacant (from tiredness perhaps). I may have seen it ...
- 1,718
2
votes
8
answers
1k
views
What do you say when people ate the food you cooked until nothing is left? [closed]
What do you say when people ate the food you cooked until nothing is left?
The corn soup that I made is…
or is there any other expression or sentence form to say for this situation?
- 29
0
votes
2
answers
56
views
Term or phrase for a situation that I would benefit from and enjoy, but wouldn't encourage to happen
Let's say that there is a potential situation which I know would benefit me personally, but that I can also recognize that it would not be best for everyone and thus I wouldn't choose for it to occur.
...
- 667
2
votes
3
answers
122
views
Descriptive word for a person that "pushes over a pushover"
I am looking for a word that describes a person that "pushes over a pushover". I have now a 'manipulator', but I feel that that word carries an unnecessary strength with it. A pushover only ...
- 23
0
votes
1
answer
29
views
My language is English and my question is based on wanting to shorten a compliment I plan on giving a friend
What is a single word that can explain somebody who takes care of their responsibilities, is reliable, and a positive influence?
0
votes
0
answers
151
views
Who all...? / Which all...? - is it correct? Or is there a better way to express this?
After reading this thread, I still have some hesitation:
Is “who all is” grammatically correct?
Is "who all" expression correct? Not in southern US as suggested in the thread, but generally....
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
64
views
A phrase/expression/saying for coming in an already-stablished situation and so accept it for granted [duplicate]
You become a member of a particular society/community, and there are certain norms/conventions/lifestyles in that community which you take for granted and don’t question. Sometimes they are ...
- 3,334
0
votes
2
answers
76
views
Synonyms for "put somebody through their paces"?
What are some verbs and phrases to describe testing someone to see what they are capable of? I already know "put somebody through their paces".
- 29
1
vote
3
answers
61
views
How to say this concisely?
I am applying for this mainly research position. It might happen that there is a course relevant to my research topic, and in that case I would like to teach that course too. So I am trying to say ...
- 3,334
2
votes
2
answers
96
views
A word which describes 'purposefully doing something differently to hide inability of doing it in the originally intended way'
I'm looking for a word that describes 'purposefully doing something different to hide inability of doing it in the originally intended ('better'/'harder') way'.
An example might be where you are ...
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
127
views
Is there a common expression for the 'ulnar border of the palm'?
I would like to describe the action of removing dust/sand from a surface with the ulnar border of the palm (see image, highlighted in green), but I cannot find an informal yet precise expression to ...
- 3
22
votes
21
answers
4k
views
Is there a word or phrase that conveys that "this is a concept that you learn then discard once you become proficient" [duplicate]
Is there a word or common phrase that means "I know this isn't strictly speaking correct, but beginners should use it as a working model until they are more proficient and then we can discuss why ...
- 323
1
vote
0
answers
53
views
Instilled - is there a better word or phrase specifically for a child getting their interest/love of something from a parent
I'm looking for something to better evoke the gratitude one might feel towards their parent (or anyone, but parent in this case) for sharing their love of something (music, reading, etc.) in such a ...
- 111
6
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Noun for something you dabble in
Is there a single word (or maybe two) for an interest or hobby that you dabble in briefly, especially in the context of dabbling in many of these interests over time?
- 533
0
votes
2
answers
646
views
What word is used for someone who pretends to have a poor upbringing?
I am trying to find a word or a phrase to state that someone is posturing they had an impoverished or lower middle class childhood, even though that was not the case. Especially if they say it to ...
- 3
0
votes
1
answer
87
views
Adjective to qualify "No GUI"
What adjective can we use to qualify something that has no (visual) Graphic User Interface?
For example, a bot, a script, a command line tool, ...
I am thinking of "headless", taken from &...
- 101
0
votes
4
answers
180
views
Word for "something that is contrary to popular belief"? [duplicate]
I want to say the following sentence in a succinct way:
"The study conducted in [1] reveals (a new insight into) the role of X, which is contrary to what people thought the role of X was."
...
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
163
views
Looking for a more condensed version of "the world is bigger than you"
I'm looking for a shorter and more condensed version of the phrases "the world is bigger than you" or "this is greater than yourself/oneself." Something that keeps intact the ...
- 76
1
vote
3
answers
192
views
What is a less common phrase that's similar to 'To the untrained eye...'?
I feel that 'to the untrained eye' is somewhat overused/clichéd andam seeking a variation or equivalent.
For instance, would could replace it in the following sentence?
[To the untrained eye,] these ...
- 8,452
-1
votes
1
answer
240
views
"What number of president is Joe Biden?" Is this correct? [duplicate]
I know that Joe Biden is the 46th president of USA, but if I was to ask this as a question what would that be?
