22
votes
What does the idiomatic phrase "err on the side of" mean?
"Err on the side of" is used in situations where we probably won't be able to do something exactly, and want to know if it's better to have more, or less.
For examples, "cut some wood 8 ...
- 631
20
votes
Is there any difference between the idioms "pull the rug from under" and "leave in the lurch"?
You correctly define them both - and I am a little surprised that you have not spotted the slightly different circumstances in which each might be used. Though the examples you give do seem to suggest ...
- 63.5k
18
votes
Is there any difference between "congenial" and "genial"?
A genial person is pleasant and friendly in their behaviour. Because of this, you will probably find them congenial [to you].
As you see from the definition you found, congenial always has the sense ...
- 17.7k
13
votes
Is there any difference between the idioms "pull the rug from under" and "leave in the lurch"?
You can apologize (sincerely) for leaving somebody in the lurch. As a mentor "Sorry I left you in the lurch at the meeting. My train got stuck for an hour in a mobile phone no-spot because of a ...
- 580
10
votes
What does the idiomatic phrase "err on the side of" mean?
All entries are really saying the same thing, though I agree they're not well articulated. I think there's only really one definition.
When tasked with a job whose performance lies on a spectrum with ...
- 201
8
votes
Accepted
Meaning and origin of the word "muist"
According to John Jameson, An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language (1808), there is (or was) a word spelled muist in Scottish:
MUIST, MUST, s. Musk, Border. [Cited examples:] Thy smell ...
- 151k
7
votes
Is there any difference between "congenial" and "genial"?
Is there any difference between "congenial" and "genial"?
Yes. The sources below cover the subtle difference(s) between the two words:
From The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage ...
- 8,898
5
votes
Meaning and origin of the word "muist"
The Scottish trail for “muist” appears to be the more interesting one: from “Dictionaries of the Scots Language”:
†MUIST, n., v. Also must; moust, moost.
I - n. 1. Musk (s.Sc. 1808 Jam.), in comb. ...
- 59.5k
4
votes
Is there any difference between "congenial" and "genial"?
Harry Shaw, Dictionary of Problem Words and Phrases (1975) offers this brief discussion of how the two terms differ:
congenial, genial. Congenial means "compatible," "allied in spirit, ...
- 151k
4
votes
What does the idiomatic phrase "err on the side of" mean?
To err is to make a mistake. Let us therefore follow the sequence of relevant subsequent definitions:
Cambridge
err:
to make a mistake
mistake:
an action, decision, or judgment that produces an ...
- 22.2k
3
votes
Is there any difference between the idioms "pull the rug from under" and "leave in the lurch"?
'Pull' in this usage is the common punctive (hence 'suddenly or unexpectedly') usage. The rug needs yanking to remove it from underneath a person. It's also a dynamic verb, and causative (bringing ...
- 70.1k
3
votes
What does the idiomatic phrase "err on the side of" mean?
If you look at all the examples you have cited above, they all have one thing in common - and that should make the meaning clear.
It shows that there is a risk of making an error of judgement and by &...
3
votes
What does the idiomatic phrase "err on the side of" mean?
I have been stuck in a mental slump, attempting to figure out which definition (in the listed dictionary entries) is the one and true underlying definition of said phrase.
I cannot help being ...
- 28.1k
2
votes
Meaning and origin of the word "muist"
The OED has no entry for "muist" but has mu, noun3 and interjection.
Etymology: < Japanese mu nothingness (13th cent.; 1603 in Vocabulario da Lingoa de Iapam), use as noun of mu nothing (...
- 28.1k
2
votes
Accepted
What does "data trail for transactions" mean?
I just typed 'define trail' into my browser's title bar and the first definition reads:
1. a mark or a series of signs or objects left behind by the passage of someone or something
That's exactly what ...
- 311
2
votes
What does the idiomatic phrase "err on the side of" mean?
The three entries have essentially the same meaning.
'Err' means to stray, to wander (like a sheep, for example). It carries the idea of a mistake as a secondary meaning based on the aforementioned ...
2
votes
What does the idiomatic phrase "err on the side of" mean?
Great question, xbladefate25. I don't think the above answers quite nail it. The phrase most closely fits a situation in which you have a choice to make between two options, either one of which may be ...
- 1,266
2
votes
What is the difference between "hallmark" and "trappings"?
I would say that a hallmark is how you distinguish the real thing from something fake: the hallmark of a gentleman is his courtesy to others. Trappings are superficial and can be misleading: gentlemen ...
- 261
2
votes
What is the definition of "calculus" (not referring to the mathematical connotation)?
Well, you asked. Calculus is the Latin word for "pebble". That's where the dental meaning of calculus comes from; dentists tend not to use it any more where patients can hear it, because it'...
- 99.6k
1
vote
What exactly is this post implying regarding the distinction between "inasmuch as" and "insofar as"?
I have no idea what they were getting at, and don't propose to try to explain it.
As for the question about inasmuch as vs_insofar as_, the main difference is that inasmuch as presupposes its ...
- 99.6k
1
vote
Is there any difference between the idioms "pull the rug from under" and "leave in the lurch"?
"Is there any difference?"
Yes. To "pull the rug out from under" someone is when the withdrawal of support is actively destructive. Leaving someone in the lurch is not.
- 885
1
vote
"Didn't any" and "didn't either"
"Teams that did not participate in either game" means "teams that played in zero of the two games that were played."
"Teams that did not participate in both games" means &...
- 58.5k
1
vote
"Didn't any" and "didn't either"
Did not participate in either means failed to participate in both. Otherwise I think participated in only one would have been used.
Any would only be used if more than two championships were involved.
- 17.7k
1
vote
Accepted
Word request for a in-game page
The term Pop-up is fine and quite accurate as far as it goes. In the programming realm the term for this is a Modal window. That is a window that you cannot ignore or dismiss by clicking the window ...
- 4,616
1
vote
When does "actively mislead" entail an intent to deceive?
Actively mislead can certainly suggest intent; its range of meaning is visible in the definition of actively (Oxford English Dictionary, "actively, adv.," def. 1).
By one's own action; ...
1
vote
Is there any difference between "nexus" and "locus"?
From your own research, you can see that the definition of nexus emphasises the connection, whereas locus is emphasises the aspect of place.
OED: Nexus:
1.a. A bond, link, or junction; a means of ...
- 28.1k
1
vote
What does it mean for RFC 3339 to be "a profile of" ISO 8601?
The standard ISO 8601 is not publicly accessible but there is a preview of its part including Terms and definitions:
https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:8601:-2:ed-1:v1:en:term:3.1.2.1
There we ...
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