Questions tagged [expressions]
This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer asking the meaning of a particular expression.
0
votes
2answers
32 views
Gift Message: “for learning” or “to learning”
I want to send a gift to someone. She loves learning. Which version of the following looks better/correct?
To learning and knowledge!
Or
For learning and knowledge!
Note that learning and ...
1
vote
3answers
29 views
'health treatment' - a valid expression?
I would like to speak about treatment for various illnesses, physical and psychological.
Would the expression 'health treatment' be commonly understood?
So far, it is not a widely used ...
0
votes
2answers
41 views
'over short or long' instead of 'sooner or later'?
Is it permissible to use 'over short or long' instead of 'sooner or later'?
On the internet and on Google Books I have only found 'over short or long' as 'over short or long time periods'. I would ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
I go on the business trip
I go on the business trip.
Why the above sentence use "on " as the preposition but not "to"?
3
votes
5answers
913 views
What's the meaning of “spike” in the context of “adrenaline spike”? [on hold]
What's the meaning of “spike” in the context of “adrenaline spike”? how does it relate to the meaning of “dump” in the context of “adrenaline dump”? and which of the two is the correct version?
1
vote
1answer
16 views
meaning of “the way I get it, it's optional”
I know the meaning of the bolded expression in the following excerpt of a conversation, but I cannot understand how it is related to it.
Man: Hi. Listen, I was just wondering whether you understood ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
Could this “would” possibly be for attenuation?
To hear her speak, I would think she is from Tokyo.
I can't imagine a situation very well when this sentence makes sense.
Could it be used like this:
A: ~. So my daughter have gotten very much used ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
How can “I don't know if you can tell or not, but…” be used in spoken English?
I've just come across that phrase
I don't know if you can tell or not, but...
Would you tell me what it means and how I can use it?
Thanks for your help
1
vote
1answer
17 views
Can “Only For” mean “Instead”?
"She faked her death to avoid the penalty, only for her desperation to be frustrated as law enforment comes to her door"
I paraphrase the original sentence. I hope the change wouldn't make to
much ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
What are “industrial chops”?
I've seen the expression industrial chops in a few texts, but looking at them all, and seeing the definition of chop in a dictionary did not provide me a clear meaning.
In this way, 3D printing is ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Take out innocence (phrase)
How do you correctly express this in English:
Unsupervised internet browsing of a child can take out their innocence when they get exposed to pornography.
I believe this is a useful phrase. ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Synonyms - not on any account
The single most importante thing to remember is that there is no good way to do a talk.
The most memorable talks offer something fresh, something no one has seen before.
The worst ones are those ...
0
votes
2answers
19 views
How to insert “The last time” into a simple question?
I would like to ask someone about his last payment using the expression "The last time". I know that I can say ; " When was your last or latest payment? " but I'd like to learn how to use the ...
4
votes
5answers
931 views
Abuse of your trust
In Spanish we use this expression abuse of your trust usually in formal writing to apologise in advance when we want to ask for something that one wouldn't do if wasn't because our trust.
Example.
...
1
vote
2answers
40 views
This is the thanks I get?
I would like to know whether the expression this is the thanks I get? is used in English or if there is any other expression conveying the same meaning
The implication is that one shows no signs of ...
0
votes
2answers
31 views
Write address in a full sentence
How do I write address properly in a full sentence?
Ex) I am Michael Jordan who is living on 111 street at ABC district in Chicago in Illinois in the U.S..
Can I repeatedly use “in” there?
Any ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
Cambridge English Certification
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post a question like the following (and if not, I'd be happy to be redirected to a better one, maybe still on StackExchange), but since I have no other ideas,...
0
votes
2answers
40 views
Is the expression “You will know what I mean” often misused?
I will give you a clue, it's one word: poetry. You will know what I
mean.
I thought about it and the sentence "You will know what I mean." doesn't seem to be correct, because you are giving a hint ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
by big boat/by big boats/by a big boat
To talk about the transport we use to get to a place, we use 'by + transport', with no article needed and no change in the noun form, e.g. by boat.
What about in the case when we use an adjective to ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
I AM/WAS the one who was breaking up the fight
Let's say your boss didn't know the whole story about a fight in your workplace. There was a fight that happened between your 2 co-workers and you broke up the fight. You have successfully stopped it. ...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
Responding to ‘Is the price negotiable?’ [closed]
I have been selling some stuff on Gumtree, and nearly every potiential buyer has messaged me asking if my prices are negotiable. What are some common, idomatic responses native speakers use to ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
About the usage of “be selected for”
In a sentence from SEP(https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epiphenomenalism/), I have a problem reading the following sentences:
"Thus, it is easily understood how certain kinds of neural events can ...
0
votes
2answers
81 views
Is there any synonym to “ha”?
"ha" can be used in a sarcastic way like this:
A: When did the first war happen?
B: In 1950.
A: Wrong. It happened in 1914.
B: I know that.
A: That's why you answered it ...
3
votes
1answer
28 views
for-if-construction
I don't understand the meaning of "For if" that I've found in different contexts:
For if I could see this radiance, might it not reach....
For if we don't find, The next little girl, I tell you we ...
1
vote
2answers
67 views
Is it rude to say “Excuse me, Ms.”?
I was wondering that above sentence on title,
“Excuse me, Ms.” is rude or not. I’ve watched a video on youtube about English titles, but “Excuse me lady.” is very rude to get attention from women, ...
0
votes
2answers
25 views
Say it in a concise and accurate way
I want to describe something like below,
I can't ignore the emotion on people's face, I mean, those people who are important to me.
But it seems like I'm a cruel person, that's not true, I found ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
She managed to wriggle free
She managed to wriggle free. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/wriggle_1?q=Wriggle
Oxford English Dictionary registers "free" to be used as an adjective, but Macmillan ...
1
vote
2answers
351 views
difference between “work alongside you” and “work alongside with you”
Is there a difference between
work alongside you vs work alongside with you
The definition of "alongside" indicates with is not needed.
definition
next to
in company with
But it'...
0
votes
0answers
52 views
“It is ok” synonym expression
I have used the expression "It is ok." when the character is calming down herself, so she would stop from getting annoyed or angry. But I have used it a lot, that's why I want another synonym that can ...
2
votes
3answers
82 views
Why we use 'no sooner' instead of 'not sooner'?
I think 'not sooner than' is a right form and 'no sooner than' seens pretty odd to me. Does anyone know where the phrase 'no sooner than' came from? Is it just a tradition?
1
vote
1answer
35 views
I'd like to be more polite in this situation: say 'I will go for sure'
I am an international student who just came to this country. I always worried about writing emails to my professors, because I think my English is rude. I would like to be more polite, for example,
I ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
What is the opposite of “None of one's business”?
If I want to know the connection between A and B.
Can I say
"What is the business A with B?"
?
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Can we use “copies” to describe 2 things have slight differences?
In computer, we can copy one file as its copy. We can say them (2 copies of the file).
To keep 2 copies of the file would be waste space.
Then, if one file has slight differences with the other ...
2
votes
2answers
64 views
“Welcome on my website” or “Welcome to my website”
I want to know how to say "Bienvenu sur mon site" in English.
I hesitate between the preposition to and the preposition on
Welcome to my website!
or
Welcome on my website!
I've found on ...
0
votes
2answers
22 views
Case something of
In some programming languages, such as Pascal, there is a case statement written like case something of, like case name of or case place of, followed by a set of alternatives.
This expression, case ...
0
votes
1answer
131 views
Why some people think that “pretty sure” means “totally sure”? [duplicate]
I was talking with a friend of mine when she told me that "pretty sure" means something like "more or less sure". I've always known that it meant "totally sure" and was astonished to find this out.
...
2
votes
3answers
48 views
Does saying “have good holidays” sound weird?
When you wish someone to have a good weekend, you say, "Have a good weekend!". But what about wishing someone to have good holidays? Does "have good holidays" sound weird? I'm just asking because I ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Is this sentence correct - I hope I wasted as much of your time as you did mine
I have got this sentence
I hope I wasted as much of your time as you did mine.
In this sentence using word I hope here I am confused, why because I hope is kind of positive word but the sentence ...
1
vote
2answers
244 views
How to describe your ambition in two parts?
I want to explain my general ambition separately in two parts. Is the following sentence grammatically and literally correct? How about using "consist" as a verb for subject (ambition)? If it seems ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
“I am four or five in”
There is a scene in the movie Drinking Buddies where Gene and Luke are talking in a bar.
Gene: I've been ten minutes out since I got here. I had one of these, and then I said, "I'm gonna have one ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Usage of “so” in “so I think it is a great way to spend quality time”
The sentence goes like this..
I'm busy because of my work so I don't have much time to communicate with my family. To make it up, I think it is a great way to spend quality time.
I think the ...
1
vote
2answers
30 views
“I hope” vs “I want”
One says from bottom of his heart,
I don't want him to be humiliated because of me.
I hope that he will not be humiliated because of me.
Until this day, I thought "I don't want" makes more ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
About “Easy does it”
Why is "does" used as in this expression "easy does it", can it be "do" because an implied subject should be "you"? and can you introduce similar expressions that have such a construction?
I'm ...
0
votes
2answers
33 views
Is it correct to say - The Brenners are two sisters?
“Lydia Brenner and Cathy Brenner are two sisters.”
Now is it correct to say – The Brenners are two sisters?
“Lydia Brenner, Cathy Brenner and Mitchel Brenner are two sisters and one brother.”
Is it ...
1
vote
2answers
21 views
What is a good, common alternative for the “He is the engine of the group” expression?
In French, to say that someone is the key element of the dynamic of a group, we can use the expression "she/he is the engine of the group" (Elle/Il est le moteur du groupe). This clearly shows that ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
How to advise someone about the danger of a television failling from his arms
Does the sentence "You drop the television!" express the purpose of advising someone about the danger (of the television falling from his arms) or the fact of not being able to believe that someone ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
I'm at a very good doctor.
I heard someone say I'm at a very good doctor. at doctor's office.
I think they mean the doctor is very well-known and good at thier job.
I want to know if the expression 'be at a good doctor' is ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
By its acronym / in its acronym?
CONTEXT: Expressing that some given acronym corresponds to a language different from the one used to give the full name of a certain entity.
QUESTION: Is the following sentence (in bold) correct and ...
0
votes
2answers
52 views
Do people say “I gotta make a plane”?
In the movie The Devil's Advocate, a character says this when telling another person she has to go catch a plane.
Mary Ann: Look, I gotta make a plane.
Do people commonly say make a plane when ...
1
vote
3answers
37 views
Is my expression grammatically sound?
The whole sentence is as follows:
I am wondering whether I have to write the paper regarding Canada or some other countries as well.
The main point of uncertainty is after 'or'. I am trying to ...
