Questions tagged [expressions]
This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer asking the meaning of a particular expression.
3
votes
1answer
20 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
51 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
19 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
Expressions for prioritising [on hold]
Before I start, please feel free to edit my title if you think a more appropriate one would work better.
I am working on the CAE essay. As some of you may know, students must demonstrate language for ...
2
votes
1answer
37 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
19 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
17 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
17 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
26 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
15 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
20 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
47 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
19 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
33 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
41 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
43 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
235 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
17 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
29 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
28 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
27 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
29 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
18 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
27 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
60 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
30 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
50 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
33 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 ...
6
votes
5answers
2k views
Is it correct to say “I was mistaking it with something”?
I was wondering if it is grammatically correct to say, "I was mistaking it with something"?
For example: some animal is coming from far away towards you and you think it is a cat. When it is near, ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
What is the difference between hit me vs hit me off in American English?
while I listened I song Cole Swindell - Hope You Get Lonely Tonight in a part it said this:
You got my number baby hit me up,
its said hit me up okay I understand what is hit and me but what is ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Is this retirement wish appropriate to a senior lady?
A retirement wish on retirement card from an new employee to a senior lady that does not have a lot of connection at work. Does it look appropriate?
All the best for your amazing retirement! Enjoy ...
1
vote
2answers
44 views
“Good Night” / “Good Nights”
Is there an expression like "Good Nights" in spoken/written English that differs from "Good Night"? People who speak Spanish language use "Buenas Noches" which literally means "Good Nights". The same ...
4
votes
2answers
853 views
Can I use “if any” in this sentence?
I want to express that a computer is rarely updated, and that I am in doubt that there will be any update at all. I would like to say it this way:
The computer is unlikely to be updated, if any.
...
0
votes
2answers
30 views
This guy MAKES vlogging HIS LIVING? (Expression)
Let's say you have seen tons of Youtube videos made by a particular guy. As we all know, there is money earned out of it, then you reacted to his way of earning money and you say:
Oh my, this guy ...
1
vote
2answers
136 views
Formal way of thanking someone for pointing out a mistake
When a colleague points out a mistake you made, is it too formal to respond: "Thanks for alerting me to this mistake." What would be an alternative to "Thanks, my bad!"
1
vote
3answers
43 views
Fall into favour
I am writing a university personal statement and would like to use the expression "fall into favour of recruiters" to express my desire of being well rated in the job market once I graduate.
2
votes
2answers
52 views
What expressions are used to mean “people who usually meet to consume alcohol together”?
In my home language in a very informal situation the English term TABLE MATE is used for a group of people who get together usually to consume alcohol. Is this expression in use in English? Or else ...
-1
votes
1answer
35 views
What are all the ways you can grammatically correct say: [closed]
What are all the ways you can grammatically correct say: "In a few next months I'm not going to move to another city".
3
votes
1answer
63 views
Am I glad to see you!
Am I glad to see you!
It's my first time I've met this expression, but I don't completely understand why "Am" is placed before "I" and thought it would have derived from its interrogative form ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
About the Expression “pay it forward”
I believe the meaning of the expression "paying something forward" means
Repaying someone's help/kindness to somebody else in need instead of repaying to the original benefactor.
I also heard ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
When someone takes somebody's place, what does he say
When someone took somebody's else place and the guilty person realizes what she has done, what does she say? Is something like "oh, sorry, i didn't know you were sitting here" okay? Or "...you sat ...
0
votes
1answer
65 views
About “get” expressions
I want to learn English expression for conversation,
so I watch videos on the Youtube.
the sentence "I got you a present" show many times in videos.
I search "get" means on dictionary
there are two ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
What does “her mouth was the thinnest of thin lines” imply?
It was Professor McGonagall, and her mouth was the thinnest of thin lines.
I don't quite get what the expression "her mouth was the thinnest of thin lines" conveys. Is it angry, strict or something?
0
votes
1answer
35 views
It doesn't work AS WHAT THEY SAY IT IS (phrase/expression)
Let's say you have downloaded an 'adblocker' app on your phone. Then, when you are testing it, it's not working, you are now grumpy due to that because you feel that you have been fooled by the app's ...
1
vote
1answer
13 views
Biginnig of waiting or the onset of waiting?
there is one thing that i don't know.
Can you guys help me plz?
Situation :
There is a girl who can't be together
With her boyfriend because he is in army.
And thinking of the moment that
she has ...
3
votes
1answer
213 views
Using “I would like to thank” vs “I want to thank” in the acknowledgment page of a thesis
As stated in the title, I am in doubt between using "I want to thank" and "I would like to thank" to expresse acknowledgment for the supervisors and the committee members in a thesis.
I have used "I ...
0
votes
2answers
19 views
How to wish a good feeling for a person who had a flu?
A person has messaged me after a week and he had a flue. How should I respond to the message? Do we have a common sentence for that?
1
vote
2answers
41 views
Asking whether someone has eaten, as a greeting
In our culture we generally ask people to know that whether they have eaten or not. There is no intention to offer food to them it's just as casual as saying hello to begin the conversation. Example ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Poor aesthetic judgement
Is there a way to say that someone has a very poor aesthetic judgement?
For example, you go to a house and you think everything is tacky or just ugly. How can you call the owner of the house?
I tend ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Does this sentence make sense? (using “be referred to by”)
The participants' codes are referred to by placing a randomly generated 4 digit number after the initial of their last names e.g. J3926 for last name John.
I am not sure how does "be referred to by" ...
