Questions tagged [expressions]
This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer asking the meaning of a particular expression.
0
votes
2answers
10 views
When you're going to discover the amount of someone's financial loss
Let's suppose you have lost a specific amount of money in a deal and your partner is going to find out how much it had been. What shall he ask you?
Once, I had a close American friend who had ...
0
votes
2answers
26 views
An expression/idiom/proverb to say “losing a small amount would be much better than losing everything”
Is there any common English expression, idiom or proverb which implies:
Stop and accept a small loss, rather than continue and risk losing everything.
When someone is losing or possibly would lose ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
How to say that something is intuitively right?
Here the 'something' means a theory or a principle.
My sentence is
While this principle can only be appropriately understood in terms of
rigorous theorems (see below for some), it is in ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
How to apologize
"I apologize for not have spoken to you in person yet."
"I apologize for not speaking to you in person yet."
Basically, I’m trying to say:
"I’m sorry I haven't had the time to speak to you ...
0
votes
1answer
14 views
Beating one's head against the wall / a brick wall
Dictionaries say that the idiom "beating one's head against the wall" means:
To attempt continuously and fruitlessly to accomplish some task or achieve some goal that is or seems ultimately ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
When you are a role model for children
What does a child do (the verb / idiom / expression) when they look at their elderly and try to do what they are doing?
E.g. it is said that you'd better be careful when you're smoking etc. so that ...
1
vote
2answers
37 views
An obvious model/example/type of someone or something
There is an expression in our current language which has entered from legal jargon into the common language. (I'm trying to translate it.) We say something like:
He/she is an obvious example/...
0
votes
0answers
13 views
“A determinative factor”, “A determinant” and “A decisive factor”
To me, and based on dictionary definitions a "determinative factor", a "determinant" and a "decisive factor", imply a truely "crucial factor" which can lead you to make a decision about something.
...
2
votes
2answers
847 views
How acceptable is it to use “it's like” (or just “like”) as a filler word?
I am not a native English speaker myself but I am very annoyed by the fact that a lot of people these days, native and also non-native English speakers, are continuously using the expression "it's ...
-3
votes
0answers
22 views
From (somebody's / something') side VS On behalf of (someone / something)
Please consider the following sentence:
I went on a long-term mission from the company side.
I need to mention that the company's authorities have sent me to this mission and they have asked ...
0
votes
5answers
11 views
What is the phrase for the management's ideology in which staffs are told to perform other's responsibilities?
It happens in lot of organization. Its a management habit in some organization who think of cutting corners , that they are saving money.
These management people tend to overlap responsibilities. ...
10
votes
3answers
4k views
A person lacking money who shows off a lot
There is a proverb in our language which is used when someone tries to show off and pretend to be very rich and also try to spend much money, and somehow prepare well-brand clothes to keep up with the ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
In English speaking, how does one correct a misspoken word?
What English expression is used to immediately correct a misspoken word in English speaking?
The cube root of 1331 is, 12; _____, 11.
I'm thinking of these, but I have no idea which one would be ...
6
votes
5answers
134k views
“So am I” or “So do I”?
What would be the correct way to reply to a statement such as: "I belong to this group"
Would it be "So do I" or "So am I"?
0
votes
1answer
70 views
What exactly the expression “make an argument” means?
I wonder what exactly the expression "make an argument" means on this phrase: "Machiavelli makes the argument that in a strictly military sense a fortress is invariably a mistake."
I'm not sure if it ...
0
votes
3answers
71 views
Argumentative Text - Linking expressions for advantages and disadvantages
In an argumentative text/essay what linking expressions can be used to introduce the pros and cons of the essay topic/object/theme, after a short introduction?
For example, if I'm writing an ...
10
votes
5answers
2k views
What does the expression “right on the tip of my tongue” mean?
After googling, I'm not really sure what exactly it means. I have two conclusions:
It means that I don't remember an easy word or a name right now although I already know it and I was able to ...
0
votes
1answer
153 views
From + noun + on / onward / forward / forth / ahead
Which word would we use if we were going to use a "specific time" or "specific place" instead of the noun?
How would you fill the blanks bellow?
1)From tonight (................) . (on / onward / ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Can “lot” stand without the article 'a' to mean “so much”?
Thank you for [...]. It means lot!
Thank you for [...]. It means a lot!
Can the first sentence be used instead of the second one when wanting to give the word a different value than the one in ...
0
votes
2answers
99 views
“Awkward surprise” exclamation
Here in my country some uses the word "misericórdia", that in english means "mercy", as an exclamation after a fright or to express some disgust over something. Would using the word "mercy" in these ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
What do you say when you're referring to a chess game?
Playing as blacks
Playing black
Playing with blacks
On the internet, I've found these 3 versions and people are using all of them. However, I don't know which one is a correct version.
0
votes
1answer
634 views
Meaning of “You say” as in “-Sorry I can't party I'm busy -You say you're busy”
I'm wondering the following conversations, extracted mostly from a comedic video at the following timestamps links: a,In this one it says you walk, no you say, but it's similar concept,c. The phrases ...
0
votes
2answers
108 views
Is “Signature themes” the same as “Signature tunes”?
I wonder if "Signature themes" is the same as "Signature tunes". It's from the book I'm translating. And this is the context:
Answering the first question is at the core of my professional life. ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
Which expression is correct: 'for working with' or 'to work with'
For me it seems that in the following case expression seems not to be fitting, I think the second example is shorter, simpler and may even be more correct.
dugite - Elegant bindings for working with ...
0
votes
2answers
36 views
About “take in”
Take the doll in the box!
It could seem to look like a very easy question to some native speakers, but that sentence is actually confusing in meaning in that it could mean either "take the doll into ...
-1
votes
1answer
37 views
What's the best among these expressions if in a formal news report? [closed]
the railway will become operative on Saturday.
the railway will begin operation on Saturday.
the railway will come into use on Saturday
the railway will be put into use on Saturday.
the railway ...
3
votes
4answers
3k views
“Insert your data” or “Enter your data”?
What is the difference between Insert and Enter?
If I have a form to fill in, which legend is better?
Insert your data
or
Enter your data
0
votes
2answers
22 views
A proverb/an expression to convey “a tendency towards a very big and unrealistic objective can be indicative of a failure”
In the old times, when it came to a match between our ancient wrestlers, the participants in order to define the strongest ones used to grab a rock and raise it to gain more popularity; but prior to ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
A saying / an expression to say: “most of the problems occure to the weakest people”
There is a proverbial sentence in our culture which says:
Every obstacle is often on the way of (the weakest / the most poore etc.) people. (literal translation)
Connotation: it means ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
“Put a spoke in sb's wheel” Vs “Throw/put a (monkey) wrench in the works”
The English expressions:
throw a spanner in the works
put a spanner in the works
throw a (monkey) wrench in the works
Mean: to do something that prevents a plan or activity ...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
Is the expression “confound it” a euphemism?
I've sometimes heard people say, 'confound it'. So, I'm wondering whether this is considered a euphemism.
0
votes
1answer
105 views
The usage of the word “clearly”!
Can I say "good job. You describe the event very clearly"?
I am not sure I can use the word clearly like this. However, it sounds okay to me!
Thanks in advance
1
vote
1answer
24 views
A proverb about the belief that “there is a downhill for every uphill”
Is there any fixed saying in English which can encompass the mesaage that you should not get proud of what you have or what you are; because as you got famous/wealthy/etc. you might get weak or poor......
0
votes
1answer
16 views
how to express a different parts of a career?
in an interview, interviewer asked me to introduce my career. there are following 2 expressions.
my career is comprised of 2 parts, 2 years customer support and 3 years sales.
my career could be ...
0
votes
2answers
37 views
“I’m happy to help”
Let’s say I just helped someone and they thanked me for it, would it be contextually appropriate to reply to their “thank you” with “i’m Happy to help”
I’m asking if I can use the expression after ...
3
votes
2answers
255 views
Even some useless stuff would be of use some day
Is there any common idiom or expression in English which can convey such a message that: anything that is of no use, will be used someday for sure. It is a translated proverb which believes do not ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
An equivalent English saying for “Those who are more humble and calm are more knowledgeable”
How would you normally convey the following message throgh a fixed saying:
Those who are quiet and seem to be more humble, may belong very deep knowledge or even very strong feelings.
Note: It's not ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Difference between these expressions
Could anyone enlighten me on the difference between these expressions:
1) "So, what about it?"
2) "Oh, what about that?"
Is "what about that" the same as "how about that"? Or is there a difference?
...
0
votes
2answers
38 views
To burn the midnight oil
Please consider the following scenario:
a) I'm really jealous of him; he's a really successful engineer.
b) Instead, I'm really proud to have such a colleague! You see! He's been a truly ...
0
votes
1answer
138 views
idiom or expression for a spiteful/vengeful person
I am looking for an idiom or expression to describe a spiteful and vindictive person; a type of person who tends to hold a grudge against their offenders for a long time, being unable to forget past ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
To say something indirecty to someone through telling it to a third person
Please imagine the person "A" is not going to tell something directly to the person "B" in a company. "A" says it to "C" who has a more friendly relations with "A", but in the manner that "C" (who is ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
'greater understanding' without the preceding article 'a'
I'm aware that by default it is ...a greater understanding. However, I would like to know if I could leave the indefinite article out in the following case:
The goal of this programme is simple: ...
1
vote
2answers
42 views
An equivalent for the proverb “A creaking door hangs longest or…”
Please have a look on the following scenarios and let me know what is the current English equivalent for the meaning in my question that can be used to fill in the blanks:
Please imagine a couple ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
“Not faraway” for talking about a related matter
Can I use the expression "Not faraway" when wanting to talk about another matter that is strongly related to the previous one?
For example:
She always appears in the most beautiful clothes ever. ...
1
vote
1answer
164 views
what is the correct expression of the two below?
Is is right to say "I have a pen" or "I am having a pen" ? I keep hearing people using the latter.
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Your bread will be buttered on both sides
Imagine a person who's been looking for a better hierarchical position in the organization where he works in order to obtain more salary! The day comes and he achieves his favorite position! His ...
1
vote
2answers
27 views
When someone suddenly loses their everything
Is there any idiom / expression in English which can imply the situation in which someone due to some bad happenings suddenly and quickly plummets from the height of success and glory to the depth of ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
A proverb / an expression to imply: “One can manage their own affairs”
Is there any idiom / expression or proverb in English which can imply the situation that someone can manage their own affairs in rather severe conditions?
For instance,
a) I'm going to go ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Cut your coat according to your cloth
I have found two similar sayings in English which say: undertake only what you have the money or ability to do and no more. But apparantly they work only in British English, whilst I need something ...
0
votes
2answers
39 views
An English equivalent for the proverbial sentence: “if gold rusts, what will iron do?!”
I've been looking for a proverbial sentence which literally says:
People usually sprinkle salt on "every perishable thaink" that is going bad or has started to rot! But, imagine the case when ...
