Questions tagged [expressions]
This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer asking the meaning of a particular expression.
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"we are only given something" or "we are given only something"?
chapter 1 of the book "Machine Learning - A Probabilistic Perspective" says
The second main type of machine learning is the descriptive or
unsupervised learning approach. Here we are only ...
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Explanation of idiomatic expression
Well, of all the nerve, she thought.
Of all the nerve is an expression that expresses indignation, anger and shock. Is there any simpler way to rewrite the same sentence that clearly explains this ...
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Linking expressions to introduce 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 ...
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Is "bringing it up" perfect in this context?
Is bringing it up perfect in this particular context?
A: So when did he let you know he was dating your ex?
B: He didn't really. Not until recently.
A: Didn't you talk to him?
B: I ran into him a few ...
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Is this right to say "It has been 20 years since they have seen each other."
I saw this sentence below on the internet.
It has been 20 years since they have seen each other.
Is this right expression?
Should I collect like "It has been 20 years since they saw each other.&...
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"patients with X disease" vs "patients of X disease"
It appears that both expressions exist in the internet although "patients with X disease" seems more common than "patients of X disease".
Of note, Google Ngram finds the expression ...
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"I could meet you" vs "I can meet you" & "I would meet you" vs "I will meet you"
Is it true that "could" is generally referred to talk about past possibilities? If so, why?
We say "I could meet you tomorrow". Why can't we just say "I can meet you tomorrow.&...
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What to answer to "you're too kind"?
I told a guy I knew that he looks good in a pink shirt. He told me: "Thank you, you're too kind". What is the appropriate English answer in this case?
Also I'm not sure if the guy's answer ...
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How to mention your family ties in your cover letter
I'm writing my cover letter for visa application and I want to mention about my father who is late (when I was in my fifth standard) and I'll be taking care of my mom after the completion of my ...
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What is a good way to describe this kind of behavior?
I've been watching a lot of Norm Macdonald lately, and inevitably, you get those kind of comments:
RIP Norm - not a good time to lose voices like yours
Which is true, but at the same time, on ...
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"should I" or "do I need to"? which one is more appropriate?
I asked a question on this post
should I put ... at the end?
in case someone is not familiar to sequence-of-sets, this could be viewed as a punctuation at the end of a sentence (bad analogy).
...
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Brain is equally important as brawn in sports
Any idioms/expressions/phrases which conveys the same idea in the title? Example: In badminton, it's not just how fast or hard you hit the shuttle but you also need to play with smartness to defeat ...
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Concrete examples to supplement(s) when talk about some operation or explanation
I am confused with the usage of the word supplement.
A similar usage might be
a 16-page advertising supplement
where it means
an additional part of a book, newspaper, report etc
Following is ...
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Synonymous expressions for "Little did I imagine that..."
Which of the sentences below expresses the idea that a person could not envisage what would happen in the future.
I could not imagine
I could not have imagined
Little could I have imagined
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A specific case of sexual harassment
How can we refer to the action where a lady is a subject to the sexual harassment with a man when the man touches the lady's private organs with hand at a public area?
She came to me with tearful ...
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Remember something like a snake bite
In my native language, there is this expression - to remember something (an unpleasant, bitter experience of the past) like a snake bite. Are there expressions in English with the similar meaning?
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Why does he say that there is a selfie squared in this photo?
So why is Dr.Gregory Sadler saying this image could be described as a selfie squared?
I.e why is taking a selfie of a selfie like the comment on this picture states a selfie squared? Why does the fact ...
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Looking for an English idiom/expression related to trapping
Is there in English language an expression/idiom that reflects the idea that we make something vulnerable to be attacked because we want to trap the attacker ?
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"Anther link is `to` quora", is this expression grammatical and idiomatic?
this question comes from this post, where I asked
I googled "uniform prior" and got a link to Prior probability, which
uses the term without an explanation or a definition.
Anther link is to ...
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An idiom for "making one's final / last attempt / effort"
I am wondering what are the nuances among the following options and whether they all work properly in this sentence:
After so much work, just keep it up a little longer! You've got this far. If I ...
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"Under a different light" or "in a different light"
I have always thought that the correct expression is "in a different light," as in:
I saw my mother in a different light. We all need to do that. You have to be displaced from what’s ...
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Difference between 'Keep the change' and 'tip'
After finishing my meal at a restaurant, I asked the waiter to bring the bill which was charged 229 units. I kept 230 in the that book which contains our bill and I told the waiter to keep the change ...
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Why do people use this expression?
Lets say someone states "Tom runs fast, how fast is another question."
Why do and can people say 'is another question' even if there is no previous question explicitly stated?
Prince Deepthinker
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Expressions for live alone
I believe there are some other ways to say "I live alone". Can you provide me with some expression explaining its formality?
What about these:
be on (oneself). (?)
live with (oneself) (?)
Do these ...
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Standing pools gather filth / dirt
I am wondering whether the German proverb:
Stehend Wasser stinkt.
Literal translation:
Standing waters start to stink.
Makes sense in English.
I also came across an English version:
...
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Cold hard truth [closed]
I am wondering what does the idiom "cold, hard truth" mean.
Example:
“The atmosphere on Jupiter doesn’t support Netflix,” I said. “That means you won’t be able to watch Peppa Pig.”
His face ...
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What does "Jewish nose" imply? [closed]
In the following link of the youtube video at 1:10, the bride says: "He is an Irishman with a Jewish nose." What does "Jewish nose" imply to make people laugh out loud in the video?...
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What does "We stand grateful" mean?
I am writing a thank-you letter to donors. I noticed that previous letters used "We stand grateful" as the ending. I was wondering if this expression is ok and if there is a better ...
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"can optionally be" vs. "can be optionally"
"can optionally be" and "can be optionally" - is there any difference in their meaning or tone?
This might look as I haven't tried to find the answer myself, but Google doesn't ...
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To be approached vs. To being approached
I have read this sentence:
How do I find out if a woman is receptive
to being approached by me?
Omitting "being",
Can I say:
How do I find out if a woman is receptive to be approached by ...
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What is the equivalent expression for "parla come mangi" ("speak as you eat"), used to tell someone they are speaking too formally or technically?
In Italian, when somebody speaks using words that are too erudite, too formal, or too complicated for the context, we say parla come mangi (literally, speak as you eat).
What phrase should I use in ...
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Which is more common, “decide to do” or “decide on doing”?
Today I did my homework and found one question that is too difficult to answer to me.
The question was like this:
She decided to marry Tom.
≒She decided ( ) marrying Tom.
I’ve been studying English ...
CommunityBot
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Question about expression "Referring to"
I have a question about the usage of "referring to". Let's assume that you are in a meeting and you are giving a presentation. You have to explain about a couple of things that are in the table chart ...
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Meaning of "make" in "Can you make me a copy of this?"
I found it's spoken quite commonly but if I'm a speaker, I'd rather try to say something like "can you make a copy of this for me", that is using "for me". The original sentence ...
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What is the meaning of (half a notion for something)?
What is the meaning of (half a notion for ..) in this context?
What is left is attachment to yourself: a recognition of worth and
the wish that it be preserved. Thus, half a notion for
approaching ...
CommunityBot
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No preposition in "Why can't you get a girlfriend your own age" before "your own age"?
While I was re-watching a Friends episode (S6E21), I stumbled the line as below.
Why can't you get a girlfriend your own age?
I can understand what he meant (a girlfriend from your own age group), ...
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Do I need to use future perfect tense for expectation?
Which one is the correct or I mean a more formal way to tell about an expectation?
"By the 15 May, we expect everyone to already complete their tasks" or
"By the 15 May, we expect ...
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Can I use "the then" to refer to a previous name of something? [duplicate]
Is the use of "the then" in the following sentence correct? (That is, the pub that is now called "the Hops" used to be called "Addy's" back when "he" used to be ...
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"For all our safety" instead of "for the safety of all", "for everyone's safety"
In the sentence: "It is vital that retailers, businesses and residents abide by these new measures which are being put in place for all our safety." From this source.
Does "for all our ...
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Have I given you another/a different impression?
A: So you really are a good friend?
B: I am. Have I given you another/a different impression?
What is correct here "another" or "a different"?
Is it a common expression/question?
CommunityBot
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Can you use "confer merit" like this?
Is "confer merit" correctly used in the following sentence? The context is a job description, where the employer talks about skills, degrees etc that are not required, but that provide ...
CommunityBot
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Are "set on" and "determined to" interchangeable?
They've been pretty set on pulling the plug for a while now, so I'm surprised nothing's happened yet.
They've been pretty determined to pull the plug for a while now, so I'm surprised nothing's ...
CommunityBot
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What does "how is that!" mean in this context?
In the 1995 comedy musical movie "Cannibal! The Musical", there is a song called "That's All I'm Askin' For!". Part of the song goes like this:
It ain't a lot to ask.
I'm sure we'll get it fast.
...
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Making up illogical, unreasonable and unimportant excuses/objections
What do you call the the action of making up or seeking very illogical, unreasonable and unimportant ("excuses") or/and ("objections"). I wonder what idiom/expression/verb do you normally use for that?...
CommunityBot
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What is the exact meaning of "I dig it"?
I have received feedback for a song I composed and some peers used the expression "I dig it". I know it should be interpreted as positive but, to what extent?
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"can" or "could" in the following sentence?
In the following sentence, why is "can" more appropriate than "could"? Is it a grammar thing? Please explain.
The more satisfied you are with your job, the more effort you could ...
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The flower is the rose./ The flower is roses./ The flowers are roses [closed]
When you are looking at a drawing with roses and want to tell the person looking it together the kind of the flowers, what do you say? Are the following sentences correct? Which one is best?
The ...
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Introduction "on" or Introduction "to", which one is more appropriate and idiomatic?
the title of section 2.1 of book "Deep Learning and Convolutional Neural Networks for Medical Image Computing" is
Introduction on Deep Learning Methods in Mammography
I see Introduction "to" more ...
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You're not gonna get away with this!/You'll not get away with this!/You won't get away with this!/You're not getting away with this!
I'm writing a story. A burglar breaks into a man's home and threatens him with a gun. As the burglar locks the man into a room so that he can rob his things, the man yells at him -
1) You're not ...
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Why are there square brackets around "it's" here ([it's])
I am doing my homework about Pasive Voice and I don´t get why there is a square bracket. Surely, it is not so complicated, but I am a beginning student. Please, help me, I would thank you a lot!
"The ...
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