Questions tagged [meaning]
This tag is for questions about the meaning of a word, which a dictionary cannot answer. If the question is about the meaning of a word that can't be understood outside its phrase or sentence, the "meaning-in-context" tag should be also used; for the meaning of a phrase, use the "phrase-meaning" tag instead. Your question should normally include the dictionary definition of the word, and explain how the dictionary does not answer your question.
718
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
3
votes
1
answer
80
views
Difference between "the number of people you would have thought" OR "the number of people you would think"?
This from the BBC website Lost wallet found 5 years on
It is about a story in which somebody lost his wallet 5 years ago after he watched a game in a rugby stadium, and it was found 5 years later. ...
- 5,722
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
of the form vs in the form
The structure is of the form of X.
The structure is in the form of X.
What is the difference in meaning and which one is grammatically correct?
I think 1 means the structure is united with the ...
- 2,516
3
votes
3
answers
429
views
Can "unless" be used in unreal past (with would have)?
I found conflicting information about the subject:
BBC World Service states that:
And we cannot use unless with would to talk about unreal future
situations:
If he didn't take everything so ...
- 1,645
2
votes
0
answers
52
views
How to understand 'by' in "until by..."
From Andrew Radford. (2004). English Syntax: An Introduction. p.4.:
From this point on, there is a rapid expansion in their grammatical
development, until by the age of around 30 months they have ...
- 613
2
votes
1
answer
52
views
What does "each time out" mean?
Can you please tell me what each time out means. I've come across the phrase in this video around 6 minutes and 44 seconds. Here is the sentence it was used in:
Each [a film and TV shows] has a ...
- 15.6k
2
votes
1
answer
50
views
legislating authority
I am reading an article from Economist, and it talks about "The uncanny", a 1919 essay written by Sigmund Freud. The uncanny effect arises when the subject identifies with someone else..so ...
- 603
2
votes
2
answers
39
views
It "is/was" good that everyone contributed to the party that day. - What are the differences?
Example 1
It "is" good that everyone contributed to the party that day.
Example 2
It "was" good that everyone contributed to the party that day.
What are the differences?
- 1,975
2
votes
2
answers
60
views
Can Past Simple and Past Perfect be used in combination this way?
I found this sentence in Persuasion by Jane Austen:
Till he came and had examined the child, their apprehensions were the
worst for being vague; they suspected great injury, but knew not
where; but ...
Wojtek
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
`at`, `in`, or `on`, which one paired "the top right hand corner" is more appropriate?
I asked a question just now.
Right clicking the 3 vertical dots (Kebab) button at the top right hand corner, would launch this menu ...
I am not quite sure if it is appropriate I used at here.
...
- 1,227
2
votes
2
answers
133
views
grammar/ meaning “To look at him, you'd never think he was 80!”
Is the title sentence the short form of
(If you were) To look at him, you'd never think he was 80!
Likewise,
In other part of the country again, to give the example of Minnesota, you would ...
- 121
2
votes
2
answers
93
views
Why here using "not all" in the sentence from Pride and Prejudice?
In the sentence from Pride and Prejudice:
Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw from her husband any ...
- 83
1
vote
0
answers
48
views
Difference between "cater to" and "cater for"
What is the difference between cater for and cater to? Not in the context of serving food.
Examples from Cambridge dictionary
cater for someone/something:
The college caters for deaf and visually-...
- 39
1
vote
2
answers
51
views
Whenever I am taking notes, I write down what the teacher taught / has taught - are both acceptable?
When it is a statement about a habit, a regular event, or things like that, what tense do we use in a noun clause: simple past or present perfect?
Example 1
Whenever I am taking notes, I write down ...
- 1,975
1
vote
0
answers
50
views
a feel/ a feeling - the difference?
a feel of sadness in the air.
a feeling of sadness in the air.
Do they mean the same? I have checked these two words with a dictionary but I still can't put my finger on the difference.
Don't confine ...
- 4,124
1
vote
0
answers
24
views
Does "enhance their position" sound natural in this sentence?
I'm writing an essay about group polarization. My question is..
In group polarization, when individuals in a group have a discussion on a topic, they are presented with new reasons that enhance their ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
38
views
problem of not a women's movement
Like many of her associates, she believed that socialist development
and class struggle were needed to solve society's problems, not a
women's movement.
So, this one is the original sentence. At ...
- 127
1
vote
0
answers
46
views
What does ‘ bolted a little out ‘ mean here?
you have bolted a little out of the course, as young fellows often do; and you shall never have another chance, nor the ghost of half a one.' The wild young grandson makes answer to this and says, '...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
14
views
What does "base fitness" mean?
What does base "fitness" mean in this sentence?
"Exercise helps. And walking can be performed by most of us, without training, equipment, or even a base fitness."
Source: https://...
- 167
1
vote
0
answers
32
views
You have gotten/got addicted to sugar by drinking too much cola last week - meaning "You are addicted to sugar right now"?
Example 1
What happened to me?
What has happened to me?
In Examples 1, I want to mean, "right now, I feel something different about myself.
Example 2
You got addicted to sugar by drinking too ...
- 1,975
1
vote
0
answers
20
views
processes characteristic of nonliving matter
The materialist standpoint, however, which rejects the mechanistic
idea that all forms of motion of matter can be reduced to mechanical
motion, must not be confused with the idealist notion that the ...
- 799
1
vote
1
answer
396
views
"the majority of" vs. "a majority of"
Is there any difference between these 2 sentences? Do they mean exactly the same?
The majority of men does not have a moustache.
A majority of men do not have a moustache.
I am using a singular ...
user161917
1
vote
0
answers
41
views
Second conditional?
A: If the sentence didn’t include the word “please”, the sentence would suggest I am a rude person. (The context is that the sentence includes the word “please” so the sentence doesn’t suggest I am a ...
- 41
1
vote
0
answers
85
views
Trouble understanding the word 'qua'
I'm Indonesian student study english. I come across word 'qua' in a book A Generation of Sociopaths: How the Baby Boomers Betrayed America.
I try to understand what the word 'Qua' means. I have used a ...
- 141
1
vote
2
answers
120
views
Preposition "of " for boring or without it
My friend: hey ! What's up?
Me : nothing, i'm bored of waiting for favorite show's new episodes.
Friend : Oh, when are they going to air it on tv ?
Me: there's still a month for that
Friend: that ...
1
vote
1
answer
70
views
What's the word I should use for close calls
Please allow me to ask a question, I set a goal in my work, which could not be accomplished in the first place, but it was finally accomplished. How should this situation be described? What word would ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
82
views
Does flattering imply saying not true things?
When someone is flattering another one, does that mean this might imply saying nice things but not necessarily true? For instance, someone saw a lady and told her "nice dress!" even though ...
- 211
1
vote
0
answers
75
views
What are the differences between "blithe" and "beatific", if any?
The Free Dictionary defines the words in question as follows:
blithe (blaɪð, blaɪθ)
Definition:
lighthearted in disposition; cheerful.
heedless: a blithe disregard for someone's feelings.
beatific (...
user156912
1
vote
0
answers
59
views
What do you call these geometric features? (jut, protrusion, ledge,...)
What do you call these geometric features?
If I have it figured out correctly:
A and B have a protrusion or jut
B has a nose or a lug
C has a ledge
Is that correct? Are there any terms I'm missing? ...
- 217
1
vote
0
answers
26
views
The meaning of "rallies and reserves"
It’s one of those twin cases of mine,’ he explained. ‘One of ’em’s
back again. Recurrence—in the scar—after eighteen months.’
‘That means?’ said Harries.
‘With that particular kind of trouble—three—...
- 1,735
1
vote
1
answer
74
views
Can an entity act as a person?
Can an organization or a place act as a person? My example:
My office and I wrote down some possible topics to discuss for the meeting tomorrow
I was told that this is incorrect because an "...
Ava
1
vote
3
answers
57
views
About/over in given context
After we broke up, she cried about me to her friends.
After we broke up, she cried over me to her friends.
Is using about grammatically incorrect here? Is there a difference in meaning between these ...
- 1,473
1
vote
0
answers
54
views
will + to + noun?
I don't remember any case that noun will is followed by preposition to. So I look it up in a number of dictionaries to no avail. Maybe I missed the definition that fits with it. I think noun will ...
- 145
1
vote
1
answer
60
views
How to understand “of which” in this sentence?
I found a sentence in “Dubliners”, and was confused about its sentence structure.
we made at once for a sloping bank over the ridge of which we could see the Dodder.
I have seen two ...
Rhett
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
What would "taken her in two senses, grateful for the tip" mean in this context?
I encountered the boldfaced expression while reading, and would like to know what it means:
He took his face away from the casing and turned to climb the ladders
to the bridge. There must be acres of ...
- 109
1
vote
0
answers
2k
views
more in detail vs in more detail
I wondered if there is any difference between 'more in detail' and 'in more detail'.
Could you explain that more in detail?
Could you explain that in more detail?
- 325
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
Mingle, transitive - meaning in an example: His soul mingled in the third black kiss of Death
In a story by H. Kuttner and R. Bloch, there is the following line:
His soul mingled in the third black kiss of Death.
No dictionary entries I found make sense to me. I guess the meaning is not &...
- 25
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Pun intended vs No Pun intended vs Pun intended, perhaps?
Pun intended vs No Pun intended vs Pun intended, perhaps ? I have come across these 3 terms a lot of times, so decided to clarify once for all if my understanding about them is correct or not, please ...
- 13
1
vote
0
answers
152
views
What does "expert insight" mean?
I don't understand the combination of "expert" and "insight" as one word in "expert insight". I know that expert is an adjective and insight is a noun described by it, ...
- 41
1
vote
0
answers
63
views
The meaning of "for" in "all I need is for..."
There is a sentence in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: "Great. All I need is for some jerk to catch me carrying my book around and get the wrong idea".
I can't understand the meaning of for.
I've read ...
- 69
1
vote
0
answers
51
views
What does "blood drains from stomach"mean?
what is the meaning of "blood drains from stomach"? Elisa is shocked, so I suppose it's the same like "stomach churns/lurches/tightens", but is it really so?
And then ... next ...
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
On/With- Which is the right preposition to use here?
A supervisor asks their employee "how are we doing with that news piece," here, it is obvious that the supervisor wants to know about the progress of the news piece. My question is if the ...
- 189
1
vote
0
answers
33
views
drank wine or whiskey
a. The guests drank wine or whiskey.
b. The guests drank either wine or whiskey.
Are the above sentences ambiguous?
I think they could be used in these two cases:
They all drank one of the two
Some ...
- 2,697
1
vote
0
answers
31
views
The meaning of "superior bearer" and "his bundle"
“Nothin’ like havin’ a father before you,” said the Major. “I’m a parvenu with my chaps. I’ve only been twenty years in the regiment, and my revered parent he was a simple squire. There’s no getting ...
- 1,735
1
vote
2
answers
80
views
Thirsty vs thirstily
I wandered in the desert thirsty.
I thirstily wandered in the desert.
Which one is correct to describe “Being thirsty, I wandered in the desert.”?
- 391
1
vote
0
answers
66
views
Is there anyone can help me to understand the sentense?
I think this sentence is a mixture of the second conditional and the third conditional:
If it did, the rat would not have known it.
But I have heard the line in The Big Bang Theory.
How can I ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
56
views
Is the sentence "Indian guy cooks so well that Gordon Ramsay calls his mother to judge the food" ambiguous?
I came across a YouTube video with the title "Indian guy cooks so well that Gordon Ramsay calls his mother to judge the food."
I thought Gordon Ramsay called his own mother, not the ...
- 401
1
vote
0
answers
44
views
Two different ways to interpret "The problem is not that you have an ugly face."
A: Nobody wants to date me. It is all because I have an ugly face.
B: The problem is not that you have an ugly face. The problem is that you are too straightforward.
To me, there are two different ...
- 1,975
1
vote
0
answers
221
views
what does "on the bins with" mean here?
Barry comes to clinic with Gerald, who does not read or write, but
Barry was on the bins with Gerald for years, and he tells me that he
and the rest of the team look out for Gerald and always will, so ...
- 257
1
vote
0
answers
71
views
ADVISE: "to offer advice to; counsel" vs. "to recommend; suggest"
The American Heritage dictionary's entry for advise reads
To offer advice to; counsel: I advised him to study abroad; advised that we should reconsider the idea. How would you advise?
To recommend; ...
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1
vote
0
answers
36
views
Does "up" mean "upstairs" in this sentence?
I read this sentence:
She brought the rainbow socks up to her room.
Does "up" mean "upstairs" here? Perhaps in this short story for children, the writer is saving words. Or does ...
- 691