Questions tagged [phrase-meaning]
Use this tag for questions about the meaning and/or usage of a particular phrase, which a dictionary cannot answer.
3,707
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What's the meaning of “appeal to” in this context?
Accountants may be the butt of popular jokes, but they are paid well and the work appeals to certain neat, analytical minds.
how to understand the phrase "appeal to" in the sentence?
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0answers
26 views
What is the meaning and origin of the phrase “Steal your eyes”?
I've come across this phrase only in song lyrics:
Just then, somebody stole my eyes again (2017)
The loneliness of loving someone can steal your eyes (2015)
You stole my eyes, so you I will take (2015)...
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0answers
34 views
“go on holiday” and “take (a) holiday” in British English
What's the difference between "go on holiday," "take a holiday," and "take a holiday" in British English?
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1answer
55 views
What does “mirror in my bathroom” mean?
What does "mirror in my bathroom" mean?
A: ‘’Are you quieter and lonelier than me, Rachel?’’
B: ‘’Perhaps, Martin. Perhaps. I want to be good to myself. I have a
mirror in my bathroom.’’
A: ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
The Meaning of “call for sb to do sth”
I ran into an unfamiliar phrase in a news article
They have also faced increased scrutiny over their power, including "calls for them to do" more to combat misinformation and abuse.
I know ...
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2answers
31 views
featuring the Smith Brothers of cough drop fame
Does "cough drop fame" mean "fame that has the power of medicine that can stop your cough"?
Steven Pinker tweeted:
New Psych Science Lecture - Concepts and Reasoning, featuring ...
1
vote
1answer
13 views
Now, whether we were shown everything? You can never know
I don't understand the phrase "Now, whether we were shown everything? You can never know." Perhaps I've misunderstood the grammar, the logic of it seems to be inconsistent: Of course the ...
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votes
2answers
24 views
What is the meaning of 'ornate court poetry' in following sentence?
The Gupta period is remarkable for the production of secular literature, which consisted of a fair degree of ornate court poetry.Bhasa was an important poet in the early phase of the Gupta period and ...
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1answer
26 views
What does it mean “the purpose being to”?
Hello distinguished friends,
I've come across a word with which I am unfamiliar. Without further ado, I am putting the text:
It is perhaps risky to begin a paper by suggesting a possible change
of ...
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1answer
26 views
What does the phrase “hop across an icy chasm” mean here?
I came across the phrase "hop across an icy chasm" in the following sentence from the description (not available online) of an app:
All you need to do is to tap to hop across an icy chasm.
...
3
votes
1answer
353 views
This might be the most un-self aware book cover of all time
Does "un-self" mean "objective/realistic"? Is the phrase "This might be the most un-self aware book cover of all time" a bit sarcastic?
Sam Harris liked
Shadi Hamid ...
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1answer
31 views
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1answer
13 views
“leave others with dying geese” meaning in the context
When people fail to respect the P/PC Balance in their use of physical assets in organizations, they decrease organizational effectiveness and often leave others with dying geese.
This is from the ...
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0answers
41 views
What do romantic ascents mean?
My friend was talking to someone and giving compliments to her appearance. Then she laughed and said "Where did you get all this romantic ascents? You are going to make me loose concentration.&...
0
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1answer
19 views
What are the differences in the following sentences [closed]
I will go on on Monday too
I will go on Monday as well
Do they have same meaning ?
If not what are the differences between them ?
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0answers
29 views
Is it correct to say “Gathering all together, I'd like to say …”
Let's say I wrote a lot of things that describes my point of view about something and now I want to summarize and I'd like to know if it's ok to say:
Gathering all together, I'd like to say...
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0answers
34 views
What does 'I understand (that)' mean? [closed]
What does 'I understand (that)' mean? Is it "It is my opinion (that)" ("It is my personal view even though I realize I may be wrong") or "I realize (that)" ("It's ...
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1answer
36 views
You're never gonna take me there is it idiom or not [closed]
I was listening an English song. And I confused about that part of the song.
You make me so upset sometimes
I feel like I could lose my mind
The conversation goes nowhere
'Cause you're never gonna ...
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1answer
50 views
“[NOUN] in veins” eg. “MUSICIAN in veins” meaning
Phrase: "Musician in veins"
Is it correct? Can it be misinterpreted? Is it easily understandable for english speaking person? How do YOU understand it?
14
votes
3answers
4k views
What does “I am all stomach” mean?
What does I am all stomach mean?
A: ‘’It’s my turn for a gift. I would like to take you to lunch. To my favorite spot.’’
B: ‘’I am all stomach, professor!’’
Lonely Man Full of Love
15
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1answer
3k views
How to understand “cupping backsides is taken as seriously as cooking books”?
An excerpt from The Economist:
As such provisions have grown in popularity, two things have happened. First, the list of misdeeds covered has lengthened.
What initially applied solely to criminal ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
More than a million boys’ periodicals were sold a week
I don't quite understand the phrase "More than a million boys’ periodicals were sold a week" - it seems to mean "More than a million copies of the penny dreadfuls (periodicals) ...
0
votes
2answers
50 views
had a better books to guns ratio than
I understand the phrase "had a better books to guns ratio than" as a humorous expression of "was more civilized than." Am I on the right track?
Sam Harris liked
Khanoisseur ...
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0answers
26 views
have shifted higher and lower
Is the polishing used in the phrase "have shifted higher and lower" an oxymoron? I don't quite understand it.
It perhaps means "(goals) have shifted higher and timelines have shifted ...
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0answers
24 views
What is the meaning of the phrase “What it is to be”?
What is the meaning of the phrase "What it is to be"? in sentences like "What it is to be a man?" or "what it is to be a leader?" or in a sentence like this:
It might ...
4
votes
1answer
278 views
What does here “backyard trail warrior” mean?
Here is the whole paragraph:
Through the years, I’ve trended off into the mountain riding scene and
that’s where my heart lies. Today though, I’m going to share with you
some tips that might help you ...
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0answers
26 views
Join this us tomorrow
Should "this" be removed from "Join this us tomorrow"? If not, what does the phrase mean? "Join this and join us tomorrow"?
The BMJ (British Medical Journal) just ...
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0answers
13 views
'make any kind of go of sth' is this a fossil expression?
… as if the percentage of artists who made any kind of go of the lousy business was one to four.— F. Scott Fitzgerald, letter, Spring 1939
What is 'make any kind of go sth' meaning?
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1answer
15 views
What is the meaning of “ which must have followed shortly afterwards” in this text?
Of Sapor III., his brother and successor, two facts only are recorded - his conclusion of the treaty with the Romans in A.D. 384, and his war with the Arabs of the tribe of Yad, which must have ...
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vote
1answer
36 views
His Hands Were Tied
Could you see whose hands are tied? Trump's or McConnell's?
McConnell, Denouncing Trump After Voting to Acquit, Says His Hands Were Tied
The top Senate Republican gave his most damning condemnation ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
we didn't have much in terms of looking at that hypothesis
"We didn't have much in terms of looking at that hypothesis" - didn't have much what? Didn't have much time, energy or facts?
It appears to be ambiguous to me.
Yes, lab accidents do happen ...
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0answers
13 views
appeared to publicly push back against the team
I understand "appeared to publicly push back against the team" as "appeared to publicly refuse the team." That is, the director-general refuses to accept the team's conclusion of ...
0
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1answer
25 views
the uncomprehending New York Times article about him
I don't understand the meaning of "uncomprehending" here. Does it mean that Scott was unable to understand the article"? Or does it mean the article or the author of the article didn't ...
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vote
2answers
29 views
they won’t get a Covid-19 vaccine
Does the phrase "won’t get a Covid-19 vaccine" mean "will not (want to) get a Covid-19 vaccine"?
Why this thread? "Won't get" or "will not get" appears to have ...
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0answers
14 views
What is the meaning of “ accord but ill” in this text?
Tabari and Macoudi, who relate his deposition, are authors on whom much reliance cannot be placed; and the cruelties reported accord but ill with the epithets of "the Beneficent" and "...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Is “go down a storm” similar to “go down well”?
Something goes down a storm with somebody.
Something goes down well with somebody.
Are they the same in the meaning?
Or do they differ? such as one is formal and the other is informal?
BBC
English we ...
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vote
2answers
21 views
Be pleased vs Please be
Do these two phrases mean the same?
Be pleased to listen to me!
Please listen to me!
You can find the first one here http://lucianofsamosata.info/wiki/doku.php?id=antisthenes_of_athens:...
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1answer
15 views
by taking on fluid from the air
I understand "by taking on fluid from the air" as "by absorbing fluid from the air." Am I on the right track?
"Take on" in dictionaries seem to mean "undertake" ...
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0answers
28 views
“Relationships went south” what does it mean? [duplicate]
"Relationships went south" what does it mean?
In this sentence:
Shane's wallpaper is blank since his latest relationships went south.
0
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1answer
16 views
contract tracing measures
Does "contract tracing measures" mean "contact tracing measures" here? Or was the author actually intended to write "contact tracing measures" yet miswrite it as "...
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1answer
25 views
The painting is not representative of his work of the period
The painting is not representative of his work of the period.
Q. work of the period
work about the period? or the period's work?
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1answer
20 views
withdrawn comments
Does "withdrawn comments" mean "comments that are shy and quiet"?
New video, withdrawn comments: 6 impeachment trial takeaways
Source: USAToday New video, withdrawn comments: 6 ...
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1answer
20 views
“ I thought I was the Glob of rap ” What is the meaning of “glob” in this time?
I saw this word in "Adventure Time" cartoon series.
Another instance of using this word --> "oh my glob"
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1answer
61 views
I'll have you off for contempt of court
At a courtroom
Judge: Now, you have destroyed the evidence.
Man: What evidence?
Judge: That brick, exhibit 'A'. You're accused of having thrown that brick through the store window. That brick was part ...
0
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0answers
19 views
rejecting argument trial is unconstitutional
The phrase "rejecting argument trial is unconstitutional", even in a headline, sounds a bit odd to me without "that" leading the clause "trial is unconstitutional." ...
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votes
2answers
49 views
How do you plead
At the courtroom
Judge: Silence in court now. How do you plead? Guilty or not guilty?
Man: I plead not guilty.
Judge: Accused pleaded not guilty. Now, that still has to be proved. Let's examine the ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
the origins of COVID origin
Should the last "origin" be deleted from "the origins of COVID origin"? Or does the phrase have its special meaning? The phrase sounds as if to mean something deeper than the ...
0
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1answer
20 views
“And shadowed on a screen, I saw hooded forms…” - does “shadowed” belong to the “forms”?
Reading Nyarlathotep by H.P. Lovecraft, I would like to ask if my understanding is correct:
And shadowed on a screen, I saw hooded forms amidst ruins, and yellow
evil faces peering from behind fallen ...
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1answer
24 views
emerged relatively unscathed 1/ [closed]
What does "1/" stand for?
The New York Times liked
Amy Julia Harris tweeted
NEW INVESTIGATION: Victor Rivera built an empire by housing homeless people in New York City. Despite a decade ...
0
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1answer
56 views
What does “Everything But Water” mean?
The swimsuit catalog is named 'Everything But Water".
I'm a bit confused about the meaning of this phrase.
Does it mean "All you need is water"?
