Questions tagged [phrase-meaning]
Use this tag for questions about the meaning and/or usage of a particular phrase, which a dictionary cannot answer.
4,146
questions
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3answers
39 views
Does "the night is drawing on" mean the night is coming to the end or the beginning?
Does "I am getting cold as the night is drawing on" means
-"I am getting cold as the night is starting" or
-"I am getting cold as the night is finishing"?
Does "the ...
-1
votes
0answers
27 views
This question relates to a meme. Drive past my home
Please help me to get this meme
[ Drove about 20 km past my home to overtake an asshole , Reached home an hour late with satisfied ego. ]
As far as I'm concerned , When he had reached home , he didn't ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
What does it mean by "with a note" in the following setence?
I was reading about floating point numbers in a programming language book and faced with the following sentence :
For example, 0.1 is stored as 1, with a note to shift the decimal
point one place to ...
1
vote
2answers
29 views
Meaning of a phrase in David Ricardo's literature
In the preface of Ricardo's On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, a sentence reads:
To supply this deficiency, abilities are required of a far superior cast to any possessed by the ...
1
vote
1answer
15 views
What is the exact meaning of "to an extent"?
What is the exact meaning of the phrase "to an extent" in the following sentence?
A country’s future prosperity depends, to an extent, upon the quality
of the education of its people.
...
-1
votes
2answers
37 views
meaning of "make sense"
The following sentence is ambiguous. But does it make sense? Someone insists that ambiguous sentences don't make sense. Maybe "make sense" has a special meaning I am not aware of?
John saw ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
"So far this week" - meaning
Could you explain, please, the meaning of "so far this week". I can't understand how to translate it correctly into my native language. I've known that "so far" means "at this ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
What does "speak to" mean in this context?
In this context, a family of a late grandfather is outraged because the deceased man decided to bequeath all his inheritance to a person which wasn't even a part of the family.
This conversation is ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
What does it mean by "(to) have a strong suggestion of"?
I've faced with the sentence "the term 'hurry' often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion", but I didn't understand what the sentence means.
Also I like to know what the ...
2
votes
1answer
246 views
What does (a bed on someone's floor) mean?
This is a sentence I took from a book:
'Any chance of a bed on your floor this weekend?' 'Yes, of course,
I can put you up.
The sentence is on the unit discussing about expressions with set and put ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
the case is growing
Mix-and-match COVID vaccines: the case is growing, but questions remain
A slew of studies suggests that mixing vaccines provokes potent immune responses, but scientists still want answers on real-...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
What is the meaning of (a retroactive romance)? [closed]
I came across an unfamiliar phrase to me in the following text:
The case of relationships is trickier. Lovers do not
“trade up,” dropping one another when the prospect of a
better relationship comes ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
What does "his having been taken off" mean?
What does "his having been taken off" mean here?
Romulus had the honour of an apotheosis conferred on him by the senate, under the title of Quirinus, to obviate the people’s suspicion of ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Meaning of "the hell he is"
I was watching Harry Potter movie. Harry tells a truth to everyone.
Hearing this, another character says that Harry (main character) is lying (i.e., not telling the truth). One more character says ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
What is the meaning of "scare something apart?"
I would like to ask about the meaning of the phrase "scare [something] apart."
I have searched but I couldn't find any result.
This is the context:
As to the prevalence of the crisis, ...
-1
votes
1answer
35 views
What does this verse mean? [closed]
This verse has been taken from the poem In Spite of War. What does it mean?
My spirit still may light its flame.
At that same torch whence poppies came.
1
vote
1answer
37 views
"Sound effect added for awesome", is this correct?
I was watching this video, at around 2:45 the following sentence popped up on the screen:
*sound effect added for awesome.
Is "for awesome" correct here?
0
votes
2answers
26 views
While talking about a limited number
While talking about a limited number of a car model can I say sentence below?
This car was produced in limited number of nineteen.
I am trying to say the total number of a car model is limited to ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
Is "by virtue of" neutral to the appended subject?
AFAIK, "because of" is neutral to the appended subject, we could say "because of being good/bad".
But can I say "by virtue of being bad"? Is "by virtue of" ...
-1
votes
0answers
22 views
What does the phrase "to pass to" mean in this context?
This is a context from an English translation of "Crime And Punishment" by Dostoevsky
It's a dated translation so I won't be surprised if this way of speaking is no longer in use but still ...
-1
votes
0answers
20 views
What does "generic phrase" mean? [closed]
I know the grammar sense of "generic phrase", but what does it mean outside grammar? I have checked it in all the dictionaries I can think of (Longman, Collins, Merriam-Webster, Cambridge, ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
What does "draw" mean in this context?
48 min: A long Everton hoof. Calvert-Lewin is the only man up, and he does sensationally well to win an aerial duel with Lindelof, spin him, then run down the left and draw a foul from Wan-Bissaka. ...
-2
votes
1answer
27 views
legally innocent and not guilty
I'd like to know if there's any difference between "legally innocent" and "not guilty."
The scientist is legally innocent.
The scientist is not guilty.
-1
votes
1answer
40 views
What's a trick spider? [closed]
This is one of the definitions for the word "trick"
b. (as modifier): a trick spider.
I looked on the internet but could not find the answer for what it is.
1
vote
0answers
23 views
What does "all right" mean when placed at the end of a sentence?
Those are credit cards all right.
What does that sentence mean?
"those are credit cards, ok? not anything else you moron. Is that clear to you now?" (an impatient/~aggressive way of ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
The meaning of "as they suppose" in this sentence?
I want to know the meaning of the phrase "as they suppose" in this context. I'm sorry for pasting the quite long excerpt, but I thought it was necessary for the context to be shared.
I'd ...
-1
votes
0answers
22 views
nudge with one's toe/toes
'
And two of us should be chained to this,' said Black, nudging
Pettigrew with his toe. 'Just to make sure.'
Chained to this?
If he is a person, which he is, he should have called "chained to ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
meaning of "ethical consequences"
What does "ethical consequences" mean in the following? Consequences that affect ethics?
Any less abstract explanations available?
Although he is not found guilty, he is responsible for the ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
On (a) bended knee (s)
...,you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have been
well served if he'd killed you!
My research :
Now if he meant to say that literally, he should have said "on a bended knee"....
-1
votes
1answer
28 views
"the most recently" vs "very recently" [closed]
Could you explain, please, what is the difference between "the most recently" & "very recently"? My translator doesn't see any difference.
0
votes
1answer
28 views
"There exist(s) ..."
I've been reading chinese book on acupuncture and there is the text I'm not completely sure in pure English (the authors and publisher are from Beijing).
Since the yin-yang nature of a thing exists ...
-1
votes
1answer
21 views
Black kicked out and Pettigrew recoiled
Context - Pettigrew is grovelling on his knees.
Black kicked out and Peter recoiled.
My research :
Now this could mean two things.
Black literally kicked him and Peter got pushed away through the ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
"square yards" and "all dickey"
What does it mean "square yards" and "all dickey" in (presumably) "pirate languague"?
0
votes
1answer
31 views
For 500 kg less flour
Your colleague sent me a invoice today. But he issued it for 500 kg less flours than my order.
Your colleague sent me a invoice today. But he issued it for the flours 500 kg less than my order
...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Is this an interrogative sentence or rhetorical question?
The text below is quite long, but in order to share the exact context, I'm pasting it. You can read the full text here on the Gutenberg Project page(https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/huxleya-bravenewworld/...
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votes
2answers
32 views
We'll put on a fresh pot and just talk about anything. (What does this sentence mean?) [closed]
We'll put on a fresh pot and just talk about anything.
What does this phrase, 'put on a fresh pot', mean?
0
votes
1answer
33 views
What does the phrase "sets your offense should run" mean here?
What does the phrase "sets your offense should run" mean in the following sentence from the description of a basketball simulation game:
Every decision is under your control, which includes ...
1
vote
1answer
15 views
What is the meaning of the phrases "well along" & "far on" as well as the meaning of the phrase "deep into" in this context?
This is a sentence I encounter while reading a book.
"Deep into the nineteenth century, Hippocrates and most of those who
followed him also believed that natural processes must not be interfered ...
-1
votes
0answers
17 views
Does it mean to say "it must be more of ... "? [closed]
Undoubtedly, children need to be disciplined, but it must be more of
encouragement rather than punishment.
Is the above sentence natural? I wanted to say that children need to learn and be trained. ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
What does "cock an eyebrow" actually mean?
This is The Free Dictionary's definition of the word "cock" :)
To tilt or turn up or to one side, usually in a jaunty or alert manner: cocked an eyebrow in response to a silly question.
...
0
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0answers
23 views
What does the phrase "flutter shut" mean in this context?
"His eyes flutter shut and he assumes his position of repose once more"
TFD for "Flutter"
5. flutter - wink briefly; "bat one's eyelids"
... and one of the synonyms is &...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
What does the given sentence mean? Especially the phrase "I had nothing?" [closed]
We were having a conversation, and she asked me where I live, and I had nothing.
Does this sentence mean the person reporting the incident couldn't remember or couldn't say anything, or didn't have ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
What does "cough gas nightmare" mean?
Today I watched a video clip of ABC news Britney Spears father is no longer part of her conservatorship. At about the 47th second, the spokesman (or maybe he is the attorney) says the following:
...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
"in the street outside vs in the street"
What's the difference between "in the street outside" & "in the street"? Is there a difference in meaning?
Are they the same in their meaning:
I could see a dark shape in the ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Meaning of 'well enough'
What does 'well enough' mean here? The OED says that it means 'to a reasonable degree' (and looking at the respective definitions of the two constituent words gives a similar meaning), but how can one ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
The Hateful Eight or The Eight hatefuls?
As you may know 'The Hateful Eight' is title of a film.
does 'The Hateful Eight' means the same 'the eight hatefuls'?
Is it right to say "The Eight Hatefuls"?
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Eat your beans - how many make five meaning
There was a Facebook friend commented like this on my meme-post:
Just eat your beans - by the way how many make five?
I did a quick-research and came up with this. Still don't get it. What does it ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
Synthesis(If the answer below is correct?) [closed]
Is there any difference in the below two sentences? (synthesis)
Use much to transform the sentence:
Mother needs to be very patient when talking to her teenage daughter.
Much patience is needed by ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
in it all goes - what does it mean?
The cause of my guilt is the amount of food I keep throwing away. A pile of leftover pasta, the uneaten salmon from my daughter’s plate, some expired tofu discovered at the back of the fridge – in it ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
What does 'to treat with a thing desired' mean?
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/entreat
To treat with, or in respect to, a thing desired; hence, to ask for earnestly.
From the example ('some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door') I ...
