Questions tagged [phrase-meaning]
Use this tag for questions about the meaning and usage of a particular phrase, for which a dictionary cannot answer.
2,713
questions
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1answer
15 views
What does “for perspective” mean?
Rachel Whalen remembers feeling gutted in high school when a former friend would mock her online postings, threaten to unfollow or unfriend her on social media and post inside jokes about her to ...
1
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2answers
58 views
“illuminate the issues at stake” meaning
One of the examples used for the meaning of the word "illuminate" in Cambridge dictionary is:
to explain and show more clearly something that is difficult to understand:
an article which ...
0
votes
2answers
24 views
Does the phrase “in a way” makes such a difference in a statement?
Does the phrase "in a way" makes such a difference in a statement?
In other words, is there a major difference by saying:
"In a way, a part of you thinks they should have been together."
and
"...
1
vote
3answers
54 views
In the Hell / In Hell
What is the difference? How is the first used?
What in the hell?
What the hell?
and
How in the hell?
How the hell?
And what other examples are there?
1
vote
1answer
29 views
What does the phrase “tight level design” mean here?
I am not sure about the meaning of the phrase "tight level design" in the following sentence from a combat game's description:
The tight level design and many opportunities for vertical gameplay
...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
what is the difference between I don't remember the name vs I can't remember the name?
I have got really confused by the following two sentences.
I don't remember the name
I can't remember the name
As I understand, the second one means:
You are not able to recall the name ...
2
votes
1answer
29 views
What does the phrase “slide into first” mean here?
I heard a phrase "slide into first" in an arcade racing game's description. This was used as the introductory sentence that was followed by speed boosting and drifting tips.
I know the lexical ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
“Better either of the other ways” (meaning)
In the movie the avenger:endgame, valyrie said to hulk as the "talking hulk" -a combination of bruce and the green hulk in one- seeing him again.
Valkyrie said:
"I think I like you better either ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
What is meant by (I come from)?
What is meant by (I come from) in the following sentence:
I come from Canada, but my parents are Chinese.
Does it mean that the speaker (was born in Canada), or that (he has the Canadian nationality)...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
What does “experience on someone” mean?
I read a sentence in Word by Word by Kory Stamper which was:
KMD was another editor with 30 years of experience on me, and when I would casually flip through an issue of Time that she had marked ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
What does “we have a go plotting in” mean?
It sounds like the lecturer is saying
going
back to a more complex place. let's just
talk through what we should expect
before we have a go plotting in
plotting is easy to understand, the ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
What does the sentence “He all but demolished the G.O.P. in the election that followed” mean?
He all but demolished the G.O.P. in the election that followed.
I believe that I found this in a random book I was reading; and I just took note of it in my notepad since I didn't know what it meant. ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Is “add two and two” an idiom?
"Somebody Stupefied a Death Eater on top of the Tower after Dumbledore died. There were also two broomsticks up there. The Ministry can add two and two, Harry."
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood ...
7
votes
2answers
3k views
What does the phrase “pull off sick wheelies and flips” mean here?
Here is a made-up sentence from a racing game:
In order to earn speed boosts, you should catch air and pull off sick
wheelies and flips.
I am not sure about the meaning of the phrase "pull off ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
What does “put up” mean in “put up pets”?
The opening narration of the movie Meet the Blacks goes"
Hey, guys. Tonight is the Purge and I want all of my white friends to be safe. Rules of the Purge. You have 12 hours to do any crime you ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
What does “it” refer to and the meaning of “take up” in this context?
Pakistan said that with the support of China, it will take up India's unilateral actions in Kashmir with the U.N. Security Council and may approach the U.N. Human Rights Commission over what it says ...
7
votes
1answer
401 views
Why is it 'in the saddle' rather than 'on the saddle'?
I regularly hear the phrase 'in the saddle' but 'on the saddle' seems more appropriate as you are literally on top of it, (I'm using the original definition of literally there!).
I can sit in an ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
Could “Something has to wait” be a form of euphemism?
A: I'm parking right there.
B: You have to wait!
A: Why?
B: (Pointing at the corner) That car is trying to get out.
Here, "You have to wait" feels somewhat abrupt and rude. But if you ...
-3
votes
1answer
37 views
meaning difference: viewing rates vs. viewing ratings [closed]
Could anyone tell me about the difference between viewing rates and viewing ratings? Do they have the same meaning?
I'd appreciate your help.
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Meaning of “save it was”
Few, indeed, were the folks that ever came this way, for it was in the loneliest
part of Barnisdale Forest. Besides, who had any right to come here save it was
the king's foresters keeping strict ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
What does “fetch” and “stop trying to make 'fetch' happen” mean?
cambridge gives 3 meanings of fetch
meaning 1:
to go to another place to get something or someone and bring it, him,
or her back
meaning 2:
to be sold for a particular amount of money
...
1
vote
1answer
6 views
What does “for six ” mean
In the book "The Shanghai Free Taxi", there is a sentence that I don't quite understand:
"Nice to meet you," said Ray's daughter, Dora, who addressed me in English and seemed remarkably poised for ...
2
votes
1answer
16 views
I have heard about “in/on the news”. What about “at the news”?
I know that we commonly use “on the news” or “in the news”. However, I came across a sentence which is:
They were overcome by a wave of horror at the news.
As far as I can understand is ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
Would you please rephrase the sentence below because it is a little too vague to understand?
We play a very, very emotional game,” Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “I think sometimes you have to allow people to have their emotions. I don’t think nothing of it. I think he has a long road ...
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0answers
10 views
What does the phrase “by holding down on each side of the screen” mean here?
Here is a sentence from an action game's description:
You can dodge them by turning left and right by holding down on each
side of the screen.
In my opinion, the players needs to hold down the ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
How is “I don't think you answered…” different from “I think you didn't answer…”?
I come from Brazil, and many times in my day, I find myself saying phrases like
I think you didn't answer that question. (1)
which, in our language, is totally fine in all aspects. However, in ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
what the “welcome son” means in this sentence?
The 37-year-old royal - who welcomed son Archie Harrison
Mountbatten-Windsor with husband Prince Harry earlier this year - is
reportedly planning to become a published author
Is the grammar of ...
1
vote
2answers
17 views
What is 'draft slides"?
The following was part of a conference announcement.
Submit draft slides to apply for the conference.
What is draft slides? Is it the same as presentation slides? Is it the same as powerpoint ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
Save something to vs Save something on/onto
I would like to know the difference in meaning between "to save something to" and "to save something on/onto" in the context of technology.
Here are a couple of example sentences:
Save the file ...
2
votes
1answer
21 views
A space which is good to be in -> A space to be in (?)
It seems that "a space which is good to be in" is grammatically acceptable (with "in" at the end of the sentence).
"Space" in this example refers to an intentionally designed living/working/public ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
“Cornered look in her eyes” meaning
In "Conviction: The untold story of putting Jodi Arias behind bars" by Juan Martinez, he writes the following lines
"This third gas can, you actually bought it in Salinas, didn't you?" "Yes," Arias ...
-1
votes
1answer
25 views
What does “it's all in ghost in the wires” mean?
I'm watching this video
https://youtu.be/aUqes9QdLQ4?t=492
on youtube. At 8:12, the guest says "it's all in ghost in the wires". I tried looking up ghost and wire in the dictionary but with no luck. ...
6
votes
2answers
3k views
“Will flex for food”. What does this phrase mean?
"Will flex for food". What does this phrase mean? I know that the second meaning of flex word is
showing off your valuables in a non-humble way
but it doesn't make sense for me anyway.
This ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
“I told you this for you to make sure that I'm one of the good.” or “I told you this to make sure that I'm one of the good”
I'm a beginner learner and don't know which one is right. I mean, whether I should use "for" in the sentence or not. (also, one of myfriends told me that each of the sentences had a different meaning....
1
vote
2answers
47 views
Meaning of “I was bound Apprentice”
My father had a small Estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the Third
of five Sons. He sent me to Emanuel-College in Cambridge,* at
Fourteen* Years old, where I resided three Years, and applied my self
...
1
vote
2answers
47 views
What does “a pop-up shower” mean in the context of weather forecast?
I heard the phrase "a pop-up shower" in a weather broadcasting on the radio. If I understand correctly, it means a shower might come out of nowhere anytime in the day. But I'm not sure if my ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
What's dropped before “be it”?
In the following sentence, what is the meaning of 'be it'?
"Your "ideal self" is the representation of attributes you would like to have ideally, be it related to your future goals, wishes, etc."
...
2
votes
1answer
23 views
How would NSE interpret “eyebrows moments”?
In a conversation, I used the following expression.
Were there any eyebrows moments during the interview?
Regrettably, that expression didn't seem to contribute to smooth communication. The ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Is the idiomatic “didn't bat an eye” losing its sense if used slightly differently?
The expression didn't bat an eye is well recognized. As an idiomatic such, one has to be careful not to tamper with it too much risking its integrity. However, I did use it in a bit different ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
“It was me who brought it (my puppy) up” or “It was me who brought up it”
I've heard people use "It was me who brought it (my puppy) up" all the time and never heard of anybody use "It was me who brought up it" because when using "object pronouns" with phrasal verbs, we ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
“Valet parking ” or “parking valet”
Which one is the correct form?
"parking valet" or "valet parking"
"Valet parking" is commonly used, but it seems that "parking valet" is also correct!
What's the grammatical explanation of these ...
1
vote
2answers
41 views
Is there such a thing as “not quite true”?
The authors demonstrate that the probability of finding a new job can be higher in a high unemployment region than in a low unemployment one if the former has a higher rate of employee turnover* than ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
what is the meaning of “In an average week last year” in this paragraph?
In an average week last year, three people were killed while defending
their land and the environment from industries such as mining, logging
and agribusiness, the report said.
I think in the ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Meaning of “more than a body could tell what to do with”
YOU don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly. There ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
What does the phrase “trades” mean here?
Please help me figure out the meaning of the word trades in the following (made-up) sentence:
In the game you will find that Blades trades open worlds for quests
through scary dungeons.
The ...
-1
votes
0answers
22 views
What does the phrase “rainy ruins” mean here?
I am not sure about the phrase "rainy ruins" in the following sentence:
The WCIII missions were a lot of tiny islands, wet rainy ruins.
The sentence above is from a game's forum.
0
votes
1answer
19 views
What is meaning of 'had done well' in this sentence?
I want to know the meaning of the expression 'had done well'. I read it in the book Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl.
'THE OWNERS OF THESE FARMS HAD DONE WELL. THEY WERE RICH MEN. THEY ARE ALSO ...
-1
votes
1answer
26 views
What does the phrase “go over or through their own body” mean here?
I am not sure about the meaning of the phrase "go over or through their own body" in the following sentence:
What makes the game challenging is that the birds can neither move
backwards nor can ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
What does the sentence “When you swipe your card at the checkout line, you'll be asked if you want to pay by debit or credit.” mean?
I found this as an example sentence using the word "debit"; and I understand its grammar and everything, but I have no idea what "paying by credit" or "paying by debit" mean.
Another sentence ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
The meaning of “be in touch about something”
I heard a line in British TV series "peep show" that is
It's a logo, for when people are in touch about doing baseball caps with my initials on.
I suppose it says 'for when people are in contact ...
