Questions tagged [phrase-request]
This tag is for questions seeking a phrase that fits a meaning. If you are looking for a word, or don't care, see the "word-request" tag too.
2,552
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Do we say "a student quits class/school" when he is lazy to go to class/school but not quit class/school permanently? [duplicate]
When we say "he quit school" it means he left school permanently and never come back.
However, some students are lazy to go to class/school but that doesn't mean they "quit class/school ...
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2
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197
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How to tell someone that them being near you is making you feel hot?
Suppose my friend and I are sitting on the couch and my friend is getting too near me. It's making me feel hot and I want to convey it to him.
Would it be natural to say this to him:
You're turning ...
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2
votes
1
answer
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Do we say "Rash" when we press our skin against something for a long time?
A rash is defined as a red spot on a person’s skin, caused by an illness or a reaction to something.
When I lean my back against some hard surface, an area on my back turns red.
Can I call that area &...
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1
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What would be an appropriate phrase to describe how much of a movie already elapsed?
I was watching a movie on my computer and I had to go the bathroom and then my phone rang so I picked it up and talk to a caller. I was unaware I didn't pause the movie on the computer and it turned ...
- 2,698
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0
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What are some polite responses to someone introducing themselves over the phone?
If a person comes up to you physically and then introduces themselves, your generic reply is going to be "Nice to meet you". It's not going to work in remote communications because you don't ...
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2
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Do we say "it's sunny after rain" to mean "after hardship is happiness"?
See this situation
A country is in its worst economic crisis but after its worst it will get better. Just like in nature, when it is the darkest, it is time when it starts getting light.
We say this ...
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1
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Can we say "the tree broke down while it was raining cats and dogs" in this situation?
We have the phrase "chop or cut down the tree" which means "to make the tree fall down by cutting it at the base"
Now it was raining very hard and the wind cut the tree down as ...
- 21.6k
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1
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Vagaries of perception meaning
What is the definition of "Vagaries of perception"? The way I interpret it: twisted reality vision / wrong reality check.
Am I correct? I know it appeared in the Matrix movie there's no ...
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3
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39
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How do you describe trying to balance two opposite priorities?
How do you describe trying to balance two opposite priorities? I was hoping I could say "walk a thin line" or something, but I'm not sure anymore (I haven't found such an idiom). I need a ...
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Is it correct to say "is it (a bag of chips) finished?" to mean that it's out of chips?
The person is eating out of a bag of chips in front of me and I want to ask if the bag is out of chips now when he grabs a handful. Can I simply say—
Is it finished?
And can I use it for other ...
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Is this a correct way to say that I do not care much about money?
Is it correct to say "I don't weigh much about money" to mean that I do not care much about money? Is it awkward?
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What do you call a place where certain ideas are prevalent?
What noun could I use? "Hotbed"? "Hotspot"? Please don't mention the expression "safe state".
The city was hardly a liberal __________: the conservatives have won five ...
- 3,340
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1
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How do I describe people who don't have enough time?
How do I describe people who don't have enough time? Would "time-constrained" do? Is it even a word to begin with?
Unfortunately, she was time-constrained and let things slide.
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1
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making a statement on an array of similar cases
Situation: John has a list of schools he could go to. He also knows required admission points in each school. How can I express that in one sentence?
"John knows how many points are needed to ...
- 4,208
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2
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241
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How can I use in a sentence the phrase 'ordinary folk'?
Im trying to fill the blank of this sentence:
Those were the heady days when stockbrokers commanded salaries beyond [...]of ordinary folk.
It seems like i have to fill it with a phrase of three words, ...
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3
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2
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What do you call a facility that accepts recyclables?
What do you call a facility that accepts recyclables? Not just the blue bins that you have in America but something like this:
They don't actually recycle there, just collect and then sell to large ...
- 3,340
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2
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367
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Is "beauty king" or "handsome king" the counterpart of "beauty queen"?
"beauty queen" is a woman who won a beauty contest.
What is the general term for a man who wins a male "handsome" contest?
Is "beauty king" or "handsome king" ...
- 21.6k
0
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1
answer
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To (lessen, improve, alleviate) Disadvantage
I'am looking for a genuine phrase with the word "disadvantage" in this way:
The new method allows to (lessen? overcome? improve? - what?) the
disadvantages of the old one.
In a meaning ...
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0
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33
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What is the word for the dirty substance on the skin of a person who hasn't been showered for days?
If we don't shower for several day, we have some dirty things on our skin.
And when we rub the skin, we can roll this thing into a tiny ball which is dirty and as small as a grain of rice.
Is that ...
- 21.6k
4
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3
answers
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What do you call the pointy parts of a text bubble that's not the tail?
What do you call the pointy parts of a text bubble that's not the tail? Here, in the image, we see three pointy things protruding out of the text bubble on the four "sides" of some of the ...
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0
votes
2
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71
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"I am a citizen of Britain" vs. "I am a subject of the British crown" vs. "I am a British national"
Which phrase is the most common for a person who was born in Britain of the parents who were also born in Britain to identify his nationality?
"I am a citizen of Britain"?
"I am a ...
- 4,208
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7
answers
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How do I convey that I am bad at remembering things?
I want to express the idea that I'm really bad at recollecting something from my memory, but "I have a bad memory" sounds a lot like I remember (maybe fairly well) something bad that ...
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2
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100
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What is the concise word or phrase of getting caught in an embarrassing situation?
I got caught in an embarrasing situation last night! I was singing until I realise I'd been being watched by my neighbour.
In my view, I won't consider it natural to say that since it's too wordy. I ...
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2
answers
74
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Is it natural to say "You have to aim your mouth into the bowl" or "You have to aim the rinsed water into the bowl"?
I help my daughter to brush her teeth.
Since she is too short, I don't let her do it in the bathroom, but using a big bowl.
After she rinses her mouth I ask her to spit the rinsed water (I am not sure ...
- 21.6k
1
vote
1
answer
46
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Is it idiomatic to say "you need a subject in your sentence when talking to grown-ups"?
In some countries, it's very rude if a child talks to an adult without a subject, even when there's a word like "please" in the sentence.
For example, it's very rude if a child says to a ...
- 21.6k
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votes
1
answer
13
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What is the opposite of "plain housing/plain residential buildings"?
Consider the expression,
The government housing is very homogeneous. All houses are very unremarkable plain-looking houses.
What would be the opposite of plain looking houses? Some words, I have ...
- 8,484
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1
answer
47
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Alternate phrase for the phrase "losing its zing"?
Consider the expression,
If you eat pizza everyday, it will lose its zing.
I am using zing as a placeholder here. Could somebody recommend a similar expression? I am open to another sentence ...
- 8,484
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votes
1
answer
39
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What is opposite of the phrase "Sprinting to the finish line"?
I am looking for the metaphoric opposite of the phrase "Sprinting to the finish line.
my context is "achieving something at a very slow, lethargic and unremarkable way".
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0
votes
1
answer
152
views
Do we call it "a lounge" in a cinema?
We have a waiting area in a cinema.
As showed in the picture, when you go into a cinema, you see a waiting area facing the counter where people buy movie tickets, or popcorn and drinks.
You can sit ...
- 21.6k
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votes
1
answer
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"allocated" or "relocated" in this context? [closed]
For the slogan of a company we would are considering something with the following meaning:
"European technology allocated in Africa"
"European technology relocated in Africa"
It is ...
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votes
2
answers
30
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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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1
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570
views
Is it correct to say "Do you have my voice" on phone or online meeting? [duplicate]
On the phone or online meeting is it correct to say "Do you have my voice?"
Is there any other good alternative?
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2
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580
views
I had a hard time vs I had hard times
I always don't understand how I can count time.
In what situation can I use "a hard/good time" or "hard/good times"?
Could you please show me examples of sentences, or explanations ...
- 507
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0
answers
51
views
Idiomatic alternative to the "putting yourself in one's shoe"?
Consider the expression,
If the government puts itself in the shoes of the public, it will notice that its policies are damaging to society.
The construction "in one's shoe" sounds very ...
- 8,484
0
votes
1
answer
32
views
What other words/phrases can I use in place of "train of thought"?
Consider this hypothetical scenario,
Person1: Front End software development does not require analytical ability.
Person2: You are misinformed, I used to follow the same train of thought/way of ...
- 8,484
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votes
2
answers
28
views
Alternative expression/phrase to the expression "mushroom growth"?
In Indian English, the expression mushroom growth is quite common, some sample constructions
There has been a mushroom growth in organic fruits shops in this area.
Advancements in the ...
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0
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32
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"where exactly did I write that made you think I meant...?"
I wrote a report/proposal and my co-worker reviewed it and commented on it. He thought I meant one thing but in fact I didn't. So I wanted to ask him to point out exactly where he got that impression ...
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0
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28
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What words can I use in place of "background" in my sentence
I have held multiple jobs in multiple fields in my life, such as teaching, tech jobs, philanthropy etc.
I have a sentence construction, which goes like this
I am grateful to have known people of ...
- 8,484
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3
answers
66
views
What is opposite of the phrase "in one sitting" in the context of a book?
Consider the expression,
The book was so engaging that I could not put it down, and read it one sitting.
I am looking for a phrase, just opposite of this.
The book was so boring that it took me ...
- 8,484
5
votes
9
answers
3k
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Idiomatic word for someone who is an expert in multiple fields/subject?
Cricket is a very popular sport in India. It has three components, batting (offense in baseball), bowling (pitching in baseball), and fielding (defense in baseball).
Generally, players are good at ...
- 8,484
0
votes
3
answers
28
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Word request for the "weapon for which there is no defense"?
In Hindu mythology, there are several mentions of a weapon, for which there is no defense. When that weapon is aimed at the enemy, the end of enemy is certain. That weapon is referred to as Bhahmastra....
- 8,484
21
votes
7
answers
7k
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What phrase would American English speakers use in place of "Tom, Dick and Harry"?
In Indian English, the phrase "Tom, Dick and Harry" is very prevalent, is used quite frequently in media, movies etc.
On the other hand, I don't see it being used as frequently, in American ...
- 8,484
0
votes
1
answer
41
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Alternative phrases for the phrase "Ace in the hole"
I heard the phrase "ace in the hole" in a podcast; it is a weapon for which there is no defense.
Could somebody suggest alternative idiomatic phrases for "ace in the hole", which ...
- 8,484
0
votes
1
answer
10
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idiotmatic construction for the phrase "people of same capability"
I am writing a blog, and my context is based on the phrase "when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail".
The sentence construction I have is something like this,
I have an ace in ...
- 8,484
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2
answers
47
views
How to ask that how did a person know some certain information in the first place?
Asking someone "How did you know this?" implies that whatever they knew was the truth. Is there some other straight-foward answer that only asks how did the person come up to know this ...
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4
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Words to express that my friend pretended like she was me in class
Today I asked a friend of mine to attend the online class as I had to leave home. She changed her name on Zoom, closed his camera and muted the microphone so she pretended like she was me.
There must ...
user138449
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1
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What is a common adjective that expresses a child who excessively tells on his friends to his parents for trivial things?
Bob got pushed by his friends, not a big push. Maybe, his friends were just teasing him. Bob, then, told on his friends to his parents.
In another situation, Bob's friends then kidded him in a funny ...
- 21.6k
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1
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26
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How to express the process of making communication more elegant?
I'm looking for a phrase that would express the act of reducing some convoluted idea into one that can be well understood to a layman or perhaps crafting a piece of media to make it express the ...
- 1,589
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votes
13
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4k
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What do you call a desperate attempt unlikely to succeed?
What do you call a desperate attempt unlikely to succeed? For example, when other ideas have failed and you have one final go before giving up
- 3,340
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1
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26
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What verb is applicable for "prescription tablet/pills consumption"?
Consider the hypothetical expression,
I fell sick, because I was slacking on my thyroid's pill consumption.
"Consumption" as a noun feels very awkward to me, can somebody suggest an ...
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