Questions tagged [phrase-usage]
This tag is for questions about how to use a particular phrase. If your question is a request for a phrase to use, you should use the "phrase-request" tag.
1,969
questions
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How do we express that you are riding a motorbike / a bike / a horse with your friend sitting behind you on it?
Look at the verb "ride" in the dictionary
[transitive, intransitive] to sit on and control a bicycle,
motorcycle, etc.
ride something + adv./prep. The boys were riding their bikes
around ...
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1answer
18 views
Do we say “the rope, the hair or the rubber band are broken or cut or split”?
This is a rubber band
And this is a rubber band that was cut
Also, look at the picture
Do we say "The rubber band / rope is broken or cut or split"? or do we have other specific terms to express ...
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How to say when you want to delay a state: to suppress my pee / poo / cough / laugh / smile / anger / giggle / pain / excitement / etc?
How to say when you want to delay a state?
hold somebody/something ↔ up to delay someone or something
Sorry I’m late – I was held up at work.
suppress something to prevent yourself from ...
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1answer
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A boy ran into a chair & made the chair fall off, can we say “you fell the chair”?
fall [intransitive] to suddenly stop standing
She slipped on the ice and fell.
A tree fell, just missing his car.
fall + adv./prep. I fell over and cut my knee.
The house looked as ...
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What is the opposite action of “You fought with your sister over the toy”: “you sacrificed the toy for your sister.”?
fight [intransitive, transitive] to struggle physically with somebody
My little brothers are always fighting.
He taught me how to fight with a sword.
fight with somebody Riot police ...
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1answer
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Can we say “I turned the switch off and the light went out” and “I flipped / flicked the switch off and the light went out”?
flick [transitive] to press a button or switch quickly in order to turn a
machine, etc. on or off SYNONYM flip
flick something He flicked a switch and all the lights went out.
flick ...
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Do we say “the monk has no hair” or “he is hairless” or “he is bald” or “he has a shaved head”
bald adjective: having little or no hair on the head
He started going bald in his twenties.
young men who go prematurely bald
hairless adjective: without hair
You are walking with your ...
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1answer
33 views
“For many years now” and “For some years now” meaning
I want to know the meaning and the differences of these particular phrases:
for many years now / for many times now
for some years now / for some times now
can anyone also provide an implementation ...
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2answers
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What's the difference between “insight of something” and “insight into something”?
I use the phrase insight of for the sentence "It gives me an insight of what college life should like." but Grammarly change it into "an insight into". Under which content we use them?
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What does “facilitated a crescendo” mean?
I was watching the British series Sex Education and, in the second episode of season two, the main character uses the phrase "facilitated a crescendo". While I understand the definition of both words, ...
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What should I say “Do not step on your spit!”?
spit: [uncountable] the liquid that is produced in your mouth SYNONYM
saliva
Ok, my little child has just been fed some food. Now, he spat some out onto the floor. I don't want him to step on the ...
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1answer
25 views
What are these called: to purse your lips?
purse your lips: to form your lips into a small tight round shape, for example to show that you do not approve of something
Look at these 3 pictures:
Are they all "purse your lips"?
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2answers
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is it idiomatic to say “Please spare your gut for dinner”?
This is one of my child's problems. That is he often eats cakes, snacks, etc before main meals (lunch, dinner) and therefore he has no appetite when coming to lunch / dinner.
My mother tongue is ...
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2answers
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How to Talk About Making Pancakes
I've found the following definitions and I'm wondering how they're used with pancakes and other objects.
flip
2
: to cause (something) to turn or turn over quickly
[+ object]
She was sitting in the ...
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1answer
26 views
Introducing a paragraph with “that way”
May I use "that way" at the beginning of a paragraph, referring to the idea which was mentioned in the previous paragraph?
For instance:
That way, it is possible to conclude that...
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1answer
38 views
How do we express this position: to lie across the rail bars?
Look at the picture
Do we say "they are lying across the rail bars"?
Also, see this picture
Do we say "the cat is lying across the bar"?
Or what are the idiomatic way of saying that?
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2answers
47 views
Is it idiomatic to say “push something halfway / completely into something”?
Look at this picture
When I tell my toddler put the straw into the milk box, she often push it completely into the box. And as a result, the straw got lost inside the box.
What should we express in ...
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1answer
39 views
how to express this position in English: “to put your feet up”?
Look at these pictures
and
People often put one of their lower legs and rest it on the thigh of the other leg.
Sometimes, that action is just his habit, but it could be that he want to relax when ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Do we say “to sing the toddler to pee / poo” or do we have similar common terms in English?
This is common in Asia, but I am not sure if it is in Western country.
That is some parents in Asia don't want to put diapers on their toddlers. Instead, they often find a suitable time to take their ...
0
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1answer
26 views
Are “I am relaxing” and “I am relaxed” the same?
"Relax" is a complicated verb because of its meanings.
re‧lax /rɪˈlæks/ ●●● S3 W3 AWL verb
1 REST [intransitive,
transitive] to rest or do something that is enjoyable, especially
after you ...
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22 views
will vs would usages methods
There would be no selective reduction.
vs
There will be no selective reduction.
The meaning of both sentences is the same. So why should we use would instead of will?
2nd sentence
I would say ...
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3answers
62 views
Do we say “Glass Crumb” just as we often say “Food Crumb”? If not, what is the word to say?
crumb (n): a very small piece of food, especially of bread or
cake, that has fallen off a larger piece
She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater.
ok, now I want to change the ...
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1answer
39 views
What are common adjectives to express a person who is difficult, unfriendly, likes to argue, do not cooperate? harsh or sharp-tongued or shrewish?
Some people are very difficult, unfriendly, likes to argue, disagree, do not cooperate, often talk with loud voice.
What are common adjectives to express these kinds of people?
harsh or sharp-...
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2answers
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is it wrong to say “to clean your pee” when you want to mean “to remove it”?
clean [transitive, intransitive] clean (something) to make something free from dirt or dust by washing or rubbing it
to clean the windows/bath/floor
to clean a wound
Have you cleaned ...
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1answer
16 views
As commonly done vs As is commonly done vs As it is commonly done
Which of the following three is the correct usage of the phrase?
As commonly done
As is commonly done
As it is commonly done
To me, 3rd one seems to be most appropriate from a grammatical ...
0
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1answer
26 views
how do I suggest politely to get back to me at a later time?
I have sometimes the need to tell other people to get back to me at a later time and I don't know how to express that correctly in English
For example, if I'm invited to participate in a project and ...
0
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0answers
25 views
Are “to take the little child to go out” the same as “to take the little child out”?
take [transitive] to go with somebody from one place to another, especially to guide or lead them
take somebody It's too far to walk—I'll take you by car.
take somebody to something A boy ...
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1answer
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Are “It is rainy now” and “it is raining now” the same? Also what is the verb equivalent to the adjective “sunny”?
This is a little bit confusing.
rainy (adj): having or bringing a lot of rain
a rainy day
the rainy season
the rainiest place in Britain
Ad other dictionary
rain‧y /ˈreɪni/ ●●● ...
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1answer
26 views
Website of online food ordering
Are there any difference between phrases below which were written with “of” and without “of”? Is the first one written with “of “ correct and does it have same meaning?
1)The UK-based website of ...
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1answer
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“from my end” vs “from my side”
Today my manager finished his speech with:
"I'm done from my end. If you have anything from your end, please let me know."
My question is, wouldn't it be appropriate to use from my/your side than ...
0
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1answer
31 views
About Asian ancestor worship, do we say “he is praying for his grandpa” or “he is worshipping his grandpa”?
Ancestor worship is very popular in Asia.
Asian people take great care in preserving the memories of their ancestors and honoring them with regular prayers and offerings. Ancestor worship is such an ...
0
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1answer
35 views
If your little child didn't want to wear his bottoms, what would you say: “You're so ashamed” or “Shame on you” in a form of joking?
I am teaching my little child to speak English, but I am not a native speaker. So, Sometimes, when I face a situation, I may use structures or words that are weird. Native people wouldn't say like ...
0
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1answer
26 views
Two different way to say a phrase
My computer was delivered with the screen broken.
My computer was delivered in a broken-screened state.
What I want to say is first sentence . Today an english teacher told me that second ...
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2answers
36 views
How to express this action in English? “Please, don't face up drinking like that” or “Please, don't drink with the bottle being upside down like that”
Ok, My little daughter always drinks by facing up & holding the water bottle upside down like this picture. This is not good because she may choke on the water.
I want her to drink like the man ...
0
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1answer
16 views
Usage of check up with verbs
I know that I can use, give a check up, get a check up or have a check up. ( medical) . But can I use the phrase. ...take a check up. If so , what would the meaning be? Place help
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1answer
49 views
Do we say “The rat ran to and then under the ticket booth” or just “The rat ran under the ticket booth”?
Look at this picture, a rat was at a distance from the ticket booth. The suddenly, the rat ran towards the booth and then sneaked under the booth.
The dictionary says
under (prep) in, to or ...
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1answer
19 views
Are they the same? “to sit / lie there” vs “to sit / lie on there”?
Are they the same? "to sit / lie here" vs "to sit / lie on here"?
"There" can be a noun or an adverb
there [noncount] 1 : that place
Get away from there.
there 2 /ðeə $ ðer/ ●●...
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34 views
How to express “to slide out of your hand”?
In the dictionary
slip [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to slide out of position or out of your hand
His hat had slipped over one eye.
The fish slipped out of my hand.
The child slipped ...
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0answers
31 views
How to improve English speaking
I am not a native English speaker. I have been preparing for the IELTS exam since last six months. I can write English properly. But I cannot speak English fluently. I make several mistakes while ...
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2answers
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Do we say “She fell on her head”, “She fell with her head onto the floor”, “She fell and hit her head onto the floor”, “She dived into the floor”?
Ok, look at these pictures
A man may have been in a standing position & suddenly fell off with his head coming into contact with the floor first before other parts of his body (back, legs, etc).
...
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1answer
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Can I use a phrase 'financial relief' in an essay? Does this phrase make sense in english?
This option brings a financial relief particularly to the owners of uninsured pets.
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1answer
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Difference between “related to” and “associated with”
What is the difference between associated with and related to such as:
This degree is (related in / associated with) an increase.
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do we say “wrap it up” when we want our kids to stop playing games or watching TV?
wrap up | wrap it up (slang) usually used as an order to tell
somebody to stop talking or causing trouble, etc.
Now it's time for lunch & your children are playing games, watching TV or doing ...
0
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1answer
28 views
Do we say “you infected me with your disease” or “you transmitted your disease to me” or other common ways to express the same idea?
In the dictionary
infect (verb) to make a disease or an illness spread to a person, an animal or a plant
infect somebody/something
It is not possible to infect another person through ...
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0answers
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Do we say “pull the canopy close” or “pull the canopy closed” or “pull the canopy shut”?
in The dictionary, "close" is an adjective, "closed" is also an adjective, "shut" is an adjective and it is the synonym of "closed"
close
14 WITH LITTLE SPACE
with little or no space around ...
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1answer
22 views
Use of in thickness
I need to buy plastic sheet in bulk . And those are sold in two layers but while ordering I need to say thickness of one layer . In this case can I say;
I need plastic sheet of 2 microns in one ...
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1answer
25 views
are “put on your top / bottoms” more common than “put on your Tshirt / shirt / tank top / pants / shorts …” in English in casual daily situations?
I am not a native speaker. I found that it is easier for me to say this to my daughter when we go out "Sweetie, please put on your top / bottoms" than "Sweetie, please put on your Tshirt / shirt / ...
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2answers
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The use of “If you give an inch, they'll take a mile.”?
(A fictional situation) I want to give a warning to someone about something I experienced because they are in a situation I had been through. That they will lose if they make a concession..In that ...
0
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1answer
19 views
air of something
Fay assumed an air of innocence. (Source)
He assumed an air of concern. (Source)
What does "air of something" mean in these contexts? I suppose it is generally used with the verb "assume"
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1answer
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“Call a taxi” and “Call for a taxi” is the same?
I want to make a question sentence like the below
"Is calling a taxi is the only way to take a taxi here? (Or from here?)"
and wonder if 'calling for a taxi" would mean same as "calling a taxi".
...
