Questions tagged [phrases]
A phrase is a group of words that make a unit of syntax with a single grammatical function.
-1
votes
1answer
29 views
Thank you email at office [on hold]
Could you give me better phrases than this?
The situation is that you took 1week leave for vacation and want to say thanks to coworkers.
" title: Thank you
Thank you so much for your assistance ...
3
votes
1answer
28 views
It is so lovely a day
I know "such a lovely day" is definitely correct, but what do you think of "it's so lovely a day"? Is it okay as well?
This part of an exercise I did in FCE use of English, 'it's so lovely day' is ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
How should I understand “is its own”?
In general I do not understand the usage of "is its own" in a sentence. For example how should I understand "is its own" in the following sentence?
Since the hand of a clock is its own clearly ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Preposition: its peak is (at) by the end of a/the day
What is the correct preposition and phrase here:
Overall, the highest number in terms of consumption of energy is in winter and its peak is by the end of THE day in England
Vs.
Overall, the ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
A phrase ”follow into" in a context
I'm a (an old style) basketball fan and when I was reading this article
And I encountered this line,
Walton inherited a team that was ripped to the studs by Kobe Bryant's retirement tour and ...
3
votes
1answer
16 views
In hindsight VS Come to think of it
How should I differentiate "in hindsight" from "come to think of it"? For me, both mean identical as it sounds like "now that I'm looking back"?
For instance, how the following sentences semantically ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Why “I'll think I stick around.” and not “I think I'll stick around.” [closed]
In the movie Oscar 1991, the chief policeman said:
- "Break out the java and the sinkers, boys. I'll think I stick around."
Why "I'll think I stick around." and not, "I think I'll stick around."?
2
votes
1answer
36 views
What is a “tomato word”?
In this explanation of the word myopic I get stuck by this sentence:
In terms of pronunciation: it's a tomato/tomahto word: pronounce it
"my-OP-ick" or "my-OH-pick," although that short o sound ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
the meaning of “but” in the sentence quoted
These are not like the typical U.S. trade associations, which provide
important services, but often services that increase the success of
efficiency of individual members at the margins.
Here, ...
10
votes
4answers
2k views
“To split hairs” vs “To be pedantic”
How shall I semantically distinguish to be pedantic and splitting hairs while they both indicate the same message about a person who is paying too much attention to some unnecessary details?
0
votes
2answers
21 views
An absolute phrase or just omitting "While…be…)
"While most politicians are downplaying the dire economic situations the people are facing, this candidate stresses that improving the lives of the citizens is a matter of import."
My mind somehow ...
1
vote
1answer
16 views
Be behind someone, be ahead of someone
Are the phrases I used in the sentences below used in English? Are they natural and common in colloquial language?..
Like someone falls behind someone, can these sentences be used:
I'm behind ...
-1
votes
1answer
19 views
Phrase “A existed as little as B years ago”
I'm curious about phrase
"A existed as B (adverb or adjective) as C years ago"
or more specifically,
"A existed as little as C years ago"
The original sentence is like the below.
Active ...
10
votes
8answers
2k views
“You are your self first supporter”, a more proper way to say it
I want to say that the person himself/herself should be the first supporter of himself/herself. I came up with two different ways of saying that, and I want to know if they are all correct, and which ...
3
votes
4answers
77 views
How to parse this sentence “I heard him drop his keys.”
"I heard him drop his keys"
I = subject
heard = verb
"him drop his keys." = direct object.
But how can I understand 'drop his keys'?
"I heard him singing in the shower."
Here, "singing in the ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
How to say this in American English?
Say, someone gives you wrong or bad advice and you tell him jokingly that he should not be giving advice. How do you reply in this case?
I want to say something like this:
"Giving advice is not ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Nice read / Nice reading [closed]
When you read a book and you want to express your excitement, what do you say:
"it was a nice read"
OR
"What a nice read"
OR
"Nice reading"
OR
There's something else which is most suitable?
I ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Hey ! I used the indicator to indicate that I was turning left
My mom was driving,when she was going to take the next left,she used her indicator to indicate that. But when she was turning,a car speeded past was while she was turning.(in the direction we were ...
2
votes
3answers
254 views
Is “for causing autism in X” grammatical?
I am not sure, but "for causing autism in X" seems ungrammatical when X is a person, when x is a particular group of people it doesn't sound off, but when it's a particular person, it sounds ...
0
votes
2answers
61 views
“Consider me in”, about the phrase and its negation
I have wanted to ask about the proper negation of the phrase "Consider me in", but as I have found nearly no result when I searched it on Google, I need to know first if it is common and correct. I'm ...
-1
votes
1answer
23 views
'Alex is a son of Smith.' and 'Smith is a father of Alex.' carry same meaning or different meaning?
In terms of Data Modeling, either of the following two relationships imply the same meaning. I mean I can use any one of them. (For Specific two Individuals)
IS_A_SON_OF
IS_A_FATHER_OF
Example
Alex ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
does this mean what I think it means - 4th last time
I'm moving out of my current place in a few days. When I'm doing something a little annoying to my roommate, I joke, "sorry, this is (will be) like the 4th last time I do this", to mean that I'm only ...
3
votes
1answer
49 views
Involved in or involved with
there are two sentences:
The HR department
will also be involved with training and professional development of the company's staff.
A company's HR department may also be involved in making ...
0
votes
3answers
50 views
As a man sows, so shall he reap
Are there any cooler/better-matched/modern phrases to express that you have to recover your own fault or make up your own mistakes by yourself?
I found the phrase in title by search, but I guess the ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
What is the phrase for :I should do a task in two days? [closed]
I want a simple phrase to describe this:
If I should do a task in two days then which phrase is more natural to use:
2 Days deadline
2 Days Grace period
or a better phrase you recommend...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
The correct preposition after “I'm dying”
Saying "I'm dying" alone is normal and correct, but what if it was followed (for any reason) by a preposition? Would "at" be the correct one to use as in (I'm dying at this)?
It was stated in that ...
1
vote
2answers
42 views
Can “take off” be used instead of “remove” in this context
A told B:
Take off(to mean "remove") the grill,I have to clean it. I looked it up online.
Is the use of "take off" instead of "remove" natural?
0
votes
2answers
33 views
“I love you so”
I've encountered (in songs, mostly) the phrase "I love you so". I understand what it means, but I can't make grammatical sense of it. It's very different in meaning from "I think so" or "I told you so"...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
Can the phrase “air pocket” be used figuratively?
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:
With its most ordered plane's fate undecided, Boeing may well be heading towards an air pocket.
Merriam Webster dictionaries define "air pocket" as a ...
0
votes
2answers
19 views
Meaning of “lazy common sense” in this sentence?
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:
Lazy common sense holds that the minority must understand the historical injustice done to Hindus by their ancestors and atone for it.
How would you ...
2
votes
2answers
53 views
What is the meaning of “war capacity of an aircraft”?
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:
The photocopying of sensitive documents on the war capacity of the Rafale combat aircraft and their leakage is a conspiracy.
What is the meaning of "...
4
votes
1answer
139 views
The meaning of the “at the of”
In the following article by The Telegraph:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2387900/New-man-at-the-of-IMG.html
I stumbled upon the following phrase (in the title of the article):
"New man at the of ...
2
votes
1answer
19 views
Meaning of “on the block” in this context
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:
Like all playgrounds, even YouTube has its popular kids on the block.
According to most of the dictionaries, "on the block" means "up for auction". Does ...
7
votes
2answers
244 views
Does the phrase “more obvious” mean “just barely noticeable among many” in certain contexts?
Let me add some context here:
In Frank Herbert’s Dune, there is this sentence:
“I know the Dark Things and the ways of the Great Mother,” Jessica
said. She read the more obvious signs in Mapes’ ...
0
votes
4answers
6 views
What is the phrase for the management's ideology in which staffs are told to perform other's responsibilities?
It happens in lot of organization. Its a management habit in some organization who think of cutting corners , that they are saving money.
These management people tend to overlap responsibilities. ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Are “respect, honour, esteem” synonymous to “lose face”?
According to Oxford Dictionaries, "lose face" means:
Be humiliated or come to be less highly respected
And esteem, honour, and respect were given as synonyms. They seem contradictory to me if not ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
“I think it strange that ..” — is the phrase correct or does it miss a verb before 'it'?
I think it strange that there is no one on the street at this time of
the day.
In the above sentence, I think, a verb is missing; and should be corrected as;
I think it is strange that there is ...
2
votes
1answer
21 views
How to say in english something like this
When you talk about conditions, for example:
I would rather have done something than .....
and someone tells you:
You don't need to make such a choice. (you already are in a good position, so ...
0
votes
2answers
35 views
“Pay off” vs. “pay up”
Merriam-Webster - Definition of "Pay Off" (transitive verb) to pay (a debt or a creditor) in full
Merriam-Webster - Definition of "Pay Up" (transitive verb) to pay in full
According to the ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Do the phrases 'at all costs', 'no matter what happens' or 'in any case' mean the same thing?
I wanted to express my strong will and eagerness to achieve something (e.g 'I will destroy them',) So I came up with these 3 phrases : 'at all costs', 'no matter what happens' or 'in any case' to at ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Between “the” and “firefighter” which one do you native speakers think of firstly when you say “the firefighter”?
"The firefighter saved a kid from the fire."
I've just learnt a sort of curious notion. Generally, it is said that 'the firefighter' is a noun phrase "NP". But, somaone said that's a determinative ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Opposite for as much as possible
what's the opposite for the phrase
Students try to do as much as possible
can i say
Students try to do as less as possible ?
0
votes
2answers
35 views
“concern of ”or “concern about”
I want to say
I'm worrying about something
Which one should I use，either “concern of something” or “concern about something”？
Thanks for your answering.
1
vote
2answers
32 views
Does this sentence make sense? - would expect to receive
Could someone please check if the following sentence makes sense/correct?
As discussed earlier, there is one more video in the pipeline you would expect to receive by the end of September.
It ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Take out innocence (phrase)
How do you correctly express this in English:
Unsupervised internet browsing of a child can take out their innocence when they get exposed to pornography.
I believe this is a useful phrase. ...
0
votes
1answer
205 views
Alternatives for “It's been long since we met”
Let's assume person A and B have been apart for decades and they finally meet now.
Then A might say "It has been long since we met." and this is correct.
But I'm wondering, as alternatives, if ...
1
vote
2answers
27 views
Are the phrases “such so that” and “such that” synonymous?
The following sentence come from Drag Shergi Mysteries : The Complete Collection by Kimberly Vogel:
The room was such so that there was a lounge at first.
Now, I read this sentence and was ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
can you say “ he will be joining the company in the position of”?
Can you say "he will be joining the company in the position of.."? If not, what is better?
0
votes
2answers
19 views
Adjective preposition phrase vs adverb preposition phrase
I'm good
Chicago is on the northest tip of Illinois.
I'm confuse, in first sentence, "Good" as an adjective, modify subject "I", or linking verb 'IS". If "Good" modify subject "I", then what the ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Understanding phrases
The girl running in the wood is my sister.
In the above sentence,
1. The girl running in the wood
2. Running in the wood
3. In the wood
What types of phrases are these?
