Questions tagged [phrases]
A phrase is a group of words that make a unit of syntax with a single grammatical function.
0
votes
1answer
33 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
39 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
30 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
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2answers
17 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
122 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
0answers
28 views
Which PG rated movies use the F-word? [closed]
I've noticed a lot of PG movies in the 80s and in the 70s use the F-word. Can anyone know?
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
235 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
1answer
24 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
22 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
34 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
17 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
53 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
25 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
30 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
19 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
67 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
25 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
9 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?
1
vote
2answers
28 views
what's the meaning of - He looks like he's on something
In the context of him being angry and disoriented, it means he's on some drug, right?
Google didn't help me
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votes
1answer
34 views
Better way to say “ensure that the job is done right”? [closed]
I'm copy editing a contract proposal and the last part of final paragraph of the executive summary says "x y and z ... ensure that job is done right." This is a bit bland. Any suggestions on how to ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
The bigger the sales and the higher the sales /are
Let's say you are asked about how teamwork can affect the sales of a company. You say:
I believe the stronger our team is, the bigger our rewards and the higher our sales will be. (My construction)
...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
What does it mean by “in craftsmanship”
In an article about Bach, the author wrote:
No one ever showed so many ingenious and unusual ideas as he in elaborate pieces such as ordinarily seem dry exercises in craftsmanship.
I could ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
How to use 'my own self' in this sentence?
Would you say "My own self is doing his homework" or "My own self is doing my homework"? Or is it wrong to use "my own self" in this way?
Technically, I think it should be possible even if not widely ...
0
votes
2answers
23 views
Set store by improved or improving?
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:
The Narendra Modi government has set much at store by India's improved ranking in terms of the EDB index.
Shouldn't there be "improving" instead of "...
0
votes
2answers
39 views
“Born and bred” split over the sentence
The phrase
Michael, born and bred in London, is a scientist from Cambridge.
is clear. He was born and I grew up in that city (I do not know the origins of the word bred, but I trust it to mean ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Have your birthday in December,Birthday in December
Someone was conducting a survey on people who have December Birthdays. So he said:
1.What does it feel like to have you birthday in December?
2.What does it feel like to have a December birthday?
3....
1
vote
2answers
36 views
Which one is correct? “to ask someone for a date” or “to ask someone on a date”?
It is not easy to decide for a non-native speaker, so I want to ask which one is the right one:
"To ask someone for a date" or "to ask someone on a date"?
Or are both of them correct?
Thanks
5
votes
1answer
228 views
Why are the small barcode stickers placed on checked bags sometimes nicknamed “bingo tags” or “ bingo stickers”?
Why are the small barcode stickers placed on checked bags sometimes nicknamed "bingo tags" or " bingo stickers"? Is that somehow a reference to the Bingo game? Or the bingo! expression? Or some other ...
0
votes
1answer
12 views
Slumming it in a pit meaning
What does " not slumming it in a pit" mean here(of course if I heard it right.)
https://youtu.be/J5nYK7GgYDc
It's somewhere around 1:10.
1
vote
1answer
24 views
“It's not how you determine people to know how to blend in” (phrase)
Let's say you have expressed your concern to your boss as a call center agent, regarding holding back (you are a non-native English speaker). You say:
I've got no plans of holding back when ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Throw/toss something in the air
So what should be used:
Throw the ball up in the air.
Toss the ball in the air.
What should be used: throw up/toss?And should "in or into the air" be used ?
1
vote
1answer
16 views
Read ACROSS MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES (phrasing)
Let's say you wanted to learn from different sources from different authors. That's why you read books. You say:
sentence # 1) I read books to learn and improve my English. I read across multiple ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Speak, ask questions in between
Two people are talking, so a third person comes and cuts in, so the two people say:
You shouldn't speak in between.
And a kid asks questions in the middle of a lecture, the teacher says:
Don't ask ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Is “Not even an inch” considered a correct phrase?
I found the idiom "not move/budge/change an inch" used when talking about something that won't change as someone's stubborn opinion.
Example from Cambridge Dictionary:
She's definite that she ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
What's the meaning of this phrase?
It's a quote from the drama Manifest, the father here was trying to hide something from his daughter, Olive to keep her safe, but Olive had already known the truth through her brother Cal.
FATHER：...
1
vote
2answers
51 views
Can I say “I don't know (someone) directly.”?
I know the phrase "I know (someone) in person/personally." However, I didn't find the word "directly" used with that phrase. Also, I don't find that "in person" and "personally" fit the situation I ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
The show must have come back/come back on
So here, my mom turns to another channel,because the show I was watching went on a break. So I wanted her to turn back to my show again. So what should be used:
The show must have come back.
Or
...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
I will give you that vs I have to hand it to you
In the last episode of the Vikings, one of the characters said:
You are smart. I will give you that.
But would it not be more suitable "I have to hand it to you"? I thought that "I will give you ...
3
votes
1answer
32 views
What is the meaning of the phrase “staring at starvation”?
I read a sentence which was:
A lack of dignified employment, non payment of adequate wages on time
and insufficient food mean that the family of four is in a dicey
situation and staring at ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
He has wasted his time when he was at university. (tense choice)
Could you please tell me whether the sentence
He has wasted his time when he was at university.
is grammatical? What seems a little bit confusing is that the the present tense (has wasted) refers ...
3
votes
2answers
53 views
Meaning of turn up
I read in an article this sentence:
Anyone who's ever pushed themselves to get to the next level or accomplish something knows that when you really challenge yourself, you can turn up amazing ...
2
votes
2answers
37 views
The usage of “All clear”
Based on Merriam-Webster: "all clear" means a signal that a danger has passed
I would like to use it for another purpose in the sentence:
I have rejected him the moment he came all clear about his ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Is the phrase “My circle of the people I know” correct?
I know a similar phrase which is "my circle of friends".
Thus, would this one apply as that phrase?
The sentence:
Who could that be? Although my circle of the people I know, is not
that big.
