Questions tagged [sentence-meaning]
Use this tag for questions about meanings of whole sentences rather than phrases.
0
votes
0answers
28 views
What happened to you? [on hold]
My husband is from Peru and is an intermediate English speaker. When he gets frustrated with me (an American) he say's, "What happened to you?"
As a fluent English speaker and American citizen, I ...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
The meaning of “as much as” in this sentence
As much as the weaponry it produced as one of the “arsenals of the United Nations,” the TVA itself was potent propaganda, an authoritative, living symbol of how a liberal world could be constructed ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
He's laying it down?
What's the meaning of:
He is laying it down!
I'm watching a MSNBC commentary about Syria war and @3:38, which the host is astonished by a truth being told by a guest and said this sentence, so ...
0
votes
2answers
24 views
The grammatical role of “rich” in the following sentence
What is the grammatical role of "rich" in the following sentence and what does mean it? (also why it uses the comma?)
In the Pacific Northwest, the high level of precipitation ensures
rich, green ...
0
votes
2answers
31 views
How to understand “what she had to say” in this context?
Some people, like Neville, had paid up just to stop Hermione from glowering at them. A few seemed mildly interested in what she had to say, but were reluctant to take a more active role in campaigning....
0
votes
1answer
16 views
What does it mean by “clean up its act by pleading poverty”?
"In the past India has explained its failure to clean up its act by pleading poverty, noting that richer countries were once just as dirty and that its output of filth per person still lags far behind ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
What does 'standby' mean in this context?
Harry and Ron took their copies of Unfogging the Future back down to the common room, found a table, and set to work on their predictions for the coming month. An hour later, they had made very little ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
What does “bent in upon its body” mean?
At once, the spider's leg bent in upon its body; it rolled over and began to twitch horribly, rocking from side to side.
I don't understand the phrase "bent in upon". I can't picture what it would ...
0
votes
2answers
52 views
Comparing two things in one sentence
We have three shapes in my study. We called them trees. The class of Tree 1 is larger than the class of tree 2 and tree 3. Also, the shape of tree 1 contains the shapes of both tree 2 and tree 3. I ...
0
votes
2answers
48 views
Help to understand this sentence “Harry grinned into his pillow, …”
Harry rolled over in bed, a series of dazzling new pictures forming in his mind's eye….He had hoodwinked the impartial judge into believing he was seventeen.…he had become Hogwarts champion…he was ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Does “but” and “however” make different meaning in the sentence
I would like to write a sentence, where I would like to use however or but. I would like to know do they make different meaning in the sentence.
The traditional models exist but they may be ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
What does “across” mean here?
... but at last the sailors on Bering's ship saw mountains a short distance across the sea. This proved that North America and Asia were two separate continents.
I am wondering how does what the ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
What does “argue” mean in this context?
In a sentence with the structure A argues that S1 because S2.,say:
The theory argues that children are fatter nowadays because they are less active than they used to be.
does A provide supports ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
what does “rage at nature” mean in the sentence?
What is the synonym of "nature" in the following sentence? Is it referring to "the nature", the natural environment, or "the world" in general??
I raged at God, at nature, at whatever fate had ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Named after vs. took its name from
Let's say there is a hospital in your town, regarding its name, you say:
This hospital is named after one of the heroes of this country, Nelson. (Don't focus on the name "Nelson")
Vs.
This ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Your sweat soaking throught the floor
What does "your sweat soaking through the floor" mean?
Does the "sweat" there passes through the floor? Shouldn't it be "sweat soaking on the floor"?
Source: The Greatest Showman *the lyrics is ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
Have you been scared vs. were you ever scared
Let's say someone has asked you about gun-related crime. It goes like this:
Were you ever scared of gun crime in the world?
Vs.
Have you been scared of gun crime in the world?
What is the ...
0
votes
2answers
27 views
What does “to build upon a previous example” mean?
Ex. 1:
To build upon a
previous example, the novel question “are you feeling
okay?” might evoke the same “yes” response due to the similarity of the questions. [Source]
Ex. 2:
To build ...
1
vote
2answers
30 views
How to understand “Like we'd say anything else surrounded by that lot” in this context
"Ah, why shouldn't we show our colors?" said Mrs. Finnigan. "You should see what the Bulgarians have got dangling all over their tents. You'll be supporting Ireland, of course?" she added, eyeing ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
I haven't already covered vs. I haven't covered yet
What is the difference between these two pertaining an activity that is not covered or already covered.
I believe I haven't already covered this global warming topic. (Teacher)
Vs.
I believe I ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
What's “Meant a fair old bit of paperwork” supposed to mean in this context?
"The Department of Magical Transportation had to fine a couple of people the other day for Apparating without a license. It's not easy, Apparition, and when it's not done property it can lead to nasty ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
What does “We’re away from next week for the rest of the year, and then for a month” mean?
Just a very quick note – we’re away from next week for the rest of the year, and then for a month soon after we get back, so utterly completely submerged in getting organised and working through ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
“That's if they're coming at all” meaning?
"Maybe they think they'll get invited to dinner if they're late." (said Aunt Petunia)
"Well, they most certainly won't be," said Uncle Vernon, and Harry heard him stand up and start pacing the ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Help to understand “that far from needing extra nourishment” in this sentence
The school nurse had seen what Aunt Petunia's eyes -- so sharp when it came to spotting fingerprints on her gleaming walls, and in observing the comings and goings of the neighbors -- simply refused ...
5
votes
2answers
914 views
Help to understand: “it wasn't as though they were ever any help to him awake”
Asleep was the way Harry liked the Dursleys best; it wasn't as though they were ever any help to him awake.
I have a bit hard time to understand the second part of the sentence, especially "it wasn'...
5
votes
3answers
838 views
What does “while all along” mean? (comparing to “while”)
Catch Me If You Can is about someone who convinces everyone that he can really fly a plane while all along he's just a teenager.
My question is:
What is the difference between "while he's just a ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
What does “he had a nasty look about him” mean?
"I always thought he had a nasty look about him,..."
I don't know what "about him" is doing in this sentence. I feel "he had a nasty look" is fairly enough. What additional information does "about ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
What does “Never wanted to mix, he didn't” mean in this context?
... There was a rush to buy the cook drinks and hear more details(about Frank).
"Always thought he was odd," she told the eagerly listening villagers, after her fourth sherry. "Unfriendly, like. ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
“This all happened”, in here, what's the meaning of “all”?
"This all happens in the middle of winter." What's the meaning of "all" in this sentence?
The above is a part of a synopsis of "Fargo" movie.
And I've heard a lot "it all happened...", "this all ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
What's the meaning of “where” in this sentence?
"That's the one(=DVD) where this man, a car salesman, hires two criminals to kidnap his wife to get money from her rich father."
The above introduces the DVD 'Fargo'. What I couldn't understand is, ...
3
votes
1answer
50 views
Does “He might be getting ruder” make sense?
When my son acts up to me, I see it in two ways.
First, "did I do something wrong with him?" and the other is that he might be getting ruder.
I'm not sure "he might be getting ruder" makes sense. ...
2
votes
1answer
32 views
What does “Ron's face was set” mean?
Black conjured heavy manacles from thin air; soon Pettigrew was upright again, left arm chained to Lupin's right, right arm to Ron's left. Ron's face was set. He seemed to have taken Scabbers's true ...
-2
votes
1answer
27 views
How to understand “What little color there was in Black's face left it.”
"Up to the castle?" said Snape silkily. "I don't think we need to go that far. All I have to do is call the dementors once we get out of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black... ...
-2
votes
1answer
37 views
How to understand “not even” in this sentence?
"I've told the headmaster again and again that you're helping your old friend Black into the castle, Lupin, and here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
How to understand “that was my friends' nickname for me” in this sentence?
I'm Moony -- that was my friends' nickname for me at school.
The sentence confuses me. Is 'Moony' the nickname of his friends or his? I interpret it as: "his friends gave him the nickname Moony" or "...
0
votes
2answers
35 views
15 businesses you can start FOR cheap
15 businesses you can start FOR cheap.
I know this by context BUT if there is a chance when I have to use FOR that way, I am not sure I can do that.
If I'm correct the sentence means: 15 businesses ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
What does “You just better had” mean in this context?
"Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!" Hermione said shrilly. "You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!"
I don't quite understand "You just better had" in this ...
0
votes
2answers
20 views
Sentence meaning and whether the word “derived” is used right here
He derived from the letter that his lover had killed herself.
Can we use derive this way?
Is the sentence grammatically correct and conveys the meaning that the speaker, after reading a letter, ...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
Advantages vs Benefits
Could anyone tell me the difference between benefits and advantages in the sentence below?
I've chosen an answer as "advantages", but the answer is "benefits".
I thought both have the same meaning...
...
1
vote
2answers
31 views
“one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing” meaning?
But one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous.
I'm not sure if I have gotten the meaning ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
What does “they named him godfather to Harry” mean in this context?
'Of course they were,' said Fudge. 'Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when James married Lily. Then they named him godfather ...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
I want to ask about the possessive case
The sales department is looking for an experienced sales representative "whose" expertise will bring a significant rise.
In that sentence, why there is "whose"?
They want to hire someone? Or they ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
It is not one rather than the other. [closed]
It is not one rather than the other.
Q: Could you tell me what this mean? I can't translate/understand it at all.
0
votes
1answer
25 views
what is the meaning of “ timber claims”?
On the prairie, the wind blew. But in the mountains, there was rain. When we stopped at little timber claims along the way, the homesteaders said it had rained all summer. Crops among the blackened ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
What does “scratched himself in the mirror” mean?
One day Freddie Mercury met Sid Vicious and then Freddie was telling about the meeting:
He had all these marks on him, so I asked if he had scratched himself in the mirror, and he hated the fact ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Why 'was' used instead of 'were' in this sentence
Was he imagining it, or were Snape's eyes flickering towards Lupin more often than was natural?
As I understand, the sentence is saying: were Snape's eyes flickering towards Lupin more often than ...
-1
votes
1answer
27 views
Interpretation of “find packages tell people add your application” [closed]
https://youtu.be/x03fjb2VlGY?t=83
This video's subtitle says
you can find packages tell people add your application by browsing the NPM website
I guess this sentence means:
You can find ...
0
votes
2answers
29 views
What does “does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours” mean?
'Orange. Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn't you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed? ...'
As I know, "thick skull" means "slow to ...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
“Brexit:What just happened?” Does it emphasize “a suprising situation” or does it emphasize “an event that happened a short time ago”?
Today I have seen a sentence on CNN web site which reads ""Brexit:What just happened?".
The news text is about two British ministers resigning due to Brexit issues. This resignations are unexpected ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
It can't have been John vs. it couldn't be John
Let's say John is out of the country for a holiday. Then, Martha is claiming that she saw John this morning to Paul. Then Paul said:
It can't have been John you saw this morning, he's out of the ...
