Questions tagged [word-in-context]
The word-in-context tag has no usage guidance.
201
questions
1
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1answer
31 views
What does the “honest” in “honest mistake” imply?
I encountered this thread on Twitter by Will Amos.
I made a really unfortunate mistake today & obviously I’m embarrassed by it. My camera was accidentally left on as I changed into work clothes ...
0
votes
1answer
629 views
“The doctor took/examine my pulse.”
Suppose, a doctor came to my house to check my pulse.
Then, what would be the correct verb:
The doctor took/examine my pulse.
In the sentence above (in bold), which one should be the appropriate ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
The keyboard shortcuts are completely different from that of Windows
I came across this sentence in an "actual speaking", and had seen similar examples in English context too many times. Nevertheless, my question is about whether the author had to use "...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Hello, what does the word “are dogged” mean in this context? [closed]
When many workers’ lives are dogged by insecurity and uncertainty about the future, consideration has to be given to the fact that workers are also consumers, and that if their working lives are very ...
1
vote
1answer
12 views
You didn’t hurt your little self, did you? “little” implies the person is physically/really young(little) or younger than the other speaker?
You didn’t hurt your little self, did you?
"little" implies the person is physically/really young(little)
or
younger than the other speaker?
I feel a sort of feeling that the speaker is ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
What does “that” refer to in this context?
Does "That" refer to "The abiding sense"?
But don’t be fooled: enjoyment and happiness are not synonyms.
Enjoyment is, at best, an answer to the rigors of routine; it is not
the ...
3
votes
1answer
18 views
Says or Said in this context, which one is correct?
My answer is said while the solution gives says. No idea why it's says, bacause I think Kate has already said that.
0
votes
2answers
22 views
How to avoid by in this sentence
Is it possible to avoid by in this sentence:
I think DM can work in fields like climate change and urban planning so, I want to learn about it by studying the bachelor of sciences.
[PS: DM= Digital ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Using the word “onto” correctly
I was wondering if it is possible to use the word "onto" in these contexts, or might it be better to use "to" instead?
When applying this theory onto discrimination in promotion ...
0
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0answers
15 views
Disciplined Vs. amenable in a specific context
What does more fit to a child listen and do what his parent asks for?
He's a good boy as well as disciplined.
He's a good boy as well as amenable.
0
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1answer
22 views
“In turn” or “thus” in this situation?
Considering her service as a adviser in the local administration, it is fair to say she enjoys a degree of social and academic recognition within the regional community. Such recognition must be ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Is it Noticing or Identifying?
I am thinking about replacing Noticing by Identifying, but I am not sure which one fits better in this context?
...Therefore, their interaction is carefully examined with my students in the subjects ...
0
votes
2answers
14 views
Unique or Different in this context?
The word different clearly indicates that her model was different from the same of other students? I am thinking about using the word unique to replace it, but I am not sure.
their soils clearly ...
0
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1answer
52 views
what comes before and after “namely”
I'd like to know whether there's any relation between what comes before and after "namely." Are the following sentences both correct? If not, why?
John bought a wolf-like dog, namely, a ...
0
votes
2answers
278 views
To pull off wearing something
I found the text below in a comedy series episode:
No matters how big you are, in Cleveland everybody
seems to think they can pull off wearing shorts.
What's the meaning of pull off in this context?
0
votes
2answers
28 views
“Putting the number billion in a tangible way blows your mind” is this sentence correct?
So I want to convey the message that the number billion when expressed in a realistic example that even a layman can relate to using the word tangible. And how can I say the same thing using the word ...
0
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2answers
374 views
The difference between characteristic, feature, aspect, attribute and quality, their definitions are defined using each other
It's annoying the Dictionary always happens to me this absurdity:
Characteristic - distinguishing feature or quality
Feature - a distinctive attribute or aspect of something
Attribute - regard a ...
-1
votes
1answer
57 views
What means supporting surface in this sentence?
I interpret ambiguously the highlighted phrase (supporting surface), what really means?
lie1 /lī/
I. verb — [no obj.]
1. (of a person or animal) be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a ...
4
votes
3answers
719 views
much to one's despair - meaning?
I know the meaning of despair but I can't understand what the phrase much to his despair means in the following sentence.
His friend went back on his word much to his despair.
Could anybody please ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
What is the semantic difference between everybody and anybody in `doing` context?
Please explain what should I choose for what context in the following examples:
it lets everybody do whatever they want
it lets anybody do whatever they want
What is the semantic difference?
0
votes
1answer
48 views
got or went burgled
Could anybody please help me to identify if there is a difference between the meaning of the following two sentences? Or do both the sentences convey the same meaning?
Our house got burgled.
Our ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
Uses of the verb “get”. Pandora's box [closed]
Hi! I'm learning the language and I can't understand all the different meanings of the verb get in order to use all the meanings of the word... Is it there a trick, rule/s to identify when to use it? ...
0
votes
1answer
14 views
Is the use of the word “better” correct in this text?
Is the use of the word "better" correct in this text? Or rather, does the text, as a whole, make any sense?
I'm completely exhausted. Sometimes I really feel that I better get myself out of ...
2
votes
1answer
211 views
What exactly does “walking around the house” mean?
I am confused of the word “around”.
A person is outside and walking along the house?
A person is inside the house walking in any direction.
Does it mean number 1 or 2? If both are correct, how can ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
What's the opposite of wrinkled banknote?
What's the opposite of wrinkled banknote? Can I say simply "Look at this banknote, it's flat like new"? Or there is a more appropriate word for this context?
0
votes
0answers
23 views
How to say name has been cut?
How to say that the name of a student has been removed from the school-register, that the student is no more a student of the school now? Is cut or cut off a correct expression of the idea?
My name ...
1
vote
2answers
63 views
Is the word 'perform' idiomatic in this context?
If my friend told me that he ordered online, a service of blood tests (made by a nurse) and he has one month that this purchase is valid from the time he paid for it, then he asked me when to perform/...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
Dead Tap/Pipes?
I know that the word 'dead' can be used to describe a dead phone line or dead power outlet, but can it be used to describe a non functioning tap or water pipes connected to it, if no water is passing ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Usage of the word Console
Console means to comfort someone at a time of grief or disappointment. I wrote a sentence in one of the paragraphs
Everybody knew it was written by Sam and they came to him turn by turn to console.
...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Care/Care about
Psychiatrist: As a psychiatrist it can be depressing listening to clients' problems all day, but that's the job.
Person: So is it just a job to you or do you actually care?
Psychiatrist: I care.
Is ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Are 'partly' and 'part of' synonyms in this context?
"Partly, I think it's my fault that Peter and Andy got into an argument."
"A part of me thinks it's my fault Peter and Andy got into an argument."
Do these sentences have the same meaning or rather ...
0
votes
3answers
811 views
Brother and sister while they aren't biological siblings - how to call such usage?
I'm looking for a word or term that describes the way poeople use familial words to describe their friends, such as: "brother" or "sister" (while they're not really brothers and sisters from the same ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
“Take your change for / from / on your $100” - Which preposition should I use?
"Here's the change back for / from / on your hundred"
"How much change do I get for / from / on a $100 note?"
"I doubt I have change for / from / on $100"
Which prepositions are correct to use?...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
“We're stuck between floors two and three”. Is the definite article implied?
When you name the floor you're on, you say "I'm on the [an ordinal number] floor.", which totally makes sense!
So why do people, for example, say "We're stuck between floors two and three"?
Do they ...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
“Lend someone a hand” x “Give someone a hand”
I have seen many uses of “lend someone a hand” and “give someone a hand”, and despite the fact the use of the second one seems to be more common, it always seemed to me that they both have the same ...
0
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0answers
26 views
Doubt about “put ‘something’ behind”
I’ve seen some uses of “put ‘something’ behind” with a pronoum (not really sure if it’s a pronoum) after “behind” and other without. Here are some examples:
You should put those bad memories behind ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Go for a ride x Take a walk x Go for a walk
Translating go for a ride from English to Portuguese using Google Translator results in dar um passeio (the only translation provided). But translating dar um passeio from Portuguese to English ...
0
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0answers
23 views
Use of “by themselves” and “on their own” in this context
Can both “by themselves” and “on their own” be used with the same meaning in this context?
I think the better thing to do is just wait. Sometimes things can get
better by themselves.
I think ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Have built x Will have built
In The Beatles song "O-bla-di O-bla-da" Paul Mccartney sings:
In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
As far as I can understand he is singing about something that will occur in the ...
0
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0answers
22 views
Use of “to can” meaning be capable of doing something
Can the verb “to can” be used when saying that someone is capable of doing something bad or reprehensible like in the sentences below:
I know we are talking about kidnapping and murder, but you ...
2
votes
2answers
99 views
Dark or darkness in this context
I already did some previous researches and found a lot of explanations about the differences between "dark and "darkness", including answers to a question here in StackExchange, but I'm still in doubt ...
1
vote
0answers
899 views
English grammar is not (so difficult/very difficult/too difficult/difficult enough) to understand
I can't decide which is the right option to choose. I can say that 'difficult enough' is not the right option, because it doesn't make much sense. But, so difficult/too difficult/very difficult look ...
0
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0answers
15 views
“Can't” or “couldn't”
In the phrase below:
I know sometimes life can be extremely tough and make you feel just
like if you can’t count on anyone else.
...which is basically a literal translation of the same phrase in ...
1
vote
2answers
30 views
Describing a light that is far and weak
In a poem could any of the three adjectives below be used to describe a light (of a star, a lighthouse, a lamp, etc) that is weak and distant and which you can barely see:
Faltering
Timorous
...
1
vote
2answers
87 views
What's the meaning of “therethen”?
I'm studyng the content found on another question on this site and the expression "therethen" is used on some sentences in the answers. In one of the examples it's explained as being related to "...
0
votes
0answers
75 views
“to be” or “to be in”… which one should I use?
Assuming the sentence below makes any sense (which I'm not sure about) would I have to include the preposition "in" after the verb "to be" at the end or is it not necessary?
And therefore, because ...
0
votes
2answers
55 views
Talking about a specific place to people who doesn't know this place
Let’s say I want to describe something that occurred at a specific place (althought the place where it occurred isn’t important at all - I’m just mentioning it) but the people I’m talking to doesn’t ...
3
votes
5answers
2k views
Hospital vs. Clinic vs. Polyclinic etc
How to distinguish between the place were sick people lying (hospital) and work 24 hours a day, to the place where people go for check-ups or as primary medicine (G.P. / family doctor)? In many ...
0
votes
1answer
255 views
Move over / Move aside
Is there any difference?
I read somewhere said that "move aside" implies a little bit of ordering rather than asking.
Is it true?
Mom was cooking dinner and her little daughter was blocking her ...
2
votes
1answer
77 views
Can I use the verb 'forgo' in this context?
Cambridge says:
forgo (v.) to not have or do something enjoyable:
I shall have to forgo the pleasure of seeing you this week.
So, can I use the verb forgo in this context?
For example, if one ...
