Questions tagged [word-in-context]
This tag is for questions about a word in a specific context, which a dictionary cannot answer. Please give as much context as possible.
209
questions
2
votes
1answer
29 views
Is it correct to say 'Something is nostalgic'?
This is a sentence I've tried to make:
We used to visit our grandmom in the summer; those halcyon days are so
nostalgic.
What makes me doubt is that nostalgic often comes with feel, and in this case,...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
"They had to move the interview to the new year." What does "the new year" mean here?
When people say "They had to move the interview to the new year.", does that mean the interview will take place in January next year (or even January 1st), or just anytime next year?
1
vote
1answer
28 views
What's the correct definition for the word "proceed" in this setence?
So I encountered this definition for an idiom "go on" but I've got troubles deciphering which is the correct meaning for the word in the definition.
This is a TFD def for "go on"
5....
1
vote
1answer
57 views
What's the meaning of the word owing in this context? (Warning! Spoilers for Dostoevsky's Crime And Punishment)
This is the context from [an English tranlation] (https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/182/crime-and-punishment/3393/part-1-chapter-2/) of Crime And Punishment by Dostoevsky
This is what Mr. Luzhin (a suitor) ...
1
vote
1answer
11 views
The phrase "wiping out " meaning in this context?
here is a slight problem with the skate park that you designed. Beginning skateboarders keep wiping out on one section of hills that are a bit difficult to navigate.
The solution you have come up with ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
A word is not allowed to ask here [closed]
Guess this question will be closed soon. But, I still need to figure out what it means in the context of a garage sale. Is "hard-xxx" negative or positive in the clip, "You are such a ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Difference between prepositions ‘for’ and ‘to’
For ‘for’, in dictionaries there are two examples:
1.The box is too heavy for me to carry.
2.For her, books were as necessary to life as bread…
But I saw this in a video that if your friend ask you ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Use of 'reflect' in this context
I read these lines somewhere a few days ago. I don't have the source, sorry.
"I edited the About section but it does not reflect on the website."
It means the website does not show the ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
What are the correct synonyms for “tangible”?
However, the growing popularity of Agile practices begs the question of whether they can be applied to the development of tangible physical products and services too?
physical
measurable
innovative
1
vote
1answer
94 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
904 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
33 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
13 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
votes
0answers
16 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
votes
1answer
25 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
17 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
15 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
votes
1answer
56 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
2k 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
votes
2answers
560 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
69 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
918 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
40 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
103 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
427 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?
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
15 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
27 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
52 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
41 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
1k 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
41 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
44 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
votes
0answers
28 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
67 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
votes
0answers
33 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
votes
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
162 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
1k 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 ...