New answers tagged expressions
3
votes
An American expression for "a packet of crisps"
The above image shows an opened bag of potato slices (that have been sliced thin and deep-fried) next to an unopened bag.
In the UK, these bags would each be called a "packet of crisps".
In ...
22
votes
An American expression for "a packet of crisps"
As an American I would say that's a bowl of (potato) chips. If I wanted to be specific I would say they're wavy potato chips or "ruffles". You can drop the word "potato" since that'...
- 15.3k
0
votes
Is it rude to say “Excuse me, Ms.”?
(United States)
I have never heard anyone say, “Excuse me, Ms.” It is simply not idiomatic. If I did hear it, it would strike me as some combination of odd and disrespectful. You could use “Ms.” with ...
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0
votes
Is it rude to say “Excuse me, Ms.”?
I'm not sure if I can leave a side note to this question.This question happened today, and I explained to my student that I've never heard that in English someone approaches a woman; she could be a ...
- 514
5
votes
What does the word "another" refer to in the sentence “He could not forget or pardon a lapse in another"?
Here, another means another individual, anyone else. She’s comparing the standards to which he holds himself to those he would apply in judging other people.
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0
votes
"What time is it" versus "what is the time"
There are lots of ways to ask the time. Many are indirect; indirect questions are often considered to be polite.
What's the time?
What time is it?
Do you know what time it is?
Do you have the time?
...
- 202k
3
votes
Accepted
Does "I'm gonna get it" mean that I'm going to get scolded or punished?
AHD includes
get it: to receive a scolding or punishment
But I agree with Wiktionary that it's not the default metaphorical sense:
get it ...
(2) To understand something, to catch on.
If they aren'...
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