New answers tagged meaning-in-context
1
vote
I have some difficulties with translating
This is subject in the sense of 'citizen'. There were people of all those nationalities living in Finland. (Presumably the thing that was becoming essential was administrators knowing numerous ...
- 30.8k
2
votes
Accepted
What does "Why to not not start a startup" mean?
The author is being cute.
He is listing reasons that many people offer for not starting a business.
So the reasons are reasons not to start a business. If his goal was to stop you, he could just list ...
- 56
3
votes
What does the phrase "buff up" mean here?
"buff up":
Buff (video gaming), a change to a weapon or ability that deems it more viable for game balance.
So it means to make something more powerful, in this case, the power-up. "...
- 5,562
1
vote
If some sentence has truth, could it be called sarcasm
No, this is not sarcasm.
Sarcasm is when you mean the opposite of what you say, and it's negative or hurtful towards someone.
In your example sentence, although sending that message to someone may be ...
- 13.8k
2
votes
Accepted
If some sentence has truth, could it be called sarcasm
Not really. Sarcasm is when you say something, but mean the opposite, for humorous effect, in order to mock/criticise or poke fun at someone. It's not always intended as an insult, although it could ...
- 2,042
0
votes
What is the meaning of "wherein" in this context?
Lexico:
In which. 'the situation wherein the information will eventually be used'
So it could be replaced with "in the way that".
This is ironic in the way that the song is a farewell ...
- 5,562
0
votes
"Generations of pure-bloods, wizards all - more than *you* can say, I don't doubt!" meaning in this context
"Generations of pure-bloods, wizards all" is appositive to "us". It's understood that it's a description that applies to "us"; we are generations of pure-bloods. James K ...
- 5,215
1
vote
Does "attempt" in past-tense imply failure?
Your two given contexts imply failure, yes. If it says something after the "attempt" to retry it, it implies that you have failed and have to wait for the next try. If one just says:
I ...
- 5,562
0
votes
the usage of 'as' : as they consider different things they can pretend to do
Yes it means "because". "as" here is a conjunction:
because; since Source
- 5,562
1
vote
add to and change the environment in their own ways
Consider the shorter version of this sentence:
Children can add to the environment in their own ways.
This says that children can add to the environment, but not exactly how. The same is true of the ...
- 32.4k
1
vote
add to and change the environment in their own ways
Imagine you provide a room for children to play in that has only a large cardboard box filled with wooden blocks. The children could use the blocks to build pretend chairs, tables, people, dragons, ...
- 961
0
votes
What does “this time around” mean?
As far as my knowledge goes , this idiom is used to convey the mood that betokens a slight but sure change in routine .
2
votes
Meaning of "Most of modern Finland still lay beneath the sea, which means that the first settlers must have arrived from the south and the south-east"
A common thing in English is to leave out phrases that "should" be understood. "Should" in scare quotes because even native speakers can often be confused. (I don't have enough ...
- 56
1
vote
Meaning of "Most of modern Finland still lay beneath the sea, which means that the first settlers must have arrived from the south and the south-east"
To build a bit on the comments, "still" is not limited to situations involving the present. It may apply to situations in the past or future.
He will still love her after she leaves
means ...
- 27.2k
0
votes
Is it rude to say you would not know what it is
The phrasing in your question taken literally means the interviewer asked you a question, and that you don't think the person you're speaking to knows what that question is. But that's rather obvious ...
- 2,828
0
votes
He mocked me for not speaking clearly - did "not speaking clearly" really happen ? or it is just a thought?
He mocked me for not speaking clearly.
Does this mean I did not speak clearly?
Yes, indeed, it does.
He laughed at me for not speaking clearly.
Same thing. You did not speak clearly.
for not x ...
- 35.4k
2
votes
He mocked me for not speaking clearly - did "not speaking clearly" really happen ? or it is just a thought?
The sentence obviously says nothing at all about whether your speech was unclear as a fact generally agreed upon.
Context would obviously change this.
The microphone was defective, and Tom mocked me ...
- 27.2k
2
votes
Accepted
What does "Goals" mean in this context?
It's essentially short for "Those are worthy goals to aim for", often used ironically.
In this case, Charlie is suggesting the idea of setting the goal of being a self-made multimillionaire ...
- 1,737
1
vote
What is the meaning of the phrase "plain style" in this context?
From https://preachingsource.com/blog/what-is-a-plain-style/ :
Plain preaching is defined as much by what it lacks as what it
contains. Plain preaching gets to the core of the message without an
...
- 7,951
0
votes
Having brothers established
The "having" clause in the second sentence is essentially
He had brothers who were already established ...
where the subject of "were established" is the brothers.
In this ...
- 6,461
0
votes
What is the meaning of "stretch" in this context?
'Stretching' one's voice means pushing it to its limits. A voice can be 'stretched' in different ways - by trying to reach a high pitch, by shouting at a high volume, or as you suggest, by speaking ...
- 72.9k
0
votes
What is the meaning of "stretch" in this context?
"Cried aloud" here means "spoke aloud", not "cried" in the sense of "wept".It does not mean "cried without stopping". The "utmost stretch" ...
- 6,461
1
vote
Accepted
What does "statements of great density" mean?
Yes, the second meaning does apply. Dense prose is characterized by great length, the use of numerous unusual or technical terms, and a level of structural complexity that together make it difficult ...
2
votes
What does "statements of great density" mean?
You've used a dictionary to find the possible meanings, so you know as much as any native speaker. How would a native speaker determine which it means?
Context.
Given that the text goes on to speak ...
- 72.9k
1
vote
Accepted
Taylor offered him 500 dollars to do the work
Technically the sentence is ambiguous. It is possible (although unusual) that Taylor offered the unnamed "him" payment for a chance to do the work, possibly in hopes of gaining reputation. ...
- 32.4k
3
votes
What does “It’s presumptions of you” mean?
It's a malapropism. Either by the author or put in the character's mouth by the author.
Normally, one would expect
It’s presumptuous of you
which in context would have to mean that they are ...
- 4,200
0
votes
Accepted
"Once you have days that are 118, 99 feels amazing."
These are Fahrenheit (American) temperatures. 99 degrees F may seem hot most times but if you have had days at 118 degrees F then 99 feels cool. 99 degrees F is 37 normal degrees, and 118 F is 47 ...
- 5,562
2
votes
Accepted
What does "paralleled by" mean?
It's definition 3.
Definition 3 means the two things are similar. In this case, being in a wheelchair is similar to being carried.
Definition 5 means someone makes a comparison between two other ...
- 13.8k
2
votes
Accepted
What does “fell at recess” mean
Merriam-Webster offers this definition:
a suspension of business or procedure often for rest or relaxation
—children playing at recess
In America, the period called recess occurs during school and ...
- 5,620
18
votes
Accepted
Can we say "leftover pizza" to refer to some pizza that is bigger than crumbs but much smaller than a slice?
Leftover pizza has a subtly different meaning to the one expressed by the OP. To avoid possible confusion, say
left-over scraps
The OP's solution
"I dumped the leftover pizza"
sounds like ...
- 22.3k
4
votes
Can we say "leftover pizza" to refer to some pizza that is bigger than crumbs but much smaller than a slice?
"Listen up, guys" (A Mother Says to Her Kids through A Note on the Fridge)
Leftover pizza should be put in the fridge!
Pizza crusts should be put in the garbage bin!
Thank you for your ...
- 35.4k
0
votes
Can we say "leftover pizza" to refer to some pizza that is bigger than crumbs but much smaller than a slice?
There is no suggestion that if something is left over it is of a particular size. So even if you have a spoonful of rice left over from the meal it is still leftover rice. similarly if you cater for a ...
- 4,106
15
votes
Can we say "leftover pizza" to refer to some pizza that is bigger than crumbs but much smaller than a slice?
Simply say:
I dumped the pizza crusts in the garbage
Pizza crusts are the edges of the pizza basically.
- 5,562
0
votes
Does the adjective honey-tongued carry a positive meaning
Yes. These days, honey-tongued can have that more positive meaning, although it almost always still carries at least a hint of suspicion of there being some degree of ulterior motive on the part of ...
- 6,512
2
votes
Adverb clauses or phrases are essential or non-essential depending on the context or a comma?
You have got the whole thing backwards.
Commas do not determine grammar. Grammar determines proper use of commas.
In example 1, the comma is wrong because the clause is essential and follows the ...
- 27.2k
0
votes
Does the adjective honey-tongued carry a positive meaning
No. I would always interpret honey-tongued as meaning that the sweetness extends only to the tongue, and not to the person.
A word for the kind of person you are describing would be appreciative.
- 64.1k
1
vote
Causative-verb question. You got to go to the basketball game last night?
In casual English, mainly in American dialects, 'to get to' do something means 'to have the opportunity to', or 'to be able to' do that thing.
I didn't get to go to the game last night because I had ...
- 54.3k
1
vote
Accepted
Causative-verb question. You got to go to the basketball game last night?
You got to go to the basketball game last night?
means, roughly:
Were you allowed to go to the basketball game last night?
or
Were you able to go to the basketball game last night?
This is a very ...
- 32.4k
0
votes
Trouble interpreting this little text?
In this context, I believe "headline" is being used in a way similar to how it might in a place like Las Vegas, where "to headline" means to appear as one of the stars in a show.
...
- 6,512
4
votes
Accepted
that is vs that is to say
Good point. It would indeed sound unnatural to substitute "that is to say" here.
Sometimes, as you note, "that is" can be replaced by the longer "that is to say." That ...
- 2,209
1
vote
Trouble interpreting this little text?
"Trump Campaign Chief to Headline Jan. 6 Hearing on Election Lies"
This is a journalistic headline (in a different meaning of headline - the bold text at the top of the page or story) and ...
- 3,498
1
vote
what does "très riping" mean?
This "broken english" has resulted in many mispellings, even in just this one sentence.
mis-spelling of ripping, old-fashioned slang for 'very good/exciting' - @KateBunting
excellent; ...
- 5,562
2
votes
What is the meaning of the word "deposit" in this context?
Michael has answered your question as to what the papers were that the owner tore up, but I feel like there's still some confusion around the user of the word “deposit.”
deposit noun
…
2 : something ...
- 572
0
votes
Accepted
He is the hand of glory
I haven't played the game so I don't know the context, but ...
I presume you know what "glory" means: Honor, praise, distinction, etc.
"Hand" of course literally means that part of ...
- 57.2k
0
votes
An interpretation of "be to + infinitive" in Bertrand Russell's "The Conquest of Happiness"
are to + infinitive is used for something which is expected/should/must happen in the future.
Some simpler examples
They are to be here by eight.
The prisoners are to eat bread and water from now on.
...
- 2,042
9
votes
Accepted
What is the meaning of the word "deposit" in this context?
When you rent or hire something, the hire company can require you to pay a 'deposit' to cover the cost of replacing the rented items if you lose, damage, or fail to return them.
In this case some ...
- 54.3k
1
vote
What does "range in millions" mean?
As @Lambie correctly points out, the short answer is yes.
To range
To range over something is to take an arbitrary value (or to vary) within it. Usually, we talk about something ranging from A to B ...
- 1,663
0
votes
What does "make out a receipt to someone" mean?
to make out a receipt or to make out a check
MEANS
to write the name of the person to whom you are giving the receipt or check in the appropriate space.
- 35.4k
1
vote
What does "straight" mean in this context"
I would argue that the most relevant sense is Merrian-Websters 3.c:
straight: 3.c. free from extraneous matter: unmixed
I would also add pure and undiluted to that definition. In this case, Kubrick ...
- 1,663
Top 50 recent answers are included