New answers tagged meaning-in-context
0
votes
What does DO mean here?
OP's query:
What does DO mean here?
People associate obesity with being unhealthy just as they do thinness with being healthy.
The verb "do" in the given sentence is used in place of the ...
- 2,251
-2
votes
Difference between “on time” and “just in time”
Here's an explanation of the difference between "on time" and "in time" with examples:
"On time":
Refers to being punctual or meeting a specific, scheduled time. It ...
-1
votes
What does DO mean here?
In the sentence, "People associate obesity with being unhealthy just as they do thinness with being healthy," the word "do" is a stand-in for the verb "associate" to ...
4
votes
What does DO mean here?
"do" is pro-verbal.
Pronouns can be used to avoid repeating a noun. The word "they" is a pronoun, and it's used to avoid repeating "people"
And you can use a pro-verb &...
- 228k
0
votes
Accepted
was to be finished / was to have been finished
We look at a simpler pair in a different situation:
C1. The construction of the bridge is to be finished today.
D1. The construction of the bridge was to have been finished today, but ...
C1 is used ...
- 19.1k
4
votes
The result clause of first conditional possesses would instead of will
Sample: He would be skating champion all right, if he really gives all his time to it.
Corrected to conditional (first conditional): He will be a skating champion all right, if he really gives all ...
- 47.5k
0
votes
What does "either" refer to in "We don't have to run to phone booths anymore, either"?
It's not obvious to me neither what this refers to contextually, but I think she refers to what she says before: "A moving portal makes it harder to track us". Bugs' second comment would ...
- 213
8
votes
What does "either" refer to in "We don't have to run to phone booths anymore, either"?
In addition to the answer by Peter, which is completely correct, the phrase would sound a bit odd outside of certain contexts.
I haven't watched the film, but it looks like Neo has jumped into ...
- 469
0
votes
What does ‘seething labyrinth’ mean in this sentence from an H.P. Lovecraft novel?
This is easily solvable by proper use of a dictionary and considering the context. The passage is describing a city:
I had seen dozens of polar mirages during the preceding weeks, some of them quite ...
- 2,585
21
votes
What does "either" refer to in "We don't have to run to phone booths anymore, either"?
When used at the end of a sentence like this, either has a sense of additionally, as well. Bugs is talking about the benefits of a moving portal. In summary she says that such a portal makes it harder ...
- 4,779
0
votes
metalinguistic use of "many"
Yes, I would say it is metalinguistic because it is commenting on the appropriateness of the word "many", suggesting that it is not a strong enough word to describe the situation.
- 5,285
2
votes
Accepted
What does it mean: " Don’t shop-order. "
You're reading it incorrectly. It isn't a hyphenated word "shop-order". The hyphen is meant to be a dash (—), also called the em dash. It is longer than a hyphen (-).
The dash is a pause ...
- 109k
1
vote
Can I replace haven't with ain't or didn’t for present tense?
Short answer:
Still ain't found is valid but non-standard
Still didn't found is not common in any dialect
Still Ain't Found
You can find examples of "still ain't found" being used by ...
- 9,987
1
vote
Can I replace haven't with ain't or didn’t for present tense?
"Have not" is formal.
"Haven't" is informal, and regularly used. It's acceptable everywhere except formal writing.
"Ain't" is accent or dialect. It's generally only used ...
- 4,895
7
votes
Accepted
Does 'compare' mean the same as 'synonym' in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary?
Compare in this context has the sense of place these words side by side and see what further information you can learn by studying them together.
Comparing two words does not mean they are synonyms. ...
- 4,779
0
votes
"At this time tomorrow we <will have> <will be having> a class." Which is the way to put it?
OP's two sentences are
1.At this time tomorrow we will have a class.
2.At this time tomorrow we will be having a class
The first sentence is in simple future tense (have is the main verb). Normally ...
- 2,251
0
votes
An 'autopsy-esque table' or 'autopsy table-esque table'?
There are many ways to say it:
an autopsy-like table
an autopsy kind of table
an autopsy-ish table
an autopsy-looking table
- 8,740
0
votes
Accepted
Is "Thank you" means "Yes" here?
OP's query is regarding a conversation in a movie
Reta: Nettie?
Nettie: Yes.
Reta: Can you get my sister some toast, please?
Nettie: Of course. And a bit more coffee too?
Reta: Thank you.
Is "...
- 2,251
0
votes
Is "Thank you" means "Yes" here?
"Thank you" doesn't directly mean "yes" but in certain contexts, like your example, it can imply agreement or acceptance in a way that functions similarly to "yes". I'd ...
- 109k
-1
votes
Accepted
"See how I feel"?
It's not terribly clear, as Tully strings together several different thoughts in these sentences. The most likely reading, since the context is about resuming training and re-entering the boxing ring, ...
- 17.4k
0
votes
meaning of "catch up with someone"
Journalist or other interviewer:
The idea is that the interviewee is running around living their life, so the journalist or interviewer has to "catch up with them". The image is life is a ...
- 47.5k
1
vote
Accepted
I don't think it's serving me right
This usage is not the same as the definition you looked up. It's also fairly unusual.
When she says it's not serving her right, what she means is that it's not providing her with what she needs right ...
- 8,740
0
votes
"See how I feel"?
The use of "see" in connection with other senses is very common in colloquial English, and could be taken, in that context, to mean perceive.
Some examples:
"Add more salt and see how ...
- 6,001
3
votes
Meaning of “Put itself in the wrong”
The Foreign Ministry ('it' because it's a government body, not a person) had 'put itself in the wrong' by not informing other countries of some planned action in advance. That is, it had made itself ...
- 59.4k
2
votes
Meaning of “Put itself in the wrong”
It means that the Foreign Ministry was sloppy ("lack of attention to detail") and frequently was the cause of undesirable consequences ("with propensity to put itself in the wrong")...
- 1,154
2
votes
Accepted
"The same hated one"?
Your reading is close, but more likely is "he did the same thing so many times that it stopped feeling like many actions and just felt like he was throwing the exact same nut in the exact same ...
- 17.4k
1
vote
Meaning of “Put itself in the wrong”
There is the somewhat old-fashioned expression "to put oneself in the wrong", though it is still being used today in litrachuh.
I felt that I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer ...
- 133k
4
votes
Accepted
Let ideas and beliefs emerge organically
If you look at complete dictionary entries, one of the meanings of "organically" is:
in a way that happens or develops naturally over time, without being forced or planned by anyone
- 4,895
1
vote
Let ideas and beliefs emerge organically
One of the meanings of 'organic; is 'naturally, without being forced or planned'.
organic adjective (OF CHANGES)
happening or developing naturally
over time, without being forced or planned by anyone:...
- 74.4k
0
votes
"The company receives millions of dollars in advertising revenue." — What specifically does "in" mean here?
OP's query:
"The company receives millions of dollars in advertising revenue." — What specifically does "in" mean here?
In this sentence the verb phrase**"receive in"** ...
- 2,251
2
votes
Accepted
"The company receives millions of dollars in advertising revenue." — What specifically does "in" mean here?
We use "in" it seems to among other things restrict the scope of what comes just before so as to give more information on it:
The company receives millions of dollars in advertising revenue....
- 136
1
vote
After + verb+ing or after + having + past participle?
Often, the difference between two ways of saying the same thing is just emphasis. Sometimes that emphasis is important and can change the perceived meaning, other times less so. Sometimes such ...
- 109k
0
votes
Is there any difference in what these sentences mean? Is there any reason to use one over the other? Are both sentences grammatically correct?
There is no difference in what these sentences mean.
The first sentence is preferable because it is simpler. While the second sentence clarifies who didn't eat well, it's unnecessary.
Technically, ...
- 8,740
2
votes
Accepted
Why can we say "Where is THERE?" but not "Where is HERE?" to find out about a place?
Question: So, why can we ask "Where is THERE?" but not "Where is HERE?"
The whole point is the dialogue. That is what determines usage here, not grammar:
Presenter: Where did it go?...
- 47.5k
0
votes
Why can we say "Where is THERE?" but not "Where is HERE?" to find out about a place?
If you want to know the location in a photograph showing a place, you can ask
What place is this?
Where was this picture taken?
"Where is here?" would be understood but it is not idiomatic....
- 133k
3
votes
Accepted
Upscale crab shacks in Baltimore
A crab shack is an eatery that serves seafood, typically in a casual setting (as you might expect from a 'shack') rather than a fancier restaurant environment. Adding "upscale" suggests it ...
- 109k
0
votes
Accepted
Though able enough? Compatible?
This is "able" without being followed by "to [verb]." The Merriam-Webster entry that matches this best is
2: marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence ("an able ...
- 17.4k
2
votes
After + verb+ing or after + having + past participle?
I. Using Participles to join sentences.
OP's query:
What are the differences between the two following sentences?
1.She recovered well after stopping the pills.
2.She recovered well after having ...
- 2,251
1
vote
After + verb+ing or after + having + past participle?
The two sentences are very similar in meaning but have subtle differences in emphasis and structure.
"She recovered well after stopping the pills" uses the simple gerund form "stopping&...
- 598
3
votes
Accepted
get yourself set up
In general, "get yourself set up" just means make some suitable preparations for what you are about to do.
It may mean do your research into what performers are guaranteed to be there, what ...
- 8,522
5
votes
Accepted
What does "make" in the phrase "make + verb-ing" mean?
You've parsed the construction incorrectly; it should be parsed as bracketed:
[a formal promise to be loyal to the US, which Americans make] [standing in front of the flag with their right hand on ...
- 19.1k
2
votes
'healthy' to mean 'working properly'
For physical, mechanical items such as vaccuum cleaners, cars etc, it is not common to say they are "healthy". We'd normally say running well, in good working order, and perhaps more ...
- 109k
4
votes
'healthy' to mean 'working properly'
The adjective "healthy" is generally not used to describe whether a device, machine, or object is functioning properly. It is more commonly used to describe living things, like people, ...
- 598
0
votes
" did" or "do"?
Do you want to knock your brains out?
Did you want to knock your brains out?
If the man had calmed down, we use did. The woman's questioning would then just serve to find out something that was ...
- 19.1k
1
vote
What's the meaning of "running us off an embankment"?
I'm pretty sure it's much simpler than the many interesting answers given. Yes, the literal meaning has been made quite clear, but then I think there's a mistake in trying to reveal some metaphor. I'...
1
vote
What's the meaning of "running us off an embankment"?
This is a use of the verb "to run" in its sense of "to manage, to control something", here that something being a vehicle.
He ran the business into the ground.
The driver of the ...
- 133k
7
votes
Accepted
What's the meaning of "running us off an embankment"?
Perhaps a picture would help, this one being from Wikipedia:
This hopefully clarifies the meaning. Another similar phrase might be drove us off a cliff.
In a comment, I mentioned the phrase go off ...
- 643
0
votes
What's the meaning of "running us off an embankment"?
Embankment means:
a raised structure (as of earth or gravel) used especially to hold back water or to carry a roadway M-W
And runoff means:
water from rain or melting snow, or liquid from an ...
- 9,611
0
votes
Accepted
What's the meaning of "right off" here?
OP had asked
What's the meaning of "right off" here?
What did you say? Listen, I don’t have to take that. You’re liable to get backhanded right off that stool someday.”
Let's look at the ...
- 2,251
0
votes
What's the meaning of "right off" here?
It means the second one:
You are going to get backhanded that will send you flying off that stool.
The first one exactly above that stool doesn't make sense here.
- 19.1k
Top 50 recent answers are included