How did "stuck-up" get to mean "snob"?

I was inclined to believe that the expression "stuck-up", meaning _staying aloof from others because one thinks one is superior_ , had its origins with **somebody's nose stuck (up) in the air** and yet, Etymonline mentions nothing of the sort but limits itself to saying: > O.E.D: **stuck** "unable to go any further," 1885, past participle adjective > from _stick_ (v.). Colloquial _stuck-up_ "offensively conceited, assuming an > unjustified air of superiority" is recorded from 1829. The Free Dictionary is not exactly helpful either > T.F.D **stuck-up** _adj._ Informal. _snobbishly conceited_. [1820–30] Was I mistaken?   * Did the phrase _have one's nose stuck (-) up in the air_ precede the adjective, _stuck-up_?    * Where did the term _stuck-up_ originate—the UK or The USA?


What category includes "document" and "video"?

I want a common word that could categorise both _document_ (like presentation/portfolio etc.) and _video_. Any good ideas? I need something simple enough that everyone can understand & not just the language experts.


What is the difference between "fine" and "good"?

What is the difference between _fine_ and _good_? Please suggest the proper usage.


Questions about "The Gettysburg Address"

> It is for us the living, RATHER(should here be a comma or no comma) to be > dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have THUS > FAR so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great > task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased > devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of > devotion..... The above is a excerption of the Gettysburg address, so here's my two questions:   1\. As I mentioned above, should it be with or without a comma after the word "rather". Actually, I searched on the Internet, it has different versions, some have a comma after rather, some don't.   2\. The second one is, can the phrase "thus far" be replaced by "so far", if it could, doesn it mean that these two are totally interchangeable; if not, where's the difference?


US Equivalent to the Oxford English Dictionary

Apologies if this question is inappropriate for the site. In the US, what would be equivalent to the OED? The de facto standard. I know there's the New Oxford American Dictionary but in the US does this have the same gravitas as the OED has in the UK?


"Passed all exams in the first term"?

How can I say in English that students have passed all of their exams in the shortest period, that is, the first time exams were scheduled (only the first examination term was used)?


Where does "to make out" come from?

Is there any logical explanation for how the phrase _making out_ came together? I know that it has sexual implications (at least _kissing_ , with the intent go further), I just can't imagine its ancestry.


Why "off his rocker"?

The expression "off his rocker" is used to mean someone is mad (as in, bonkers mad, not angry mad). Does anyone know what a rocker is, and how being off one came to mean this?


"The purpose of" versus "the purpose for" — which one is proper?

Is there even a difference between the two?


Why is helleborine sometimes called 'chatterbox'?

I found out now, thanks to the question about the etymology of chatterbox, that 'chatterbox' is another name for helleborine (something I've never heard of). A helleborine is apparently > an orchid growing along streams or ponds of western North America having > leafy stems and one greenish-brown and pinkish flower in the axil of each > upper leaf What could possible be the etymology for this?


Quote meaning: A wife is essential to great longevity

Can anyone please explain to me the meaning of this quote? > A wife is essential to great longevity; she is the receptacle of half a > man's cares, and two-thirds of his ill-humor. -Charles Reade


A word for someone who has more skill than a code monkey to be at just the next level

> A Code monkey is a computer programmer or other person who writes computer > code for a living. This term may be slightly derogatory, meaning that this > developer can write some code but is unable to (or not supposed to) perform > the more complex tasks of software architecture, analysis, and design.[1] It > is usually applied to junior programmers. > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_monkey If a code monkey has dedicated his efforts to improve his knowledge and skill, what should we call him after at the next level/rank?


Omitting "is", like in "I think it strange"

What is the grammar behind the construction "I think it strange/necessary that ...", and when can and cannot this apparent omission of the copula be used? Do we always need the "that" clause? Also, this seems to be only allowed when the object is a pronoun (it in the above example). That is, we don't say "I think this method strange", correct?


What is "lemonade" in American English?

Lemonade is a fizzy drink, strongly carbonated. It comes in two varieties, white (which is actually colourless) and red. I have never known anyone to make it at home. Various things I've picked up in reading suggest that all three of the above sentences are untrue in American English, and the second sentence is untrue anywhere outside of Ireland.


What type of cat do you swing?

I've heard that the cat which there may not be enough room to swing actually refers to a type of whip. Is that true? What is the actual origin of the phrase _not/barely enough room to swing a cat_?


Use of sequences like "In modern's US"

Is it correct to use possessive case for referring to the time in consideration, like in   * in today's US   * in modern's US   * in last century's England etc?


Can "only" be a question word?

I remember hearing, more than once, the word "only" in a context that can only be a question. Is that true? For example: "Only you a student?", "Only you think that.... ?"


Why does English spelling use silent letters?

Why have a letter in a word when it’s silent in pronunciation, like the _b_ in _debt_? Can anyone please clarify my uncertainty here?


What is the part of the iceberg that is not the tip called?

I was explaining that something is the "tip of the iceberg". I then wanted to explain what the other bit of the iceberg consisted of. What's the bit of the iceberg that is not the tip? Or should I just give up on this metaphor?


What do “Yeep” and “Go yeep” mean?

Today’s New York Times carries the article titled “Veeps _go yeep_! Nation nods,” which is followed by the following statement: > “Obama versus Romney on Tuesday! That will be far more important than the > conventions. Or the first debate, which President Obama sort of lost, in a > game-changing moment that we are now prepared to completely forget because > it’s all about the next debate.” I find no entry of “yeep” in any of Cambridge, Oxford, OALED, and Merriam- Webster dictionary. GoogleNgram registers “yeep,” of which usage is seen in 1840, peaks during 1920 – 1960, declining since then on the graph. Incidentally, Readers English Japanese Dictionary published by a Japanese publisher registers “yeepie” as an American slang meaning “Youthful energetic elderly people involved in everything.” What do “Yeep” and “Go yeep” mean? Does “go yeep” mean ‘get heated and go energetic”? I wonder if “yeep” is as well-received English word as being flashily used in the headline of a leading English language newspaper, because I don’t find it in any of English dictionaries.


"In the past" or "Into the past"?

Maybe my question is only relevant for my current context. I'm writing a documentation that shouldn't allow a user (using a calendar) to add an event _in/into the past_. So, should it be _in_ or _into_?


Is there a single word for this sentence?

If I say something repeatedly to myself in order to believe in that, do call it inculcation ?


What's the genitive of "someone else"?

This is **Konrad**.   He has a dog.   Hence, it's **Konrad's** dog. This is **someone else**.   He has a cat.   1. Hence it's **someone else's** cat.   2. Hence it's **someone's else** cat.   3. Hence it's **someones else** cat.   4. Hence it's **someone elses** cat. I know that I can say "it's a cat of someone else" or "it's a cat belonging to someone else" but that dodges the issue, not answering the question.


'Given a choice' vs.'If I had to choose'

Can the phrases _given a choice_ and _if I had to choose_ be used interchangeably? I made a statement like "Given a choice, I would do this," my original intention being to select that over the other option. But it was misinterpreted as "I did not want to do the other option," and I was told that I should have used "If I had to choose between the two." Some inputs would be highly appreciated


I am going to spray water on you

I am looking for a sentence to say when you are in a situation where you want to put some drops of water from your wet hands onto someone else's body, by flickering your fingers. What would be an appropriate verb instead of "to spray"? Thank you


Capitalization of explanation of abbreviations

I'm writing a rather tehnical report with a lot of abbreviations such as _QoS (quality of service)_ , _AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)_ and _HMAC (Hash- based Message Authentication Code)_. When should the explanation of the abbreviation be capitalized? For example, should it be _quality of service_ or _Quality of Service_? How does one know what to use for the vast majority of technical abbreviations?


What does "separated at birth" mean?

Sometimes, you come across someone saying something (usually tongue-in-cheek), which might go like this: > Tom: I really love eating noodles while watching Star Trek.   >  Linda: Wow, I do exactly the same thing all the time!   >  Tom: Were we separated at birth or something? What does "separated at birth" mean here, and what connotation is it trying to convey?


If I can say "videos", can I also say "audios"?

_Audio_ and _video_ seem to me very similar words by usage. I often hear the plural form for _video_ , but is there a plural form for _audio_? Can I say _audios_? I've never heard it being used.


Grammatical Names and Grammatical Functions

What is the grammatical name and grammatical function of the part of the sentence that is in bold? >   1. **What the teacher taught** was not in the students' text. > >   2. The principal ate **what was left in the pot**. > >


What is the tipping point for "non sequitur"?

What is the point at which a _non sequitur_ morphs into the incongruous? Is it predicated upon contextual ideas leading up to the statement, or is it subjective based on the conclusion of the idea being propagated? I'm just curious if there are any hard/fast rules, or is it subjective -- like finding something funny or not?


What is the longest palindromic phrase?

Somewhat related to this question, but I'm interested in a _phrase_ , not just a single word. The longest I am aware of is > A man, a plan, a canal: Panama Are there longer palindromic phrases?


What is the meaning of the word “Jovie”?

For a non english speaker what is Jovie ? I’ve looked for the definitions at Google images, which provides some various conotations Google Images Search for Jovie


"Sign up free" or "Sign up for free"

I've stumbled upon "Sign up free" and "Sign up for free" on different websites. "Sign up free" makes no sense to me. Is it correct? Which one should I use on my website? Thanks.


Does "until [date]" mean "before that date"?

What does _until_ mean in the following? > You need to deliver this product within 2 days ( **until** August 18, 2011) > to meet your deadline and get paid. Does this mean that I have to deliver the product by 23:59 on 17 August 2011 or 23:59 on 18 August 2011? The order time is 21:04 on August 16 2011.


Word for "can be used again with entertainment"

_The title may be misleading as I had trouble summarizing the question in a phrase._ I'm looking for a word to mean "usable again", referring to a mobile app. I'm looking for something along the lines of "replayable" for games. I want to reword the phrase "give both hardcore & casual fans a reason to keep coming back" to make it sound more technical, preferably something along the lines of "to provide _word here_ to the app". If I were to refer to a game, I would word it as "to add replay value to the game". Thank you very much.


What does this complicated sentence mean?

Would to god I could strip you of life and breath and ship you down to the House of Death as surely as no one will ever heal your eye, not even your earthquake god himself!’


"Since" vs "ever since"

Example: > Tufy was our Chihuahua. He'd been in the family **(ever) since** I was born. Would adding _ever_ change the meaning of the sentence?


"I was by my friend"

There is a common, seemingly incorrect usage of the word _by_ in certain communities in the U.S., mainly Jewish communities in the New York area. For example, > I was **by** my friend over the weekend. _By_ is used as a preposition instead of _at_. It seems to be of Yiddish influence. Though _nearby_ is correct, _by_ alone doesn't seem to be. Is this true? Can someone account for the difference between _by_ and _nearby_?


Difference between "remain" and "be left"

What is the difference between _remain_ and _be left_? Which sentence below is correct or normal? > An ace of spades **remained**. > > An ace of spades **was left**.


Legal name for "individual" vs. "company"

I'm creating an online service and I want both individuals and companies to use it. In the registration form, I want to ask the user: > Are you an **individual** or a **company**? Are these terms correct to refer to individuals (real persons) vs. companies and organizations? Are there any better legal substitutions for them?


Can I pronounce a "t" as a glottal stop in the word "Netflix"

I am talking American English now. Usually when a "t" comes at the end of the word "wheat" or before "n" or "m" sounds as in "mountain" and "treatment", the t sound is not pronounced and i pronounced as a glottal stop instead. Can I do the same with the word "netflix"?


Could the sentence "Not even death can do us part" be considered correct?

> Not even death can do us part. These are lyrics from the Beyoncé song "Sweet Dreams" (link to the part in question.) I've been curious about this for a while. If one considers "Till death do us part" to be correct, could this sentence be considered correct as well? Interestingly, these lyrics are changed in the album version (link): > Not even death could make us part.


Is "auditory aid" correct when talking about helping someone through audio signals?

I'm not talking about the concept of a "hearing aid" (those little things you put in your ears). I'm talking about sounds like the ones emitted by traffic lights, letting us know they've turned green. Is the term "auditory aid" correct, or is there some other term for that?


Comma after introductory phrases

I am no native speaker and always confused about the comma in introductory phrases, in particular in prepositional phrases. Is there any hard rule when a comma must be set? If I make a google search for certain phrases, I often find both variants. Typical examples where I am not sure whether a comma must be set are: >   * In this case[,] we must... >   * For simple problems[,] the algorithm... >   * From Lemma 1.2[,] we obtain... >   * For a typical user[,] the algorithm... >   * In our theory[,] we... >


Comma after "after a while"?

Should we use comma after "after a while"? For example, > After a while she stopped thinking about him.


Comma after "intuitively" at the beginning of a sentence?

In the following sentence, do I have to put a comma after "intuitively?": > Intuitively, it represents the concept of something.


"Obstacles along the road to success" vs. "obstacles across the road to success"

My sister got this question for one of her tests. > There are many obstacles **__** the road to success. Her options were: >   1. across >   2. along > I initially thought that _across_ would make more sense here, as it conveys the meaning “from one side of the road to the other” as in a block of wood placed across my path. However, _across_ could also mean “on the other side” as in “I live across the road”. Therefore, _across_ seems like the more ambiguous term here when compared to _along_. _Along_ , therefore, seems like the better choice here. However, it can be argued that _along_ doesn’t necessarily give the impression that the obstacles “cross” my path. What would be the appropriate term here?


Clause explaining "the requirement that..."

What should the verb form in that clause be? Example: which of the following is correct? They need to obey the requirement that their pockets are empty. or They need to obey the requirement that their pockets be empty.


Is there a better word than "scene" when talking about books?

From the dictionary it seems the word "scene" is appropriate for describing a part of a book:               2. a sequence of continuous action in a play, film, opera, or book.     "a scene from Tarantino's latest movie"      To me, it feels natural to use the word for plays, films and operas but it sounds strange to use it when referring to a book. Is there a better word or is "scene" indeed correct for books?


"Special" or "specials"

I would like to know if in the following sentence, _special_ should be plural or not. > The red apples are not special. I do not feel that this is correct.


What should be the proper term when someone wants to "give back" to the community

I recently asked this question on Programmers.SE: > Ways to use your skills as a developer to give back to the > community/charities. You hear a lot about "giving back", but is it really what should be used? I got the following comment on my question that spurred some thoughts: > Hate the term "give back". To "give back" means that you took something in > the start. "Donation", "Endowment", "Charity" are much better descriptors. Is "giving back" correct when:   * **I was originally given the same thing?** (they gave me a can of food, and I give back the can of food later on in life)   * **I was originally given something different?** (they give me a can of food, I build them a website later in life)   * **I was never given anything?** (they give me nothing, I build them a website)


Why are Greek letters pronounced incorrectly in scientific English?

In Greek, for example, the letter β is pronounced "veeta", but in science, people use "beta". Some other offenders are η "eeta", ι "yiota", μ "mee", ν "nee", π "pee", τ "taf", χ "hee", ψ "psee". I understand the difficulties of pronouncing the γ sound and such, but the translation of the "ee" sound into "i" is what I don't understand. When did this start? Perhaps when Greek letters became commonly used in science? How has their pronunciation changed through the years?


"For how long have you been..." vs. "how long have you been..."

_Ante-scriptum: The question should be quite a frequently arising one, so this might be a duplicate. If it is, I haven't found it previously asked here_ I don't know if the title is meaningful, but here's the question, anyway. What I want to know is whether the _for_ at the beginning of the following question should be removed or not: > For how long have you been eating? I consider the sentence to be correct, but some days ago, a teacher (not mine) told me that it was not. And then I remembered that someone else had told me that while it is OK to use the _for_ , the tendency is to get rid of it. So what's your take on it?


Activity/adjective for keep re-mentioning a favor

Let's say a person helps you study for an exam (as a favor). What is the activity/verb that describes that person when he keeps re-mentioning it, as to make you feel that you owe him something. Is there a one-word verb (or adjective) for it? For example, **person1** : Can you give me a ride to the airport? **person2** : Sorry, I'm busy. **person1** : But I helped you study for your exam last week. **person2** : Ok, I'll give you a ride. Next week. **person1** : Hey, I need some cash. You don't mind giving me some, since I helped you pass that exam two weeks ago. **person2** : Ok, stop being such a (the word I'm looking for). I believe many words could be used in this scenario, such as abusive or manipulative. However, I am looking for a more exact work, which describes the action of constant referencing of a previous favor, to make the other feel obligated to help.


What is the origin of the phrase "bush league"?

I know it's baseball terminology, but I've never heard anyone explain why a feeder or low-level league is associated with shrubs. Is there some relation in the phrase to "farm system"?


Origin of the phrase, "I got to talking to..."?

Where does it come from? Is it universal or specific to a particular region?


Economic Fact or Fact of Economics?

Demand will rise when prices fall is a _basic economic fact/basic fact of economics_? Which of these two is most appropriate and why?


Is "goods" countable?

I am referring to _goods_ as in _services and goods provided_. I came across this definition (emphasis mine): > tender document: > > A written invitation sent to potential suppliers of **a good or service** to > inform them about the information required for the buyer to choose among > them. Issuing a tender document typically begins the tender process by which > a business selects qualified and interested suppliers based on such things > as their price, availability and proposed delivery terms. The use of _good_ as a countable noun seems wrong to me. Is _good_ used correctly here, is it a countable noun? Can one provide _a good_? EDIT: Google returns 9,790,000 hits for "suppliers of a good". Does that mean I have to accept it as "correct"? Does no one else feel it is wrong?


How to organize semantically a list of words that describes the weight (or size) of objects?

Let's say I have a list of words that describes the weight (or size) of objects, like heavy, strong, light, soft. Which words should be used to have a complete semantic list from the heaviest element to the lighter one. I always use something like: Heavy, stronger, strong, normal, light, lighter, softer.   or Maximum, large, normal, small, smallest, tiny. How can I organize a list like that in semantical English?   PD: you can add or remove incorrect words from my lists.


What is the female version of "phallic"? > phal·lic/ˈfalik/Adjective > >   1. Of, relating to, or resembling a phallus or erect penis. > It would have a definition as: > Of, relating to, or resembling a vagina.


Multiples of the plural for spectrum

The plural for spectrum is spectra, but when talking about multiple groups of spectra, is it correct to use the word spectras ? How can multiple groups of spectra be referred to in a single word ?


What is a word for having a lot of life experience or a person with a lot of life experience?

I am trying to think of a word, **Other Than Mature** , that means to have a lot of life experience and that would be able to describe a person with such. By life experience I mean more than just growing up and learning to live in the world. More so to be good at interacting with people and dealing with things negative and positive as if it were a skill. For instance the word guile can mean to have sly or cunning intelligence (from a quick google search of "define guile"). So with guile you could say that a person has plenty of guile.


Proper usage of "Dreaded"

"X is dreaded by Y", who is the one causing the dread - and who is on the receiving end?


In English what's the difference between forward and toward

I would like to know which sentence is correct, regarding the difference between the usage of _forward_ and _toward_.   Should I write:   _I'm looking forward to September._   Or,   _I'm looking toward September?_ Thank you.


Is Be, Do and Have all we can talk about?

I have heard that theoretically you can classify all things you can possibly talk/write about into 3 categories i.e. be, do and have. People and things can be something, do something and have something, but that is it. (Beliefs, experiences and intentions fall under the Have category; we have beliefs, experiences and intentions.) What is the significance of this? Is it true (is it possible to categorize all sentences into these 3 categories with nothing left over)?


"You'll feel better 'by and by'"

As an instance, in "On Land and Sea With Caesar" by R. F. Wells it is written: > "Go to sleep again. You'll feel better **by and by** and then I'll tell you > all about it." " No, tell me now," insisted Titus. " I feel tired, awfully > tired and weak, but I can listen to such news as that." " What was the last > you remember about the battle? " inquired Julius. After reading some dictionaries, I observed that "by and by" means:   * After a while; soon. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.)   * presently or eventually (Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged.) But, I'm not able to precisely understand whether, in contexts like above, "by and by" is used to indicate (1) an event that will happen soon, a great encouragement full of optimism, or (2) an event that will happen in a distant future, eventually. As far as I understand, in the case (2) one can still read an encouragement, but with an involved meaning of resignation. So, in what sense is "by and by" commonly or properly used, (1) or (2)? Please, explain in reference to contexts like the afore-quoted?


What is the correct way of saying: press a button multiple times, but don't hold it down for too long?

I would like to combine the "Press the button repeatedly" and "Press the button shortly" into one sentence, but the "repeatedly shortly" does not seem correct to me. Even the "shortly" seems not the best word for it. Repeatedly means like clicking through elements of a list, and by shortly I mean don't hold the button down, but release immediately after pressed. What I would like to express is that someone has to repeatedly press the button to select something from a list of choices, but they should not keep the button continuously pressed for too long. **Edit:** I also look for the term when someone presses the button and keeps it pressed for a slightly longer time, for some other function to be activated. "Press the button .... " **Edit 2:** The action needs not be necessarily very fast. It's similar to clicking through stations on a radio, until we stumble upon something we like. The main emphasys should not be on speed, I wanted to include it only so that the user knows: this is _not_ the same as the "long press" which was explained previously, and had a completely different function. A very short solution of just 1-2 words would be most appreciated.


What do you call the main telephone number?

I understand that someone's work phone might have an _extension_. What do you call the main number of that office, which would normally be answered by an operator or a computer voice system? Would it be the "Main Line", the "Main Station", the "Root of Extension"? I would like to know the technical name as well as some more informal or slang terms, if there are any.


Usage differences between "than", "to", and "over"

I understand that **than** , **rather than** , **over** and **to** are used to compare things. How ever I am not sure when to use those for specific scenarios. Are these interchangeable? Consider the sentence below: > Peter’s performance is better than Jim’s. Can I write this as: > Peter’s performance is better rather than Jim’s.   >  Peter’s performance is better to Jim’s.   >  Peter’s performance is better above Jim’s. I personally feel among the above four sentences the last 2 seem awkward (I might be wrong also). However I am curious to know which of the words are most suitable to which cases? And my focus here is not on **Better**. Rather it is on when we use 'to' for comparison? And when we use 'over' comparison? And when we use the adverb 'rather' before 'than' in a comparison. I would like to know the line which is drawn between those.


Differentiate between past and present just by pronunciation when word is followed by d- or similiar sound

How can we distinguish, for example, these two sentences just by listening to the pronunciation? >   1. They first kill the trees. > >   2. They first killed the trees. > > When pronouncing _kill the trees_ , we have one [d] that is for _the_. When pronouncing _killed the trees_ , we have two [d] that is for _killed_ and _the_. Native speakers pronounce both sentences so that we just hear one [d], so we don't know the tense by pronunciation in these cases. Am I right? Is there any special stress or extension of a sound that signals the difference between them?


What is the possessive form of a singular noun ending with a plural s?

I would tend to treat a company name as singular and would therefore write the possessive form with 's. Now, my company refers to its international operations by placing the country name behind the company name; think: "Coca Cola USA" or "Coca Cola Germany". In these examples I would write, in similar fashion, "Coca Cola Germany's workers are happy". Unfortunately, we also operate in a number of countries that have plural names; think: Netherlands and Cayman Islands. What is the possessive form in these cases? Is it "Coca Cola Netherlands' workers are happy" or "Coca Cola Netherlands's workers are happy"? I nudge towards the latter being grammatically correct, however reckon the former to be more generally accepted — or easier on the eye. I'm not a native English speaker, so I am not always entirely capable of assessing what is "accepted" or "sounds right".


Explanation for "them's"

Recently someone said to me: > Them's the rules I thought he had the sentence wrong, but as it turns out it is slang. I am learning English as a second language and I would really appreciate if someone could explain what it means and in which context I am allowed to use it.


"now and then" vs "now and again"

What is the difference between these phrases? > now and then and > now and again Google says that they mean the same. So saying "Every _now and then_ I go for trekking" is same as "Every _now and again_ I go for trekking", right? If not then what would be proper use case for each of these?


It looks like not funny -> does it make sense?

My friend recommanded some game , so I saw game images and I told my friend that it look like not funny? My friend say what mean??? please correct


Word meaning "to put softy?"

I'm sure there are many words describing this but for some reason I can't think of an. Like to use in an example like this: > You feel as though you'd been **put softly** in the cradle of Mother Nature. Any suggestions?


How to use “extraordinaire” in English?

I’d like to include the following phrase in my children’s book: > with trumpets and fanfares **extraordinaire** I don’t know whether it should instead be > with trumpets and fanfares **extraordinaires** Should I write that with or without the silent _s_ at the end?


Positive-sounding substitute for "dull"/"boring"?

I was recently writing a testimonial, and I wanted a positive substitute for those words. The adjective is for describing the guy in question (i.e. _He is a ** ___ ____** guy_). Any ideas?


What is a Possessive Ending?

Can someone please explain what a Possessive Ending is and provide examples? I'm trying to get a deeper knowledge of the English language and this term came about.


What is the correct usage of "while" and "whilst"?

When should _whilst_ be used instead of _while_? For example, should I use the first or the second sentence? > They don't do this whilst they do that.   >  They don't do this while they do that. What would be correct?


When should I use "while" and when should I use "whilst"?

I was curious as to the correct uses of the words "whilst" and "while". In what context should I use them?


A loud silence has ensued

On dailymail.co.uk there is a news article titled "Deafening silence as immigrant tide rises" where the journalist wrote "a loud silence has ensued". Is there a name to define phrases like _loud silence_?


Difference between Letter and Alphabet in English

Can anyone please explain what is the difference between "Letter" and "Alphabet" in English?


Proper use of retrospective

I am writing a narrative essay and I am currently working on the final touches. Right now I am focusing my attention on the title. The essay is a look back on a couple days, several years ago that a friend and I were nearly killed in a motorcycle accident. I am considering the use of retrospective in my title but not sure if I am using it properly. "A retrospective flash back that nearly killed me and a friend" "Retrospect on a week that a friend and I nearly died" None of these sound right to me.


When is it appropriate to use "late" when referring to someone who has passed?

I could never figure this out. Is this structure only for those who have _recently_ passed? > **The late** Steve Jobs... Or can I use it to refer to someone who died a long time ago? > **The late** George Washington...


"To rain" is to "rainy", as "to ..." is to "sunny"?

Is there a verb that fits this analogy: `to rain` is to `rainy`, as `___` is to `sunny`? I know you can say that it is now raining, but can you say that it is now `___`, meaning it is sunny? Is there a verb for this weather? ... "sunshining"? "sunlighting"? "sunshowing"?


What is the intended pronunciation of "gist" (as in gist.github.com)?

Until today I've always heard it pronounced "jist" (similar to "just" or "gin"), but I just heard someone pronounce it with the same g-sound as "gold" or "give". What's the intended pronunciation?


Is the word "until" thought of as belonging to a temporal context?

I speak German and I'd usually translate "bis" into "until". However, it occurred to me that the word "until" is almost always used in a temporal context. Or at least much more often than the German "bis", which would be used both in the phrase "from here _to_ there/von da _bis_ dort" and "from now _until_ then/von jetzt _bis_ dann". As far as I can remember, most of the time I read it, _until_ seems to denote a date of something to happen. Is the word _until_ thought of as belonging to a temporal context, as opposed to an abstract boundary?


Antonym of manufacturing

I want to title something based on Chomsky's book Manufacturing Consent. The text would be about a movement that uses social media to fight against main stream media's attempt to manipulate information. Would "de-manufacturing consent" make sense? Other words that would convey the same idea and still reference the book title?


Is it correct? I "am trying fixing this"?

Actually, I'd like to know if is correct to say: **"I am trying fixing this"** , or should use the more obvious **"I am trying to fix this"**? If the first one is correct, is there a name for this kind of syntax/conjugation?


What's the negative of the nonstandard perfect: "He done eat his breakfast"

In movies I hear a lot of sentences like that in the title of the question spoken mainly by African Americans. As I understand it's the dialect version of the standard Present Perfect. I was wondering how in that dialect one would form a negative sentence in he Present Perfect. > He not done eat his breakfast. > > He done not (donen't?) eat his breakfast. Or maybe only affirmative sentences are possible with this construct, and the negative just follows the standard rules?


"cat washes its face" using two words?

Is it possible to say "cat washes its face" in English using two words only? I.e. "cat + (verb)"? Such construct is possible in Russian ("кот умывается"), which has verb (well, a variation of a verb) that normally means "wash face", and "self" can be replaced with suffix. Is there a similar verb or some kind of compact (two words, including "cat") idiom in English for that? It has been bugging me for a long time... P.S. Slang is also okay, as long as it isn't too obscure. \--EDIT-- Detailed info: The "cat" part _is_ important - I'm interested in two-word idiom that _precisely_ refers to "washing face with front paw" behavior performed by **cats**. The "cat" word doesn't have to be present as long as idiom/sentence/phrase is compact enough and refers precisely to this kind of action. Perhaps something similar to "making biscuits". Although Russian verb "умывать(ся)" is applicable to people, I'm not looking for general verb (that is applicable to everything) meaning "wash one's face" - I'm only interested in cat-specific verb or sentence that is normally associated with this particular cat behavior. Russian "кот умывается" in most situations refers to a cat washing face with front paw (can be used in jokingly manner to describe cat playing with water dripping from faucet, though, but that's irrelevant). English "the cat is washing itself" is very specific about time/continuity, but is less specific about exact action and can be used to describe cat that is cleaning its tail, for example - in other words, compared to "кот умывается" it is not strictly associated with cat's "wash face with front paw" action.


Female adjective re job title

Why is it common to hear "women writers" or "woman doctor" but not "man author"? Isn't an adjective required in both cases, thus "female guitarist" and "male accountant"? I am asking about why the noun woman is used instead of the adjective female and why this error seems to be made only in relation to women, not men. This is not a question about the appropriateness of such qualifiers.


orientational metaphor: I'm feeling "up" today

I have come across the following as examples of "orientational metaphors": **happy is up** ; **sad is down** : > I'm feeling up today. He's really low these days. While I understand the general concept, I do wonder if native speakers of English commonly use "I'm feeling up today" in daily conversations to express their (temporary) sense of well-being.


Is there a word like "ambidextrous" to describe mixed hemisphere brain dominance?

In brain dominance theory, the terms _left-/right-brained_ , _left-/right- minded_ , and _left/right hemisphere dominant_ are often used to describe a particular lateral dominance within the human brain. Many also use these terms to help generalize the patterns of thought that such a dominance might connote; that is, an aptitude for "logic, language, and analytical thinking" for _left-brained_ , and an aptitude for "expressive and creative tasks" for _right-brained_. Likewise, when referring to hand dominance, we say _left-handed_ and _right- handed_ , but there are some cases of cross-dominance in handedness, in which we refer to individuals as _ambidextrous_ , meaning "able to use both hands equally well." Is there a word, in the same vein as _ambidextrous_ , which can be used to describe having an **equal aptitude** for traditionally left- and right- brained tasks?


encapsulating a positive thing among many negative things

Is there a phrase that encapsulates 'this is a positive thing among many negative things'? Context: I need to find a name for an article I am writing - which is about how a person turned everything negative into something beautiful. Can anyone help?


What does “wooden clothes” contained in “Comfort bag (assorted present kit) and the sender of it “have had themselves” mean?

Toru Hashimoto, Mayor of Osaka’s comment asserting the “Comfort women” system during wartime was ‘A necessary evil’ was appalling, and I feel deeply shameful of his sensless remarks as a Japanese. But most of all Japanese reject his anachronistic view, which was evidenced by the crushing defeat that the political party, “Japan Revolution” led by him suffered in the latest election of Tokyo municipal councilors. We discussed his remarks and ensuing apology in Tokyo Foreign Correspondent Club in our English speaking circle recently by using a report of the status of “comfort women” in Myitkyna in Burma after its fall in August 1944 compiled by Psychological Warfare Team of United States Office of War Information in October 1944 as a part of reading materials. Utterly independent from political or moralistic argument on this issue, I’m submitting questions on the meaning of two words I came across in the following statement referring to “Comfort bags –assorted present kit” in the report: > “The soldiers would often express how much they enjoyed receiving magazines, > letters and newspapers from home. They also mentioned the receipt of > “comfort bags” filled with canned goods, magazines, soap, handkerchiefs, > toothbrush, miniature doll, lipstick, and **wooden clothes.** The lipstick > and cloths were feminine and the girls couldn’t understand why the people at > home were sending such articles. They speculated that the sender could only > **have had themselves** or the “native girls” in mind. Questions:   1. I wonder what wooden clothes is. Is there clothes made of wood or wooden materials? I thought it could be wooden clothe pegs or linen handkerchiefs, but I can’t tell.    2. What does “the sender could only have had themselves,” mean? Who are "themselves"? Ronald Harmon’s “Talking American Dictionary of Informal Words and Expressions" defines “have had it” as a colloq;   1. be worn out, no longer function or useful, be disgusted or bored with   2. be bored with, can no longer tolerate sb, stg.   3. be doomed, be assured of ruin or defeat, but I’m unable to link anyone of the above definitions to the text. No other dictionaries at hand carry “have had it (or oneself)."


Is there a non-sexual phrase for sleeping with someone?

The phrase "sleeping with someone" often means "having sex." What is the origin of this sexual connotation? Is there a non-sexual equivalent of this phrase to express sleeping with someone without sexual intercourse?


Meaning of "Monkey still working let Baboon wait small"

From Foreign Policy: > As I noted in my piece, the president has made the colloquial phrase, > "Monkey still working, let baboon wait small" her campaign slogan. It's an > appeal to Liberian voters to keep in mind that recovering from 20 years of > civil war takes time, and they shouldn't make any quick decisions or judge > her performance before she's completed her work This is a campaign trail quote from the current Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The first part ("Monkey still working") I understand to mean she's saying she still has a job to do. It's the second part I don't understand. Also, (this may be cultural) what do the monkey and baboon symbolize?


X is a choice, not an option

I'm always confused by this statement. If something is a choice, then isn't it also an option? You made your choice out of the given options, right? This is a different format, but the same idea: > Failure is not an option, it is a choice


Use of American-Indian "How" in British English

These are excerpts from Le Carré's _Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy_ : > Jerry Westerby screwed up his face in perplexity. 'That's what the boy > wanted to tell me, you see, George. That's what he was trying to put over in > Stan's bar. What all the rumours were about. The Russians moved in on > Friday. They didn't shoot Hajek till Saturday. So the wise lads were saying: > there you are, Russians were waiting for Hajek to turn up. Knew he was > coming. Knew the lot. Lay in wait. Bad story, you see. Bad for our > reputation, see what I mean? Bad for big chief. Bad for tribe. **How.** ' > > ' **How** ,' said Smiley, into his beer. ... and later on, > 'Any time,' said Westerby again. 'Sorry, you know. Love to Ann.' He > hesitated. > > 'Come on, Jerry, out with it,' said Smiley. > > 'Toby had some story about her. I told him to stuff it up his shirt front. > Nothing to it, is there?' > > 'Thanks, Jerry. So long. **How.** ' > > 'I knew there wasn't,' said Jerry, very pleased, and lifting his finger to > denote the feather, padded off into his own reserves. So, how does one interpret all this how-how-ing? What's the difference between an echoed _how_ and one which is not? Is it a peculiarity of the English public school system? If so, is it still in vogue today?


"To orange" and "to pink"

Are the verbs _to orange_ and _to pink_ with the meaning "become/turn orange/pink" in everyday use in British or American English?


Can I write different spellings of the same word in the same context?

Can I use "color" in one paragraph, but write "colour" in the next one? Yes, I just did it. But is it acceptable to do so when not talking about spelling differences?


What is the difference between being imaginative and creative?

I cannot understand the difference between being imaginative and creative, sometimes I get either of the words but thinking or relating it to the other confuses me and I reach back to where I started. Could someone please help me?


Present simple on temporary action

> Mary is sleeping in the living room while we redecorate her room. Why is the present simple "redecorate" used? Present simple is used when there's something permanent, but they don't want to redecorate her bedroom forever.


When is "marked" pronounced with 2 syllables?

I have heard "marked" pronounced with 2 syllables, like "mar-ked": http://forvo.com/word/marked_(adj_-_distinctive_character) but online dictionaries show only the 1-syllable pronunciation. When should it be pronounced with 2, and is it a mistake to use swap their use? What about the word "aged"?


What are some synonyms for "mindbody" or "psychosomatic"?

I'm open to synonyms for "mindbody" either as a noun (the combination of mind and body as one unit) or as an adjective (e.g. "psychosomatic" or "psychogenic"). But I can't have "psycho" in the term since that sometimes has unintended connotations. And I'd prefer it to be only one or two syllables if possible. If you can't think of any in English, non-English would also be interesting. Thanks! UPDATE: I should have more clearly stated that I'm trying to dumb down the language to make it as accessible and friendly as possible, so words like "somatization" are also not ideal.


What does perpendicular to mean?

I am reading a math books and i cant understand this > the xz plane is perpendicular to the y-axis, and the yz plane is > perpendicular to the x-axis. On googling perpendicular means two lines intersect to form a 90 degree angle. SO in my understanding if im right. does that mean that x and z axis intersects to y axis to form 90 degree and y and z axis intersects to x axis?


X, along with Y, "were" or "was"?

I was interested in the following sentence which appeared in a brief Tom Daschle's biography in The Washington Post, Politics, (WHO RUNS GOV). > She, along with Mark Childress, _were_ set to be Daschle's deputies at the > White House before he stepped down. Can someone clarify if the fragment "She, along with Mark Childress, _were_ set to" is ungrammatical, as I think it is? I would reword _were_ with _was_ because I think that the subject of the sentence - obviously, in grammatical terms - is "She", not "She" and "Mark Childress", but I'm not sure on this correction. More precisely, I'm not so sure that "She, along with Mark Childress" is equivalent to _She and Mark Childress_ with regard to the effects on the grammatical numbers.


Is 'from' correct in this expression?

> I did not really attend the online conference, but I knew what they were > doing **from/through** the conversation I had (with someone) earlier. Which of these ( _from/through_ ) is correct preposition?


Which is the correct preposition: at or from?

People often use this term > I will be working from home tomorrow. Is it the same as I will be working at home tomorrow? How does using at in place of from change the meaning?


Implied meaning of "patriotism"

I don't get what _patriotism_ means. The dictionary says it is the love and devotion for one's own country. I love my country and all other countries. I don't believe in sacrificing anything in the name of the nation. I care for my country because what happens there affects me and my family. Does that mean I am not patriotic?


Different way of writing "attackable" and "repairable"

In programming, we say an object is _capable_ of doing something. For example, an object may be _drivable_ or _repairable_. This lets us know what actions the different parts of a computer program are able to perform or receive. The English words we use don't have to actually exist, for example we can use _dieable_ which could imply that the object can die. This is not a great example, but it should get the point across. I'm looking for a way to express the capability for an object to _attack_ something. If I say it's _attackable_ then it implies it can be attacked, not that it's capable of attacking. I also cannot use _it attacks_ or _it can attack_ as it should use the single word format with _-able_ on the end if at all possible. It also cannot use hyphens and must be one word. I am also looking for suggestions for _repairable_ but implying that it performs repairs.


"Could you please" vs "Could you kindly"

I am a non-native speaker of English. When communicating with a professor, would it be better to use _could you kindly send me the document_ or _could you please send me the document_? I know both are correct, but which one shows more respect?


Can I say "Which area of triangle a or triangle b is larger"?

I am a math teacher in Asia. In one math question there are two triangles, A and B. I want to ask which has the larger area. Should I ask: > "Which area of triangle a or triangle b is larger"? or > "Which triangle, a or b, has a larger area"?


Is there a difference between "vice", "deputy", "associate", and "assistant" as descriptive job titles?

When _vice, deputy, associate_ , or _assistant_ is collocated with a job title, such as _vice manager, deputy manager, associate manager, assistant manager_ , I wonder how to rank or differentiate their levels. Or, they sometimes can be the same, can't they?


Clarification of list grouping

I'm editing some engineering documentation in Australia, and I'd like to say: The tests shall: 1) verify connectivity, 2) test (performance and endurance) by ... > The tests shall verify connectivity, and test performance and endurance by > ... Should I be using a serial comma to clarify grouping?


Are these phrases too posh-sounding for conversational English?

I'm German, and I try to speak British English as best I can, it's the language I've learned at school, and I'm always trying to be consistent. However, much of my English vocabulary and phrasing I picked up from British television programmes, films and books. Which is why I often use phrases like these:   * > It's not at all confusing   * > Thank you very much indeed I also use the British English spelling even if both forms are accepted and in use: > Right click to open the Preferences dialogue And even mix the two if needed: > **You need to set the`--color=always` argument so that colours are escaped > properly** My question therefore: Do I sound posh? Does my language come across as professorial or _holier-than-thou_? If so, what can I do to sound more appropriate? Please underpin your answers with some references. This is not meant to be a discussion of opinion; I'm sure there is some evidence available on the subject.(Or vote to close it as argumentative if you disagree)


What is the grammatical difference behind "is interesting" and "is interested"?

I am a native English speaker, yet I cannot explain to a non-native speaker why I say: > I am interested in history. as well as > History is interesting to me. Why is it "is interesting" when history is the subject, but not when I am?


Origin of different past tenses for verbs with the same endings?

Why do we have a situation where the past of "to blow" is "blew", but of "to glow" is "glowed"? And don't say "flew" if you mean "it flowed". The poem Lovers, by Phoebe Cary has many examples of these. How did these differences originate? Did "blow" and "glow" come from etymologically distinct backgrounds that have just come to be spelled and pronounced the same way? Is there a general rule for words like these?


Forgiving our Fathers

> _Forgiving our Fathers_ by Dick Lourie > > maybe in a dream: he's in your power   >  you twist his arm but you're not sure it was   >  he that stole your money you feel calmer   >  and you decide to let him go free > > or he's the one (as in a dream of mine)   >  I must pull from the water but I never   >  knew it or wouldn't have done it until   >  I saw the street-theater play so close up   >  I was moved to actions I'd never before taken > > maybe for leaving us too often or   >  forever when we were little maybe   >  for scaring us with unexpected rage   >  or making us nervous because there seemed   >  never to be any rage there at all > > for marrying or not marrying our mothers   >  for divorcing or not divorcing our mothers   >  and shall we forgive them for their excesses   >  of warmth or coldness shall we forgive them > > for pushing or leaning for shutting doors   >  for speaking only through layers of cloth   >  or never speaking or never being silent > > in our age or in theirs or in their deaths   >  saying it to them or not saying it --   >  if we forgive our fathers what is left Can anyone help me interpret this poem by answering the following questions I am not sure of? My entourage keeps telling how profound this poem is, but I lack some comprehension.   1. Do the fathers represent our past or our true biological parent?   2. What does the allusion to the street-theater mean?   3. What is the last line saying? Are we scapegoating our father?


Is "authentification" a real word?

My professor used the word _authentification_ in a lecture. I have always used authentication. Is it a real word or is authentication the correct term?


Can you give me five good words beginning with the letter D?

Can you give me five words which start with the letter D? These five words should reflect professional attitudes or qualities for success in business. For example, _determination_ , _discretion_ , and _diligence_. I can’t think of another two words, so I’m looking for some ideas.


Can 'default' be an adverb?

Consider the following sentence: > Whenever possible, default and explicitly mapped names are honored as > written. It seems to me that default and explicitly both talk about how the names are mapped, and thus default would also be an adverb, but I don't see default listed as an adverb in the dictionary. But they could also be nouns when written as thus: > Whenever possible, default and explicit mapped names are honored as written. What would be the clearest way to write this and can 'default' be an adverb as shown above. Another pass at the sentence might read: > Whenever possible, default mapped names and explicitly mapped names are > honored as written.


One Word Alternative for "Increase Productivity"

Is there a single English word (preferably a verb) which can replace the phrase "increase productivity" or "increase your productivity"?


The word for the vibe one gives off

What would be the word for the vibe someone gives off... their mood. He has a sour **__**. Part of me wants to put attitude but I'm not talking about the attitude or the vibe really... I'm talking about the mood which he has as a person... almost his character.... like his inclination is to act this way. I know the word I just can't think of it... it starts with a "d" or an "e" I think...


I'm trying to show ownership to a plural noun in parentheses

I'm drafting a lease document and have to state the following provision. > The Lessee(s) holds the Lessor and the United States harmless from any loss, > liability or damages resulting from the Lessee(s) use of occupation of the > premises or the Lessee(s)s' personal property. Should _Lessee(s)s'_ be _Lessee(s')_ or _Lessee(s)'_?


Is there a better noun form of "unreasonable" than "unreasonableness?"

I simply can't bring myself to use _unreasonableness_ , but can think of no synonym or alternate form with comparable meaning. I'll restructure if necessary, but wonder if I'm missing a suitable alternative.


What is the best way to punctuate a list of questions in a declarative sentence?

In my report a need to write a list of example questions that someone might ask, but I would like to do it in a sentence rather than a separate list. Here is an example: > This poses questions such as "How should I punctuate it?", "Are the quotes > necessary?", "Are the commas in the correct place?", and "Should I have used > a colon, or a semi-colon?"


Is it correct to use "but" as a positive connecting word?

I'm wondering if it is correct to use _but_ as a positive connecting word. Below is a small example: > ... is the perfect opportunity to improve my knowledge but also gain new > experience with ... Is this allowed or should I rather use _and_?


What is an action verb that is less committal than "invite" but more specific than "share"?

Imagine you are looking through a selection of events. One event takes your fancy and you want to see if a friend is interested too. I am looking for a verb that captures this. You are not quite inviting them, that is too concrete. On the other hand, you are sharing but you expect a response. Any ideas?


"Interested on" or "interested in"

Which is correct: _interested on_ or _interested in_?


Why is this considered a "romantic" poem?

In Willam Blake's poem, what makes it a romantic poem? > I wandered through each chartered street,   >  Near where the chartered Thames does flow,   >  A mark in every face I meet,   >  Marks of weakness, marks of woe.   > > > In every cry of every man,   >  In every infant's cry of fear,   >  In every voice, in every ban,   >  The mind-forged manacles I hear:   > > > How the chimney-sweeper's cry   >  Every blackening church appals,   >  And the hapless soldier's sigh   >  Runs in blood down palace-walls.   > > > But most, through midnight streets I hear   >  How the youthful harlot's curse   >  Blasts the new-born infant's tear,   >  And blights with plagues the marriage-hearse. Can romantic poems have rhymes?


Which would you use: full-size, full-sized, full size or full sized?

I want to use _full-sized_ , as in: > Click here to download a full-sized version of this image. But Google NGrams disagrees: !["Full size" wins overwhelmingly, with "full sized" marginally above zero.](http://i.stack.imgur.com/9EGRF.png) So, given:   1. full-size   2. full-sized   3. full size   4. full sized which would you employ and why?


Are 'should' and 'be supposed to' interchangeable?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Why do we say "supposed to" for "should have"? I guess I really can't tell if 'should' and 'be supposed to' are interchangeable from the definitions of the dictionaries. Can anyone prove they are synonymous or not, with evidence?


What do the idioms "hang up", "hang on", and "hang out" mean?

What do _hang up_ , _hang on_ , and _hang out_ mean?


A saying indicating how some professionals don't apply their skills for themselves

Some made-up examples:   * Architect's house is always crooked.   * Mechanic's car is leaking   * Chef's breakfast is as plain as boiled eggs Is there an established saying for these situations?


In a business proposal, which personal pronoun should be used?

Which personal pronoun would you use in a business proposal? Most people either go with first or third person, e.g., > We propose this marketing plan. or > Company x proposes this marketing plan. Which person do you feel is most appropriate, and why? Does it matter?


When did speakers/writers of AE begin to replace the noun "quotations" with the verb "quotes"?

Not being particularly adept at using Google's Ngram viewer, I put the two words ( _quotes_ and _quotations_ ) into the viewer and it displayed a result, with the two lines staying pretty close together until late in the 20th century. Then I thought to myself, "Does Ngram 'know' that I want it to compare two nouns as opposed to one verb and one noun?" (You know, apple to apple, orange to orange.) At any rate, I've always preferred using _quotes_ as a verb and _quotations_ as a noun, but I seem to be in a minority nowadays, with most folks considering the two words to be synonyms. My questions are, then:   1. When did _quotes_ (as in "My favorite 'quotes' are from Mark Twain"), begin to replace _quotations_ (as in "My favorite 'quotations' are from Mark Twain") in AE and/or BE?    2. Should I just "go with the flow" and adapt to the change? (If I do not, I have a feeling I'll remain in the company of a very small minority and be considered a nitpicker by the majority!)   3. Did Ngram do what I expected it to do, treating as nouns both _quotes_ and _quotations_?


"Welcome to Q&A for ..." or "Welcome to a Q&A site for ..."?

There's a question on Meta Stack Overflow about whether the current text for the welcome banner is grammatically correct. It currently reads: > Welcome to Q&A for [site description] Apparently, a lot of people consider that grammatically incorrect and would prefer this: > Welcome to **a** Q&A **site** for [site description] Is one "more right" than the other?


Ununderstood English-language joke

In a song video made by an American acquaintance, there is a joke that I don't understand. Here is the context: "Alfresco" and "Pentaho" are two non-competing software applications that can be used together. An Alfresco representative recently made a rap song where he talks about his "tricked out Pentaho". Is it a reference to rappers' pimped out cars? I am not sure I understand.


"Till the morning" or "till morning"?

Which of the following statements is more appropriate? >   1. You have to stay here till the morning. >   2. You have to stay here till morning. > The second one seems more fluent to me. What do you think? Please explain what the difference between the two expressions is.


Is it proper usage to replace a comma in a list with a semi-colon in this situation (see details)?

While writing a proposal at work today I needed to mention a list of things and within that list were multi-part items. It seems like replacing the comma with a semi-colon in this situation would make the sentence easier to understand, but is it correct usage? With standard punctuation this could get confusing: > Some of my favorite things to do are camping, playing football and baseball, > watching Laurel and Hardy Movies, and traveling. Proposed alternative. Is this acceptable usage? > Some of my favorite things to do are camping; playing football and baseball; > watching Laurel and Hardy Movies; and traveling.


Semicolons vs Commas

Which is preferred? Are both technically correct? _1\. Mike scored 40 points; John, 17; and Victor, 2._ (Is the added punctuation here [ie the semicolons and extra commas] unneeded?) _2\. Mike scored 40 points, John 17, and Victor 2._


Do I use semicolons to create a list where there are commas in the items?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is it proper usage to replace a comma in a list with a semi-colon in this > situation (see details)?   >  When should one use the comma versus the semicolon, and vice versa? I have a list if items that contain commas - in this case city/state pairs. A co-worker of mine claims that I should promote the list commas to semicolons in this case but I cannot find any style guide which lists this as rule. Is this just urban legend? example: > The sales team will visit Portland, Oregon; Portland, Maine; Spring Field, > Ohio; and Spring Field, Massachusetts.


Using a semicolon between elements in a list

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is it proper usage to replace a comma in a list with a semi-colon in this > situation (see details)? Is it ever appropriate to use semicolons to separate elements in a list that follows a colon? For example: I packed several items for my trip to Europe: shoes; shirts; boots; hats; and gloves. I realize that S&W (4th edition, page 7) advises writers to use commas between a list's elements, but I'm seeing semicolons in a published academic journal, and I'm wondering whether usage has changed since S&W's release.


What is it called when it's snowing with the sun out?

It is currently snowing, but the sun is shining. If it were raining while sunny, I would call that a sun shower. What is the equivalent for snow?


Difference between "infirmary" and "sick-bay"?

What's the difference between "infirmary" and "sick-bay"? Are they completely synonymous?


meaning and origin of "syndicated feeds"

How would you explain the meaning of the word _syndicated_ in conjunction with _feeds_ and the origin (etymology) of this? It's used quite often on the web. I already found a few definitions but need more careful and precise explanation. Please, omit explaining what RSS channel or feed is. This is familiar for me.


How to write a date range (e.g., 6 May to 8 June) in a way that is concise and unambiguous?

In general, I try to write dates as one of:   * _2014-01-03_   * _3 Jan 2013_   * _3 January 2013_ avoiding slashes altogether so as to avoid any ambiguity with American date formats. That said, I've never found a good solution for situations where you need a short format (without the year), especially when dealing with ranges. What's a good way of handling something like: ### E-mail support rotation                | Date        | Name |      | ----------- | ---- |      | 1/3  – 1/9  | John |      | 1/10 – 1/16 | Jill |      | 1/17 – 1/23 | Mark |      in a way that works on both sides of the pond?


What does "keep the black dog at bay" mean?

I found the phrase “ _keep the black dog at bay_ ” in an article titled “ Ways to Beat the Winter Blues” in Time magazine November 14 issue. The phrase comes up at the end of the following statement: > “As the days get shorter and winter closes in, many people feel like > hibernating. We start sleeping more, eating more and avoiding social > contact. The effects can be particularly oppressive for people with > depression, many of whom feel escalating dread as the end of daylight saving > time approaches. Here are eight ways to _keep the black dog at bay_ after > you turn back the clocks.” I checked definition of “keep the black dog at bay” on several online dictionaries. None of Cambridge, Oxford, Merriam-Webster, and even Urban dictionary registers this phrase. What does " _keep the black dog at bay_ " mean? I wonder whether “ _black dog_ ” is used as a pun with “ _winter blue_ ” in the headline. Is “keep the black dog at bay” a well-established idiom?


What does "persuade you otherwise" mean?

What does "persuade you otherwise" mean exactly? Is it an idiom?


"Through" or "to" for expression of range

> 16-bit unsigned short integers that range from 0 **through** 0xFFFF > > 16-bit unsigned short integers that range from 0 **to** 0xFFFF Which expression is better above?


What is a less cumbersome way to say "acknowledging of hard work"?

I'm trying to convey in a concise phrase the concept that the management at a company frequently gives praise to its workers for job that are well done.


What do you call the exploitation of ambiguous statements to form a logical argument?

If I were construct an argument containing the postulation > Men commit more crimes than women. I would be guilty of a logical fallacy because this statement implies   1. All men commit crimes.    2. The man who commits the fewest crimes still commits more than the woman who commits the most crimes. There is a name of this type of logical fallacy. I think it is a kind of _hasty generalization_ , but I'm not sure which. Can someone please help me find the right term? EDIT: So to try to clarify what I'm asking (since I don't have the right lingo apparently), I think I have worked out that there are really two parts to this question. We can agree that the predicate "Men commit more crimes than women" is _ambiguous_. Ambiguity is not a friend of logic; so firstly what might you call a statement that requires disambiguation before it can be considered acceptable in an argument? Secondly, is there a term that describes the exploitation of ambiguous statements to further an argument? (Is this a logical fallacy? If so, what kind? If not, what else might we call it?)


Use of "the" before a defined entity?

Should we write: "x is an element of vector X" or "x is an element of **the** vector X"? I have always been taught to use the former formulation, but now am asked to use the latter. Am confused. Any help please? Another example. When I introduce a point of a plane Delta already described, should I write "Consider point P lying on plane delta" or "Consider the point P lying on the plane delta"?


meaning of action flag

What is the meaning of "an action flag" in the sentence below? > ...your name has an action flag on it, which is directing me to transfer you > immediately to the consul general's chief administration. Thank you, fate


Pit as a past tense verb

> The violence **pit** pro-Russian separatists against Ukrainian forces and > those who support the government in Kiev. A friend of mine says **pit** is used as a past tense verb in this sentence. What is the present tense form of **pit**?


Meaning of "The personification, of the natural is exactly the tendency I wish to suppress in myself, to eliminate for good."

I'm reading _Desert Solitaire_ by Edward Abbey and there is this sentence in there that confuses me: > The personification, of the natural is exactly the tendency I wish to > suppress in myself, to eliminate for good. Can you explain what it means?


would you please explain these?

> Although we are not all in physical pain or mental anguish all the time, we > do exist primarily in a state of being ill at ease in the world, of being > alienated, “made other.” Hi. Would anyone possibly explain the followings kindly in elaborate? > in a state of being ill at ease in the world > “made other.” Could you please EXPLAIN THEM READILY(FREELY), because I can not understand them yet. Many thanks


Are pled and pleaded interchangeable past tense of plead?

From this article: http://nation.time.com/2014/02/03/stand-your-ground- michael-dunn-jordan-davis-killing-loud-music/ "Dunn has **pleaded** not guilty to first-degree murder charges along with three counts of attempted murder." To my ears, "pled" as the past tense form, sounds better. "Pleaded" to me conveys the notion of pleading in sense of begging. "He pleaded with the king for mercy."


Person who involves in sexual harassment

Is there a proper word for describing the person who involves in sexual harassment.? I thought that it would be sexual harasser, but i am not sure whether it is right or wrong. Can anyone point the right word to represent such persons..?


You and Me both

Which is correct: > Me and Bob have both reviewed the fees. > > Bob and I have both reviewed the fees. I ask this because it sounds more grammatically correct to say _Me and Bob_ when using the word _both_ because you are clearly demonstrating that it was a combined project between two people. Whereas the word _I_ is truly singular and not inclusive as a group effort. It's as though I've made the subject of both people together and in using the word _both_ have altered the idea that _You and I_ is correct here.


Reduced precision has an effect on results, but does not negate them

I am writing a technical research article. I have an experiment where precision can be easily determined (bid-ask spreads for the economists). Calculating some formula twice based on the precise observation of the upper bound and the lower bound does change the results (obviously) and is not negligible, but it does not negate the theory that is underlying. That is, the effect of the measurement error is clearly visible, but in general the theory can still be accepted. How do i express this in a concise way? Thanks. * * * edit: Per request, more details. I can observe market values, but with limited precision. I only observe two values, bid and ask, and the true value lies between those. Calculating measurements using bid-values gives me different results than using ask- values. Both results confirm the theory I'm testing. The difference exists, but it does not fundamentally change the conclusion that the theory itself can be confirmed. Is there a concise expression for 'confirms, but not as strongly' or 'doesn't negate, but differences are considerable'? I guess it is obvious _why_ I need a concise expression...


Dreams come true or they are fulfilled. What about 'hopes'?

Let's say things went the way we had hoped they would. Would it be appropriate, then, to say, _'our hopes were fulfilled'_ or is there a more acceptable or better expression? Apparently, _'things went the way we had hoped...'_ sounds good enough but I am wondering if there are other patterns or collocations for 'hopes'.


What adjective describes somebody who is quiet and obeys all the rules? For example, _"Xiaoli is a very (adj.) student because she doesn't smoke or drink, gets good grades, and always does her homework ahead of time"_. The word that comes to mind is _obedient_ , but I think this word has the negative connotation in the way that a servant would "obey" his master. I'm looking for an entirely positive adjective. A possible antonym to my word might be _wild_ , which you might use to describe someone who parties all night, gets drunk, etc.


Better than the next?

I've heard people using this idiom, such as "each day is better than the next", or "you hope that each experience you have is better than the next" (heard this one on a TV show not long ago), apparently in a positive way. However, if taken literally, I find the meaning very negative - if the current thing is better than the next, then the next thing must be worse, so things would just keep getting worse and worse. How do you explain this phrase/idiom?


Difference between may be and can be while replying to my superior officer

When I am telling my boss to do some thing which word is appropriate: You _can_ close the purchase activity. or You _may_ close the purchase activity.


Do qualities or traits "recommend" people?

I searched the stack for similar questions but was unable to find any that addressed this particular usage. We use the word **_recommend_** in the sense of advise, in which case the verb may take a direct object or introduce a command (I recommend this course of action. I recommend that you do X. I recommend you to do X). We also use recommend in the sense of endorse (I recommend him for this position). In the overwhelming majority of cases, the subject of the verb recommend is a person or something acting like a person. I've come across a number of instances, however, where the _subject_ of recommend is not an agent but _the qualities that make someone worth recommending_. In such instances, recommend seems to provide a more compelling alternative to the verb 'make.' > My experience and skills recommend me as a fine candidate for this position. > > My experience and skills make me a fine candidate for this position. Interestingly, all of the usage examples provided by Webster's and the online OED are sentences in which the subject of recommend is an agent, so the dictionaries do not provide much clarification. However, searching Google or Google books does turn up frequent enough examples of the above usage; I have also found this construction in cover letters. I am still somewhat skeptical, because we never use the synonym 'endorse' in quite the same way, and endorse always seems to require a subject that is a person. If we don't say traits and qualities endorse, is it in fact correct to say that they recommend?


Why do we pronounce Dean as /diːn/ but Sean as /ʃɒn/?

The following words which end with an `ean` are pronounced as /*i:n/ whereas Sean is pronounced as /ʃɒn/: > bean, dean, lean, mean... Why is Sean not pronounced as /si:n/ but as /ʃɒn/? Where does this irregularity come from? Are there known rules in English for such cases?


Identifying British accents

1. Are there rules of thumb for pinpointing British accents regionally?   2. What other accents do Americans tend to mistake for British?   3. Are there good online resources that can help with this? Audio samples would be essential. EDIT: Also, is there such a thing as a "neutral" British accent, analogous to American broadcaster's midwest pronunciation that is perceived to be the most free of regional characteristics.


Older pronunciations of the "-ity" suffix

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Rhyming conventions of Early Modern English Andrew Marvell's poem _To His Coy Mistress_ from the mid-1600's follows an **AABBCCDD[...]** rhyming pattern. Therefore, it is jarring when we get to the couplets: > And yonder all before us lie/ Deserts of vast eternity and > then worms shall try/ That long-preserved virginity This implies that either:   * _"lie"_ used to be pronounced as _"lee"_ to rhyme with _"eternity"_ , **and** _"try"_ used to be pronounced _"tree"_ to rhyme with _"virginity"_ , or   * much more likely, both _"eternity"_ and _"virginity"_ used to rhyme with _"lie"_ / _"try"_. Is this the case? If so, did this apply only to a few words like _"eternity"_ and _"virginity"_ , or to anything with the super-common _"-ity"_ prefix, like _"formality"_ , _"ability"_ , or any of the words listed here? And furthermore, if that is also the case, then when in the last 300 years did the change happen so quickly and so thoroughly that I cannot think of a single present-day _"-ity"_ word that rhymes with _"try"_?


Meaning and sentence structure of "Why would we have thought otherwise?"

Here is a snippet from an article on CNN > And of course the fiscal cliff turned out to be a dud. **Why would we have > thought otherwise?** It somehow makes perfect sense that Washington created > its own gargantuan hurdle and then crawled around it, with both sides > promising to climb the real mountain another day. I'm confused with the meaning and sentence structure of "Why would we have thought otherwise?". we have thought == past form of will + present perfect verb form -- is this structure correct? I have not seen other examples where would is followed by present perfect verb form. What does "would" imply in this sentence? I suppose the sentence meant to say "why did we thought otherwise?".


I need a word for the time just before some other moment. Like upon, only in reverse

I wrote a program that must add to some log entry (of some event) a note if event happened just before some other major event or along with it. And i cannot select a good word for this. This word marks entries for closed browser windows if they closed just before (several seconds) or along with the complete browser close. But it must be a word or a short phrase. Example: > Window X closed **___ __ ___ __** Chrome Exit   >  Window Y closed **___ __ ___ __** Chrome Exit   >  Window Z closed **___ __ ___ __** Chrome Exit I cannot use any of _on/during/upon/before/ahead/along/by the time/onward/onwards/preceding/ahead/along/near/fore_ as the window might be closed just before, simultaneously with Chrome exit. _Upon_ looks very good, but as I understand it is for the moment just after the major event. _Before_ cannot be used as it includes too long a timeframe. _On_ feels for me like it does not include the time just before the exit. I need a word or phrase for "just before or in time of".


Meaning of "pitches add up"

I would like to know the meaning of the phrase "pitch adds up" as it appears in this phrase from an article in _Fast Company_: > None of [the applications] fit the bill, and the pitches add up quickly. According to dictionaries, _pitch_ has a whole range of meanings, and I don't know which exactly applies in this case.


A non-straight route

In informal speech, how would you describe a bus that travels from point A to point B by passing through every part of the city instead of using the straight way? When you give someone an advice which bus to take, how would you explain that it's not recommended to take bus X because its route is too long?


How do you say “more to the east”? Easter, Easterer, Easterner, Easternerer?

One can sure write “east to you” or “more to the east”, but if I'm located in London and you're in Berlin, can I say that you're “easter” than me?


What is the correct way to greet a specific person when only their business title is known?

I need to write a letter to a specific person, who I only know by title. I do not know their name or gender. I can think of a couple ways to greet this individual in a letter, however I can not decide which greeting is the most optimal. Should I start my letter with: > Dear Sir or Madam, ...or > Dear Manager of Standards, ...or some other greeting.


Do "resolution" and "definition" differ? If so, how?

Particularly in the context of the usage of "high definition" and "resolution", as in quality of digital sound, picture, and/or video. My question is spurred by my description of and under an image, where I say, "Links to higher resolution, original upload." I struggled with deciding which term to use.


Is it wrong to use "All" when there are only two?

If there are two of something, can you say "all of" instead of "both of"? For example, if an email is addressed to two people, and you start off with: > All,   >  This is to inform you, etc., etc.   >  ...   >  Regards,   >  Me Is that at all appropriate?


Meaning of "credits"

Does "credit" in the following sentence mean > 2) money that you borrow from a bank? Or > 5) a sum of money paid into a bank account? (OALD) > Finally, in our progress toward a resumption of work we require two > safeguards against a return of the evils of the old order; there must be a > strict supervision of all banking and **credits** and investments.


Is this translation of a joke grammatically correct?

I'm trying to translate this Dutch comic to English. I want to say that the probability of rain turns out to be higher than predicted, but that this probability is not of such magnitude that it actually rained. This is mathematical nonsense ofcourse, but that's the punchline of the joke. My first attempt is: _"The probability of rain turned out to be higher than predicted, but not of a magnitude such that it actually rained that day."_ I can't figure out if this is grammatically correct or not. Does this make sense? Is there an easier, more concise way of explaining the joke in English?


Shorter, sarcastic way to express "The cook must have made a mistake"

I'm writing a scene in which a character says, "The cook must have made a mistake," as a sarcastic remark about the quality of the food that was served. Is there another, shorter, way to get across the same sarcasm, preferably with one word?


How can I describe someone who feels little or no emotion?

I don't mean someone who lacks emotion because they "don't care", but because either they **can't** feel emotion or the emotional response is _delayed_ because of a genetic disposition. Maybe there is an appropriate medical term that could be used. The word _stoic_ is recommended from a similar question, for example - but that question and its answers relate to an individuals _ability_ to endure/tolerate a situation or simply ignore their emotions.


A word for 'to exist in the same place as something else'

I'm looking for a word that means "to exist in the same place as something else." For example: two functions have the same points when plotted on a graph, so they **__**.   (overlap? coincide? ... ?) I used Google to translate (my native language is Dutch), and it came up with 'coincide'. But doesn't that mean to happen at the same time as something else?


"What did you eat?" vs "What have you ate?"

> What did you eat?   >  What have you ate? Are those the same? Can we use "What have you ate"?


How would you write B1 in dialogue?

Are there any rules regarding how to write model numbers or serial numbers in dialogue? For example, B1. "B one." "B1." Or "B-one."


Which would be correct: "outputs" or "puts out"?

Which word should I use in the following context? Is _the_ required before _data_? > Any algorithm first reads data, processes (the) data and finally > [outputs|puts out] the processed data.


Usage of "In present-day"

Does the sentence               In present day technology, the method can be broadly applied.      correctly translate the idea that               Now, with the development of inexpensive desktop computers, the method can be broadly applied.


One donkey at a time?

Has anyone heard this expression? If so, what does it mean? I use it to mean that one person should speak at a time, but there is no material whatsoever on the internet. I was trying to find its origin too.


Are sentences like "She didn't so much say the word as hiss it" correct?

I think of this sentence as of a contracted version of _She didn't so much say the word as [ **she** ] hissed it_, treating **as** as a conjunction connecting two clauses. But this would require the past tense of **hiss** in the original sentence. Another approach is to assume that **did** has its scope over both verbs: _She did (not so much say the word as hiss it)_. So should we use the past or the present tense in such cases, or both are acceptable?


Passive voice for sentences using modals and "used to:

I always have some problems with changing an active sentence which contains _used to_ into a passive sentence, for example: > Mr Green used to teach languages at school. What is the passive form? Is it > Languages were used to be taught at school. or is it > Languages used to be taught at school.


What is the meaning of the word "stirring" when used in context with "starch"?

I am trying to understand this sentence, but just using a dictionary is not helpful: > Prepared by treating starch with acetic acid anhydride and adipinic acid > anhydride. This results in a starch that is resistant against stirring and > high temperatures. I am interested in the word "stirring". What does this sentence actually say the starch is resistant against?


"Instructions on" vs. "instructions for"

Which of the following is correct? >   * Instructions _on_ how to do this will be provided in the User Manual. >   * Instructions _for_ how to do this will be provided in the User Manual. >


"Put together" or "assembled" for a book?

I'm collecting information about Structure from the net and textbooks. Since I paid too much effort on this, I'm going to make it a book(ish), for studying purposes. But I couldn't decide on whether I should use > Put together by X or > Assembled by X on the book. I feel like _put together_ fits more, but again, I'm not sure. Which one should I use? Also is there a better alternative?


"Contractor" and "Orderer" in a contract about computer software

I'm recently decided to draw up an agreement with an American company and found formal word choice quite challenging. My biggest problem right now is related to naming parties in the agreement. Right now, I refer to the person that develops the software (myself actually) as to the "contractor" and the person who ordered the software as "orderer". Are there any more suitable terms that could be useful in the context of this contract?


“1–2 minutes” or “1–2 minute(s)”

If we are using both singular and plural in the same sentence, how do we say or write it? For example, which one is correct?   1. one to two minutes   2. one to two minute(s)   3. one minute to two minutes


"Get used" vs "got used"

I'm learning English grammar with the book by Raymond Murphy: _English Grammar in Use [3rd Edition]_. In the exercises for unit 61, I have to complete the sentences using _used to_. I can't understand why I have to say _get used to living_ instead of _got used to living_ for this example: > Sue moved from a big house to a much smaller one. She found it strange at > first. She had to **___ __ ___ __ ___ ___** in a much smaller house. Is it past simple or past perfect?


What is another word for an identifier?

Edit: Give a better explanation of my problem. I am writing a computer program. I like to make analogies within my code to help me express the intent when I read it months down the line and it all looks like gibberish (code easily becomes gibberish if you aren't careful). I am interested to find another word for someone/something who/that identifies something. The best I can come up with is "an identifier". There is currently a theme of a police investigation throughout my code. There is a Detective and a Suspect; the Detective interrogates the Suspect (a web page). I want a word to identify a bit of my application that, given a response (from a web server), after some investigation, identifies the implications of or meaning expressed by that response. So far I have named the code the "identifier" because it identifies the meaning of the response. The word must express the intent of identification, because that is the purpose of the code. Although witness is the right word in the context of the analogy it is not the word that I am looking for because the issue for me is expressing the purpose of the code. Bonus points if you identify a better analogy. (When I reach 15.)


term for people who lack empathy, bikeshed, are overly idealistic, impractical

This might be a long shot, but here goes. I work in internet technology and often encounter (virtually and some times physically) people with the following characteristics. Is there a **term or phrase** that describes people with the following characteristics?   * highly critical of others' endeavors   * general lack of empathy   * overly idealistic (especially about technology)   * often engage in bikeshedding (Parkinson's law of triviality)   * argumentative, often ranting   * fail to understand the average person's point of view Any thoughts?


The equivalent to pluralising a word?

To turn "pencil" to "pencils" is to pluralise. To turn a verb into it's 'associated' (?) verb is what? Example: "Lease" to "leasing", "look" to "looking". Is there a word for this? Or are the two words not closely enough associated?


"X will do for Y" vs. "X will do as Y"

Consider the following sentences: >   * An empty box will do **for** a table. >   * The box will do fine **as** a table. > One uses _for_ , the other _as_. Are the two interchangeable? Can the _for_ be replaced with an _as_ without affecting the meaning?


Use of "discriminate" as verb

Is the following sentence correct? > They are **discriminated** because of their skin colour. My gut feeling tells me _discriminate_ (in this sense) has to be followed by _against_. Dictionary examples use _against_ too, but no rules are stated in OALD or Macmillan.


How to use "you are so lame!" or "you are so retard!" with friends?

I heard lots of these words from my colleagues. Definitions in Dictionary do not help me much. What I really want to know is what these words actually mean when using with friends and what situation we can use them. (A frequently used situation would be really appreciated.) Also, are they offensive?


What is the opposite of a grazing angle?

A grazing angle is almost parallel to the surface. Is there another word for an angle almost perpendicular to the surface? (Or is that just it?)


Austin fragment: "sane and undivorced"

> for (Christian) marrying, it is essential that I should not be already > married with a wife living, sane and "undivorced", and so on (Austin, 1962) If "undivorced" implies married, what does that sentence mean?


What is the opposite of being "everything to everyone"?

I think of this in the following context: when someone tries to be everything to everyone, they end up being nothing to nobody. That of course is a double negative, but I believe expresses the intent of what I am looking for very well. That is, you end up being the opposite of everything to everyone. Can anyone think of a opposite that would fit well in that phrase that is gramatically correct?


Word to describe the fear of unknown future

Is there any word to describe the fear of unknown future? Like when you cannot anticipate your future, you don't know what will happen or what can happen, not near or immediate future, but some future far away. Like what will happen five years from now? You can't control it so you're fearful.


A slang word for people who live in "fantasy land"

Lately I've been searching for a current slang term, used in the US, describing people who live in a fantasy land, or prefer to live in a bubble. After googling quite a lot, I realized that it's quite hard to search for this kind of thing, as slang is constantly changing and what may have been an excellent fit a year ago is long outdated today. Any suggestions? For clarification — The context should be somewhat cynical. The assumption is that living in fantasy is, of course, not recommended. You can think of it as a cynical slogan saying: "Not recommended for people who want to live in fantasy land".


etymology: one trick pony

What is the etymology of the phrase "one trick pony"? Can ponies do tricks? Oxford doesn't any etymology info. Wiktionary doesn't provide any info either besides the definition: > A performing animal (especially a pony) that knows only one trick. > (idiomatic, by extension) A person or group noteworthy for only a single > achievement, skill, or characteristic.


"It is a/the search to which I've dedicated my writing"

> It is **a** search to which I've dedicated my writing.   >  — Source Isn't it supposed to be _the_?


Does "you don't want X" mean "I don't recommend X to you"?

Quite often I read exchanges like this: > — I want [something], I tried this and that but still no luck, how can I do > that?   >  — You don't want [it]. An example: example. I'm Russian, and this kind of statement at first sounds strange and even a bit offensive. Like, who are you to tell me what I do or do not want? Am I right that in English it's just another way of saying "I don't recommend you [something]", or is the meaning (a bit) different?


What's the British equivalent of American "Formica" for faux wood?

In America, the word "Formica" refers to the laminate wood surface of a certain era. (Correct me if I'm wrong on this, as I'm not an American.) This word has a certain retro feel to it. So it would not be used for today's laminated wood. Is this word also used in Britain in the same way? If not, is there any equivalent word that gives the same connotation? \-- Related to this question, I believe Formica surface is quite popular in America during the 60 and 70s. (Again correct me if I'm wrong.) Is it true in England? Thank you


Which is more correct: "Plug-in" or "plugin"?

What is the correct word, _plugin_ or _plug-in_? Does it depend from the context?


Help with understanding the phrase "to the effect" in this context

What does _to the effect_ mean in this sentence? > Consider suppositions to the effect that someone is supposing something.


Why is "Good Night!" dismissive

To start off let us construct a situation were I am walking along and I pass another person. Depending on the time of day and to be polite I say one of the following:   1. "Good Morning!"   2. "Good Evening!"   3. "Good Night!"   4. "Good Day!" Now 1 and 2 are common welcoming and polite gestures and I have no problem with their use. However the problem lies with 3: Why is it so dismissive compared with 1 and 2? If I said "Good Night!" to somebody when walking at around 11 p.m why does it sound like I am putting them to bed? Finally as a related matter, why is 4 not used too often? In other languages 4 seems to be more common then an equivalent "Hello!" and sometimes 4 and "Hello!" posses the same.meaning.


What is the prototype of “Place blame where it is deserved / Blame where it’s due / Blame only where blame is due”?

New Yorker (June 13) carries an article written by John Cassidy under the title, “The Iraq mess: Place blame where it is deserved.” I thought the phrase, “ **Place blame where it is deserved** ” is a popular, fixed saying, and checked it on Google. I wasn’t able to find this phrase in the headings. Instead, I found the headline, “Teachers: **Blame only where blame is due** ” in the article dealing with teachers’ responsibility for students’ performance in Washington Post’s archive (April 19, 2011), and “ **Blame its due** ” dealing with the growing problems of colony collapse of bees in MYRMECOS (May 1, 2014). Obviously all headlines are saying the same thing with slightly different wordings. Are they simple variations of a popular idiom or cliché? If so, what is the "prototype" or standard phrasing of “Place blame where it is deserved / Blame where it’s due / Blame only where blame is due”?


What is an appropriate word for a "rerise"?

I'm wondering if there is a more appropriate term in English that describes a rise of something (like a nation) that has already achieved that status before, like a second rise or re-rise.


“out loud”: is it hyphenated or not?

Does “out loud” require a hyphen? As in “think out loud.” What do you think? I think it does not. I noticed that it is commonly used without one. Even so, it bothers me.


Touch vs Tap (button)

Computer applications sometimes instruct the user to _click_ a button to reach a desired action. What would be the correct replacement for _click_ in the context of smartphones (smart phones?) and tablets? `Touch` and `Tap` seem to be used interchangeably. Is one of these more correct over the other? How about `push` button y, does it make sense when applied to a touch screen?


Meaning of "Crown" in court

This is a sentence in an article about law and courts: > the culprit argue the Crown couldn't prove that... What is the meaning of _Crown_ in this sentence? I guess it's the chief of court, but I'm not sure.


What does “a pretzel palace” mean?

Today’s New York Times picked up a line of the comment of Governor of California, Jerry Brown on California's tight budget, which calls for severe spending cuts to deal with a $15.7 billion shortfall as the Quotation of the Day. He said: "It's a ‘pretzel palace’ of incredible complexity." What did he mean by ‘a pretzel palace’? Does it mean a labyrinth winding like pretzel? Is it a popular phrase metaphorizing complexity of the issue?


What is proper word for "His words vibrated in my ears"

What is the proper way of saying               His words vibrated in my ears      The context is a man calls some one for the last time.He is about to die.What ever the other person says he cannot hear clearly but kind of echoes in his ears


Mnemonic for spelling 'anonymous'?

I have difficulties spelling anonymous because I have trouble remembering how to even say it. Is there an easy way to remember its spelling?


What is the difference between "a" and "per"?

1.The train runs 60 miles an hour. 2.The train runs 60 miles per hour. What is the differen between the two sentences.