Is “Tear a piece out of somebody” a popular idiom to mean snatch an advantage from somebody?

I came across the phrase ‘ _tear a piece out of_ ' Obama in the debate’ in the following statement in the article titled “Obama Math: Obama Math: 8.1 + 13,300 + 50 = 270” in New Yorker magazine (September 10): “Of course, something could still happen to change the polling dynamics. Romney could _tear a piece out of Obama_ in the debates; the tsunami of negative ads the Republicans are about to unleash could conceivably turn around some Obama-leaning states; there could be an “October surprise.” As of now, though, there is no sign of Romney getting the surge he needs.” I guess ‘tear a piece out of” means to snatch an advantage out of, or take the lead to somebody (If my interpretation is wrong, please correct me), but I can’t find this phrase as an idiom in any of dictionaries at hand. What does 'a piece' represent for? I mean 'a piece of' what? Is “tear a piece out of”somebody / something a popular idiom, or just a set of words?


What adjective describes incorrect assumptions?

I wanted to apologise for making incorrect assumptions in some correspondence and wrote "I apologise for my presumptive wording". Then I looked up "presumptive" and see it means: > Providing a reasonable basis for belief or acceptance Not at all what I was trying to say. What adjective should I have used?


How to say the opposite of 'lose one's grip' for a newcomer?

If someone has not been doing a specific action for a while, you can say he "lost his grip" (got out of practice). But what about the other direction, when you want to say that a person is new and must start practicing in order to get a handle on the work, I am quite sure I have heard something similar, most likely with the word "grip". I was thinking about "get grip on" but not sure if this can be used.


What makes you think I would just run away?

In Lost Dasmond talks to his future father in law and tells him the following: > What makes you think that I would run away. I was wondering what tense it was and why 'would' not 'will'?


What does "living the first line of my obituary" mean here?

I came across a new phrase while reading an appeal letter from Wikipedia programmer here. Excerpt: > I feel like I’m living the _first line of my obituary_. > > .......... What does "living the first line of my obituary" mean in this context?


Phrases that would be similar to "Tip of the Iceberg" but with a positive connotation

I am looking for phrases that would be similar in meaning to 'tip of the iceberg,' but has a positive connotation. My understanding is that 'tip of the iceberg' has a negative "hidden" connotation. The phrase I am looking for is going to be used in the paragraph below: * * * > Over the last few decades, robotics research has made considerable   >  strides towards solving hard robotics problems such as navigating   >  unknown environments, recognizing and manipulating objects, and using   >  natural language to interact. These advances have resulted in some   >  interesting robotic applications, ranging from autonomous vacuum   >  cleaners and self-parking cars to personal software assistants. Yet, I   >  believe these applications are just the tip of the iceberg in a whole   >  new wave of personal robotics applications to hit the marketplace. * * *


Pronunciation of "-thwaite"

Planning a trip to Huddersfield the other day, I happened across the nearby villages of _Linthwaite_ (pronounced _lin-fit_) and Slaithwaite (pronounced _slow-it, or slaw-it_ depending who you ask). Thinking this strange I looked into the matter and turned up _Seathwaite_ (pronounced _sea-wait_), and also _Bassenthwaite_ and _Hawthornthwaite_, pronounced as you would expect. I have been unable to turn up any guide as to how _Haverthwaite_ , _Hampsthwaite_ or _Thornthwaite_ are pronounced. I realise that the pronunication of place names surpasseth all understanding, but my question is, are the three odd pronounciations the remains of an older form? If so, how came their names to be spelt that way? And if not, is there any reason those particular names are corrupted and not others? I suspect it isn't just a matter of local accent as _Seathwaite_ is quite a way from _Slaithwaite_ and _Linthwaite_ (which are quite close together). Is there perhaps an isogloss for this?


A word that refers to a previously mentioned action

I am trying to refer back to the action "act swiftly" mentioned previously, but I am not sure if I am in the right direction. I thought of a few possible solutions as follows. An entire rephrasing of the sentence is welcome. Any guidance is appreciated. 1. > What we have learnt from past outbreaks is that one of the crucial factors > in controlling the spread of the outbreak is to act swiftly, and it is with > **this swiftness that guides our efforts** in combating the latest outbreak. 2. > What we have learnt from past outbreaks is that one of the crucial factors > in controlling the spread of the outbreak is to act swiftly, and it is with > this **mantra that we adhere to** to combat the latest outbreak. 3. > What we have learnt from past outbreaks is that one of the crucial factors > in controlling the spread of the outbreak is to act swiftly, and it is with > this **regard that we are adhering to** to combat latest outbreak.


"Inside" or "inside of"

I've been reading this text: > When you define a type, you can define static data fields within it. The > bytes that back these static data fields are allocated within the type > objects themselves. **Finally, inside each type object is a method table > with one entry per method defined within the type.** This is the method > table that was discussed in Chapter 1. > > Richter, Jeffrey (2010-02-05). CLR via C# (Kindle Locations 3546-3548). > OReilly Media - A. Kindle Edition. However, the bolded text made me confused. Should it be _inside of_ instead of _inside_?


"So many weapons and armor!" What is wrong with this sentence? And how would one fix it?

The sentence rings false in my head. Clearly this is because "weapons" is a countable noun, and "armor" is an uncountable noun. So one could fix this sentence by breaking it up into two clauses (e.g. "So many weapons, and so much armor!"), or by replacing a countable noun with an uncountable one (e.g. "So much armor and weaponry!"). But barring those two types of drastic changes, can anything be done to fix this sentence? Is there any way to properly modify a sentence with an uncountable noun and a countable noun appended together?


Pronunciation of "esplanade" and "promenade"

Checking _Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary_ shows that the British and American pronunciations for each of _esplanade_ and _promenade_ differ. Also the way the ending is pronounced for each dialect is different in the two words. Are there any explanations for this phenomenon?


If walking across the street unlawfully is jaywalking, is it safe to say biking across the street is jaybiking?

Can the prefix "jay-" be used with any verb form so long as it represents crossing a street illegally? For example, I went to NYC the past week for vacation, and noticed so many people, and bikers, especially bikers, crossing the street whenever they felt like it, red light or not, crosswalk or not. Is it then okay to say they were "jaybiking"? Or is jaywalking just a loose term for any act of crossing the street unlawfully?


What is the proper adjective for the UK?

I've heard _Ukonian_ used, and I must say I rather like it, but I don't think it's a fully accepted word yet. _British_ leaves out Northern Ireland.


"Rotate about" vs. "rotate around"

Is there a difference in meaning between > This operation rotates the object about the axis defined by ... and > This operation rotates the object around the axis defined by ... (e.g. in the context of a graphical user interface)?


Difference between "fallback" and "fall back"?

I am struggling to understand when to use fallback and when fall back (with a space).   * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallback   * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_back_and_forward Basically I have to say > This application implements a fallback [without space?] scheme: the > application will fall back [with space?] to the next option if the first > wasn't sufficient.


Can't get right meaning of the sentence

I have an exercise as follows. I must .......... .   1. my car have repaired   2. my car be repaired   3. have my car repaired   4. repaired Can't get correct meaning of the sentence. Can somebody help me?


What are the origins of "take you up on it"

A common English idiom "take you up on it" is apparently used to indicate a general willingness or predisposition to accept something that is offered or granted. For example, > If you make an offer to help a stranger in need, don't be surprised if they > take you up on it! Does anyone know the origins of this common English idiom?


When to capitalize the name of a season

Which sentence uses the correct capitalization for the name of the season? > I will travel in the summer of 2013. or > I will travel in the Summer of 2013.


Is 'their way' having the function of adverbial phrase?

> It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all > Harry’s pasties, cakes, and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten). In this sentence, what's the meaning of 'their way'? Is it having the function of adverbial phrase?


Technical terminology for a non-technical audience

In documentation for a non-technical audience, I was asked about usage around the term "regular expression." My colleague was asking if one of "RegEx", "Regex" or "regex" would be preferable, I responded with "regular expression" on first usage, then "expression" or "pattern" on subsequent usages. Has anyone else had to tackle this question? I fear my AP style guide is silent on this topic.


LEDs and the correct pronunciation

The LED is quickly becoming a standard light source alternative to incandescent lights, when speaking to others, I have always pronounced any reference to LED as the acronym "L E D", but increasingly I have heard others refer to LED as "lead". Staff at large box stores often use the "lead" reference, and several of my family have also used the word "lead" in reference to LED. What I find interesting is that LED's have been around since the 1960's and were always referred to as an acronym. Anyone who studied electrical engineering in school would not use "lead" in a sentence. Still times have changed and "lead" is increasingly being used. Is it correct to use the word "lead" to refer to LED?


Does the term 'silly season' still exist?

It used to be the case that the summer period, from roughly early July to early September, in Britain was known as the 'silly season' to newspaper people. It was a time when newspapers were short of news copy, parliament and the law courts being in recesss, football was in close season etc. It was a time when 'silly' news stories appeared on the front pages. In 1966, when the World Cup was stolen and a little dog found it in a hedgerow it typified the type of story the press craved during the summer months to fill their pages. Things like the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and the death of Diana in 1997, both in the middle of the silly season, came as a godsend to news proprietors. Nowadays one hears less of the silly season which may be a reflection of a global news industry, and 24 hour reporting. This year, with the events in Ukraine, Gaza, and now Iraq, newspapers certainly have no shortage of copy. But what I would like to know is how the term 'silly season' translates in other parts of the Anglosphere. Is there typically a silly season, and how is it described?


What does “It’s the loyalty (or the economy), stupid,” mean?

In the New York Time’s (August 12) article titled, “ **It’s the loyalty, stupid** ,” Maureen Dowds comments on Hillary Clinton’s calling President Obama a wimp just as he was preparing to order airstrikes against ISIS. She wrote: > “She said that Obama’s “failure” in Syria led to the rise of ISIS and sniped > about Obama’s slogan: “Great nations need organizing principles, and ‘Don’t > do stupid stuff’ is not an organizing principle.” > > Saying you can’t live by slogans is rich, coming from someone whose > husband’s presidency was built on “ **It’s the economy, stupid**.” > > oehttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/13/opinion/maureen-dowd-its-the-loyalty- > stupid.html?hp&action=click&pgtype What does "stupid" of “It’s the X (loyalty, economy, whatever), stupid.” specifically mean? Does it mean "obvious / without question"? Can I replace ‘stupid’ with ‘period’? What are spelt out forms of these lines?


What is is called when you count the letters in an acronym, name or word with an ordinal multiplier?

In English, we frequently look at an acronym and name multiple repeated letters using an ordinal multiplier. For example: > Automobile Association of America - **AAA** is read as **_Triple-A_**.   >  Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - **AAA** is read as **_Triple-A_**   >  National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - **NAACP** is > read as N **_Double-A_** CP   >  **Aamco** Transmission Repair - Read in their ad copy **_Double-A MCO_**   >  **AAA** or **AA** Battery - **_Triple-A_** or **_Double-A_** Battery > respectively Is there a phrase or word for this phenomenon?


Living out of one another's pockets

> Neither Anastasia Alexandrovna nor he felt that they could live another > minute out of one another's pockets. What does this mean? Does it mean they can't live without one another (because they are in love)?


Is the "will let you know afternoon" correct?

Which of the following are correct?   1. Will let you know in the afternoon.   2. Will let you know afternoon.   3. Will let you know after noon.


Meaning of "by some margin"

Could you please explain the meaning of this? I have it in a sentence - The speaker was, by some margin, the youngest person in the room. I am a translator from English to Czech and I can´t find it anywhere. Thanks.


"You need to be here"

I am non-native English speaker. Friend of mine said me "You need to be here". Does it mean _he wanted me to be there_ or he was trying to say that _I need to be there_?


Commonly understood term or phrase to distinguish an entire hierarchy of employees in an organisation from the direct team

I have a system where manager can toggle between viewing their direct reports and all the employees who ultimately report to them. High level HR users have a third option of being able to view everyone regardless of reporting lines. I want the labels on these options to be both succinct but also readily understood, and so far have options like:   * "Everyone", "My Team" and "My Hierarchy"   * "All", "All Reports" and "Direct Reports"   * "Subordinates", "Immediate Subordinates" and "Everyone" All of these terms seem a little confusing to me. "Reports" seems likely to be confused with our reporting functionality. "Subordinates" seems clearer, but also vaguely pejorative these days. The first option is my favourite, but while words like "hierarchy" seem obvious to me I think they may be too obscure for most. Is there a nice commonly understood word or term that I could use here? I'm not looking for a single word that's synonymous with team or hierarchy, I'm looking for the words or phrase that most clearly makes the distinction between the immediate team and the hierarchy. For instance, I want a director to be able to tell at a glance whether they're looking at their middle managers or their entire division. I want those middle managers to see whether they're looking at their line managers or their department, and so on.


"Even were he not to..."

I am currently reading "Do androids dream of electric sheep?" by P.K. Dick and I have come across a grammatical structure I don't quite understand. The excerpt is the following (no spoilers, don't worry): > "Ever thought of selling your horse?" Rick asked. He wished to god he had a > horse, in fact any animal. Owning and maintaining a fraud had a way of > gradually demoralizing one. And yet from a social standpoint it had to be > done, given the absence of the real article. He had therefore no choice > except to continue. **Even were he not to care himself** , there remained > his wife, and Iran did care. Very much. Although I think I can grasp the meaning (similar to "although he didn't care") I would really appreciate some information concerning the use and meaning of the sentence, as well as some pronunciation advice: should 'were' be stressed? I would also find another example very useful.


Are there any rules/patterns for selecting "ish" vs "like" as a suffix?

This question arose on a comment thread over on ELL. Are there any rules or patterns for when we should/do select "ish" as a suffix, rather than "like"? Some examples discussed were that _birdlike_ comes naturally and is easily understood to mean _like or in a manner such as that of a bird_ , but no native speaker would come up with _birdish_. As for the opposite, there are words such as _cliquish_ , which _clique-like_ would never be substituted for. Another interesting point that FumbleFingers raised in that discussion is that we have some words which take the suffix _ish_ but clearly and recognizably do not mean "x-like", such as "sheepish". (Perhaps the _origin_ of sheepish is something along the lines of that sheep (the animal) act sheepish, but when you say "He looked away sheepishly" you don't mean "he looked away in a manner similar to that of a sheep.")


what the logical/physical pair means?

In English, we often use logical/physical pair to describe something, like in powerdesigner, there are two type of data models: > logical data model and physical data model what's this words means?


Is it "stern talking too", or "stern talking to"?

In the following sentence: > I'll have to give myself a stern talking to. is it "stern talking to", or "stern talking too"?


What’s the etymology of “April”?

What is the meaning of the name _April_? Any ideas? I have a friend who wants to know the meaning of her name.


Why is 1 hand-written without a serif and 7 without a dash?

I've noticed that people coming from a English-speaking countries tend to write "1" without the upstroke and "7" without a dash: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/KQqs8.jpg) which differs from the way the numbers are usually written in continental Europe1: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/hKred.jpg) Is there any particular (historical?) reason for this? * * * 1 According to Wikipedia, " _most people in Continental Europe, Latin America, and New England write 7 with a line in the middle ("7"), sometimes with the top line crooked._ "


One meaning of "of course"

Reading that classic of children's literature, _Tiptoes the Mischievous Kitten_ (a Ladybird book from 1949), I started wondering about the phrase "of course." Here's an example of what I think of as the typical use of "of course": after getting covered in starch, Tiptoes runs out into the sun where "of course her fur dried in little stiff points... ." If you get mixed up in starch, then it's gonna dry your fur in stiff points -- here, _of course_ "acknowledges the validity of the associated phrase." But here's another example of "of course" that I think of as less typical and this is the one I'm asking about. Tiptoes's owner carefully closes a door, but, the latch being loose, it swings open again. At this point in the narrative, my two young children know that the very worst thing that could happen is that the mischievous kitten comes along, but "Just then, _of course_ , Tiptoes came silently up the stairs" (and then all hell breaks loose). This use of "of course" does not _acknowledge the validity of the associated phrase_ : it does not follow from the door swinging open that Tiptoes should happen up the stairs. She could just as well be sleeping in the rocking chair or hunting mice. It seems instead to mean "as luck would have it," or acts perhaps an idiomatic affirmation of Murphy's law. I can remember my English grandmother using the phrase "of course" in a similar way, usually in humorous or ironic stories. She'd use an "of course" to introduce that the worst/silliest/funniest possible turn of events was about to happen. Is this usage mainly mid-20th-century English? Is it any accident that an English book of 1949 reminds me of something my English grandmother (born in 1916) might have said? I don't think I've heard it used amongst my Canadian contemporaries. Do we still hear it today, or has it been replaced by other idioms or even tones of voice? Do we hear it in North America, in Australia, NZ, South Africa, India? Is its use limited to the British Isles, or even to certain regions of the UK?


How to use a the possessive "s" after a dot?

How can I use an apostrophe to show possession after a dot? Example: Martin Luther King **Jr.'s** world-view. Is this correct?


right (opposite of left) connected to right (legal term)?

Does anyone know of a connection, or some sort of established historical/etymological explanation why in a few languages, "the opposite of left" and "truthful claim to" are the same or seemingly related words? Do they all have a common root? Did they develop independently? Examples:   * English: right - right   * French: droit - droit   * German: rechts - Recht   * Polish: prawo - prawo   * Russian: право - право Maybe some people can enhance this list by adding more examples? My question also on linguistics.stackexchange.


What is the lexical equivalent of "syntax"?

I'm trying to find a word that means "lexical rules" (or perhaps not rules, but "tokens" I guess?); kind of like how _syntax_ means "syntactic rules", but I'm unable to find one. In other words: _syntactic_ is to _syntax_ as _lexical_ is to what?


What is a West Coast (U.S.) accent?

I've seen references to the American Midwest as being the home of the least accented form of American English. I always think of the Northern Midwest as having an accent that I associate with Canadians and that the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) is the closest to "Standard American English." What are the features of the "West Coast" accent (if any)?


What is the longest English word that starts and ends with the same letter?

I've found "enterprise", which is 10 letters long. Does anyone know of any longer words that start and end with the same letter? That letter doesn't have to be 'e', by the way. It just means that the first and last letter of the word have to be identical.


What is the opposite of the Devil's Advocate?

If I am arguing against a proposal that I may actually agree with, then I am playing Devil's Advocate. However, what if I do not necessarily agree with the proposal but am arguing for it, with the same goal of making sure it is fully vetted. What am I then?


Usage of 'halcyon' to describe something other than a period of time

Can I use the term **halcyon** to mean _calm_ or _tranquil_ when describing something other than a period of time, especially a place or setting? For example, does the following sentence seems unnatural or contrived? > He walked through the _halcyon_ temple, admiring the aging frescoes. All dictionaries cite phrases like, " _the halcyon days of summer_ " or " _the halcyon years_ ", but a few other sources which use it in other ways—often as proper names or when describing a tree kingfisher, genus _Halcyon_ , but occasionally as a general purpose adjective. Still, I'm not sure how 'proper' this use is or if it has some kind of subtle connotation I'm not aware of.


One word for accepting the punishment or consequence for one's wrong doing

The title is the question and the word starts with a "C". It exactly follows the given definition. I just can't remember the word. Any help is deeply appreciated.


Where does "to keep fingers crossed" come from?

When someone says they keep their fingers crossed, it means they wish or hope for a good outcome for someone or something. Where does this idiom originate from? Why do people fold their one finger on another to hope for the best?


Is "Well-spokenness" a phrase in current use ?

I had never heard or read this before, but a job ad required "well- spokenness". The American Heritage Dictionary never even mentions "spokenness". Nor does the OED online. Although I think I understand what it means, does it exist ? If it does, what is considered well-spokenness in the US and in England ?


Why doesn't "wish" have the letter "n" in it?

The English word "wish" is akin to the German word "wünschen", the reconstructed Proto-Germanic word being "wunskijanan" (according to Wiktionary). What happened to the letter n in the middle of the word? I see that the Old Norse word also didn't have it: "œskja", but for some reason the Faroese, Swedish and Danish ones do. Isn't Faroese a direct descendant of Old Norse? Have there been analogous en losses in English? Does the process have a name? Or was it a random event?


Is "fireworks" singular or plural?

As I understand, when referring to a single concept, one would use "ham and cheese is", but "fruit and nuts are". Now, can one have a single firework, or is/are _fireworks_ simultaneously singular and plural?


"Complimentary" vs "complementary"

I got a bit mixed up just now over the difference between "complimentary" and "complementary". My colleagues were arguing over the correct spelling of "complimentary drink" at a nightclub event, and I proposed that it be with an "e". But apparently a free promotional gift is, in fact, spelled with an "i"... Egg on my face! My question though is if it's always as simple as this. Obviously a glass of wine can _also_ be complementary, if it's specially chosen to go with a meal. (I wonder if any restaurant has ever offered a "complimentary complementary glass of wine", or would that be too silly?) And it still feels to me as if as "complementary breakfast" could quite logically be one that is included in the bill, "making up the complement" of the price charged. Am I just crazy? Has it always been unequivocally "complimentary" when a service is provided free of charge as a sweetener to a deal? I kind of prefer "complimentary" to relate specifically to compliments. A restaurant owner is not _really_ paying you a compliment by not charging you extra for breakfast, he's just doing business...


Is there a technical term to describe why we feel the need to put emoticons and smileys in our writing?

One often wants to convey a kind of mood when writing a comment to another person, especially if what we're saying is ambiguous or can be taken offensively. So, one adds a smiley or an emoticon. Is there a technical term for what they add or impart to the English language?


Should north, south, east and west be capitalised?

Should cardinal points be capitalised? Please give a reason why they should or should not.


Difference between "Do it yourself" and "Do it by yourself"

What is the difference between "Do it yourself" and "Do it by yourself"? and how and when can I use each one of them?


Is there a term for an anniversary that falls on the same day of the week as its original date?

An anniversary refers to the yearly recurrence of a date of an event. However, being an incredibly sentimental person who also takes notice of all sorts of minor details, I find myself placing significance in anniversaries that happen on the same day of the week. For example, if an event occurred on **Tuesday, June 10, 2008** , today will be the sixth anniversary of said event. However, today also happens to be the first anniversary that falls on the same day of the week, i.e., **Tuesday, June 10, 2014**. Is there a term that I can use for this, similar to the word "anniversary", or will I have to describe its significance?1 * * * 1 I'll probably have to _either way_ , if the term turns out to be a really obscure one.


Term for law workarounds

Let's imagine there is some law (for example, gambling prohibition law) and malefactors try to find some workarounds to continue their business (for example, pretend like this is not gambling but lottery). What are these law workarounds called in general?


Meaning of "since changed"

> The MVC in Backbone originally stood for Models, Views and Collections, > since there were no controllers in the framework. This has **since > changed**. Does it mean it has changed from that moment or it has changed from that time to the present?


The pronunciation of 'interest', which is right?

I don't know which is right? interest ['intrist, 'intər-] which is right?


Is it common to describe one’s life stage in English, like “Stage III Hemingways”?

I found the word, “men who looked like _stage three Hemingways_ ” in the following sentence of Maureen Dowd’s article, titled “Farewell to Macho,” in the New York Times (October 15): “Diliberto recalled that when her Hadley bio was first published in 1992, she was surprised to find her book readings filled with men “ _who looked like stage-three Hemingways_ ” with white beards and safari jackets straining over their bellies. They all wanted to be Hemingway, to live his outdoorsy, action- packed life.” When I hear the word, “ _Stage three_ ” in Japanese, I instantly associate it with the significantly progressed or serious stage of cancer at the “Stage III,” where surgical operation might no longer be so helpful, but “Stage three” in the above quote seems to simply imply a life stage passing the prime of age. Is it a common wording, “stage I, II, III, and IV of a person”, like “Stage three Hemingways”? Is President Obama now on his “ _Stage II_ ”?


What is the story behind "Get off my lawn"?

Often when someone wants to make a point that they are really experienced in the field they say something along the lines of, "I've been in this line of work for as long as your age, get off my lawn you kittens" or they'd name an antique computer's name and say "My first program was on PDP-11, get off my lawn" (When they want to say I'm a very experienced programmer). What is the connection of owning a lawn and being very experienced and where do kittens fit in? What is the history of this phrase?


What is the difference between rotate and revolve?

What is the difference between _rotation_ and _revolution_? I don't find any difference between the two words from the meanings I read about them. Both words have the same meaning: moving in a circle around an axis. But just because the dictionary definitions are the same doesn't mean they are exact synonyms. Is there a more precise description to show a difference? Or are they really exact synonyms? > **revolve** _verb_   >  [no object] move in a circle on a central axis:   >      _overhead, the fan revolved slowly_ > > **rotate** _verb_   >  **1** move or cause to move in a circle round an axis or centre:   >  [no object]:   >      _the wheel continued to rotate_ > > [Both ODO]


Does one remonstrate another or does one remonstrate with another?

If I am protesting forcefully the actions of another, let’s call him Joe, would it be better to say: > I remonstrated Joe over his choice of words in that argument. or would I say: > I remonstrated _with_ Joe over his choice of words in that argument. Because he is the target of my remonstration, no? * * * Because close votes are collecting, let me explain why a simple internet search thus far has not led to me to a definitive answer: The link supplied which suggests that _suggests that adding “with” is usual_ was quite quickly found by me, and I didn’t think it necessary to state that I had come across that link, as the whole purpose of me asking would be negated if I had never heard someone say “aren’t you to use _with_ with that verb?” I’m asking because I don’t know what the difference is when the target of the remonstration is present, versus when you’re discussing someone with whom you were remonstrating, for instance, if two editors were remonstrating the closing of a publisher. That would be an obvious use of _with_ to connote multiple involved parties. I don’t say _I beat with you_ , whereas I might say _I debated you_ or you might say _I debated with you_. Is _remonstrated_ used in the same way as _debated_ in this case, where you may choose or not choose to use _with_ or is _with_ required when using _remonstrated_? * * * More specifically, I said it as a direct statement to him “I remonstrated you” (a smaller clause from a larger sentence, with context)


Usage of "toilless"

While reading a scientific paper I stumbled about their usage of the word "toilless" (they write it like that, even though I get corrected to "toil less" when typing it). As the whole paper is, to say the least, not perfect in language usage I am somewhat hesitant to link it here. I am not perfect myself and don't want to make somebody look like a fool. The way they use it is like "effortless", for example: > One method is relatively toilless, while the other is much more challenging. So, getting curious, I started to search the web, first did not find "toilless" at all, then found something at the Free Online Dictionary. "Free from toil", this description was quite clear to me. But do you really use this word? Do you have any examples of correct usage for me? It sounds rather old-fashioned or maybe specific to some field. (Though not the one the paper was about, which I know rather well.)


"Using" versus "with"

I find myself using these two constructions: > I am digging a hole using a spade. and > I am digging a hole with a spade. Which one is correct, or can they be used both?


What does “comb-over” mean in the line, “Overused / abused words, e.g.’twerking’ and ‘stay classy’ are the aural equivalent of a comb-over”?

The New York Times (December 28) article, Words for the Dumpster begins with the following sentence: > With the last tick of 2013, let’s throw out the most annoying, overused and > abused words of the year. A few of these terms, “twerking” or “stay classy,” > die a natural death when someone like John McCain starts using them — the > aural equivalent of **a comb-over**. Others need a push. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “comb-over” as: > an arrangement of hair on a balding man in which hair from the side of the > head is combed over the bald spot. I understand “comb-over” also means to investigate / search for thoroughly. But neither seems to be relevant to the usage of “comb-over” in the above quote. What does the author means by saying “A few of overused and abused words of the year die a natural death when someone like John McCain starts using them — **the aural equivalent of a comb-over**.”?


Time magazine (March 5th) carries the article titled, “Ukraine, not the Ukraine: The significance of three little letters,” in which the following comment of William Taylor, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009 was quoted: > “Ukraine is a country. The Ukraine is the way the Russians referred to that > part of the country during Soviet times … Now that it is a country, a > nation, and a recognized state, it is just Ukraine. And it is incorrect to > refer to **the** Ukraine, even though a lot of people do it.” http://time.com/12597/the-ukraine-or-ukraine/ What is the difference between Ukraine and the Ukraine? Does the Ukraine mean Ukrainians or Ukrainian district (of Russia)? Most of all newspapers call Ukraine Ukraine. Are there _a lot of_ people who call the country “the Ukraine,” Really?


Collective name for prefix and suffix of a word

Is there a term that can be used to refer to both the prefix and suffix of a word? For example, _unenjoyable_. I'm looking for a collective word that described BOTH _un_ and _able_.


Is there an adjective describing what one *is* on one's birthday?

There's this simple, efficient adjective in Dutch called `jarig`. It means something along the line of _having your birthday_. It's useful in many different sentences, such as: > I feel so **_jarig_** vandaag. I like this word a lot and it looks as if it's missing in English. Is there any equivalent?


what is the meaning of "duly attached" in?

What is the meaning of "duly attached" in the sentence from Sherlock Holmes novel "A Study in Scarlet"? > "I was _duly attached_ to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant > Surgeon". Does "duly" mean "properly" or "as expected"? Also does "being attached" mean "designated"?


In how many inflectional forms can a verb be written English?

I want to know the number of inflectional forms of a verb. I came to know from one of my colleagues that a verb has 13 inflectional forms ('conjugations,' that's what he named it). Is it true?


Word for inability to think in certain ways

Am looking for a word that loosely means _inability to think in certain ways_. For example, for lyricists (or writers) lyrics come so naturally, but for non- lyricists it's very difficult to think how lyricists write lyrics— it's a mindset or thinking pattern difference. The same can be for screenplay writers or artists. The same can be for lock-pickers and non lock-pickers. It's loosely the ability or inability to think along particular lines. Is there a word that correctly captures what I am trying to say?


Can "predeceased" be used before any event?

When a person dies, it is common to say the person was predeceased by other people such as his parents, his brother, and others. However, I am wondering if these statements are correct: >   * His brother predeceased his birth. >   * Their child predeceased their marriage. > In these cases, "predeceased" means "died before". But is "predeceased" valid here? Or is it only valid before another death event, as in: >   * His brother predeceased him/his death. > There are various definitions of the meaning of "predeceased". Some refer only to preceding another person's death, but others such as at Dictionary.com (based on the Random House Dictionary) give the definition of "predeceased" as: > "to die before (another person, the occurrence of an event, etc.)" And there is some legal use of "predeceased" with respect to events that are not necessarily a death event, such as this definition of Survive: > "Survive: An individual than has neither predeceased an event, including the > death of another individual, or is deemed to have predeceased an event under > §15-11-104, §15-11-702 and §15-11-712 C.R.S." Searching on Google for "predeceased the event" gives 21,100 results, many of which are from legal documents. So my question is, in proper English, is it proper to use the word "predeceased" when referring to events other than a death, such as a birth or a marriage or any other event, even something like the sinking of the Titanic? In other words, is "predeceased" allowed everywhere you could write "died before"?


Can an English sentence have a 'dative subject'?

I have been thinking about this for a while. It seems to me that, sometimes, the subject plays a dative role in that it is the recipient of something. Take the following active sentence. > He gave me a gift. If it is made passive, it normally changes as follows. > A gift was given to me (by him). In which case _a gift_ is clearly nominative and _to me_ clearly dative. However, I often see the following passive construction used instead. > I was given a gift (by him). In which case _I_ appears to be a sort of nominative-dative, yet I can't quite explain _a gift_ or what it does in the sentence; it is certainly not accusative. Semantically, I understand the sentence, but I cannot make syntactic sense of it. After a quick search on Google Ngram, it seems that _gift was given me_ is the oldest possible construction, which makes sense, followed by _gift was given to me,_ which also makes sense. The first instance of _I was given a gift_ appears to be in 1920, from which point it has risen steadily. So it seems quite obvious that it is a new usage. Is this a 'correct' usage, so to speak? How did it come about? Most interestingly to me, how is it explained grammatically? Can it be adequately explained with traditional grammatical terms? or does it require an altogether new analysis?


How do I quote in a paper a quote that someone else used in a book?

I'm writing a paper using Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy. Huxley doesn't use a single word when he quotes, his book is full of complete quotes that aren't a part of a sentence or a paragraph, and he uses the quotes as supporting evidence to what he has said. For example, take this as a paragraph from the book. End paragraph.                He who suffers for love does not suffer, for all suffering is forgot.                                                               -Eckhart      How do I quote this quote in my paper?


What is the difference between "take notes" and "make notes"?

Most dictionaries simply say that _to take/make notes_ means _to write notes_. Is there anything more to this simple definition?


General term for muggle-type terms?

Is there a general term to refer to "a semi-denigrating term used by a minority social group (not necessarily a racial group) to refer to the majority". Examples would be "muggle", "gentile", "textile", "breeder", "straight", "mundane", etc. (I am not referring to outright derogatory terms)


The preposition with the word "value"?

Which is the correct way of writing?   * He bought 50 shares `with` the nominal value of ... (sum of money)    * He bought 50 shares `of` the nominal value of ...    * He bought 50 shares `for` the nominal value of ...   * He bought 50 shares `having a` nominal value of ...


What are some products that are now words?

All of the ones I can think of are specific products that have come to represent their kind. This is usually either because it is the first of its kind, as in a Xerox machine (the first office photocopier), or it arises from popularity, as in Sharpie or something like "Google that" (though I'd say that's a bit informal/debatable). Other examples I can think of off the top of my head are:   * Kleenex   * Post-it


Why Are Introductory Classes Called "101"?

Many freshmen will kick off their college careers with courses like Psychology 101, English 101, or History 101. When and how did introductory classes get this special number?


Why can no-one say "no-one needs know"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Why use “need not” instead of “do not need to”? In English, why could I say, "No-one need know" and not "No-one needs know". I would say, after all, "No-one needs to know".


Right meaning of the phrase

> [man] makes himself the instrument of somebody or something outside of > himself; **he need not solve** the problem of living by productive activity. Bold part means “a man doesn't need to solve any problems”, not “a man have no problems to solve”? Is it common phrase?


What does ‘Rock a hat” mean?

There is the following sentence in Tina Fey’s “Bossypants": > ”Don Fay dresses well. He has an artist’s eye for mixing colors and prints. > He wears tweedy jackets over sweater vests in the winter and seersucker > suits in the summer. His great college ring shows off his well-groomed > hands. **He can still rock a hat**. - P43.” I don’t understand what “He can still rock a hat” means.” Neither of CED or OED carries “rock a hat” as an idiom. Nor GoogleNgram does. What does it mean? Is this phrase Tina Fey’s coinage?


"Languorous" versus "languid"

"Languorous" and "languid" have similar meanings. Are there any subtle differences in usage, due to connotation perhaps, that make one more suitable than the other under certain circumstances?


Gut-wrenching or -retching?

> It was the most gut-retching thing I have ever heard. _Wrenching_ sounds like it would make sense, but so does _retching_.


Is there honour among thieves or not?

I'm not sure which one of these apparently flatly contradictory proverbs I heard first but I have definitely heard both several times. One of them is: > There is honour among thieves. Another is: > No honour among thieves. Do they simply mean the opposite of each other, therefore, at least in my mind cancelling each other out, or is there a subtlety here that I am not picking up on? Are they related, perhaps sharing an origin and then somehow becoming inverted?


Does the type of play on words in "Some people are immune to good advice" have a name?

On Breaking Bad, Saul Goodman remarks, "Some people are immune to good advice." Similarly, a friend of mine described a weekend as "a celebration of procrastination". Does word play that juxtaposes the verb and the object, as the examples above do, have a name?


What do we 'turn round and say'?

Often you will hear people say something like 'He turned round and called me a liar', or 'what if she turns round and refuses to pay'. This 'turn round' (I am informed it is much less used in America) is only apposite to certain contexts. And what exactly does it mean? **Edit after reading some of the responses** Clearly abruptness and/or suddenness are strongly implied by the expression. But I cannot agree, as some have suggested, that it necessarily involves a reversal of a previous expression. That is not the way it is always used in Britain. For example one colleague to another might say 'If we give Charles added responsibility, he may well turn round and use it as an argument for a pay rise'. That sort of use is quite common. I think the turning around is not about a reversal of a previous position, but is used to indicate that the remark came suddenly and out of nowhere. In other words the fact of turning around indicates that it is not part of an existing dialogue which had been going on.


is "if any" the same as "if existing"?

Given this sentence: > Its original manufacturer’s warranty, if any, still applies, with warranty > details included in the item details. Can I change “if any” in the above sentence to “if existing”? > Its original manufacturer’s warranty, if existing, still applies, with > warranty details included in the item details


Differences among point, grade and mark

I do not know how they are different when they are used as a grading system ? Can I say a pointing system or a marking system?


Synonym for man-made, but not by man

I'm looking for a synonym for man-made (i.e., not naturally occurring) that doesn't imply it was made by humans. "Fabricated" or "constructed" are the closest I've come, but I'm not very happy with either of them. Does anyone have some other suggestions? Edit: Thanks for all the great suggestions! To clarify a bit further: what I mean by "natural" would be something like a rock, cliff or mountain, a tree or forest, a stream or natural lake. The word I'm looking for would refer to anything made by some creature, be it a human, animal, ghost or alien.


Usage of "second/third/fourth ... last"

In German there is a pattern for counting items from the end of a list. The last item is "das letzte", the one before is "das vorletzte", the one before that is "das vorvorletzte" and for each other item there's just another "vor" added. While searching for an English translation for the German word "vorvorvorletzte" I came across several translations and discussions but none of them showed any usage pattern. Furthermore I didn't find any indication of which variant ("to", "from", no preposition) is used most nor to what area of the world those translations apply. So I am still wondering: When there are items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, how can/will item 2 be called?   * third from last?   * fourth from last?   * anteantepenultimate?   * fourth-last?   * fourth to last?   * the last but three item?   * the last but four item? Is this a question of dialect/local use?


What does the word robo means?

I was looking at another StackExchange site and saw this phrase: > Although it was ultimately accepted, the reviewers who accepted it look more > like **robo-reviewers** than those who rejected it. When I tried to search on a search-engine for the meaning it almost always referenced to a Spanish term that apparently means to steal / or to be stolen from. (depending on the pronunciation). But I cannot see this meaning to be related at all with this phrase that I posted. Source of the post: http://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/254122/is-this- edit-correct-or-does-it-change-too-much-of-the-question?cb=1


Improper use of "Whenever"

I increasingly encounter people who misuse "whenever" when they really mean "when": > Whenever I first came to St. Louis, I lived with my Aunt Judy... Bugs me to death. Obviously they are talking about a one-time event, not "every time I visited St. Louis", which would be a valid use of "whenever". Is this a common misuse? Is this a regional thing (St. Louis, MO, USA)? This isn't a valid alternate use, is it?


Is the glass half filled with water or half empty?

![Glass with water](http://i.stack.imgur.com/lqyi1.jpg) If someone asks me this, is there some **_proper_** answer according to English grammar? If there is, what is it? If not, shouldn't there be one? And which one? P.S. I am not asking this for fun. This thing is driving me crazy. It has left my mind half empty, or half filled? Whatever..


"inquisitive" vs. "inquiring" in AmE and BrE

Do these terms share the same level of laudatoriness/pejorativeness in both BrE and AmE? Or, does one typically have a more positive/negative connotation to it than the other from your side of the pond? For example, think of " **inquisitive mind** " vs. " **inquiring mind**." Also, would you define Lt. Columbo as an " **ever-inquisitive** " or " **ever- inquiring** " police officer to say he is quite a snoopy fellow? > **inquisitive**: adj. : 1) having or showing an interest in learning things; > curious.   >  2) Unduly curious about the affairs of others; prying. > > **inquiring/(chiefly BrE) enquiring**: adj. : 1) showing an interest in > learning things.   >  2) (Of a look or expression) suggesting that information is sought. **Edit** : What I wish you could tell is whether some sort of difference exists in the usage of "inquisitive" and "inquiring" as used in AmE and BrE. For instance, I was taught when I was in school (where BrE is the norm out here in France) that "inquisitive" has a pejorative connotation to it, a bit similar to "snoopy/prying." However, quite a few years ago, I was corrected by a couple of Americans in their mid thirties/early forties after using "inquiring" to mean "having/showing an interest in learning things." They told me the appropriate word for that should be "inquisitive," not "inquiring," which, to their perspectives, had a pejorative meaning to it, as in "inquiring eyes staring at you." Hence my question: is there a US/UK difference to the usage of those terms? Hope I'm not being too inquisitive (or should I say "inquiring") looking into this.


I need to comment on Bill Gates's blog. In my comments I would frequently want to refer to him (I don't want to address him) with respect

What should I add before or after his name to show respect? In India we do that adding sir after the name but I don't think it's done in standard English.


What is the English phrases for "to bet/vote on a winning candidate"?

For example, betting Manchester United rather than a newly-promoted club. This is not limited to sport and not limited to only two participants. I've heard it's "to ride on a winning horse", is that correct? But when I googled it, there's no such thing of it. Could you help me?


Why are days of the week proper nouns?

Is there any particular reason why days of the week are proper nouns?


"Aaron is a genius boy"

I wonder whether can we call someone a _genius boy_? I've been using this term to describe my cousin until someone told me that the correct usage should be _boy genius_. The question is: Can we say _Aaron is a genius boy_? Is it _wrong_? What do you think?


Caveat - accepted pronunciation(s)?

I've always read it at cave-eat, even spelled it that way sometimes. But I just recently found out that that's not the case. It's supposedly pronounced as "KAH-vee-yat"--which I've never heard anyone say. My question, is there more than one accepted pronunciations to this word? or have just simply been saying it wrong?


Can "conceived" be used as "assumed"?

For example: > Jack thinks he's responsible for killing his mother and thus for his uncle’s > _conceived_ hatred towards him. Here, I mean to say that Jack _assumes_ his uncle hates him (of course, Jack is sure, but it may not be the truth). And I think it'd be incorrect to say "...and thus for his uncle's _assumed_ hatred towards him." Is _conceived_ also incorrect? I tried looking for other sentences that use _conceive_ similarly, but those sentences seem to be using _conceive_ to say hatred was _formed_. Really, my goal is to say "...and thus for his uncle's hatred towards him, though Jack only assumes his uncle hates him--his uncle truly does not." Or something along those lines. I'm trying to make this sentence more concise by using _conceived_ this way, but am not sure if this is the right approach. Suggestions?


Difference in usage between "expat" and "emigrant"?

Is there a difference in usage between _expat_ and _emigrant_? I believe I encounter the former mostly in positive contexts, describing highly-skilled professionals ("expat guide to [country]"), and the latter in neutral-to- negative contexts, but I'm not sure if it is a coincidence.


"Music preference" or "music preferences"?

What is the difference between _preference_ and _preferences_? Does it matter if one uses singular or plural in the following sentences: >   * The effect of music on test-taking ability greatly depends on the > particular individual and their music **preference**. >   * The effect of music on test-taking ability greatly depends on the > particular individual and their music **preferences**. >


Long lived slang

Every year new slang words enter the popular lexicon but which ones actually 'stick'? Every since I can remember, 'cool' has been an acceptable word whereas 'groovy' passed out of usage in the 70s. Is there some informal criteria that seems to govern which words remain in popular usage and which pass as a fashion item.


Is "Me neither" incorrect?

I've heard that "me neither" is incorrect. Instead one should say "neither do I." People definitely say "me neither" conversationally, but is it technically incorrect?


Does "numeric" abbreviation eg i18n have a name?

In the computer programming context, several long words are commonly abbreviated using the formula `first letter, number of letters between, last letter`. Eg `internationalization` \--> `i18n` Is there a name for this technique of abbreviation? Is there a name for the abbreviation so created?


J.A. Gagarin's flight vs J.A. Gagarin flight

1) Is it Ok to leave the initials or would you drop them? Writing his name in full seems odd since it isn't Gagarin who is the point of discussion.   2) Is it Gagarin's or Gagarin? Is there any difference between the use of the possessive case in titles and not, with well-known names and not?


Is there any difference between nevertheless and never the less?

I saw this on eBay's website: > You can sell multiple items that, even though they are against eBay policy, > don’t get you caught. **Never the less** , they are against the rules and > can result in you losing your eBay account. Is **never the less** the formal version of **nevertheless**?


What is the difference between "wriggle room" and "wiggle room"?

The phrase "wriggle room" gives 2 million results on Google. "Wiggle room" gives 140 thousand suggesting that both phrases are valid English. Google N-grams seems to back this theory up too. ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/BssO2.png) And whatsmore, it seems to suggest that both phrases first appeared at around the same time. The dictionary definition of wriggle seems to be subtly different to wiggle\- _Wriggling_ implies an intention to move somewhere, whereas wiggling does not. So, what- if any- is the difference between the two phrases? And is there any evidence that one came before the other?


"How best to handle" vs. "how to best handle"

Are there rules on the placement of 'best'? >   * They are deciding how to _best_ handle the matter. >   * They are deciding how _best_ to handle the matter. > Is one of them wrong?


Grammatical role of "kind of"

I would like to know what the grammatical construct "kind of + v" is? > I _kind of_ like cold weather or > I _kind of_ eat everything".


proneness to + [verb] instead of proneness to + [noun]

This is my first question in here so I ask you to be tolerant with any faux pas I may commit. Having said so, my question is about the word proneness, of which I've only found examples in which it is followed by a noun. Can it be followed by a verb? If so, gerund or infinitive (e.g. _my proneness to observe/observing_ )? Thanks in advance.


Placement of 'Little'

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 'little' as an adverb could mean: > not much; only slightly Is there a preference among these sentences? >   * He _little_ helped his friends. >   * He helped _little_ his friends. >   * He helped his friends _little_. >


Proper usage of "since" and "from" with regard to duration of time

> When you returned, I had been at home since 10 minutes. > > When you returned, I had been at home from 5 minutes. In such sentences, is it correct to use _since_ or _from_? When _since_ is used?


Is "since I'm" now an acceptable alternative to "since I was"?

In a recent episode of the television show Entourage, Ari Gold (a 40 year old man) says: > I've known her since I'm 19. In an episode of Sex and the City, a character, who is 15, tells Carrie: > I've been giving blowjobs since I'm 12. The speakers are replacing the past tense of the verb _to be_ (was) with the present tense (am). Is this simply a mistake of the writers (seemingly specific to HBO), or is this usage a trend that is developing? I've heard it in other television shows and in person, as well.


"Since" or "from"?

> I am staying in USA **since** 20 years. > > I am staying in USA **from** 20 years. Which one is correct?


Correct use of "x times lower"

In scientific writing numbers are often compared and if something is twice the size of something else, let's say > A is 13 to 17 times the size of B this can be written as > A is 13-17 times higher/larger than B I often see cases where people turn this around and say > B is 13-17 times lower/smaller than A and where turning A and B around makes little logical sense, i.e. the order of B and A is logically correct. The problem is then, how would one best rewrite this since " _x_ times" will, at least mathematically when _x_ > 1, always be _larger_ and not _smaller_? EDIT: I changed my example to highlight the problems with numbers other than those easily turned into fractions such as half, quarter etc.


What is the name of the supports which are used with screws to hold a box together?

It's common in electronics to use only screws to hold a box together, instead of having screw nuts at the other end of the box. There are raised supports into which the screws are screwed into. They look like screw anchors, but that means something different. In other languages (e.g. German) the word "dome" is used, but in English it means the small cover on top of the screw used to hide it. ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/7OGUb.jpg) What are these things (painted green on the image) called? In the whole list of screw-related topics on Wikipedia, nothing similar turns up.


The word for "too far into the future to predict", often about the state of technology

What is the word for when you can't predict the future because of the rapidly changing landscape. For example, the state of technology in the future. Due to the boost in devices in the last few years, the state of devices in 20 years is " **_** ". I thought it began with the letter S or P...


Usage of Do vs. Did

My girlfriend and I are arguing on what is the correct way of writing the following sentence. To provide a little context - The children have never met their Grandmother yet. Is it correct to say: > They had never known their grandmother and it was high time they did. or > They had never known their grandmother and it was high time they do. I'm confused because for me the first one _sounds_ correct but she argues that the latter is correct since we're talking in the present tense.


Paraphrase of "A big part of the secret...."

![A picture of the quoted text](http://i.stack.imgur.com/4V7ZT.jpg) > A big part of the secret is an extensive and expensive network of sporting > academic underpinned by science and medicine. Source I don't understand the part of "sporting academic underpinned by science and medicine." Please help me to paraphrase this sentence.


What is the word to describe a person who does not have a personal opinion?

What is the word to describe a person who does not have a personal opinion or stand on a subject? If somebody says X is right, then you could agree. But if some other person says X is wrong, and you also agree, you are not really expressing your own opinion. You are simply agreeing with everyone else. How do you describe that kind of personality with one word in a formal way? Specifically, someone who cannot make decisions on their own and depends on others' opinions.


Was conversing or conversed

Should it be: 1: As I was conversing with him about his love for jazz, I measured the temperature and found it to be 100 degrees. 2: As I conversed with him about his love for jazz, I measured the temperature and found it to be 100 degrees. Is there any better ways to break this up?


What's the word to describe this behaviour?

I'm looking for a word to describe one's behaviour that is _unnecessarily complicated_. For instance, let's say John, he goes to use the public toilet. Unlike most ordinary people who just uses the toilet, flush, and then leave, he's behaviour is unnecessarily complicated. Every time he goes to the toilet, he would first, remove his outerwear, this includes his jacket, pants, and even his socks and shoes. He would then, wipe the seat with toilet paper and then layer the seat with the toilet paper, and puts all his attire back on afterwards. What's the word to describe this kind of behaviour?


Differences between "audio" and "sound"?

What is the difference between "audio" and "sound"? Is it possible that a beeping noise could be considered one but not the other?


What does 'condescending' exactly mean?

I'm really confused about the meaning of the word 'condescending'. Online dictionaries define it as bossy/disdainful, which fits with... One woman felt that I was a little condescending toward whites, that I sounded like I was superior. But I find other usages where being _condescending_ is obviously considered a good thing, perhaps more like being _humble_ , or _equal_ , rather than _superior_... He took a condescending and friendly interest in the common people. (and here are over 1200 more instances of _"condescending and friendly"_ in Google Books) What's going on? Does this word really have two almost opposite meanings?


Is a range of dates singular or plural?

Given a sentence such as, "May 17-19 (is/are) available for our meeting," is it best to treat the "May 17-19" as a singular range or a plural number of dates?


When to add "the" before a noun followed with a clause

E.g. "Although they work in most cases, they cannot handle cases when a comment or script is broken by the cutting" Should I put "the" between "handle" and "cases"?


Are there other variations of "slow and steady wins the race"?

We know the hare and tortoise story but are there other variants of "slow and steady wins the race"?


"sophisticated" is not appropriate in a research paper because it is an opinion?

Someone suggested me do not use "sophisticated" in research papers, as it shows an opinion, which is not objective. Is that correct? If so, what are good alternatives?


Which is correct, "in the past one hundred years" or "in the past hundred years"?

We say "in a few years" but "in the past/last few years". Then how can we express " the period of 100 years leading up to now"? Which is correct, "the last/past one hundred years" or "the last/past hundred years"? Or both?


One quote which boggle my mind

Browsing through one page I have stumbled upon a quote whose meaning I can't fully understand. This is the citation: > If homosexuality is a disease, let's all call in queer to work: 'Hey can't > work today, still queer'. I can't come up with the meaning for ' _call in queer to work_ '. It would be helpful if someone could elucidate me its meaning.


What is the origin of "daemon" with regards to computing?

_Daemon_ has an interesting usage in computing. From my local dictionary: > a background process that handles requests for services such as print > spooling and file transfers, and is dormant when not required Does anyone know where this came from? I assume its relation to the word _demon_ is notable. My dictionary also lists _daemon_ as an archaic form of _demon_. Why did computing use _daemon_ instead of _demon_?


Word for a Rare Feeling

I hope it's not too rare, but at least 1 other person has confirmed having experienced a similar feeling. Small, ordinary things can trigger it, in ordinary situations. Then I sometimes get the strange, transitory feeling like I'm on the verge of a huge discovery into the mystery of existence, the universe and stuff. But then probably the consciousness recedes because it's like your brain hits a wall, and it comes back down to more mundane, familiar things. My question is: If ever anyone has documented such a phenomenon, is there a particular term in English that I can use to refer to precisely this feeling?


Does it sound weird to say " I hope I can be of any use (help) to you" in a cover letter?

Which one is better? Are they acceptable or do they sound weird in English?


Using ellipsis to indicate a pause in conversation

Wikipedia has a sentence in its article on ellipsis: > In reported speech, the ellipsis is sometimes used to represent an > intentional silence, perhaps indicating irritation, dismay, shock or > disgust. This usage is more common amongst younger, Internet-savvy > generations.[citation needed] I can find plenty of random internet articles making a similar statement, but is there an actual authoritative grammar source that says this is grammatically correct? Is it just something the "Internet-savvy generations" have invented? Here is an example from a story: > She swallowed hard. "I'm afraid, Mark. Maybe if you might... talk to him?" Here the ellipsis is indicating a verbal hesitation in the quote rather than the typical use of indicating an omission.


When is it correct to not use the irregular form for a plural? e.g. mouses vs. mice

I seem to recall that an English teacher somewhere along the course of my education had indicated that when referencing distinct types of a word, e.g. a computer mouse and the mammal, it would be proper to refer to them as "two mouses" rather than mice. Is that actually the case? If so, where are the lines commonly drawn - consider for example observing a Canada Goose and a Greylag Goose as a more gray area or perhaps the tooth from a mouth versus a tooth from a saw blade as something quite distinct.


What does ‘non-parter’ mean?

> In the sleuth hound of 6, Wilbraham Place, Sloane Square, however, he > speedily discovered that he had come up against one of the Untouchables, a > man to whom even Oofy Prosser, that outstanding non-parter, would have felt > compelled to raise his hat. What does this word _non-parter_ mean in this bit of _Uncle Fred in the Springtime_ by P.G. Wodehouse?


How is 'via' pronounced and where did these variations come from?

Over the years, I've heard people say _'v-ē-ə'_ , _'v-ī-ə'_ , and sometimes the 'uh' is an 'ah' sound. ( _edit_ \- It has come to my attention that 'via' was once a 'wee-ah' from Latin, but I don't feel like this helps my question. If anything, that just makes me wonder why there is that variation in the beginning 'ē' and 'ī'.) Now, I'm guessing the difference between 'uh' and 'ah' may just be regional, but that doesn't explain the **first part** of such a teeny word. This has been driving me nuts for awhile. **I've tried online dictionaries** , asking English teachers, and they all are the reason (as well as TV and movies) for why **I'm still clueless**. (As for the English teachers over my years of schooling, all of them agree to disagree with how it is said. I have one teacher saying 'no' to 'vee-uh' and one saying yes to that way and vice versa.) As for the dictionaries, they can mention the two variations but they don't explain **_why_**. _(edit)_ I guess the reason why I had been confused is because I didn't understand why there was a disagreement about how 'via' is pronounced. Can anyone shine some light on this as well? (I do appreciate the answers I received before I edited my question, but now they are insufficient.)   * Is it appropriate to pronounce it both ways or is only one way correct?   * Also, where did these variations come from? (Via is Latin, yes. However, in Latin, it only had one way of pronouncing it. In English, there are two variants that are questionably debatable, and that is what this question is asking about.)


Generic foreign words with specific English meanings

There are many words in English that are borrowed from other languages, but acquire a much more specific meaning along the way. For example, _salsa_ in Spanish simply means "sauce", and could be equally well applied to Hollandaise sauce or soy sauce. But in (US) English, _salsa_ always refers to a particular style of spicy sauce, usually based on tomatoes, onions and chili peppers, that is common in (pseudo-)Mexican cuisine. Likewise, _raisin_ is French for "grape", but in English always means a _dried_ grape. (Actually, most of the examples that come to my mind involve food.)   * Does this phenomenon have a name? Where could I read more about it?   * Are there examples of this happening to English words borrowed by other languages?


Why do we write $800 but say "800 dollars"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  In which case are items written in a different order than they are read > aloud? Why don't we write "800 $"? This would be more straightforward -- just as we speak it.


Origin of "do not argue with idiots"

What is the origin of the phrase “do not argue with idiots”? Please cite some credible references. From googling around, I found these three variations. One came from the Bible but I couldn’t find any credible source for the other two. >   1. Don’t argue with idiots because they will drag you down to their level > and then beat you with experience. — _Greg King_ >   2. Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the > difference. — _Mark Twain_ >   3. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto > him. — _Proverbs 26:4 (King James version)_ > As you can see, only the last one is easily verifiable.


Where does gender attach in "brotherly/sisterly"?

If Leia loves her brother Luke, does she feel _sisterly_ love (because she is his sister) or _brotherly_ love (because he is her brother)?


Is "revert the damage" possible? If yes, is it too official?

Can "revert damage inflicted" be used in a letter to a friend? Would it sound too official? If yes, what phrase would you use instead of the high-lightened one below? > Not only did he type all kinds of nonsense and clicked on "Sent" button a > few times on that page, he even tried browsing some others forums where I am > a member and "provided some input" there too. I did punish him when I came > back, but punishing him **_didn't revert all the damage inflicted_**.


What does the word 'knocked' mean in the old song "Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road'?

What does the word 'knocked' mean in the old song _Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road'_? I really want to know because "knocked" in the song, doesn't make sense to me.


Is "injur" a word?

Am I going crazy? I think "injur" must be a transitive verb meaning "to cause injury to," as in "the flying debris might injur the bystanders." Yet when I google around and check online dictionaries, I get results saying in effect, "did you mean 'injury', or 'incur', etc.?" Also, the spell checker on WordPerfect X5 doesn't recognize the word "injur." Am I losing it?


Is "put" imperative in this sentence?

In a writing exercise I sent to my English teacher, she wrote some comments evaluating my writing. Some comments were about what I did, and others were about what I should do. In the sentences about what I should do she used the Imperative form. But, one of the sentences was this one: > Put a touch of personal feeling in your conclusion. The problem is that the word "Put" can be Preterit, Past Participle or Present Participle. So, how can I know if "Put" was used as a Preterit or to build an Imperative clause?


What is the etymology of "happy as a sandboy"?

"Happy as a sandboy" is obviously a simile for happy / content. Where does it come from and what is the eponymous "sandboy"?


Verb to use when light enters quickly into an enclosed space?

I wrote the following: > A creaking metallic sound awakened Erin. Raising her eyes, she looked to the > front. It came from the door. Someone was opening the elevator. She waited > expectantly while the struggle continued on the other side, her heart > pounding with each bang. There was a screeching sound. Then, finally, the > door clanked open. **The bright light that (...) in blinded Erin.** I could only think of _come_ and _stream_. But I think they don't give the feeling of light coming in "abruptly." I though of _rush_. But I think it's not very common to use it to describe movement of light? What verb to use to describe light coming in rapidly?


Do you know the meaning of the American idiom "pot calling the kettle black"?

I just want to conduct a research about this American idiom and how native American people use it. Can you guys answer my questions in the following orders? If you have better questions, I will be very grateful that you list it in your response. 1.Do you know the meaning of this idiom? Or just to come up with the similar idioms and explanations of the idiom. 2.Will you find it difficult to read or pronounce? Why? 3.How will you use it? More in formal occasions or informal occasions? Can you tell me any specific examples? 4.What do you do? Middle or high school students? College students? People who have worked in scientific areas, engineering fields or arts,writing,business areas? 5.I don't know how to ask this question because it is brought up by my sudden thought after my teacher told me that probably young people were not aware of the meaning and usage of this idiom. Any comments that passes through your mind~ Thank you very much!


What’s so funny about "You are winner"?

I came across one slang thing: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=You%27re%20Winner! While understand that it is grammatically incorrect and you must say "You are the winner", I don't get what’s so funny about it. It does not even change the sense of the sentence much. I mean nobody laughs at you if you say "I am student" or something like that. What's the deal? I was surprised when AVGN (a popular Youtube show) made fun about it in this video around 7:40. He acts like it is soooooooo funny, but I just don't get it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6DtVHqyYts


Should it be 10 US$ or US$ 10?

Which is correct to use in a sentence, 10 US$ or US$ 10. Perhaps USD should be used instead or even something else?


Why is it, "It seems different", but "It comes across differently"?

Both phrases describe the manner, appearance, air, etc, of a subject. Why does the former use an adjective to modify the subject, while the latter uses an adverb to modify the verb phrase?


What is the time you spend on a thesis called?

I finished my thesis today and the title page must contain the starting-date and the finishing date of my work on the thesis. What is this time frame called? It should not only include the time I spent with the actual _writing_ but also the time I spent preparing the thesis, so all time I spent _working_. All templates I received from university are in German, it's "Bearbeitungszeit" there. I came up with the following possibilities   * Work time: April 1, 2011 till May 21, 2011   * Work duration: April 1, 2011 till May 21, 2011   * Writing time: April 1, 2011 till May 21, 2011   * Writing duration: April 1, 2011 till May 21, 2011 By the way: Is the date format correct for American English?


Is it right to 'Hmmm'?

While in a online conversation(by typing), how do you let know the other person that you are there listening to him/her? I suppose it would be annoying to type 'okay' or 'yes' all the time and right now, I use 'Hmmm' or 'mmm' as if I am nodding my head to what he says. I am not sure this is the right way or is there something better?


Meaning of "to charm the skin off a snake"

This is a phrase originated from _Dead Run_ by Erica Spindler. Hereunder is the context in the book that I googled. > Rick’s Island Hideaway was the quintessential Key West bar: Jimmy Buffet on > the sound system; killer frozen margaritas; a friendly clientele whose > attire never veered far from shorts and Hawaiian-print shirts; walls hung > with maritime paraphernalia, including a stuffed sailfish and a signed photo > of Key West’s most famous onetime resident, Ernest Hemingway. It was the > same photo that could be found in about ninety percent of the Duval Street > drinking establishments. > > And last but certainly not least,a bartender who could **_charm the skin off > a snake._** What does "charm the skin off a snake" mean exactly? And how to use the phrase nowadays?


Can “no problem” ever replace “OK,” "yes, of course," etc., when the respondent has been called to task?

Unlike the use of "no problem" as an alternative to "you're welcome" or "my pleasure," neither of which bothers me much in common speech, its use as a reply to an instruction or directive to put right what the respondent has done wrong, particularly if at great expense or at substantial loss of available time, tests my patience and my temper. To my Boomer-generation ear, it says the respondent somehow feels that s/he is doing me a favor by setting things right rather than accepting responsibility for them, and somehow cannot see that a problem truly is involved. Is this a generational shift that I should get used to, or is the use of "no problem" in this context an erroneous use of this expression? (For now, at least.)


Etymology of "flounder"

The Online Etymology Dictionary reads: > flounder (v.) 1590s, perhaps an alteration of founder (q.v.), influenced by > Dutch flodderen "to flop about," or native verbs in fl- expressing clumsy > motion. Thus, the origin of _flounder_ is not certain. However, after reading that dictionary entry, I wonder if _flounder_ can be simply an embellishment of _founder_ , where the sound unit _fl_ might be used in order to carry a subliminal meaning of heavy movement, according to J. R. Firth's theory. Can this origin be realistically considered?


Term for poetry that mimics what it describes

I'm blanking on the term for when a verse mimics that which it describes - for example, a poem talking about a confusing encounter would become confusing itself - each time I search for it I keep coming up with _onomatopoeia_ and it's starting to frustrate me.


Synonym or short phrase for 'entablature'

I am not sure if this word has multiple meanings, but I am using it in an architectural context. Classical orders have distinctive columns with distinctive capitals. However, when I say each style also has a distinctive _entablature_ , I am guessing many readers won't know what what the word entablature means (I didn't). So next to the word 'entablature', I would like to put in parentheses a synonym or _very short_ phrase that defines the word 'entablature'. Essentially, my question boils down to: **What is a synonym or very-short phrase for the word 'entablature'?**


Anachronistic equivalent for regional disparity

Is there an equivalent term to anachronistic when referring to regional disparities between concepts rather than chronological ones?


Is that sentence is correct

I wonder that following sentence is correct way to use?               It is updated as the user inputs new information.       Does **As** adverb is used in right way in that sentence? Or Do I have to use this sentence like:               It is updated when the user inputs new information.      So which one is more formal? Thanks


What does "clutching at straws" mean?

In the following context: > I'm clutching at straws here. I'm trying to imagine how a woman could fail > to be offended by being called a "hole". What's meant by "clutching at straws"?


Word meaning for phenomenon where one issue is incorrectly believed to be tied to another

I work in IT and we run into a common issue where whenever we announce that we have done something like adding a new feature to a program, updating servers or what have you... users start coming forward with lists of problems they have that they think are related to the changes. For example we announced this morning that last night we turned on a feature to automate a process of sending out several different email notices to customers. This afternoon I got called into an emergency meeting about the new email "thing" being "all messed up". It turns out one user on the billing team received a standard email send reject notice from a customers email server because their mailbox was full and not accepting emails. Obviously in no way related to what we did but they had a panic attack and thought it was. So long winded description but what i'm looking for is if there is some word or phrase for this phenomenon.


Origin of the term "driver" in computer science

According to Wikipedia: > … a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher- > level computer programs to interact with a hardware device. What is the origin of the term _driver_ as used in the above reference? I’ve googled around a bit but haven’t been able to find an answer.


"Manifest" vs. "manifested"

Which of the following is correct? > This idea is **manifest** in two influential theories. > > This idea is **manifested** in two influential theories. What I want to say is that there is a common idea underlying both theories.


flight connection, airlink, or connecting flight?

If you want to know if there are flights from airport A to airport B, what do you ask? -Are there flight connections between airport A and B? -Are there airlinks between airport A and B? -Are there connecting flights between airport A and B? What is the best word?


What does “switch off” mean?

I read a blog post which includes the following sentence: > I hear many PhD students say they feel stressed because they can’t switch > off. What does the term _switch off_ mean in the sentence above? I guess it means a person switching between different status, but still I need your confirmation.


Is “impurposely” a word?

I want to express the meaning of doing something without an definite purpose: is there a word **_impurposely_**? If not, which word should I use?


"I am working" or "I have worked almost two months at this project"?

Which one is correct? > "I am working almost two months at this project" or > "I have worked almost two months at this project" I want to give this meaning: _I'm still working on it._


An expression for someone who makes difficulties for himself

Is there a word or expression for someone who is often a cause of difficulties that he later has to overcome? For example, a man who always has to work extra hours to finish his job at time just because when he _has_ time he slacks instead working. Or maybe a good chess player that makes silly mistakes because he always underestimates his opponent (and later has to try hard to compensate for these mistakes). So basically I want a word or expression for someone who makes avoidable and totally unnecessary difficulties for himself.


Progessive or simple aspect?

Is he still smoking? vs Does he still smoke? Which aspect would be correct, progessive or simple? In my opinion, the first question sounds somehow better, however, I think the second question is grammatically more correct, as smoking is a habit simple aspect should be used...


Meaning of "jump his way"

What does _jump his way_ in the following phrase mean? **Who watched "Fearless Felix" jump his way into the record books?**


The exact sense and origin of "to stick it to someone"

From a blogpost at BBC, Did internet kill the radio star? > David Lowery, lead singer for the bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven, > tells the BBC that illegal sharing of music files **is sticking it to the > "hippy freak musician"** , while internet service providers and other big > corporations still get their profits. I found some definitions: "to treat severely or wrongfully / to give someone a problem; to confront someone / to punish someone who did something wrong earlier." But that does not clarify the use of the word "stick". So I'm still curious what is the exact etymology here. In what sense is 'stick' used: "to glue, to attach" or "to press something against something else"? Or "to beat with a stick"? Does 'stick it' derive from, pardon my French, something like "shove it up your ..."? If yes, why does it use the preposition 'to'? And isn't it verging on very rude in this case? Seems to be already mild enough to appear on the BBC website..


Which meaning is more common for expressions like “over the bridge”?

While asking for the location of my airport’s window in the United States, I was told that it was over the bridge. My first impression was that it must be _above_ the bridge, but since there was nothing above the bridge, I started walking towards the bridge and saw that it was _on the other side of_ the bridge. After coming back I went through the dictionary and found the “other side of ” meaning of the word above, which I did not know earlier. That is weird because _over_ is used all the time. Which of those two meaning is the more common usage of _over_ , above something or on the other side of it?


"Chinese" or "China"?

I read an American magazine that usually contains three or four articles each week about the business climate in China.   1. This week, however, the magazine did not have any Chinese news.   2. This week, however, the magazine did not have any China news.  Which sentence, semantically speaking, is better?


What would be the best answer for ( happy birth day wish you all the best )?

What would be the best answer for ( **happy birth day to you , wish you all the best** )?


Is "12:30", (the time of day), an abstract noun?

Nothing else to add, I just want to make sure.


Exempli Gratia help

Is there a plural for _e.g._ , the abbreviation of _exempli gratia_? Or is it regular to use it before multiple examples? I know that some abbreviations double up in their letters in the plural, but I haven't found anything enlightening yet.


Is there a word for selecting yourself as the target audience for an invention or product?

Let me explain this with an example. An inventor faces a problem, he decides to develop a solution for it. Initially, he is the main target audience for his invention. I was wondering if there was an single word to describe this, a word that would mean "to solve your own problem" as a verb or "as a solution to his own problem". I was thinking at a compound word with the prefix auto perhaps? http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/auto- EDIT: Example usage: "The developer of the app said it started out as an (...) application (to solve his own problem). Now his company succeeds to target a more broad target audience." Is there one word that can replace the text in brackets?


what does "off-the-shelf" mean?

I am applying for a job and in my proposal my mentor commented the following. Please explain me what it means. ME: Finally I found something promising. Please have a look Mentor: That's a good find Atul :) These are good open source tools and **we can use off-the-shelf.** What does 'we can use off the shelf' mean here?


"Common to" OR "Common in"

Which preposition is used with common when I mean to say that these features are common in/to all the applications? Is there another way to write this type of a sentence?


What do "take ground" and "vested in" mean in this context?

Here is an extract from the headnote of a case [1] I am trying to understand: > The defendants, who were wharfingers, agreed with the plaintiff for a > consideration to allow his vessel to discharge and load her cargo at their > wharf, which abutted upon the River Thames. It was necessary in order that > the vessel might be unloaded that she should be moored alongside a jetty of > the defendants which ran into the river, and that **_she should take ground > with her cargo at the ebb of the tide_**. Additionally, if anyone could help illuminate this next part for me, I'd be most grateful: > _**The bed of the river at the point where she took ground was vested in the > Conservators_** , and the defendants had no control over it, but it was > admitted that they had taken no steps to ascertain whether it was suitable > for the vessel to ground upon. [1] “The Moorcock”, **The Law Reports. Probate Division in the Courts of Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Division, Great Britain** , Volume 13, page 157 (July 1888)


Archetype in which a person sees he had the objective with him all along

Is there a name for the plot archetype in which the hero goes on a quest, only to realize in the end that he had the objective with him to start with? Is this a recognized archetype?


Abbreviation for "or the rest" (or "or others")?

The Latin et cetera, abbreviated etc., is often used at the end of an incomplete, inclusive list of items when it is clear that there are more items than can be enumerated conveniently and there is no ambiguity about what the omitted items are. For example: "Joseph's amazing technicolor dreamcoat was red, yellow, green, brown, scarlet, etc." Is there an equivalent abbreviation that would serve a similar purpose when the list is exclusive? "My mother hit your mother in the nose. What color blood came out? Was it red, yellow, green, brown, scarlet, ...?" I have always just rewritten the sentence or written out the full "or something else," but the lack of complementary abbreviation to etc. has always bothered me.


"Kernel" vs. "core"

What's the difference between _kernel_ and _core_? The more I look for a difference between both, the more confused I get. I know both nouns because of IT, but I'm looking for the actual roots in actual English, not technical lingo. It seems to be used for the central fruit parts, but are they interchangeable? Does it depend on which fruit we are talking about?


Verb: "to make an incorrect statement"

What's the verb that means: to make an anecdotal statement (based on casual observations) as if it were a fact? I don't think it's _"to lie"_ because this person believes it's the truth. He is unknowingly stating a fallacy.


Is this adjective or adverbial?

> When are you getting the train back to Adelaide? Is the phrase _back to Adelaide_ an adjective phrase that modifies _the train_ or adverbial to _are getting_?


What is the meaning of "way better"

I sometimes hear people use "I hope you feel way better","This is way more than I was expecting" and etc. Could you explain this type of usage and what is the difference between "feeling better" and "feeling way better"?


If enough people start using a word contextually wrong when does the word's meaning change?

Example Say some percent of the English speaking population started using the word "sky" to replace the meaning of "cloud", at what percent would you be wrong in using the word "sky" to refer to the sky.


Can schwa be made in the word, calm?

Can the schwa[ə] sound be made even in the word **calm** , while which is being said in the sentences?


What do students call their teacher in class?

Well, years ago I was an English teacher in an English Teaching Institute. In the country I live, students call their teachers by saying "Mr. Teacher" or "Teacher" (literally translated) in schools. In places other than schools and universities, students also can call their teacher by saying "Mr. X", and in universities they call their professor by saying "Dr." and "Master". It was always question for me that in an English class what should I be called by my students because I didn't know what American students call their teacher in class. To sum up my question, what do students call their teacher in class in a typical school in the U.S.? Is it different for the students of primary school and secondary school? I would be glad to hear the same question about England and Australia.


What does the "bother" mean in the sentence?

> A: Oh bother the Sex Discrimination Act. Surely they can't force me to take > on a married woman. Thanks.


How to determine if an attribute applies to a group or a specific individual

I am in the middle of an argument, and therefore trying to figure out the breakdown of the definition: > _a member of a military group devoted to engineering work_ which appears in Merriam-Webster's entry for "engineer" (Definition 1). The dictionary entry also includes this example sentence: > _Army engineers were called in to construct the canal_. I assume the definition means 'a member of a group in the military where the group is devoted to engineering work' while the person with whom I am arguing assumes the sentence means 'an individual who is devoted to engineering work who is also in a military group'. I am looking for both what the definition means, as well as why it means what it does. This would ideally take the form of citing some official guide (MLA, Chicago, etc...), but if the explanation is cogent enough it will still be extremely useful.


Is the phrase grammatically correct?

Said phrase is "He thought himself a simple man." I'm wondering if the sentence is grammatically correct, and if not, a better sentence.


Antonym for force (verb)

What is the antonym for the verb force? (i.e. antonym of 'urge or force (a person) to an action')


Should “How long were you at work?” have a simple or a compound tense?

I would like to know, if the following sentence can ever be correct in any context? > How long were you at work? Or it must be: > How long had you been at work? For example: > How long were you at work yesterday. I guess I cannot use present perfect here (the past is specified). Is my guess correct?


Sincerity and generosity in sentences

> (1)   If you want anything to eat, there are plenty of eggs. > > (2)   If you are at all hungry, there are plenty of eggs. > > (3)   If you're the least bit hungry, there are plenty of eggs. Of the three types of sentences which one sounds most sincere and generous?


Can I say "I am positively sure"

I am working on my book report assignment and I have such sentence, I am positively sure that this book is a great book. My friend is editing it and comments, "positively" is not right to use here and he suggests I should either say, "I am pretty sure that ...", or "I am positive that ...". The reason is there is no such thing as "I am negatively sure". I am wondering if he is right. Could you let me know how you think?


List of all English intensifiers

Is there a list of English intensifiers available on the web? Also, for bonus points have the intensity (slight, moderate, high) with each word. I hope this is not an unreasonable request.


Correct spelling of "program"

I mostly have exposure to American English online. I am currently writing out a resume and need some help. In Australia, in general, we write _programme_ to mean a schedule or community programme. However with computer studies I'm inclined to write _program_ to mean a computer program rather than the proverbial programme. What is the correct spelling?


Clarify the difference between "program" and "programme"

What is the difference between The Noun: Program and Programme ?? What should i use?


Is Addenbrooke's site/Site a proper noun?

Is Addenbrooke's site/ Addenbrooke's Site a proper noun or not? I think the answer depends on the context. The title of the article is _Addenbrooke's Hospital_ , supposedly a proper noun. For instance, would _Addenbrooke's Site_ be a synonym for _Addenbrooke's Hospital_ and would a synonym also be a proper noun?


Tired in an enjoyable way

I'm looking for a single word meaning "tired or fatigued in a good or enjoyable manner", as one would feel after a good day's work, or after some proper exercise. For example: > After a strenuous gym session my body felt enjoyably tired. I've considered _tired, fatigued,_ and _worn out_ but they all seem to have negative connotations.


What is the military term for calling attention to yourself, in a negative way?

There is a military term or idiom, which I cannot recall exactly, that essentially means calling negative attention to yourself. For example, you are doing something you know you shouldn't be doing. By asking the question, "Hey, is it OK to do this?" you get yourself in trouble; when if you kept your mouth shut, no one would have noticed what you were doing. It had something to do with having a silhouette; it made me think of walking on the crest of a hill, where you could be easily spotted by a sniper, as opposed to walking with the hill behind you, so you didn't stand out. It's not "keep your head down".


Backfill - meaning

Source: http://rt.com/news/155168-us-eu-sanctions-russia/ > But Europe has much to lose from imposing economic sanctions on Russia, and > Obama said he sees how US-only sanctions won’t work. > > “If we, for example, say that we are not going to allow certain arms sales > to Russia, but every European defense contractor **backfills** what we do, > then it’s not very effective,” he said. What does the verb **backfill** mean in this context?


“I'm a student at UCLA” or “I'm a student in UCLA”?

Sounds simple, but I've always been confused. I am also not sure about using the definite article, like “I'm a student in/at the UCLA.” Is that normative American English? Thanks for your help.


Word for feeling of being used by someone

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Word with meaning of "taking advantage of somebody" Is there a word for the feeling of being used by someone? For example, > Person X used Person Y for monetary gains. > > Person X after being in love with Person Y, felt used when he/she left him.


Bodkins and bodkin - Same word different context?

Does bodkins in "odd's bodkins" mean the same as bare bodkin, which appears in Hamlet? (Other than being plural in the first example)