Questions tagged [expressions]
This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer asking the meaning of a particular expression.
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Is adding "in my opinion" or "according to my view" a bad thing?
I had a rather surprising exchange with a user, the formulations of whom I found aggressive and provocative. I understand that they don't mean any harm, just have a certain style of expression, so I'...
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In the (noun) department
This expression or colloquialism seems to have a negative connotation and can be used as an equivalent to expressions with a synonymous meaning.
• Not too big in the brain department – (meaning-not ...
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What are the natural words/phrases that native speakers use when they want to elaborate on what they’re talking but haven’t thought of anything else?
For example, when talking about global warming and the causes leading to the problem, suddenly I run out of ideas to talk about (not because I can’t find the exact words to express what I want to say, ...
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To buy some pastries/baked goods/bakery products [closed]
Hello: which one of the following expressions is the most idiomatic? I made them up myself. Thank you!
To buy some pastries
To buy some baked goods, or
To buy some bakery products
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Is it correct to say: My friend can play more instruments than my A's at school?
I have a friend who is really talented; he can play 5 instruments. I'm talking to another friend and want to express how impressed I am by the other guy. Can I say:
Mann. He can play more instruments ...
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"Social men" who have entered the real world and experienced lots of social challenges and complexities?
In Chinese, we can distinguish students, or even teachers, in the ivory tower from those who have entered the real world, infused with challenges, unspoken rules or norms, and complexities, using the ...
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Is ''grace someone with you presence'' always humorous?
I have seen that many dictionaries say this expression is humorous. If that's true, what other alternatives exist that can be used in a formal setting such as a business meeting or at a meeting in ...
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The meaning of "yourself" in "Getting ahead of yourself."
Earlier, I needed to make a sentence like this:
For dating, it's important not to get ahead of yourself.
This made me question what "yourself" here is indicating. This expression means, &...
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Is "London" is used as emphatic expression? [closed]
In Emma (2020), in presence of Mr Elton, the local vicar, Mr Woodhouse commented
on his daughter Emma's potrait of Harriet, a young girl:
Mr Woodhouse: Yes. It is very pretty. When It is finished, ...
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To what extent does saying "I'm sorry" acknowledge one's own fault?
This may be a duplicate, but I'm wondering how much I should be careful about saying sorry.
I'm Japanese, and often it is said that Japanese people say sorry too easily and it could cause troubles in ...
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'You in my office' AAVE meaning
I'm watching Glory Road (2006) and there's a moment where one of the players yells to another "you in my office!" after pushing him to the side to dunk. What's the meaning of this expression?...
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Is "excruciatingly painful" a correct phrase to use in a sentence since "excruciating" already means very painful?
I have often come across the phrase "excruciatingly painful" in articles and even in short stories or novels, but is this a correct phrase? Since "excruciating" already means ...
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Heavy Lies the Crown - what does it mean?
I watched 'The Crown' and faced the expression 'heavy lies the crown' several times throughout the series.
What does it mean and how can we use it in a daily sentence?!
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Is 'time-impaired' in this context idiomatic?
I am reading Limited Liability Companies for Dummies by Jennifer Reuting, and the use of 'impaired' sounds strange to me in this context:
I know, I know — you’re busy! You operate on a need-to-know ...
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Place of a time expression in a negative sentence
Is it possible to put the time expressions before or after the negative word?
Or is there only one way?
For example :
The students usually don't like eating fish
The students don't usually like eating ...
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