Questions tagged [colloquialisms]
A colloquialism is a word or phrase used in everyday conversation, but generally avoided in formal speech and writing.
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Is it patronising and infantilising to always include the term "we" when working in hospitality? [duplicate]
I have to say I feel really uncomfortable at the approach of one of the bar staff in a village pub I visit. He will refer to customers, new or regular, male or female as "my love", "...
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What does "I like 'em firm and well covered," meaning?
It's a last part of the short story 'Pictures' by Katherine Mansfield. <1917>
It was almost dark in the café. Men, palms, red plush seats, white marble tables, waiters in aprons, Miss Moss ...
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If you say "who with/who for/who by/who from," do you also say "what with/what for/what by/what from?"
I know that "Who with?", "Who for?", "Who by?", "Who from?", "Who to?", and other "Who + preposition" sentences are colloquially very common ...
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People who frequently travel in planes are called…?
What do you call people who travel in a plane?
I know "passenger" is appropriate but that is also true for travelling in taxis, trains, ships, and buses. Also, a passenger suggests someone ...
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What is the "shorthand" (or colloquialism) to say "anything in order not to do something/this or that"?
Can't remember for the life of me rn and googling was of no help, can someone help me out?
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What is an adjective for a person who is attractive but doesn't like taking care of their appearance?
Like an attractive person but who doesn't wear make up, doesn't comb, and doesn't try to combine his clothes.
Attractive in an edgy way, not caring about their look but still looking good. Being ...
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'My bad' vs 'My bag'
Over the years I've noticed a non-insignificant amount of people use the term 'My bag' to admit guilt when getting something wrong (i.e. 'Mea culpa'). For example:
Happy Birthday!
My birthday's not ...
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What does “turn down an empty plate” mean?
I was reading Raymond Chandler’s The Lady in the Lake (1943) and came across this quote that puzzled me:
Tell Webber I was asking for him. Next time he buys a hamburger, tell him to turn down an ...
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How to characterize Machiavelli's phrase, "The ends justify the means"? [closed]
This question has been raised and thoroughly discussed: "How to characterize the phrase, 'The ends justify the means.'" I wish to add a thought. As I was writing a book for publication, I ...
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Are 'biggity' and 'briggity' kin?
(Motivated by the question How common is "biggety" in Southern and Midland US?)
The DARE entry for briggity has the following (edited):
briggity: (also brickaty, brickety, brigaty, ...
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Does "watered up" mean you have a craving for something?
Tonight at dinner my friend from Tulsa, OK read from the menu that the university cafeteria was serving egg noodles at one of the stations. To his disappointment, they were actually serving rice.
&...
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Do terms that end with 'mate' need to be clarified where people say 'mate'?
Do terms that end with 'mate' need to be clarified where people say 'mate'?
Like while playing chess, if someone says "checkmate" in somewhere like England or Australia, is it assumed they ...
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Can I use the word "mill" as a synonym for "destroy"?
"Mill" is usually used to describe the process of making flour (grinding), to describe a wind or water mill, or a factory.
Since the process of milling or grinding consists of making small ...
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When and why did we start "guessing" so much?
Nowadays it's hard to eavesdrop on an informal conversation (at least in the US) without hearing the phrase 'i guess'.
Wiktionary has two relevant definitions for guess:
(chiefly US) to suppose (...
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'it took me a long time' vs 'I took a long time' to do x
I remember my high school teacher explicitly saying that
it took me a long time to do x
was the correct form and
I took a long time to do x
was not. In recent years, I seem to remember hearing the ...
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