All Questions
Tagged with single-word-requests expressions
585
questions
12
votes
7
answers
4k
views
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 ...
- 91.9k
0
votes
0
answers
47
views
What is the term for look that asks for thinking? And the question that incites thinking?
Imagine this scenario. Two people are having a conversation in which one is trying to explain something to the other. During the course of conversation, the exponent asks the other person a question ...
- 339
2
votes
3
answers
445
views
Looking for an opposite for the term 'tunnel vision'
What might be the opposite of tunnel vision? What I mean is instead of seeing only one's direct path, the person is so distracted by the texture of the sidelines, goes so far as to obscure the goal at ...
0
votes
2
answers
107
views
Inspiration catalyst? Looking for a term that describes seemingly out of the blue inspiration
I'm looking for a term for a curious situation that I've found myself in a couple of times.
A person discusses a new concept/invention.
I am a part of that conversation or simply overhear it.
I ...
- 2,107
3
votes
3
answers
260
views
Is there a word for a person who can recognize valuable items that can be sold for much more than the current price?
We go to thrift stores & yard sales a lot. My 15-year-old has a knack for instantly recognizing items that are very valuable, and she's been doing it since she was 8. She found an original drawing ...
- 31
2
votes
1
answer
390
views
A word to describe a person who loves anything related to celebrities/gossips/trends and is easily affected by them
I'd like to know a word to describe a person who loves celebrities, gossips, trends or anything that is popular and is
easily affected by them.
She said she had moved to Paris because she loved "...
- 946
6
votes
2
answers
678
views
"Don't rock the boat" attitude [duplicate]
When someone tends to hesitate to acknowledge a problem and avoid involving trouble even if needed, is it ok to say in a negative nuance that
He/She always has a "don't rock the boat" ...
- 946
1
vote
2
answers
58
views
What do we call an object that is going to be, or is being, or has been consolidated?
What do we call an object that is a member in the action of consolidation?
Is "consolidatee" a word?
For example, I have two sets of objects that are going to be consolidated into one single ...
- 113
3
votes
5
answers
278
views
What terms describe humorous acceptance of a compliment?
My wife complimented a chef on his delicate fish cookery last night.
Reply: "They're great, these boil-in-the-bag dishes."
I complimented a violinist on his performance recently and ...
- 28.8k
0
votes
2
answers
135
views
What do you call the place that terminates a water channel?
What do you call the place that terminates a water channel, as in the image below?
The channel terminates at the concrete wall. What is the name of that? Channel terminator? Channel barrier?
- 299
6
votes
3
answers
939
views
What's the word when someone tries to change the meaning of a statement by using different definitions for specific words?
For example the second amendment in the American constitution "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" and someone argues that arms here means limbs when it clearly means guns. I ...
- 79
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is there a word to describe a person who asks for advice when they know what they should do?
I constantly find myself being asked in my life by my friends and family for advice. Often, after listening to the friend or family member's dilemma, I find that the person who is asking for said ...
- 21
1
vote
0
answers
72
views
Instilled - is there a better word or phrase specifically for a child getting their interest/love of something from a parent
I'm looking for something to better evoke the gratitude one might feel towards their parent (or anyone, but parent in this case) for sharing their love of something (music, reading, etc.) in such a ...
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
60
views
What does it mean for something to be "so-called"? [closed]
What does it mean if someone says,
This is the so-called [noun]
or
This is the so-called "[noun]"
What is the purpose of the addition of so-called? Are these sentences neutral or has ...
- 169
2
votes
4
answers
126
views
Looking for a slang term to describe the act of picking valuable minerals from mining tailings
Someone once saw me picking out cashews from a bowl of mixed nuts and said I was [forgotten slang verb here]. I asked what that verb meant and she explained that it was a slang term that miners used ...
- 21
0
votes
0
answers
36
views
Word for when someone intentionally ignores someone's valid excuse from a punishment and then enforces that punishment anyway?
Is there a word (or legal term) for when someone (usually an authority figure) intentionally does not acknowledge a person's justification from an adverse action, then enforces that adverse action ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
83
views
Word/expression for the inherent ambiguity or difficulty of defining what constitutes a good outcome
TL;DR: I am in a need of a good, precise word or an expression capturing the notion that a computer science problem P remains open (just) because it is virtually impossible to specify/define what a ...
- 141
2
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is there an expression for ‘bad news’ when meant literally for negative news we get from the media?
We are checking bad news every day. Should we constantly be informed
about all that _______ ?
I need an idiom or expression for a context like the above.
- 3,462
0
votes
1
answer
306
views
"Agriculture" including only plants and excluding animals
In English, "agriculture" includes the cultivation of both plants and animals for food. In some languages, a cognate such as "agricultura" (in Spanish) may contemplate only plants ...
0
votes
0
answers
66
views
Single medical term for "taking a pulse"
I have been searching for a technical/medical term to use in place of "taking a pulse". I see some texts use "palpatory measurements" in place of the colloquial "taking a ...
- 5
1
vote
1
answer
63
views
Trying to help but ending up causing more harm than good [duplicate]
I'm writing a paper on Romeo and Juliet and how Frair Lawrence and the Nurse are to blame for Romeo and Juliet's deaths and I'm looking for a word. I've looked at other posts but I just see the same ...
- 11
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Word(s) to describe persons that leave a company and have a lot of information in their heads that is lost [duplicate]
What would you call the situation/a person with a lot of knowledge about a company that leaves the company, and the information is no longer available because the person left?
I'd like to use the word(...
- 119
2
votes
2
answers
539
views
What's the nuances when using "modicum"? Can I say "a modicum of coffee"?
I came across this word modicum, which seems a fancy way of saying a little bit.
What's the nuances when using it?
Can I say "a modicum of coffee"? -- I usually order latte with tiny amount ...
- 131
0
votes
4
answers
80
views
Effect called when humans overvalue one good event after series of Bad events and Overexaggeration one single bad event after series of Good events
What is the effect called on humans when
When you have seen series of bad events happen to you, and then the next tend to overvalue an negligible good thing happening as a gratitude or grand success ...
- 3,102
1
vote
1
answer
101
views
Reason, Discourse and Language
Reason (as in the cognitive skill, human property, logic latu sensu, thought) is translated in Greek as Λόγος.
But Λογος is also the ability and the skill of persons to speak, write and word their ...
- 209
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1
answer
67
views
How do we say we are not using a template?
What is the opposite of using a template for something?
For example:
Should I use a template for this or am I free to follow my own format?
I would like to put it more eloquently/elegantly.
Thank ...
- 580
4
votes
2
answers
831
views
What is the word for words that are 'two sides of the same coin'?
What is the word for words that are 'two sides of the same coin' as they are not always opposites... such as heads and tails.
Complement?
An example would be ball and strike in baseball. They are the ...
- 351
9
votes
8
answers
6k
views
Is there an alternative term for "boyfriend" when talking about an elderly man? [duplicate]
An acquaintance of mine referred to her mother, aged 95, as having a "boyfriend", aged 104, in their assisted living facility. I find this word in this context inappropriate.
I don't know ...
- 26.3k
-1
votes
2
answers
281
views
Is there a more British way to talk about tackling problems?
I can see that the Cambridge Dictionary is at least aware of the use of tackle meaning "come to grips with a problem" and I can see that the Sunday Times has used it on occasion. It still ...
- 10.3k
2
votes
3
answers
533
views
A word, gesture or expression for a confident "shrug"
I am trying to look for a word, gesture or expression that represents a state of confident not knowing. So far I am using a shrug for this but when used often it starts to come off as very apathetic ...
- 1,093
-1
votes
1
answer
75
views
What's the word for sentences like - "There are two kind of people in this world - those who like ice-cream and those who don't" [duplicate]
I know there's a word for it and it probably is similar to oxymoron, but I can't put my finger on it.
Edit - The sentences is generally characterised by having binary choices with no added information....
- 15
2
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Synonyms for “passing the buck”? [duplicate]
What would be a better replacement for the informal phrase “passing the buck” (ie. shift responsibility for something to someone else)?
I am in need of a single-word verb that captures the all-too-...
- 53
0
votes
1
answer
70
views
Is there a word or fixed phrase / idiom for a vicious circle of obtuseness? [duplicate]
I recently told my father-in-law that I thought he was being obtuse, and he then acted as if he didn’t understand the concept of being obtuse. I feel like there’s a word for this. What would we call ...
- 301
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votes
4
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102
views
Single-word/Expression/Phrase for a name which pretends to be represent a thing that it is not. Example: PATRIOT Act
"The Patriot Act is anything but patriotic, it's a _____________."
Not the greatest example depending on your political view (sorry AuthRight), but I'm going off of the interpretation that ...
- 3
-1
votes
1
answer
129
views
Is there a word I can use to replace textual "finger quotes" instead of 'per se'?
When it comes to writing, I don't like to use the phrase per se, as it's hard to fit into what I'm trying to explain sometimes, but I don't like using quotes to mean per se (what I'm referring to as ...
- 101
0
votes
4
answers
248
views
A word for the experience and vernacular of a group of people - Discord? Is this correct?
In college, I took a class called technical writing. It has been a while, but this is my recollection. Discord is defined as the collection of vernacular and experiences of a group of people. For ...
- 19
-1
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the word for someone who doesn’t follow the laws and governmental powers of their country [duplicate]
I’m currently trying to find the word one would describe a person that does not follow the governmental structure and laws of their country.
My example is the views some native maori people of NZ have ...
0
votes
1
answer
180
views
What is a term for sentences that are grammatically correct but carry no meaning of their own? [duplicate]
An example of a sentence like this would be "The bus will come when it comes." and others along the same line. Do these types of sentences have a special name?
- 35
1
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0
answers
564
views
What is a good adjective that describes the quality of "having a growth mindset"?
I'm struggling to find a single word that conveys what is shared in the following statements
Have a growth mindset
Be a lifelong learner
Be a student of the game
Is there a good single adjective ...
- 119
-1
votes
6
answers
162
views
Is there a term for something that is thought of in one way, then something happens and it's suddenly thought of in a new way?
I’m writing a business growth strategy book based on weeds. Weeds are thought of as essentially living garbage, as pests, as useless. But they are actually miracles of strategy, resilience and ...
-1
votes
1
answer
96
views
Is there a name for the type of commonly said phrases that is said in a mocking, yet in a funny way?
There are some phrases that everybody knows, and are said in a humorous/mocking way like:
Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell
Dear diary...
Or Russian have this phrase about their failed ...
- 37
0
votes
3
answers
53
views
Word meaning a certain phrase?
In Estonian, there is a word that roughly translates to "I want to sleep more, but I can't, so I am laying in bed". Is there a similar word or shortened phrase that means the same thing in ...
- 1
1
vote
3
answers
499
views
What is the phrase or word for this type organizational useless work [duplicate]
What is the phrase or word for this type organizational useless/pointless work based on either half baked ideas, of just o appease the higher ups.
Example:
An organization have three tier management
...
- 3,102
1
vote
3
answers
312
views
A word/idiom to describe someone who is impressive by speech but lack of experience in real world applications? (without negative connotation)
Someone who is articulate and able to sound impressive by theories or speech but do not have sufficient experience in real world applications. The word/idiom that I am looking for is without negative ...
- 13
0
votes
0
answers
70
views
What do you call the receiver of friendship?
I came here from a question on ELL: a person who is willing to give up their life for others.
A friend is
Someone who is not an enemy and who you can trust -Cambridge dictionary
At that question, @...
- 2,071
1
vote
0
answers
42
views
English equivalent for the german term "Bestellrunde"
The German term "Bestellrunde" literally translates as "order round/turn" or "a round/turn of orders".
It implies a request to consumers/customers to place their order ...
- 111
0
votes
2
answers
38
views
Overwhelm someone with work/‚evidence‘
(Remark: after thinking a bit more about it, I arrived at „flooding with information“.)
I‘m looking for a word (maybe an expression or phrase), where one party „B“ hands in so much information/„...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
5k
views
i will visit him by early next week or i will visit him by earlier next week?
Could anyone do the favor of sharing their thoughts on the following?
Which is correct? -
"I will visit him by earlier next week"
or
"I will visit him by early next week".
which is ...
-1
votes
3
answers
89
views
A word or phrase that describes a person who is a corporate employee with a very demanding work schedule, but keeps positive and optimistic
Recently, the word “打工人” has become a buzzword in China. It refers to a person who is a corporate employee – or anyone who works very hard only to earn a low or middle income – but who is still ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
With Secret Santa, is there a word for "the person you drew"?
If John is the secret Santa of Sarah, meaning that John needs to buy a present for Sarah, what is Sarah to John? The only thing I can think of is "the person he drew". What would be a good ...
- 13