All Questions
Tagged with single-word-requests idiom-requests
406
questions
86
votes
28
answers
151k
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Idiom or word for a very crowded place
There is a popular idiom in Russian for describing a really crowded place: "(there's) no room for an apple to fall" ("яблоку негде упасть").
I struggle to think of anything similar in English, and ...
- 97.5k
1
vote
1
answer
564
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Word/phrase for when an incorrect approach leads to an unexpectedly great result
Related question on Chinese.SE
There is a phrase ("歪打正着" in Chinese and "怪我の功名" in Japanese) which roughly means "do the wrong thing but achieve the right result anyway". Is there a similar phrase or ...
- 3,620
7
votes
4
answers
3k
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What is the English counterpart to 'Binboyusuri' - keep jiggling one’s legs during conversation sitting on the chair?
There are persons who keep jiggling their legs sitting on the chair during conversation or being interviewed. This motion is annoying and seen as the indication of the speaker’s tension, weakness to ...
- 70.2k
1
vote
7
answers
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A word that defines shy, but in a positive context
I'm looking for a word that describes shy and reserved, but not to portray weakness or one that has a negative connotation.
Being shy and reserved as an executive doesn't fit well for career
...
- 197
4
votes
2
answers
5k
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Idiom Meaning "Ready to Correct One's Mistake"
I'm looking for a concise way to describe this situation:
Person A compliments B's team at a competition. But B does not respond to this compliment gracefully, even though it means a lot to him. B ...
user39720
39
votes
16
answers
11k
views
What is the player called who has a turn?
What is the player called who has a turn?
I am guessing something like turning player. But I would like some confirmation or maybe is there an idiom for it?
Explanation:
In a round based game what ...
- 493
3
votes
2
answers
870
views
Is there a way to describe a problem that you don't currently know the answer to?
This is easiest described via example. I develop websites for a living and often I'll have a client point out a feature on their website. I can break these situations into two groups:
1) Point out ...
11
votes
3
answers
3k
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People who sell their virginity for money
I'm Vietnamese and I'm writing an essay about prostitution. I want to ask the word to express properly the people who sell their virginity for money. In Vietnamese, we use a phrase literally means ...
- 111
1
vote
2
answers
319
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Denying own statement
Is there a word of phrase for someone who denies their own statement?
It’s like when somebody snitches and then denies having done so.
7
votes
9
answers
4k
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Idiom/word/saying request: Accepting a situation out of desperation
How can I say for example:
Individual retailers run out of business when a big fish came to town. So they had accepted that they cannot compete and closed their stores.
In the novel To Kill A ...
- 531
3
votes
2
answers
778
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Avoiding "time-controlledly" as an adverb
I'm currently translating a web site for scheduling software from German to English. So there are many things that this program can do "time-controlledly" (if I translate literally). But this sounds ...
- 1,270
13
votes
10
answers
3k
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American Equivalent of "Bog Standard"
I'm searching for an American English phrase that is the most readily equivalent to the British expression bog standard (which means, as I understand, plain, ordinary or unremarkable).
I'm tempted to ...
- 440
5
votes
10
answers
108k
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What's the word for two people who like/love each other but neither one confesses it?
Two people like each other or are in love but neither one has expressed it openly, so they each wonder about the other and consequently frustrations might begin to build... What's that called?
EDIT: ...
- 509
7
votes
15
answers
57k
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Is there an idiom for people who boast too much?
I am looking for idioms or informal/slang/colloquial expression for some people that make you think that they are able of building a skyscraper, constructing a spaceship, playing the piano better than ...
- 1,687
3
votes
7
answers
29k
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Word, idiom or expression to describe feeling full (after eating)
For example:
I like how you conveniently informed us after most of us had eaten already and we are [feeling full].
The phrase in brackets sounds unnatural to me. Would you suggest how to rephrase ...
- 11.3k