Most active questions
108 questions from the last 30 days
10
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5
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What term describes a person who always remains ill?
What term describes a person who mostly/always remains ill due multiple factors, such as being surrounded by multiple diseases or due to an incurable chronic disease?
Can I simply call that person as ...
- 109
12
votes
10
answers
2k
views
Bivouacs made by the homeless
I am just marking a private student's writing where he says
Reports of nightly anti-social behaviour, vandalism, and unregulated bivouacs under the porticoes create a hostile environment.
I had to ...
- 95.1k
3
votes
9
answers
1k
views
A verb for "stopping someone from making progress"
I am practising doing precis & composition. Came across a sentence that needs to be shortened into fewer words:
The people who are your rivals will mostly try to stop you from progressing.
I ...
- 362
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is "the" needed here: "the almost 50 species of bumble bees ..."?
My son is reading a Disneynature' document titled Wings of Life narrated by Meryl Streep. He came across the following paragraph that goes as under:
The almost 50 species of bumble bees in the United ...
- 362
6
votes
11
answers
2k
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Word for any person who doesn't oppose any group among certain people
Is there any specific word to describe a person who does not involve in grouping, or they don't oppose any group at all. By grouping, here I mean a set of associated people acting together, especially ...
- 5,733
6
votes
10
answers
1k
views
Proverb for when one is already in a hurry but the condition wastes even more time
I am looking for a proverb (short adage) for when one is already in a hurry but the situation makes the person wait even more.
Today I was in a hurry. I had to reach home at 2 o'clock but the driver ...
- 123
6
votes
4
answers
390
views
A word describing a disease that was a pandemic in past but no longer exists today [duplicate]
Rinderpest and smallpox were devastating diseases that caused widespread mortality for centuries but have been completely removed through extensive global vaccination campaigns, rigorous surveillance, ...
- 362
5
votes
5
answers
2k
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Proper antonym of "body shaming"
"Body shaming" is being used since 1990s to refer to: the act of criticizing or humiliating someone based on their body shape, size, or physical appearance, which can be directed at another ...
- 362
10
votes
1
answer
4k
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What is this obfuscation method called?
Is there a short phrase meaning "mapping text through near-homoglyphs that are intentionally less similar looking, specifically when used to write controversial things (swear words, the k!n&, ...
- 259
8
votes
2
answers
1k
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What does sectarian mean/imply in this passage?
Nobody could accuse my mum and dad of being sectarian because as soon as lunch was over and cleared up, we children were sent to the Wesleyan chapel for Sunday School. I questioned Mum about the ...
- 707
7
votes
4
answers
2k
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Hat-trick is for three, what's the word for four consecutive successes?
The term "hat trick" originated in the sport of cricket in the mid-1800s, referring to a bowler taking three wickets with three consecutive deliveries. The achievement was traditionally ...
- 5,733
9
votes
7
answers
1k
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Suitable word for any public figure with comparatively few haters/criticizers
I'm curious to find a suitable word for any public figure or celebrity who has very few haters or criticizers compared to other such public figures or celebrities.
Let's talk about Ronaldo and Messi [...
- 5,733
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Etymology of “snooty"
I have not found a satisfactory origin for the word snooty (proud, disdainful of others) in Modern English. I wonder if there is any evidence that could be considered for an origin in the Old English ...
9
votes
1
answer
1k
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Unexpected "would" that doesn't feel right in this context
From 'All Creatures, Great and Small' by James Herriot:
“They [pigs] belted out through the yard door at full gallop.”
“The yard door was open then?”
“Too true it was. I would just choose this one ...
- 193
6
votes
2
answers
2k
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What does "rantin' sideways" mean?
In Steins;Gate episode 1 (English dub version), Daru says to Okabe
How can you be surprised? You were rantin' sideways about it this morning, said the doc got cold feet.
What does "rantin' ...
- 93
10
votes
1
answer
1k
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Why did Herman Melville write "if he have a chance" in Moby Dick?
I'm reading "Moby Dick; or, The Whale" by Herman Melville and in Chapter 54 (The Town-Ho's Story) I found the following part, which confuses me:
Now, as you well know, it is not seldom the ...
- 101
12
votes
1
answer
896
views
Why is the verb "to sic" conjugated with a double c rather than the more typical ck?
When appending a suffix beginning with a vowel (-ed, -ing, -y, etc.) to a word ending in -ic, one typically appends a k first. We see this in words like panicking, picnicked, and garlicky. (Presumably,...
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5
votes
2
answers
598
views
a tree five feet around — Do you think "around" is an adverb or an adjective here?
There isn't a general consensus among dictionaries whether "around" is an adverb or an adjective when it's used for showing a measurement of something in circumference.
So I'm interested to ...
- 1,145
3
votes
2
answers
444
views
I believe [person] [thing]
I'm a German native speaker.
In German, you can say:
I believe him (the source) his story (the material).
I don't believe her (source) anything (material).
Using direct and indirect objects.
Now, ...
- 1,537
3
votes
4
answers
419
views
A term for the incapability of letting go of an idea until one has fully explored it
Is there a word or phrase that describes the following condition?
Once you have an idea, you are incapable of letting go of it until you have explored it fully, that is, explored every conceivable ...
- 39
4
votes
3
answers
531
views
How do you parse the clause inside this sentence?
I recently read an article titled “The myth of the eight-hour sleep” by BBC Learning English, which itself is an adaptation of another BBC article of the same title. And I am perplexed by the clause (...
- 171
4
votes
2
answers
688
views
What is the meaning of “mantle” in this sentence?
In a visual novel written in American English, I have found the following passage, as a character is describing the contents of his room, which is themed around car racing (emphasis is mine):
Damon: ...
- 49
4
votes
1
answer
603
views
What is the origin of "lame duck" as a political term and, before that, as a financial term?
An article by Mark Leibovich titled "Donald Trump Is a Lamer Duck Than Ever" posted today in The Atlantic, includes the following note on the origin of the term:
Senator Lazarus Powell of ...
- 174k
2
votes
2
answers
192
views
Does something need to be delayed by a significant amount of time to be considered "postponed"?
Our Science teacher called about tomorrow's mock science quiz - it's not cancelled. It's scheduled from 3:00 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m. instead of 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The mock science quiz planned for the ...
- 21
0
votes
2
answers
137
views
How much not harder
-You shouldn't try so hard.
-Well, dunno how much not harder I could.
The Mission/Beavis H. S3E9
Is this structure due to the lack of a clear antonym for (work) hard in this context?
- 4,151
3
votes
2
answers
303
views
Are there "eigen-Englishes"? Did the Great Vowel Shift happen because of a small spectral gap?
This may be a really dumb question that I don't know how to properly formalize, but I've wondered if languages and dialects - which go through various stages of change - could have distinct and ...
- 141
6
votes
0
answers
798
views
What's the point of "I shan’t try to hit two balls" joke? [migrated]
I am reading Ethel Lina White’s novel Fear Stalks the Village, written in 1930s, and came across this passage:
In spite of her short sight, the novelist was the best tennis player
in the ...
- 161
3
votes
1
answer
290
views
What does the author indicate to by writing "Listen to the NEVER HAVES" in poem
"Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS.
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES,
the WONTS.
Listen to the NEVER HAVES,
Then listen close to me...
Anything can happen, child.
...
- 123
6
votes
5
answers
226
views
How can we decide which noun complement should be used in uncountable form and which shouldn't?
Look at these sentences:
They were held hostage.
They were held captive.
Here, are "hostage" and "captive" working as adjectives?
If they are, then why can't we say "A ...
5
votes
2
answers
212
views
Is there some logic to The Economist's spacing in "8m" and "8 bn"?
What's up with the space before bn (billion), but not before m (million), as seen repeatedly in The Economist's style guide (12th ed., p. 51)? This seems inconsistent, but also intentional. Is there ...
- 4,638
2
votes
1
answer
291
views
What does the sentence mean here? I understand each sentence but can't find the logic behind this one in connection with all the others in the passage
A few days ago, I posted a question about a passage from the book The Lady's Maid by Rosina Harrison. Since I'm translating it, there will be more questions to follow, so please bear with me!
Okay. So ...
- 707
0
votes
1
answer
68
views
set or setting the standard [for something]
It would seem there are some who think that the phrase "setting the standard" used as a title on its own in some context involving industrial production and people (though it needn't only be ...
- 17.4k
-2
votes
1
answer
171
views
I need ideas for a child to call her biological donator that is not in her life [duplicate]
My daughter is now getting older and asking questions about her origins including why her biological father is not present. I have been flip flopping on what to call him that is elementary school age ...
0
votes
1
answer
155
views
What phrase means the opposite of what “no offence” means?
If “no offence” signals that you don’t intend to insult someone, what phrase would be used when you do intend to offend?
The phrase “no offence” is often used before or after a statement to soften its ...
- 17
1
vote
2
answers
176
views
Why is "[sic]" used in this article? [closed]
While reading an recent news article, I came across this:
He was a true & loyal [sic] partner, ...
Why is "[sic]" included? Everything seems proper.
They're quoting from a press ...
- 129
1
vote
1
answer
158
views
Is there a minimal set of words distinguishing all (or at least more than ten) vowel sounds in American English?
For example, this set distinguishes ten vowels (for those without the cot/caught merger; nine otherwise).
sit / seat / soot / suit / set / sate / sat / sot / sought / sight
But there are still a few ...
- 574
0
votes
1
answer
130
views
'Does that': devoicing [tsaet]
Here are two examples thereof
Does that feel OK, comfortable?
min 09:02:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdLB3udjOR0&feature=youtu.be&t=530
Does that sound good?
min 1:02 https://youtu.be/...
- 4,151
-5
votes
1
answer
147
views
French words: productive pronunciation in present-day English ('faux')
Consider a case like faux:
/ˌfoʊ/ in faux marble or faux pas
/ˌfoʊz/ in faux ami(s).
Therefore, is it productively /foʊz/ before a vowel (French pronunciation rule) in today's English too? Say, in
...
- 4,151
0
votes
1
answer
82
views
Gerund or adjective?
Is there any doubt that the word meaning below is a present participial adjective?
Zeitgeist is a German word meaning spirit of the age.
Any reference materials on this subject would be greatly ...
- 177
0
votes
2
answers
103
views
I'm going to school here (in this school)
Been going to school here for 3 years.
The Mission/Beavis H. S3E9
Is coming possible here, or is go to school as strong an idiom as bring to the table?
- 4,151
2
votes
2
answers
129
views
Use of semicolon followed by conjunction: standard English punctuation?
I recognize my query nearly duplicates this question from 9 years back, but since usage evolves apace and because the below hurts my ear while my supervisor insists the sentence sounds as sweet as ...
0
votes
1
answer
182
views
'Were' for third person singular [duplicate]
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36663021/
Zeke weren't afraid
Compare unstressed wa'n't /wən(t)/: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wadn%27t
Why were for 3rd person singular Zeke?
I had read about ...
- 4,151
1
vote
0
answers
156
views
Shakespeare, Sonnet 104 [migrated]
To me, fair friend, you never can be old,
For as you were when first your eye I ey’d,
Such seems your beauty still. Three winters cold
Have from the forests shook three summers’ pride,
Three beauteous ...
- 291
1
vote
1
answer
68
views
Is "Save this date" correct? [closed]
We are launching an e-commerce site in December, and will send a physical card to some influencers. I would like to write "Save this date" instead of "Save the date" to give more ...
- 19
6
votes
1
answer
166
views
What does it mean to “toss balls”?
A notorious incident in Bentley family history is when William, the first Bentley in America, murdered his neighbor Thomas Godby on February 9th, 1628.
The incident was detailed at trial. A witness ...
1
vote
1
answer
85
views
What part of speech are the last words of "all at once", "gone at last", "good at first", etc?
All three words (once, last, first) can be defined as adverbs, adjectives, or nouns with similar definitions for each part of speech for the respective words.
I'm trying to figure out if those words ...
- 41
-4
votes
2
answers
65
views
What's the meaning of "by nothing"? [closed]
I found a sentence:
I meant '\keys_set:nn'. By 'nothing', I mean 'nothing the latex people would approve'.
I'm not very clear the meaning of "by nothing", please help explain.
- 103
0
votes
0
answers
143
views
Is there a specific term that describes a person's inability to determine another person's age?
I have never been able to determine a person's age. Aside from knowing they're a child, adult, or a mature adult (grey hair, wrinkles), I cannot determine an actual age. A 19-year old can look 40 to ...
- 17
-1
votes
1
answer
98
views
Is the second part of this sentence inconsistent with the "though" at the beginning? [closed]
Example sentence:
Though his team wants him to continue playing, football star Dan Hamilton is going to be 40 on his next birthday; he will retire.
Do you agree that this sentence is incorrect ...
- 119
-3
votes
1
answer
76
views
Questions about the verbs brief and debrief [closed]
According to dictionaries, brief means: to inform someone before an event:
brief [verb]:
instruct or inform (someone) thoroughly, especially in preparation for a task.
[Oxford Dictionaries, courtesy ...
- 90