Questions tagged [meaning]

This tag is for questions about the meaning of a word, which a dictionary cannot answer. If the question is about the meaning of a word that can't be understood outside its phrase or sentence, the "meaning-in-context" tag should be also used; for the meaning of a phrase, use the "phrase-meaning" tag instead. Your question should normally include the dictionary definition of the word, and explain how the dictionary does not answer your question.

This tag is for questions about the meaning of a word, which a dictionary cannot answer. If the question is about the meaning of a word in a phrase or a sentence, should be also used; for the meaning of a phrase, use .

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11428 questions
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Why would you say "it changed me" instead of "it changed myself" here?

I was correcting a sentence written by a Japanese friend, and I corrected one of his sentences to: "Learning foreign languages changed me". He asked me why he could not use "myself" instead. I am kind of at a loss of how to explain this to him.…
Kazemi
34
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7 answers

What does "He has insurance, but Christ" mean?

He has insurance, but Christ. Could you please tell me what the meaning of phrase above is? I think that if the writer said "He has no insurance, but Christ" it would be correct. The full text is here: James scrubs the frying pan in the big…
Peace
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What's the meaning of " you're being G.O. Sixteened."?

Some of the lines of the American drama Manifest that confused me: It was said by a Policewoman boss to his subordinate Look, you're being G.O. Sixteened. Do you understand? They catch you lying, you get fired. Automatically. I googled "G.O.…
scarlett
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"you can just move on in" -- isn't the wording strange a little bit? Why not just say "you can just move in"?

Example: It's a bit like a house that's built already and you can just move on in. I asked a native speaker from North Carolina and he said that the sentence sounded absolutely fine to him. So, it seems like there is nothing wrong with this…
Michael Rybkin
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What does "I have straight A's." mean?

In this video of Hillary Clinton, at 15s, the child said "I have straight A's.". What does "straight A's" mean?
Leon
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20
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'I wouldn't vote for Clinton if you paid me': what does this mean?

My understanding was that a sentence of the form: I won't do X if Y happens means something along the lines of if Y happens I will not do X Nigel Farage stated in a speech 'I wouldn't vote for Clinton if you paid me'. To my mind, this seems to…
shintaroid
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3 answers

What is meant by "latte-shaming"?

In this headline: "Millennial women are turning to influencers for financial advice, free of latte-shaming." I can't figure out what "latte-shaming" is. Would that be the shame of taking advice from someone younger?
Lynera pintcho
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In simple words, what is the difference between 'possible' and 'probable'?

Would anyone kindly explain the difference between these? Possible Probable I have searched dictionaries and on all over the Internet, but I have not been able to understand yet what the difference is!
nima
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16
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6 answers

What does "Heaven" mean here

Does "Heaven" have the same meaning as "God" here? Couldn't keep it in,Heaven knows I tried. It is in the animation "Frozen" in the Elsa thought. Just another question: do we have to write "Heaven" or "heaven" when it is not the first word of the…
Taha Akbari
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16
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2 answers

What does the word "Print" mean on a form?

I find the wording of this form confusing. What should I write next to "Signed" and "Print"?
user1853
16
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7 answers

What is the difference between "within five to six days" and "within six days"?

Symptoms will develop within five to six days after contracting the disease. Symptoms will develop within six days after contracting the disease. What is the difference between (1) and (2)? They both mean before six days have passed, don't they?
azz
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What does “nine bells” mean?

I have read a sentence: Wake me at nine bells. When to wake the people?At nine o'clock?
showkey
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meaning of the phrase "play humans"?

Here is the context: Some dogs were skilled at finding and snatching food and avoiding dogcatchers, unfriendly dogs, and people. Some were good at “playing” humans for food, whereas others weren’t. Does that mean that when dogs want to get food,…
Dmytro O'Hope
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15
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3 answers

What does "it's in the game" mean?

I understand "X is in the game", but without a definite subject this phrase becomes meaningless to me. It's been used by EA Sports and other companies to advertise they have something special about their games but this lack of specification of…
Jader Dias
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6 answers

What does the expression "go to the vet's" mean?

I possess the Cobuild Advanced Learner's Dictionary and I came across this weird expression for a non-native speaker which is "To take the dog to the vet's". I do infer they are talking about the veterinarian's office and that the letter s is…
Quique
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