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1500 questions
26
votes
7 answers
Should "cooking" and "cleaning" be taken literally in "...two men at once. One cooking. One cleaning."
Just read a tweet,
My fantasy is having two men at once. One cooking. One cleaning.
Is it a word play in which 'cleaning' refers to a sexual intercourse or, actually, 'cleaning' is there intended having its literal meaning?
user2793
26
votes
5 answers
What's the difference between "vanilla" and "plain" when talking about yogurts?
Merriam Webster explains vanilla (when used as an adjective) as:
lacking distinction : plain, ordinary, conventional
It's not obvious why vanilla has such a meaning, and why plain is listed as its synonym. As you can find in the grocery store,…
Cyker
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26
votes
4 answers
The meaning of "half woman, half girl"
"It was the same mirror I'd gazed into as a child, then as a girl, then as a youth, half woman, half girl."
Educated by Tara Westover
What does "half woman" mean? (For example: A girl that has boyfriend?)
What does "half girl"…
Peace
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26
votes
6 answers
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is (not?)
I've bumped into the following expression a few times already:
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
To me, the correct way to say it would be:
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is not.
The reasoning being…
Pedro A
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26
votes
4 answers
Why doesn't the couple want to eat the dessert in this comic strip?
So, why do the couple not want to eat the dessert? Is it because they know their suggestions were in fact terrible?
user68458
26
votes
3 answers
"Best regards" vs. "Best Regards"
I have been told that I should use "Best regards" in emails. However, I also see many native English speakers using "Best Regards". I'm confused which is correct.
walterhuang
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26
votes
4 answers
"very unique" - Is it wrong? Why?
Is the following statement correct:
I have found a very unique book.
meaning that the book I found is very rare.
I was told that statements very unique and extremely unique do not make much sense. If that is true, can you please explain why that…
Tom
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26
votes
3 answers
Difference between "uptown", "downtown" and "midtown"
I've noticed a frequent usage of the words uptown and downtown while watching movies made in the USA. Also the word midtown is seldom used.
What is the difference between them? Is possible they can refer to different places and areas in order what…
Nikolas Charalambidis
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26
votes
1 answer
Why can "populace" be used as an adjective in "most populace cities?"
I wanted to talk about the cities where the population is high. My correspondent told me we must say:
The most populace cities
Instead of:
The most populated cities
I don't understand how the noun populace can be used as an adjective. Can you…
lionel
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26
votes
6 answers
Glass vs Cup - differences in usage
In everyday spoken language when you, as native English speakers, say "glass" and "cup" are they considered as a synonym for you or you have a special meaning for each one of them?
As a non native English speaker I don't find a difference between…
Virtuous Legend
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26
votes
13 answers
Would saying "who is this" in normal tone be rude in an occasion not on the phone?
I am not a native English speaker; I am not sure how to interpret such an event. For example, suppose I approach my friend to say hello; suppose he is together with someone I don't know; suppose this someone says "who is this" in normal tone to us.…
Yes
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26
votes
7 answers
When is "me" used as a possessive pronoun, instead of "my"?
In books I often see characters speak "me" instead of "my":
I saw it with me own eyes.
I'm going to the bathroom to wash me hands.
What English is this?
SovereignSun
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26
votes
4 answers
'Back in 2000' vs 'In 2000'
I'm familiar with preposition 'in' in terms of using past tense. E.g. to denote that something is hapenning during the year 2000, I can say:
I joined the project in 2000
But in some authentic articles, I often come across collocation "back in…
The Dreams Wind
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26
votes
5 answers
Plurality of verb depending on plurality of list elements
This question is also open on EL&U:
“There Is”/“There are” depends on plurality of the first list element or not?
Considering the amount of controversy it aroused, I believe it's past "Learners'" level.
An edit was suggested to my sentence.
There…
SF.
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26
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6 answers
"None of the kids were hungry" Or "None of the kids was hungry"
Were is used with plural pronouns
The kids were hungry.
And we can add "None of":
None of the kids were hungry.
But I read a lot of articles and books use "was" with "None of":
None of the kids was injured.
None of them was so unconcerned about…
Shannak
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