How and why certain phrases are used in varying ways within various contexts.
Questions tagged [phrase-usage]
1001 questions
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Why is there "a Romeo" but not "a Juliet"?
The expression 'a Romeo' is used to refer to:
"a lover, passionate admirer, seducer of women," 1766, from the name of the hero in Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" (1590s).
From Etymonline
It appears that "Juliet" is not used to refer to…
user 66974
- 67,349
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votes
5 answers
Is "Good boy!" still appropriate for a child?
I have a neighbor who is a non-native in English. When she sees my little son playing around, she often exclaims: "Good boy! Goooood boooy!"
It always feels inapropriate. This phrase seems to be used exclusively for dogs by native speakers.
Do…
Andriy Makukha
- 219
9
votes
3 answers
Blown to smithereens
Why is this term used only in military, as far as I know, and only to describe destruction?
Dictionary's origin definition: From Irish Gaelic smidirn, diminutive of smiodar, small fragment.
If that description is so then why is it that you never…
Eric Huelin
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8
votes
2 answers
"X used his Y on"
Is this construction common/idiomatic (for native English speaker)?
Example:
He felt guilty for having used his muscles on a weak person.
I ask this because I only got 6 hits on Google. And it sounds a little strange to me, though, I can't tell…
wyc
- 13,179
7
votes
5 answers
Should I use "in any case" or "in either case" in this example?
My research wasn't immoral. The only difference was that they were doing it for the sake of the
animals, and I was doing it for my own. In any/either case who is to say
which reason was 'better'?
What's the right alternative? Or, maybe another…
wyc
- 13,179
6
votes
2 answers
She is as talented a person as I know or she is as talented of a person as I know
I was reading an article about an interview with president Obama. In the interview, he described Michelle by saying, "she is as talented a person as I know."
"As talented a person" sounds weird.
Will the sentence still carry the same meaning and…
Fabian Amran
- 177
5
votes
2 answers
What’s the connotation of stand in “stand corrected”?
Stand corrected:
Agree that one was wrong, as in I stand corrected—we did go to Finland in 1985.
This set phrase is quite old and dates back to the mid-17th century according di the AHD:
This idiom was first recorded in John Dryden's The Maiden…
user 66974
- 67,349
5
votes
3 answers
Why do we say 'Salt to taste'?
Why do we say 'salt to taste' and don't say 'salt according to taste' or 'salt for taste'?
5
votes
2 answers
"On the one hand side"
At my (large, multinational, Germany-headquartered) employer, I frequently hear "on the one hand side... on the other hand side" by non-native speakers. This always sets my teeth on edge. However, I have heard it often enough coming from many…
Stephan Kolassa
- 404
4
votes
1 answer
You’re getting on
Hi I’d like to ask about the sentence from The Devil’s Foot by Conan Doyle.
“Against the charge of killing Mortimer Tregennis.” Sterndale mopped
his forehead with his handkerchief. “Upon my word, you are getting
on,” said he. “Do all your…
giraffe
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- 3
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4
votes
1 answer
Why do we use open and closed instead of opened and closed
(Originally posted in Linguistics but I was told here is more appropriate)
When talking about a door, for example, we usually say:
"the door is open" and "the door is closed"
why don't we say:
"the door is opened" and "the door is closed" ?
Thomas
- 195
4
votes
3 answers
'In the upcoming days'
I want to use this phrase in an email to my previous supervisor to let her know that I will send her my essay in the near future.
Does the phrase "in the upcoming days" sound normal to a native English speaker and also convey the intended message?
4
votes
2 answers
Is "with all due respect" now mainly used as a sarcastic expression?
With all due respect is an idiomatic expression which has been used with he following meaning since the 19th century:.
This phrase always precedes a polite disagreement with what a person has said or brings up a controversial point. [c. 1800]…
user66974
4
votes
3 answers
Is there ever a time when "in order to" is good to use?
I don’t like the phrase "in order to." I think it’s superfluous, and I almost always delete it whenever I see it pop up in something I’m editing.
I’m just wondering — is there a compelling reason to use it in certain circumstances? When might it be…
debbiesym
- 1,044
4
votes
2 answers
This means that or This means
I'm currently reworking my technical report and was wondering which of the following wordings is correct. If both are correct, which one is the better one?
This means that the behavior of the cmd.exe is accessible [...].
This means the behavior of…
Mark G
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