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1500 questions
31
votes
12 answers
Idiom request for describing a situation in which people pay attention to their minor problems rather than the fundamental related ones?
I'm looking for an idiom, proverb or saying that can be used for describing a situation that someone focus on the minor problems in their life rather than the basic problems that have caused those minor ones.
When somebody acts like this, we…
Soudabeh
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31
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3 answers
How many flies does it take to screw in a light bulb?
I encountered this lightbulb joke today, but I can’t figure out why it is funny:
Q: How many flies does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: Two, but I don't know how they got in there.
My best guess is that this is a play on the meaning of the…
kirelagin
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Verb tenses when asking a question
How can I establish time period when trying to ask someone about a question that was asked some time ago?
I asked you a question in my last email, but I wasn't sure (this is happening now) if it went through.
My asking took place sometime in the…
jess
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31
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6 answers
What is the correct way to write 1.5 hours?
I'm a bit confused in describing 1.5hrs in words.
Is writing one and a half an hour correct or should it be one and half hour?
E.g:
I'll see you there in one and a half an hour.
OR
I'll see you there in one and half hour.
Or is there any…
v kumar
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31
votes
10 answers
Why does "graphic" mean violent or gory?
My German friend asked me why "graphic" means "violent or gory", as in "graphic content" or "graphic language".
(Related, but not the same question: What‘s does “graphic language” mean? )
Graphic-graphical is clearly one of these ic-ical pairs…
equin0x80
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31
votes
6 answers
scissors cut/cuts paper, which is correct?
First I'd apologize for I can't describe it clearly.
I've heard that "scissors cut paper" is correct, but I found Sheldon said "scissors cuts paper" in The Big Bang Theory.
Which is correct, or both of them?
mariotaku
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31
votes
7 answers
Which is the correct question ("Who has" vs "Who have")?
The situation is that:
We've already read three English novels.
Which is the correct question for that situation?
Who has already read three English novels?
Who have already read three English novels?
Or could both be correct?
Please also…
bella
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31
votes
10 answers
When should I use 'thaw' and 'melt'?
Thaw seems to be used when thawing something, like food. Melt seems to be used with ice. Some dictionary definitions seem to conflict with these statements. When should each word be used?
Genie
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5 answers
Why is it "If I were you" and not "If I was you"?
From my research online the correct way is to say "If I were you" and not "If I was you" because this is the "subjunctive mood".
However they don't say the underlying reason for it. They just say use "If I were you" when it is subjunctive.
What if I…
Dzyann
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What is the difference between "hug" and "embrace"?
What is the difference between hug and embrace?
Hug:
Squeeze (someone) tightly in one's arms, typically to express affection.
Embrace:
Hold (someone) closely in one's arms, esp. as a sign of affection: "Aunt Sophie embraced her warmly".
Is it…
SF.
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Why is “deal 6 damage” a legit phrase?
I mean, if damage is countable, it should be
Deal 6 damages.
If it’s not countable, then this sentence should be wrong.
Such as saying something like
I drank 5 water.
So... am I missing something here?
Hao Wu
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5 answers
What does "Scary-lookin' fing, inee" mean?
... Harry had never met a vampire, but he had seen pictures of them in his Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, and Black, with his waxy white skin, looked just like one.
'Scary-lookin' fing, inee?' said Stan, who had been watching Harry…
dan
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31
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9 answers
Why is "won't" used instead of "doesn't" sometimes?
I've started noticing people using constructions like "something won't do something" as a present tense instead of "something doesn't do something".
For example, here is a piece from Eminem's song
but he keeps on forgettin'
What he wrote down, the…
Валерий Туманов
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14 answers
What do you call an action that is less serious than a "crime" (that is not illegal, just against rules)?
Example sentence:
Dying your hair pink is a __ in secondary school.
I thought of words like "offense" and "misdeed," but they don't ring quite right.
alex
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4 answers
What do you call the things inside a fruit?
I am having trouble finding the right word. What do you call the hard, uneatable parts inside a fruit? For example, an avocado has one big dark one. Grapes have small ones. Watermelons have a lot of black ones.
I looked it up in the dictionary and…
KansaiRobot
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