English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

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4 answers

What does 'aye' mean in this context?

So, I'm actually a native American English speaker, but I can't figure out what 'aye' could mean in this song. "At the sad decree...they'll depart for aye", "for alas I'm doomed...for aye". The Lost Soul by Doc Watson Family I already know aye can…
Kasenjo
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In cartography, what do you call the line that separates land from water?

I am discussing cartographic conventions. For instance, "rivers should be blue" and "country borders should be black". In such a discussion, how should I refer to a line that separates land from a large body of water? I am looking for a single term…
Nicolas Raoul
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Does "49er" mean "A 49-year-old man"?

Is it right to say "I was talking to a 49er" to aim that "I was talking to a 49-year-old man"? I know that it's meaningless to say it, but my question is: "Is (age)er = (age)-year-old man"?
Mohamed Hamza
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"Aim" vs "Goal" whats the difference?

Is there any difference between "Aim" and "Goal"? I often seen while filling the Resume or Bio-data, there were two fields as: Aim: Goals:
Prasad Jadhav
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2 answers

What do "M", "G" and "B" buttons mean in an elevator?

What do "M", "G" and "B" buttons mean in an elevator, besides "1", "2", ...? Confusing. Thanks.
Tim
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Why "was" not "were" in "Nearly £20 was taken from my bank account"

I've always said "$100 were taken" not "$100 was taken" because I thought $100 is plural. Could you explain why "was" not "were"? Any other helpful notes about the issue would be appreciated. Nearly £20 was taken from my bank account
learner
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6 answers

Can native English speakers read Dickens easily?

I'm Japanese and I can read Dickens' works now, but with a great deal of effort. It can't be helped, I'm willing to admit btw. I'm wondering how easily native English speakers can read his works. Is a dictionary necessary because they contain a lot…
Ampan
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What is the meaning of "dog-food" here?

I was watching a programming course ("Kotlin for Java Developers" on Coursera). The instructor of the training course said: "We focused on the use cases we knew about from our everyday work and from what other people told us. This is one of the…
Shayan Poursadeghi
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What to answer to "you're too kind"?

I told a guy I knew that he looks good in a pink shirt. He told me: "Thank you, you're too kind". What is the appropriate English answer in this case? Also I'm not sure if the guy's answer means that he doesn't believe me or he think otherwise or he…
Daisy
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What is the word for "searching for leftovers" in a destroyed minimart in a zombie infested world?

I am trying to write a short story in English to practice my English. I remember there's a word for "searching for leftovers in a destroyed minimart in a zombie infested world" which in my memory sounds like "scouring for food" or "scourging for…
Chen Li Yong
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Why should "rip a man apart like a rag doll" be read "... like [it can rip apart] a rag doll" instead of "... like a rag doll [can rip apart a man]"?

A tiger can't win a mental fight with a man, but it can rip the man apart like a rag doll. Why is the sentence above read as? A tiger can't win a mental fight with a man, but it can rip the man apart like [it can rip apart] a rag doll. But not…
user40475
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8 answers

Idiom for "not doing something that makes oneself look more awkward" in an already awkward situation?

Is there an idiom meaning "not to do something that makes oneself look more awkward" in an already awkward situation? For example: "We'd better say nothing [or keep silent] so that we don't look more awkward!"
BeatsMe
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What is the plural of octopus?

What is the plural of octopus? Is it octopuses, octopi or octopodes? Normally in English it's supposed to be octopi, but when I type it, it has a red line under it (by the spell check), which means that it's incorrect. I also saw the word octopuses…
ʇolɐǝz ǝɥʇ qoq
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Can "he" and "man" refer to all genders?

All men must die, but death can vary in its significance. The ancient Chinese writer Sima Qian said, "Though death befalls all men alike, it may be weightier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather." To die for the people is weightier than Mount…
user108144
23
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9 answers

What do you call candidates in elections who don't actually have a chance to win and only create an illusion of competition?

In Russian, there's a phrase which can be literally translated as 'a technical candidate' that refers to people who are allowed to elections only to serve as, put bluntly, election props that create a false impression of multiple competing…
Sergey Zolotarev
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