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1500 questions
13
votes
2 answers
R-Ariz. -- what does this shorthand stand for?
Example with a context:
Another hated ‘pindos’ is Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), famous in Russia for his periodic tweets to ‘Dear Vlad.’ In 2011, for example, Mr. McCain tweeted Putin, “Dear Vlad, The #ArabSpring is coming to a neighborhood near…
Michael Rybkin
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13
votes
2 answers
Conditional: "are not" vs. "don't be"
Consider the following phrases (someone is talking with a friend who is challenging some mobsters):
If you are not careful, they will catch you.
or
If you don't be careful, they will catch you.
Is the second option acceptable or usual?
Are…
Apprentice
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13
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6 answers
What does "I don't do dogs" mean?
Left Ear (who is an explosives expert, but deaf in his right ear) : Okay, party people,
here's the status. It's an anti-scaling fence. It's hardened,
electro-plated steel. Yeah, I'm gonna have to paint that up with some
nitromin.
Charlie: Security…
Kinzle B
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13
votes
3 answers
What do we call the process of cutting pencils down to expose more lead?
We call the following a pencil cutter.
But what do we do with it? Do we cut the pencil? Cutting the pencil sounds odd to me, like it means actually we are cutting the pencil into pieces which is not something we do. So what do we do with it?
EDIT-…
Mistu4u
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13
votes
3 answers
Local and locale
What exactly is "locale"?
How is it different from "local"?
For example: "Her summers were spent on a variety of exotic locales."
Does it mean "place"? If it is not, how is that different from "place"?
And Why did the author use the word locales…
Sean Klaus
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13
votes
3 answers
How is "doze off" different from just "doze"?
How is doze off different from just doze?
I think they mean the same thing— sleeping lightly. What's the difference between them?
Sean Klaus
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13
votes
2 answers
What are the little "legs" on the bottom of a laptop called?
What is the proper name for the four legs (pads?) on the bottom of a laptop? I am thinking of those that are glued to the laptop and make the airflow circulation better under it.
Bogdan Lataianu
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13
votes
4 answers
Is 'are you outside' different from 'are you out'?
Let's say I am supposed to meet my friend and I want to make sure that he is at home when I arrive, so I call him and ask
Are you out right now?
or
Are you outside right now?
The first expression sounds okay but what I want to know is that what…
Max
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13
votes
4 answers
Difference between "however" and "whereas"?
What is the difference between however and whereas?
Cooking is hard, whereas eating is easy.
Can I use however in that sentence (instead of whereas) or not? If not, why?
The meaning of the two words seems very much the same: they both show a…
Ice Girl
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13
votes
6 answers
Can you say "the dessert eats well"?
I heard that a food critic (who is British male) made a comment on a dish like this:
It looks very pretty, but it doesn't eat very well.
The expression amazed me as I never knew food can be a subject of verb eat. I couldn't find such a usage in…
naoski
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13
votes
2 answers
What does "beat free" (or "can't beat free") mean?
The Impossible Book
– Hey, let’s go for a walk or something!
– Oh, I’m kind of busy here…
– Busy bee as always. What are you doing? Reading again? Let me see
the title.
– It’s a bit silly, actually. You’re gonna laugh. The title is “It is
…
Leonid Semyonov
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13
votes
3 answers
"As a child" vs. "When I was a child"
As a child, I was allowed to watch as much television on Saturday and Sunday mornings as I pleased.
When I was a child, I was allowed to watch as much television on Saturday and Sunday mornings as I pleased.
Is really "As a child" a proper way…
user114
13
votes
7 answers
Is the word "crazy" always negative?
Is the word crazy always negative and impolite?
What is the difference between crazy, mad and stupid?
Which one can be positive?
LeoHzs
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13
votes
5 answers
Why {are you / you are} making noise?
I always get confused between these two sentences:
Why are you making noise?
Why you are making noise?
Could anyone put light in the differences between the two?
Sudhir
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13
votes
3 answers
correct use of similar /to/with/like/
Is it correct to say similar with or similar to or similar like? Consider the following sentences
He has similar behavior with his friends (He has a behavior similar with his friend)
He has similar behavior to his friends (He has a behavior…
mahmood
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