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Latest post Wed, Aug 24 2005 4:39 AM by CalifJim. 8 replies.
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meantolearn  +  128835 Sat, 20 Aug 05 09:17 AM

I was told that 'this rocks' means this is good/great.

I looked up my dictionary. Rock can mean shock if it's used as a verb.

e.g. The managing director's resignation rocked the whole company. (Cambridge)

The verb rock has two quite opposite meanings. How do I know which one means which?

Thanks,
meantolearn
Joined on Thu, Feb 24 2005
Regular Member 808
I think; therefore I am.
Antonia  +  128847 Sat, 20 Aug 05 10:24 AM

Hi Meantolearn,

You should get the meaning from the context. Other words, sentences and meaning of the whole text should help you infer the meaning. Without a context, the word is just a dictionary item, or better said lexeme.  

Dictionaries can also give you information on when to use certain word or expression. For instance, ''this rocks'' is more colloquial expression and you will certainly not find it in scientific paper.

Hope it helps
Antonia
Joined on Fri, Mar 11 2005
Contributing Member 1,266
Aster  +  128849 Sat, 20 Aug 05 10:31 AM

Hi Meantolearn

Antonia has give you an excellent explanation about how to go about looking at the words meaning.

I would just like to add onto his point of view.

 

Lets look at the word Rock itself,

1) if used as a noun it would refer to a stone

however if used as a verb it takes completely different meaning

2) The resignation of the director rocked the entire company.

In this context it would mean that the company was shaken because one of its leaders was about to leave and thus it was in a troubled position.

3) Andrea Aggasi rocks.

Here it means that Andrea plays very well.

 

So depending on the context we need to derive the meanig and the sense in which it is being used.

You cannont have a single meaning for a word .

 

 
Aster
Joined on Thu, Aug 18 2005
India
New Member 16
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MrPedantic  +  128869 Sat, 20 Aug 05 12:59 PM

Hello M2L

The verb 'rock' can mean 'move from side to side', or 'cause to move from side to side', e.g.

1. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

2. The statue rocked on its plinth with the blast.

'Rock' as in stone derives from Vulgar Latin 'rocca'; whereas 'rock' as in 'move back and forth' derives from the Germanic 'rucken'.

MrP
MrPedantic
Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004
Veteran Member 13,616
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davkett  +  128876 Sat, 20 Aug 05 01:20 PM

I suspect Meantolearn wants the idiomatic usage here, which comes from the 'rock and roll' music tradition, as far I'm concerned. 

'This rocks' means, 'This is really hot stuff', 'You're going to dig this', and other such slang expressions (that I personally am no longer current with, having not evolved much along those lines since the 50's and 60's).
davkett
Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005
Pennsylvania, USA
Senior Member 2,788
"The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay
meantolearn  +  129018 Sat, 20 Aug 05 09:26 PM

MrP, no wonder the word rock used as a noun -- stone(static) or used as a verb -- move side to side (dynamic) has quite different meanings. They have different roots even though they're all spelled the same in English. Thanks for pointing this out.

Dave, this is what I'm looking for. I can't find such definition as rock to 'hot stuff' in a dictionary. I've heard Americans say it (this rocks) at times. Thanks for the explanations.

_________

Have you heard the song:

"We Will Rock You"

Buddy you're a boy
Make a big noise playin' in the street
Gonna be a big man some day
You got blood on your face, big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place

singing We will, we will rock you (ha ha)
We will, we will rock you

Keep the beat up, why, I'm gonna turn your heat up
Gonna get you on the floor, gonna turn your feet up
Rockin' you, like I never rocked you before
Like the way I do, got you screamin' for more

We're causin' utter devastation
When we steppin' to the place
You better believe that you can see
We're gonna rock and never stop And here we go again
Hit you with the flow again
Kick it up the second time around
we'll bring it on again - shout it up

We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you

Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go

Buddy you're an old man, poor man,
Pleading With you're eyes
Gonna make you something some day
You got mud on your face, big disgrace
Somebody better put you back in your place

singing We will, we will rock you (ha ha)
We will, we will rock you

____________________

1. What does 'rock' mean?

2. Is it a common usage of rock?

 
meantolearn
,
meantolearn, 4 yr 77 days ago

Would anyone give it a shot?

Thanks,

MrPedantic  +  130092 Tue, 23 Aug 05 11:15 PM

Hello M2L

I think this 'rock' means both:

1. cause to be stirred up/shaken up

2. subject to rock & roll

'Rock' in sense #1 is quite common in newspaper English ('New Sleaze Revelation Rocks Tory Party'); but probably less so in ordinary spoken English.

But it is quite an obscure lyric – someone else may have a different interpretation!

MrP
MrPedantic
CalifJim  +  130168 Wed, 24 Aug 05 04:39 AM
I hate to be a wet blanket, but "You (really) rock!", meaning "You did a great job!" is getting tiresome.  I think the expression has (thankfully) run its course and will be out of favor before October (if we're lucky).Smile [:)]
CalifJim
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member 22,128
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
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