In Idioms^x, Plurals^x

Hi, We usually talk of putting/getting your point (singular) across but there are some contexts where the plural might be appropriate. The idiom means to explain your 'point of view' or to express your opinions. So I'm not too sure if your sentence is really making that use of it? Without the...

I agree with paco2004 that the plural fools is needed to agree with supporters.I also agree that the indefinite article a is needed in Don't make a fool of me.(To make a fool of is an idiom which means to cause someone or oneself to look foolish or stupid. ---dictionary.com)From Understanding...

'You are impossible' here means 'you are incorrigible, you are impossible to correct/convince/change; you are always contrary'. I presume that 'hand' is a typographical error for 'hands' (singular and plural are always important!). To 'throw up one's hands' is an idiom deriving from the...

Many Singaporeans do speak very good English, but the reason many western native English speakers don't consider that Singaporeans in general speak 'native English' is because of the predominance of the Singlish dialect. Singlish in it's most extreme forms lacks inflection for tense and plural...

Hello again SfB As you've commented, there are two senses of 'difficulty': 1. state of difficult-ness (mostly singular) 2. obstacle, hindrance, impediment (mostly plural) Some phrases seem to belong to #1: a) 'with difficulty' b) 'have' (adjective) 'difficulty' (in) + gerund (e.g. 'have...

Hello MrP So I can only assume that either Dickens got his idiom slightly wrong, or ‘Child as he was’ had a simple complementary sense in his day. I feel your sense that children are not immune to hunger and misery is very modern one. Children of poor social classes in Dickens' times would be...

Hi there, I am not a native english speaker and I find myself in a controversy discussion with a friend wether or not it is possible to use "there is" and "here is" with a plural subject, for example: "There is some things I'd like to talk about." "Here is your letters." I looked for...

I'd say "a sweet tooth", certainly not "sweet teeth". "sweet tooths" isn't talking to me, either, but I would probably accept it if someone else said it. In the first example cited, I sense the meaning " those girls have/has a sweet tooth", not that the girls together are sharing one sweet...

"We are the best of friends" = "We are extremely good friends." "the best of " is an idiom of limited use; it's related to personal relationships. "the best of friends", "the best of buddies", "the best of neighbors". There are other uses of "best" as a noun. Here's just one. He did his best...

All are correct: (still) way behind / ahead (still) (quite) a way behind / ahead (still) (quite) a ways behind / ahead Yes. Believe it or not, people use the plural "ways" in this idiom!