Search results for 'tag:Synonyms tag:Idioms' matching tags 'Synonyms' and 'Idioms'

Re: many times/ many a time

Tanit — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:04:52 GMT

This thread reminded me of something I've wanted to ask here for a long time.

I've encountered the expression "Many's the time" only once: it's the opening sentence of the song "American Tune" by Simon and Garfunkel.
As far as I understand, it's a synonym for "Many times" and "Many a time".
Is it an American idiom? How would you classify it (poetic/formal/stiffy...)? Would you use it an ordinary conversation?

Thank you!

Re: Synonym/definition/idiom-but that

Mister Micawber — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:53:17 GMT

.
1. What is the definition of 'but that' or its synonym? -- But that = except that. It is more formal

2. Is 'but that' an idiom?-- No, it's a 'complex subordinator' (i.e . is more than a single word)

3. Could you give me some examples of 'but that' in sentences? -- Nothing would satisfy her but that I cater to her every whim.

Synonym/definition/idiom-but that

bhikkhu1991 — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:43:31 GMT

Hello,

1. What is the definition of 'but that' or its synonym?

2. Is 'but that' an idiom?

3. Could you give me some examples of 'but that' in sentences?

I have recently found 'but that' under the subordinate conjunctions on the Internet, http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/grammar_subordinate.html.

Thank you.

With best wishes.

Re: Which is wrong?

Avangi — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:19:45 GMT

I mostly agree with your first grammar book. To my ear all should be omitted. Only #4 sounds acceptable to me both ways, and #5 is a maybe.

I think #9 is a fixed idiom "to make do."

I looked for synonyms which would definitely require the "to" and only found one: #10 - "would prefer to drink tea"

(I hope I haven't taken this out of action. I'd like to think about it some more.)

synonyms

Anatbs — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:17:31 GMT

Does anyone know a synonym for the phrase "living life to its fullest" or something that conveys the idea of evaluating every minute by living it?

if you know of any good web-sites helping in understanding or finding idioms, metaphors or other phrases, I'd appreciate if you told me.

Thank you.

Re: Please, correct my review of the film

Mister Micawber — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:29:56 GMT

I have underlined further problems and answered your questions inside your brackets:

I've seen this movie twice and it astonish me a lot. Each person fits into themselves a bit of truth about environment. Although there are a plenty of films with the same scenario but Mikhalkov can get the main purpose into a deep of our souls. .Old jew (No article and Jew should be capitalized) said that he had very many disadvantages except one small quality - becoming thoughtful. Also he said he valued it a lot. Another point was the playing of Garmash.Really position of affairs dawned on him when he heard about in the Nikolay's life. Suddenly his atrocity and aversion (you think that synonym would be better?--Yes) to "*** dirty Chechen cur" was dissipated and he obviously realized his dumb prejudices. And it's really bother me much, because a plenty of young people have so much insensate cruelty. Another person I want to emphasize is Alexei Gorbunov. The perfect actor. And there is no need to say something else.When he told them about his girlfriend I burst out laughing from his words like "It ought to *** her every 30 minutes". His conversation about school and funerals reveals pitiful reality. The school which was erected in a 800 km away from Moscow. But as was said: With good intentions are paved roads to hell .(attempt to make an idiom--'The road to hell is paved with good intentions') I think that it's impossible to do good with doing evil at the same time. The words of Mikhalkov are: "Russian officer cannot be former"(i don't know how to correct it because it was said in the film. i try to say that it's resents people who served in the Army and the notion of the officer cannot be separated from the them during the whole life. "former" a want to use as adjective seems that idea-- It doesn't work; try 'A Russian officer cannot escape his past.) It hurts me a lot when some kind of people who even have no notions about what the russian (what's wrong with it?-- capital R) officer was in the 19 century and what was honour in general.

Re: Please, correct my review of the film

Fandorin — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:46:07 GMT

At first it's considered as a message for discussing but now I want change it for a bit .

I've seen this movie twice and it astonish me a lot. Each person fits into themselves a bit of truth about environment. Although there are a plenty of films with the same scenario but Mikhalkov can get the main purpose into a deep of our souls. .Old jew (what's wrong with? Must I change this suggestion?) said that he had very many disadvantages except one small quality - becoming thoughtful. Also he said he valued it a lot. Another point was the playing of Garmash.Really position of affairs dawned on him when he heard about in the Nikolay's life. Suddenly his atrocity and aversion (you think that synonym would be better?) to "*** dirty Chechen cur" was dissipated and he obviously realized his dumb prejudices. And it's really bother me much, because a plenty of young people have so much insensate cruelty. Another person I want to emphasize is Alexei Gorbunov. The perfect actor. And there is no need to say something else.When he told them about his girlfriend I burst out laughing from his words like "It ought to *** her every 30 minutes". His conversation about school and funerals reveals pitiful reality. The school which was erected in a 800 km away from Moscow. But as was said: With good intentions are paved roads to hell .(attempt to make an idiom) I think that it's impossible to do good with doing evil at the same time. The words of Mikhalkov are: "Russian officer cannot be former"(i don't know how to correct it because it was said in the film. i try to say that it's resents people who served in the Army and the notion of the officer cannot be separated from the them during the whole life. "former" a want to use as adjective seems that idea) It hurts me a lot when some kind of people who even have no notions about what the russian (what's wrong with it?) officer was in the 19 century and what was honour in general.

Thanks a lot

Re: Please correct me with the essay

Mister Micawber — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:51:15 GMT

1) What should I replace my work with?-- No title is required for TOEFL essays; if you need a title, it should announce to the reader the topic of your essay.

2)
the parentless children-- these are not previously mentioned or specific children
make their lives better -- what English word means 'make...better'?
people (why did you underline here?). -- What word is more specific?
measure I will(why did you underline here?). -- Only one measure? And verb form is not consistent.

3)
normally(why did you underline here?).-- Orphanhood is normal??
lead miserable lives due to(why did you underline here?).-- Strictly, 'due to' is an adjective; use a synonym.
the lack of education and materials (why did you underline here?). -- wrong word
However, before we did all the (why did you underline here?).-- wrong verb form
A charity fund might well be operated(why did you underline here? Can I replace it with "opened?") -- Yes, wrong word; use 'opened' or a synonym.
make them pay at all costs(why did you underline here?).-- Idiom is wrong here, and redundant: taxes are mandatory by nature
The tax can be fluctuating(why did you underline here?).-- wrong verb form
It's time the government... emphasize the essay, why would you say it was extraneous?-- That is not emphasis; it is beside the point; the essay is about what you would do, not what the government should do

4)To sum up, I-the governor(why did you underline here?).-- Wrong punctuation, new title, unnecessary appositive
Everyone bears in their minds(why did you underline here?) - the idiom is incorrectly formed
that even orphans have the(why did you underline here?).--no previous mention, no specificity

NOTE: If you want to continue this revision, please post a clean, revised copy for my review, Belly.

Re: In particular vs Particularly

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:45:51 GMT

Hi Vu,

I do not use the adverb to start a sentence; and I don't remember seeing its use in that position either. Occasionally, I have seen people start a sentence using the idiom. Here is an example pattern and you can find more on the Internet:

STT designs and manufactures highly specialized components for .... In particular, STT offers products ...

However, I often use the adverb to start a supporting clause as follows:

I often find them sleeping under the bridge at night, particularly when it rains outside. (particularly and especially are synonyms in this context)

Best,
Hoa Thai

Re: problem in definition of ''up''

Old Man Gordon — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:57:44 GMT

In idioms, often the preposition is indefinable, so you shouldn't focus on it.

But, I know you want to, so I'll help (just for fun). In ³up, the up shows a direction, but this has no connection to actual direction. Basketball players run up and down the court. Generally, I like to think that 'up' is away, and down is back toward me. But that's really not true. I can just as easily say 'Go up the street/Come up the street/Go down the street/Come down the street, and mean exactly the same thing. MAYBE we can say that the up in your examples is 'away from a defined point.'

I think ¹up is completely indefinable, especially since 'lay up' and 'lay in' are synonyms.