The chorus (one of the variations) of the song Down Under performed by Men at Work goes as follows I come from a land down under Where beer does flow and men chunder Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder You better run, you better take cover. The lyrics’ meaning is generally not 100% … Read more
I think this girl is sitting sideways on the chair. I often say to my children "are you sitting sideways on the chair?" like picture 1 and then they invented this "he is lying sideways on the bed" when they saw this picture Can we say "he is lying sideways on the bed" as shown … Read more
Actually, I kind of understand the meanings of "dialed in" and "unplugged" in the following context, but it strikes me that they are a little informal. I am intrigued to know what is their formal alternatives? If I may could you possibly let me know how they are uttered in formal contexts. That would definitely … Read more
Below is an excerpt from an interview article about an interpreter who was accompanied at every press tour for the movie, ‘Parasite’. From her first appearance at Bong Joon Ho’s side in Cannes, where he accepted the Palme d’Or for his sensational "Parasite," interpreter Sharon Choi has been an unwitting award season MVP. Clad in … Read more
Here’s the part of the poem "Missing" by A.A.Milne: He must be somewhere. I’ll ask Aunt Rose: Have you seen a mouse with a woffelly nose? He’s just got out… Hasn’t anybody seen my mouse? What does the word woffelly mean here? Answer This is not a real word. At least it’s not in any … Read more
Mrs. Dursley pretended she didn’t have a sister, because her sister and her good-for-nothing husband were as unDursleyish as it was possible to be. This is from Harry Potter. I know the meaning of the sentence and what I really care about is the part as unDursleyish as it was possible to be. I want … Read more
I want to say; ‘Breathing the dewy air of flowers and fresly cut grass scent’ Or ‘Breathing the moist scent of flowers and freshly cut grass’ I think the second one is the correct one because for flowers, using the word scent instead of air, and using the word moist instead of dewy would be … Read more
Oxford Dictionary paraphernalia – a large number of objects or personal possessions, especially the equipment that you need for a particular activity. Collins Dictionary paraphernalia – You can refer to a large number of objects that someone has with them or that are connected with a particular activity as paraphernalia. I see this often use … Read more
Get = Gain possession of something Have = To possess something Can Get mean Have sometimes? "I can’t go the cinema, I got/have got no money at all." I see sentences like this a lot and I wonder about it. Answer In informal speech, it is common for English speakers in the U.S. to say … Read more
Naked mRNA is not readily taken up by cells, but needs to be encased inside a protective envelope to gain entry. In this sentence, I’m confused by the phrase taken up. After searching a dictionary, I’m even more bemused. I just couldn’t find a meaning that matches this sentence appropriately. But I do have a … Read more
