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1500 questions
41
votes
20 answers
What’s a possible one-word replacement for “applicable in every situation”?
I just want to ask what word can be put in replacement to the bolded phrase in: “This formula is not applicable in every situation and may vary.”
Proximus19
- 556
41
votes
11 answers
Opposite for "gold standard" for a benchmark of awfulness
A metaphorical meaning of "gold standard" is something that is really good to be compared with. For example, Wiktionary says
(idiomatic) A test or measure of comparison that is considered ultimate or ideal.
The OED is the gold standard for…
Golden Cuy
- 18,154
41
votes
15 answers
Backstabs you constantly in a subtle way
What do call call when someone backstabs you constantly, subtly with you only realizing it after a fixed time because of the subtle nature and you always giving them the benefit of the doubt. The negative action causes you mental…
dfmetro
- 1,310
41
votes
6 answers
Term for Gift that Turns out to be a Burden
What is the English term for when someone thinks they are doing something nice for you but it ends up making things worse. EX: Someone buys you an elephant -- nice gesture and cool! But now you have to take care of it, and it becomes a burden on…
Laura
- 411
41
votes
2 answers
In architecture, you {cut?} the corners of a building to keep it from featuring right-angles. What's the word I'm looking for?
During the Reconstruction of Paris, the Baron Haussmann gave specific instructions to the architects designing buildings along the boulevards:
The eaves had to be at a 45 degree angle.
Each building was to take up the entire block.
Each building had…
Ricky
- 20,450
41
votes
8 answers
How did "sinister", the Latin word for "left-handed", get its current meaning?
Sinister is the Latin word for left-handed. What evolution of meaning turned left-handed into evil and threatening?
Daniel
- 57,547
41
votes
8 answers
Why "job" in "nut job"
Why are crazy people called nut jobs? Why are they called a job? Wiktionary is of no help here.
Jan
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41
votes
1 answer
Etymology of Butterfly
Does the word butterfly derive from transposition of word order, i.e., "flutter by"? Several dictionaries that I looked this up in so long ago that I've forgotten which ones, said either "origin unknown" or referred to butter, or German or Dutch…
VintageCharacter
- 481
41
votes
9 answers
Is "receival" a valid word for the act of receiving something?
In the course of reviewing a standard operating procedure, I came across the subheading:
"Receival, Costing and Charging of Work".
I immediately began to doubt whether the word "receival" was a legitimate equivalent to the noun "receipt", as in:…
bracho monacho
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41
votes
6 answers
Why are some possessives formed with “of ” but not apostrophe-“s”?
I gave a quick answer to part of this question which had not been covered by previous answers, trying to clarify the reason you would say time of decoding but not decoding’s time. I said it was ’s usually indicates possession, but of course there…
JeffSahol
- 18,696
41
votes
20 answers
Phrase to describe a moving goal that is forever just out of reach
Ironically, the phrase I am trying to recall is just out of reach, so perhaps someone can help me with a phrase that describes a moving goal that is forever just out of reach.
I will try to provide some additional context on how I intend to use it.…
dangerousdave
- 599
41
votes
12 answers
Word for damage that isn't serious, mostly visual and not hindering the function of the thing
Like, if you get in a fender bender and there is some scraped paint, you would say "the damage was..."
SoapyFork
- 645
41
votes
1 answer
How to deal with abbreviations like 'etc.' at the end of parentheses which are closing a sentence?
In Hungarian, when there's a dot both inside and outside parentheses at the end of a sentence, we write it as follows:
Sok állatom van (kutya, macska stb.).
(Meaning: I've got many animals [dogs, cats, etc.])
I'm not sure though how do we write it…
Alexia Luna
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41
votes
14 answers
Friendly way of saying "I love you"
In Spanish, Te amo (I love you) has more romantic feeling than saying Te quiero.
The last one is used as a friendly way of saying I love you, but without romantic purposes.
However, if translated to English (Te quiero), the expression would be I…
Matias Cicero
- 586
41
votes
6 answers
Pronunciation of the English alphabet
Why are there inconsistencies in the pronunciation of the consonants of the alphabet? For example: 'b' is pronounced like 'bee' but 'm' is pronounced as 'em' rather than 'me'. The pronunciation of 'h' matches nothing and 'j' and 'k' are orphaned…
dave
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