English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [phrase-usage]

This tag is for questions about how to use a particular phrase. If your question is a request for a phrase to use, you should use the "phrase-request" tag.

is for questions about how to use a particular phrase.

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3730 questions
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What does 'the very next day' mean?

In the song, Last Christmas, I heard the phrase "But the very next day." I'm not sure what it was supposed to mean, but from context I guess it's the day after Christmas Is it grammatically correct to say "very next"? Something is next or is not…
FolksLord
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How should I reply when I answer some question on Stack Exchange sites, people thank me and say it helped?

In order to be polite and answer in a social way I have had some hesitation to choose which phrase I should use. You are welcome. I'm glad it helped. You are welcome. I'm glad I could contribute. You are welcome. I'm glad that I could help. No…
Adam
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What defines a native English Speaker?

I think this particular phrase creates a lot of concern in English learners. From general conversation to posts here, we see native speaker a common usage when talking about a person who speaks English by birth. So according to this definition,…
Mistu4u
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Is it really OK to use "because of"?

I recently learned from a YouTube video that "because of" is not correct. But my friend argues that "because of" is actually correct. Also, I see a lot of people writing and saying "because of". Here's a example: That's because of you. So, is it…
new Q Open Wid
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Usage of "Pet" in "Pet Peeve"

Why would someone want a peeve as a pet? Upon searching for pet peeve, one explanation for the usage of pet was the complaint is adopted like a pet This meaning I can understand in pet project where one takes it under one's wing and cares for…
Peter
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Man goes with Woman to ensure she is safe on her way to home

There is a stereotype: The man (just one of... not a husband or boy-friend) goes with girl or woman (usually by walk) to "guard" her on her way to home. The question is how he/she says/call this: A man: I will ____ you... and/or Woman: Could you…
Ilan
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Is there a word for immediate future just like "just" for immediate past?

Let's say, Someone asks me Are you having dinner right now? But right now I have an important call to make, so I say Not right now but I will have it in 4-5 minutes. Even though I say 4-5 minutes, I don't mean it literally. I want to say that I…
Max
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"in more details" or "in detail"

Which one is correct to cite: To discuss this in more details. or To discuss this in detail.
Osha hasan
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Is 'are you outside' different from 'are you out'?

Let's say I am supposed to meet my friend and I want to make sure that he is at home when I arrive, so I call him and ask Are you out right now? or Are you outside right now? The first expression sounds okay but what I want to know is that what…
Max
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The phrase "to the Right of Attila the Hun"

Recently I have come to the phrase "to the Right of Attila the Hun" which allegedly describes the very conservative or reactionary person. Is it possible to construct similar phrases such as: "to the Left of Che Guevara", "to the Fanatic of…
bart-leby
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"Look at" vs "Look on"

I just got asked which sounds better, and I have no idea which one should be preferred: "A closer look on how buildings are manufactured." vs. "A closer look at how buildings are manufactured." Is there a difference, or personal preference, or…
SinisterMJ
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Is the term "dumping tours" a generic English term?

I read: "Dumping tours" refers to package tours offered by travel agencies at unusually low prices, in which they usher tourists to stores and force them to buy overpriced products such as cosmetics, nutritional supplements and duty free…
Franck Dernoncourt
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Can we use the phrase "the city of + name" to any city in the world or just to the cities which have something special?

As far as I understand, we can definitely say the phrase "the city of + name": when a city and a state have the same name, e.g.: "the city of New York" (or "New York City") and "the state of New York" (or "New York State"). when "the city of +…
Loviii
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Meaning of "That's okay"

I am confused as to why we say "that is okay" when we don't want someone to do something. For example, A: Do you want a hotdog? B: That's okay. I would think that the means that it is okay to do, since you are saying that it is, quite literally,…
Morella Almånd
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When is it acceptable to say 'my son'

I've heard the phrase being used in multiple occasions. But I'm not sure, when exactly it is OK to use this phrase. It seems to be acceptable in a religious context. For example a priest talking to a member of his church. It is of course OK if you…
Angelo.Hannes
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