Discussion Forum
This is a forum to discuss the gray areas of the English language for which you would not find answers easily in dictionaries or other reference books.
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Latest Posts : Expression
Can one say “Bemartyred”? I am translating the name of an ancient Mesopotamian myth who is sacrificed for growth and rebirth of nature and in there was ceremny in which he was annually killed or “martyred”. I have once seen the word, “Beknighted” and though it could be made so for martyr as well if it doesn’t already exist.
What does the G stand for in “G-string”? (besides covering part of the ass:)
I have once violated the English language. I made this tittle for one of my photos. Just wonder if it is not totally wrong. The tittle was “Irreddenable blue” and I meant a blue colour that cannot be redden. I had thought to myself that I must use “ir” to twist a word which begins with an R. Could that be OK? Would you forgive me for that?
Is it correct to say “odditiness”? I mean like odd, oddity and then “odditiness”.
What’s “semtex”? It’s here in a song by Roger Waters.
What does “gerontophile” means?
If your boyfriend leaves a testimonial on the web that says “Oh so beautiful!! If only she were mine :-) ”
Is that mean... I am not his, or wish that I will be his forever. Very confused! Bascially, I am his girlfriend now.
I had a talk to Speedwell on finding a good English school in NYC. Then I thought we could discuss this issue broadly, meaning sharing our knowledge on the schools and more importantly on the different method each of us might know. For instance, I’m learning Danish now and I go to a school whose method was taken and adapted from an American method used in Korea to teach the Korean soldiers English. It’s a totally brain-wash method based on military attitude, but it works. It really does. It’s thus, don’t worry what it means, just keep repeating with correct accent and you’ll get it; and you’ll understand what it means later. It must first sound correct! And you should tune-in to be able to hear and understand the very native speakers. Unfortunately Americans don’t teach English in Korea anymore, otherwise I know which school to go to!
After the last post, I was thinking where is “Jack ass” coming from. Who’s the “Jack” in this case?
I’ve read it here: “and the president (Bush, of course) kind of, as he’s inclined to do, says ‘Nice try, but that isn’t gonna sell Joe Public. That isn’t gonna convince Joe Public,’ says Woodward.” Is “Joe Public” just an indirect reference to the public or this Joe has some more to do with some specific “Joeish” thing?