Doesn't "dear" mean like precious person? What's it mean here?

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

You're right! It can be a term of endearment. However, here it's used as an exclamation. One can use this " to express surprise, dismay, and sympathy. It's also usually paired with "oh" when said as an exclamation. Ex: Dear, can you get us some dinner? => term of endearment Ex: Oh, dear! I'm so scared of rollercoasters. Ex: Oh, dear! The dog ran away. That's not good. Ex: A: I left my jacket at her house. B: Oh, dear! You should go get it.

How do native speakers use this expression?

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Popular Q&As

01/08

1
What's the main difference between "beat down" and "beat up?"
"Beat down" is a noun which is very similar in meaning to "beating", which refers to getting physically hurt by someone/physically hurting someone over a period of time (one punch is not a beating, but several punches is). Ex: The kid gave his bully a beat down. Ex: He beat down the neighborhood bully. Meanwhile, to "beat up" someone means to physically hurt someone (usually by punching or kicking). It's a commonly used phrasal verb that is similar in meaning to "assault". Ex: Those students are beating each other up. Ex: Should we call the cops? That person looks like they're beating someone up.

2
Is "a bunch of" more formal expression than "a lot of"?
Good question! Both expressions are fairly colloquial and not formal in writing, but "a bunch" is actually more informal than "a lot".

3
Why is this "did have", not "had"?
"Did" in this sentence is only used to add emphasis to the verb "have". It is common to see "do", "does", or "did" in front of a verb to make the verb sound stronger. Usually, "do" is stressed when speaking to further emphasize the main verb in the sentence. Ex: A: Do you like my new shirt? B: I do like your new shirt! Ex: So, you do want to talk about it?

4
What does "toast" mean? I don't think this toast refers to a bread!
Yes, you're right! In social contexts, a toast is a call on people to raise their glasses and drink in honor or celebration of a person or thing. It usually comes with a greeting message or message of well wishes. Ex: I call for a toast for the newlyweds! Ex: I toasted my parents at their anniversary dinner.

5
Is "much of someone" a general expression? When can I use it?
"Much of me" here refers to a great amount of her personality or her characteristics. This is not really a general expression, but it can be common to use "much of someone" when you are describing someone's personality traits or physical characteristics. Ex: Much of her intelligence is thanks to the good education she received. Ex: Much of his looks come from his mom.

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