Do I need a preposition "at" after "cry"?

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

No, you don't need to use the preposition "at" after "cry". In this context, it would actually sound more natural to use the preposition "on" since tears fall "on" or "over" a cheek. However, you do not need to put "at" or "on" after the verb "cry". It really depends on the context of the sentence to determine which preposition to use. When describing tears, it is common to use "down" as a preposition. Ex: Tears were streaming down her face.

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Popular Q&As

05/06

1
What is the difference between "fluid" and "liquid"?
A "liquid" is a substance that isn't a solid or gas that pours easily and can form in the shape of a container. "Fluids" are substances that flow easily and have some thickness. Keep in mind that sometimes liquids and fluids are used interchangeably. It really depends on what you're talking about. Ex: Make sure to drink plenty of fluids/liquids when it's hot out. (interchangeable) Ex: Her car needs more brake fluid. (we don't use liquid here usually) Ex: Mercury is a liquid metal. (we don't use fluid here usually)

2
Is "as possible" omitted after "as much" in this sentence?
No. "As possible" is not omitted here. "As much" in this scenario means "less." People can not eat out as much as they used to due to social distancing. The phrase "as much as possible" means to a feasible extent. If this news story were about how the government is trying to make people eat out less, then they would maybe use "as much as possible." However, this story isn't about that. It's how people are turning to meal kits for their dinners. Ex: We need him to practice the clarinet as much as possible. => We need him to practice the clarinet as much as he can. Ex: I don't swim as much as I used to. => I swim less than before. Ex: He needs a liver transplant as soon as possible. => He needs a liver transplant quickly. Ex: We don't go out as much as we did before covid. => We used to go out more before covid.

3
What does the "scratch" mean in this scene?
In this sentence, "scratch" means from the very beginning. The phrase "from scratch" is commonly used to mean from the very beginning, without any previous work or assistance. Ex: She cooked this meal completely from scratch. Ex: He started his company from scratch. And now it's one of the biggest in the world.

4
What's the difference between "stability" and "reliability"?
These two nouns may seem similar in meaning, so it can be difficult to figure out which one to use! Looking at its related adjective forms, to be “stable” means to be consistent, firm, relatively unchanging, and resistant to change or destruction. Meanwhile, to be “reliable” means to be trustworthy or dependable. Ex: The economy has been stable for over a decade. Ex: Max is a very reliable employee.

5
Is it a metaphor that claims wealth is meaningless?
Good guess! The lyrics "you find out your gold's just plastic" likely means that something which she considered to be valuable (or important) ended up just being plastic - worthless and cheap. Thus, you can interpret this sentence to mean that once you obtain it, you may discover that having wealth is actually meaningless.

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