Could you tell me the meaning and usage of "be supposed to ~"?

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

To be "supposed to" is an idiom that means something is expected to happen but it may not necessarily happen or be done. It can also often be used to express that someone should or must do something, or something should happen, because it is a general expectation. In this case, "supposed to be here" means that they were meant to be there because it was their destiny or because it was known to be the right thing. Ex: She is supposed to fly in tomorrow at 3pm. Ex: Where are they? They were supposed to arrive an hour ago. Ex: Parents are supposed to support their children.

How do native speakers use this expression?

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Popular Q&As

12/22

1
Do you often use the expression "down to dust"?
No, it's not a very common expression. To be honest, this is the only time that I have ever heard of this phrase. "Down to dust" in this song means to take away her confidence; to keep her from speaking out or being herself. In this song, she is saying that she won't let anyone stop her from being herself nor will she let them take away her confidence. This movie takes place in a time where anyone who was considered different were often ridiculed and families would hide these individuals away to avoid embarrassment. Thank you for your question!

2
What's the main difference between a "mark," an "emblem" and a "trademark?"
A "mark" is more general than both an "emblem" and a "trademark." It could be a kind of difference in the surface, a symbol like a trademark, a stain, or something distinct. An "emblem" is a badge or symbol often with a picture, words, or a motto. Emblems could be used for sports teams, families, flags, products, and so on. Whereas a "trademark" is often associated with business. It's a symbol or word that's registered to use by a company or product to represent it. Ex: McDonald's has a very well-known trademark. Ex: The team struggled to choose their emblem for their uniform. Ex: The complete essays have little stickers as a mark. Ex: There are a few marks on the carpet that we need to remove.

3
What's the difference between "promise", "oath" and "vow"? Are they always interchangeable?
Good question! The words "vow" and "oath" are both synonyms for "promise", however all three are quite different. A "vow" is a personal promise taken from the heart. It is a bit stronger and more sacred than a "promise" since "promises" are often broken. A "vow" however, is made when promising to make a long-term commitment and should never be broken. The word "oath" refers to a promise made under an institution or legal authority. It is a bit more formal than a "promise". Here's a few examples of each of these words: Ex: The couple made a vow to get married. Ex: The man is under oath to tell the truth to the court. Ex: I promised her that I would be there tomorrow.

4
If there's an expression like "lose-lose", can I use "win-win" in opposite situation?
Yes you can. We use "lose-lose" to talk about a situation where the result is will be bad for everyone who is involved. Therefore, you can use "win-win" to talk about a situation where the result will be good for everyone involved. Ex: Going ahead with the current plan would be a lose-lose situation for everyone. Ex: This situation is win-win for everyone.

5
What does "went like this" mean? and when do you use this expression?
To "go like this" or "it went like this" introduces an example or a detailed description or imitation of something. Here, he is referring to the bell in the school, and uses the phrase "it went like this" to introduce the sound he is going to make to imitate the bell.

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