What's "pro-tip"? Is it commonly used?

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

It is a somewhat commonly used expression. It is a contraction of "professional tip", but the word professional here is used metaphorically. "Professional" means that someone is doing something as a profession, as their job, but the colloquialism "pro" that is derived from it simply means that someone is very experienced in something. A "tip" is simply advice given in a short amount of information. A "pro tip" is advice from someone who is experienced in a topic and is a phrase usually placed at the start of a sentence to let the listener know that what follows is advice. Ex: Pro tip, let the pan heat up before putting the food inside. Ex: I've been working out for a long time, here's a pro tip - don't make excuses not to go to the gym.

How do native speakers use this expression?

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Popular Q&As

12/28

1
What does "daydream" mean?
A "daydream" is a pleasant imagined thought or scenario that distracts you when awake. It is similar to dreaming at night, but it is when you are awake. Ex: Helen has been daydreaming and staring outside her window the whole day. Ex: I can't focus in class because I daydream all the time. Ex: I like to watch the clouds and daydream.

2
What does the word "test" in this context refer to?
In this case, it's talking about a quiz or examination. You can see that the beginning of the video shows Ross quizzing the others on Friends trivia facts. This is the "test" referred to in the sentence "this test is ready." Ex: I have a math test to study for. Ex: You don't need to test me on this, I have it all memorized.

3
What's the difference between "handicapped" and "disabled"?
Although you may see the words "[x]-handicapped," this term is considered offensive or discriminatory by people with disabilities. It is always better to use the term "disabled" in its place. Thus, "physically disabled" is preferable to "physically handicapped." Additionally, avoid using "differently-abled," "handicap," "wheelchair-bound," and "normal" in reference to disabilities. Ex: A ramp was installed for wheelchair users. (Wheelchair-bound = not okay, wheelchair users = ok) Ex: The school is a specialized school for students with disabilities. (Handicapped = no okay, disabled = ok)

4
What does "go about sth" mean?
"Go about something" means "continue doing something", as you would usually do it. A synonym for "go about something" is "continue". Ex: Sorry I interrupted you, you can go about your work now. Ex: You can go about your day after this meeting.

5
Is it different to say "they are coming to visit" from just "they are coming"?
Yes, the connotation is slightly different. We usually use "coming for a visit" to indicate that there is a purpose for the visit, such as meeting friends, family, conducting business, and so on. The verb "to come" is more simple and only includes the definition of moving or going closer to something. Thus, we usually use "come for a visit" or "visiting" to describe the act of calling upon others. Ex: I invited my friends to come for a visit this weekend. They have never visited my city before. Ex: I'm coming into work late because there was a lot of traffic.

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