student asking question

What does "more of something" mean?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"It's not so much [x], as it is [y]" and "it's not so much a [x], it's more of a [y]" are common, informal expressions used when speaking to explain that the latter is closer to the truth/right answer than the former is. The speaker has used this expression to explain that one thing is more true or right than another (a "general wondering" instead of a question.) Ex: It's not so much our friend I'm worried about, it's you. Ex: It's not so much that the homework was difficult, it's more that it was boring. Some other similar ways to use this expression include: Ex: It's not that I'm tired, I just don't want to go out today. Ex: It's not that I was upset at you, but that I was in a bad mood.

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