Trending
- 01.What does "peel back" mean and when's it used?
To "peel back layers of something" means to reveal or uncover something, usually something that is hidden deeply or hard to find. This expression is a reference to onions, which have many layers! Ex: Getting to know her is like peeling back the layers of an onion. Ex: Once you peel back different layers of complexity, you can reveal the core.
- 02.What does "poise" mean? Can it be replaced by "manner"?
Yes! You could replace "poise" with "manner" here. "Poise" means an elegant or controlled manner. Ex: Her poise when ballroom dancing was perfect. Ex: Tiana's manner of speaking was very poised.
- 03.What's "give me a break" mean?
"Give me a break" is another way of saying "go easy on me" or asking someone not to criticize them too harshly for something, to put less pressure on them. It can also be used when one is exasperated or in disbelief. Ex: Oh, give me a break. You'll never be as good as I am. Ex: I haven't played the flute in a while. Give me a break! Ex: Give him a break. He's still learning how to do the job.
- 04.Can you explain about the phrase “what are you up to”?
"What are you up to" is a very common English phrase that means "What are you doing" or "What's new in your life." It is a way of asking what the person is doing currently and is also a way to learn what new things are happening in an individual's life. Here are some example conversation sentences: A: Hey! What are you up to? B: I'm just watching t.v. A: I haven't seen you in so long! What are you up to? B: It has been a long time! I'm actually working at a law firm now. A: Wow, that's great! Don't be afraid to use this expression! It is very common and understandable for native English speakers. Thanks for the great question!
- 05.What does "saving" mean here?
"Savings" as a noun here refers to a collection of money that someone has set aside to save for the future. Someone's "life savings" is the total amount of money that they've been saving during their entire lifetime. Ex: The boy puts his savings in a piggy bank. Ex: I deposit most of the money I earn in my savings account.
- 06.What does " 'cause" mean in this sentence? Could you paraphrase this sentence easier to understand better?
"'Cause" here is a shortened, informal version of "because." You can also find alternative spellings of "because" such as "'cuz," "'cos," and "'coz," mostly used when texting. You cannot use these forms in formal writing. You can understand the full sentence as meaning, "because what kind of man would I be, if I left you when you needed me the most."
- 07.Is it okay to omit the subject and start the sentence with a verb while you're speaking?
In some cases, it is okay, yes! Here the subject is implied. The complete phrase would be "I guess". But it's so common that people just omit the word "I". This happens in informal situations. Another phrase where this happens is with "I may as well", which becomes "may as well". Sentences that are commands or instructions usually start with a verb. These are called imperative sentences! Ex: Guess I'll just go home. Ex: May as well clean up while I have time! Ex: Come get dinner!
- 08.What's "on you" mean here?
Here, "on you" means that it's that person's fault or responsibility. They're to blame for the issue. Ex: I'm sorry, guys. This is on me for not reading the fine print of the contract. Ex: Cleaning the house is on you, Jerry. You chose to have a party last night.
- 09.I would probably translate this sentence as "there was a huge influx of Chinese immigrants into California," is this sentence sounds more natural than "California experienced a huge influx of Chinese immigrants"?
Good question! Your translation is accurate and sounds perfectly fine and natural. However, the original sentence sounds natural as well. The original sentence is a just a little bit fancy, because it personifies California or makes California sound like a person by placing it in front of the verb "experienced". This makes California sound like they have experienced something like a person would, which may sound a bit strange. This sentence is grammatically correct but just sounds a little more formal. However, either sentence is fine to use.
- 010.What is the difference between "silly" and "stupid"?
Excellent quality. The word "stupid" is generally used to mean lacking intelligence. Because of that, it can be a serious insult to call someone or their actions stupid. "Silly" on the other hand is usually used to mean lacking common sense. It is also used more affectionately and does not carry the same feeling of insult. Ex: Oh you silly thing. Don't put that there. Ex: That was stupid of you. Ex: That was silly of you.