I'm looking for an alternative to a specific meaning of the verb &quot;to rest&quot;. After a (very) quick search, the definition which I found the best was:  Be placed or supported so as to stay in a specified position.  I'm looking for an alternative to the word that implies that the position of the object (how it is resting and where it is resting) is uncomfortable. It's not the easiest to explain, so I'll give you the piece.  The landline rests in the crook of her neck, and she speaks fast... The landline ____ in the crook of her neck, and she speaks fast...  To set the scene, this is essentially a description of the narrator's mother, who is forced to hold the phone uncomfortably as her hands are occupied. Although I found lie (as in, &quot;The landline lies in the crook of her neck...&quot;, and this may seem more &quot;negative&quot;, it doesn't sound right to me. EDIT 1: A word which is better is wedged:  The landline is wedged into the crook of her neck, and she speaks fast...  Alternatives and answers are still greatly appreciated. EDIT 2: I'm also looking for something that isn't too much out of touch. EDIT 3: Just to clarify, the landline is the phone itself, not the cord or anything. I didn't realise that it would cause any confusion.
122138
What are common phrases an English native speaker would use for the pose of speaking on the phone where you use your shoulder to keep the receiver against your ear (and mouth), so your hands are free?  I have some ideas, but they all sound wooden, and I don't think I've ever heard anyone describe this pose in words. It's also pretty much impossible to google for a pose or look it up on leo.org or other dictionaries.  OK, since people keep asking for what phrasings I found, I'll provide two, though I was hoping I could avoid influencing people who answer here by not providing them: "balance on one's shoulder", "held/nestled/sandwiched between shoulder and ear".
102837
I don't know whether the phrase "go spare" is used in the US, but it is very common in the UK.      e.g. You're an hour late. Mum's going spare upstairs!   I would like to know where the phrase comes from, and how it came to get its meaning. Also, what sense of the word "" is being used - none really seem to fit?
109675
I encountered this sentence when I was learning another language. I have never used such a sentence in English nor seen one, but it seems it exists.  What idea does this sentence trying to convey? What time should we relate to?
6887
When a proper noun like "Skype" is used as a verb ("Skyping"), should it be capitalized?  My thinking is that it should be capitalized because the root is a proper noun.  Does anyone know of a rule about this question?
25459
In a movie that I watched recently, I heard-        for aught I know,    for aught I care.      I work with a lot of native speakers, and they all told me it's not in formal or informal usage anymore.  What's the ground reality?
20055
I was reading about various terms for incorrect words, but they didn't seem to fit.  I saw a post where someone said "what do you like to do when you're board?".  That kind of thing.  Also, would that be considered a mistake in grammar?  I didn't think so, but my friend insists it is.  I'm not sure if there even is a word for that kind of mistake, but was just curious about it.  Thanks!
87421
"Sides" can be used to describe positioning relative to the left or right of an object. Is there a corresponding word that has the same meaning for the top or bottom of an object?  For example, if I say "side padding," it's pretty clear that I'm talking about padding from the left and right edge. I want to be able to say the same thing about the top and bottom edge.
8691
This is a phrase I've heard many people use, and it sounds wrong to me; e.g.:     The thing about that is, is that she might take it the wrong way.   It seems to treat "The thing [...] is"—the entire phrase—as the subject of the sentence. Of course, even if that were allowed, the comma placement would still be questionable.  I'm curious to know:   Is there a name for this wording? Is it specific to a certain dialect? Is its etymology known?
102205
I'm from the northeast US. When describing the phenomenon of going to bed at night, or falling asleep, I always formulate the verb like that, as in "I went to bed at 10" or "I didn't fall asleep until midnight."  However I frequently hear the formulation "Last night, I slept at 10" or "I usually sleep at midnight". I'm interested in whether there's any interesting known dialect or historical distinction between the formulations. I now live on the west coast US and know many people who use these latter forms, and it still sounds wrong to my ear, like it's missing the helper verb (fall, go).   (The one case where I might crossover is in the sentence "I couldn't sleep until midnight", which sounds right to me, although "I didn't sleep until midnight" sounds wrong.)    It feels to me (though I don't have the professional vocabulary for this) that for me, "sleep" is an indefinite-duration, continuous action ("I'm sleeping"). So when I want to mark the time that it starts, I need to help it with "go to sleep". When I hear people say "I slept at 10", it sounds to me like they were asleep for only a moment, at 10 o clock, but not after, if that makes sense.
118378
I use this word in my daily language even without knowing what it actually means.     Technically speaking, there is no big difference between […] and […].   So what does this word imply, not in the literal sense but when we combine it with a sentence? Is there a specific context to which we are supposed to limit the usage of this word? Because I hear it almost everyday.   Can we substitute the above sentence with "literally speaking, there is no big difference between […] and […]"?  Is the word technically supposed to bring out the meaning as in "literally" does? Are they synonymous? Can we use them interchangeably? If not, then what does the word "technically" actually refer to w.r.t daily English usage?
43129
Sometimes I read a verb (or adverb) and I get the complete meaning yet I find "Off" (or some other prepositions) follows the verb or adverb.   For example, In the following sentences why do we need an "Off"? what does "off" add to the meaning?     I will shave my beard off. (shave was enough)      Wendy drank half the bottle straight off. (straight was enough)       Treatment should start off with attention to die. (start was enough)      They ended the meal off with coffee and liquids. (ended was enough)      He will drop me off near the station. (drop was enough)   I need the the meaning of "off" here so as to be able to always use  "off" in similar situations. Thanks all
73799
Here is the sentence:  I laid down on a crunchy bed of autumn leaves at the right corner of the fence and observed the mysterious residence for movement.   I'm not sure whether "laid" is the correct grammatical term or if it is lay, lie, lied, etc.
117996
This morning, I used the phrase     I didn't sleep very well, I don't think.   when speaking to my Colombian friend and he asked me what on earth I was talking about.  I thought about it and realised that this is idiomatic usage and that despite saying "I don't think" you are actually expressing what you do think.  Generally the form is [expression of negative opinion using negative grammar] + "I don't think".  For example:     I didn't sleep very well, I don't think. => I think I slept poorly.      I won't get there very early, I don't think. => I think I will arrive late.   The first part is an opinion about what something is not, rather than what it is, i.e. my sleep was not good; my arrival will not be early. You wouldn't say:     I slept badly, I don't think.   It seems like "I don't think" is a way of intensifying the sentence, because it doesn't modify the meaning of the initial statement in any way. We seem to use it to express disappointment with a situation, but there might be more reasons.   Is there a name for this usage? Do you use it to express anything other than disappointment?
7819
I wrote this sentence: "I buy a bottle of beer and slump on/onto the last stool."  A native English speaker told me that "slump" doesn't work here. That you can't slump on a bar/barstool.  Is this correct? If so, why?
90118
I posted a question today about ""and I used the verb "find" in the progressive.:  I'm finding more and more that "having to" is also used instead of "have to".  Someone comments it's a "recency illusion" or a stereotypical characteristic of Indian English. I'm not a native speaker of English, and I never have been in touch with Indian a bit. I've been reading about stative verbs in the progressiveand I've seen and heard them not a few times in movies, dramas, novels, games, grammars, most of which are put out in the U.S.A. or the U.K., so I thought it would be OK to use the special progressive use in proper contexts, but now I think I'm missing something important, and I'm confused a lot. If you know what it is, please tell me about it with good explanations and examples. Now I'm going to show you some of the examples of the progressive with stative verbs that I've been collecting on my own for two years or so, (quite a few of them from grammars, some from dramas, novels and stuff...) and I want to know you native speakers' opinions on that. If your views on the usage diverge a lot, I'm going to have to think about which side I'm on,and one of the two is preferred over the other, then I'll follow it.        It’s mattering more and more which university you get your degree at.   She is not finding London totally easy.   I’m finding (=discovering, realizing) that his problem is more complicated than I had expected.   No, I’m sort of thinking that I’d like to try a bit higher level heel, anyway.   I’m thinking that we should pay a short visit to Clara.   One night in the middle of the night, I'm hearing dripping.   How are you liking your new job?   I was quite liking the performance until the first interval.   Tim, are you wanting any fruit?   It sounds that you're wanting to take care of yourself physically as well.   The only thing I'm lacking is a wardrobe.   He’s forgetting his French faster and faster.    I'm already forgetting what I was taught this morning.   You're forgetting that our resources are not unlimited.   I’m forgetting that I promised to visit Smith this evening.   The river is smelling particularly bad today.   My scarf is no longer smelling of lavender.   She’s looking much stronger this week.   You’re looking more like a sleep dog than most sleep dogs.   He’s looking worse and worse by the minute.   Your soup is tasting better every day.   That example is sounding less and less acceptable with each repetition.       ※. What I'm asking you is as follows:  1. the validity of the expression "I'm finding more and more that..." in the context of the original post 2. whether or not stative verbs in the progressive is widely acceptable &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and questions about your opinions on that &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (As I already said, if most of you reject the usage like the examples, then I should avoid it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If most of you welcome it, I'll keep on with it.)
109440
In using a contrasting simile, I think I have fallen into a trap. I want to say:     The academy is far from a placid house of learning.   In the sense of:     The academy is not at all a serene place for study.   Unfortunately, the literal meaning connotes physical distance, as in:     The academy is 500 miles from a quiet school that I know.    I have checked Ngram Viewer, and is far from a place does not come up with any hits, and the limit is five words per phrase. I could not pinpoint the problem in any of the usage dictionaries either. Might one say:     The academy is far from being a quiet place of study?   That doesn't sound right at all. Being should not be a verb.
118822
I was going through a reading and this construction confused the student:     “Will we be able to talk?” I asked, my eyes red and swollen from   crying, a balled up tissue squeezed tightly between my sweaty palms.   She understood the words; it was the construction that confused her. I could explain what it meant in that context, but I didn't have a good explanation for that construction, generally. So in the above example, how would you classify "my eyes red and swollen from crying, a balled up tissue squeezed tightly between my sweaty palms"? Is it an appositive? Some kind of relative clause? Something else? A noun phrase?