Teacher Discussion Forums

Itasan · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 557 Location: Yokohama, Japan

Are these all possible and do they mean the same thing?
1. Our wages are indexed to prices.
2. Our wages are on a sliding scale.
3. Our wages are index-linked.
4. We are paid on a sliding scale.
5. Any other?

Thank you.

tigertiger · Joined: 13 Nov 2005 Posts: 246

Itasan · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 557 Location: Yokohama, Japan

Thank you very much, tigertiger, for
the detailed explanation.
It's because the wages SLIDE depending
on the experience, etc.?

tigertiger · Joined: 13 Nov 2005 Posts: 246

Itasan · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 557 Location: Yokohama, Japan

Do the following both mean the same thing and are they
used both in the US and UK?
1-1. backbite
1-2. backstab
2-1. backbiting
2-2. backstabbing
3-1. backbiter
3-2. backstabber

Thank you.

eslweb · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 208 Location: United Kingdom

In the UK the common form is backstab/baclstabbing etc.
I've never heard of the backbiting, but it might be an American term...

James

tigertiger · Joined: 13 Nov 2005 Posts: 246

eslweb · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 208 Location: United Kingdom

Thanks for the clarification...And I checked it in the Complete Oxford English Dictionary. It is actually quite an old word having first appearing in about 1175. It's definitely of British-English origin... Embarassed

I'd have said it wasn't in common usage, but I'll leave that to the forum to decide... Wink

James

--------From OED------

Forms: 2–3 -bitunge, 4 -bytyng, -bityng, -byting, 5 -bytynge, -bitynge, -bitinge, -byting, 5– -biting. [f. as prec. + -ing1.]

The action of detracting, slandering, or speaking ill of one behind his back.

c1175 Cott. Hom. 205 Cursunge, bacbitunge and fike~lunge. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 3544 No custummable bakbytyng God forŠeueþ. c1550 Avyse thee Welle in Babees Bk. (1868) 357 Be ware of bagbytynge, y the rede. 1685 Gracian's Courtier's Oracle 45 There is great difference betwixt censure and backbiting. For the one is grounded upon indifference, and the other upon malice. 1862 Trollope Orley F. lviii. 420 Not given to backbiting.

Itasan · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 557 Location: Yokohama, Japan

Thank you very much, everybody.
'interchange'
CALD says: UK a junction at which smaller roads meet a larger
road, especially a motorway
I wonder what is the US equivalent.

Thank you.

Itasan · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 557 Location: Yokohama, Japan

I have recently read that just "e" is used as an
abbreviation for "e-mail" and that the plural form
is "e's".
I wonder if the following are possible:
1. I received 20 e's today.
2. I have just e'd (e'ed??) him about the matter.
3. Send me an e tomorrow.

Thank you.

eslweb · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 208 Location: United Kingdom

Itasan,

e's I'd watch this word, because e's is also a short form for the illicit drug ecstacy! i.e. I've taken a couple of e's. I think currently this wordform has only been used in SMSs, but it'll be interesting to see if it takes off...

James

Itasan · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 557 Location: Yokohama, Japan

Thank you. By the way:
'flannel panel'
I have read some kind of definition on this, but I cannot
grasp the image too well. I wonder if I could have some
sample articles of this kind.

Thank you.

eslweb · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 208 Location: United Kingdom

I think this is a job for Google Images!

James

P.S. The link does take you directly to the correct search...

Itasan · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 557 Location: Yokohama, Japan

Thank you very much, eslweb.
Sorry I should have given more details.
It seems to be some kind of newspaper column.
'Flannel' here seems to mean 'hot air'.

sbourque · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 158 Location: USA

Or it could mean a "flannel board", used when teaching young children, where shapes are stuck on to a flannel-covered board, and can be taken off and reused.