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Grimalkin
Joined: 22 May 2005
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 Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| SPINOZA wrote: |
| Grimalkin wrote: |
| Privateer wrote: |
Petty and trifling:
Flair and panache. |
I think 'Flair' has the meaning of talent..'He has a flair for languages' whereas 'Panache' means style (as in doing something with style).
Begin vs. Start |
There's no difference.
Things have to come to an end at some point (oh dear me, no pun intended related to start/begin). With some things like that, there's no difference - like noon and midday, near and close.
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I see a difference between near and close. Both can be used to describe a physical proximity but 'close' can also be used to describe the intimacy of a relationship e.g 'They are close friends' or 'I'm closest to my mother'. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:38 am Post subject: |
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To me, the difference between see, look and watch is that 'see' is the abilitiy of the eyes: Hey! Take off your big fat hat. I can't see the movie screen.
With 'look' there is a decision/choice involved in the idea. Hey, Ma! Look at me. Or I was looking at a magazine...
'Watch' means the thing being observed is moving. I can watch a moving picture show but I can't watch a magazine. Well, I could, but I'd get bored looking at it laying there on the table not moving.
(Sorry, but I don't think I have a handle on billy's directions yet. But I'm trying.)
gigantic vs enormous vs huge |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:49 am Post subject: |
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Hey Spinoza, I was reading that Arabic has like 150 words for camels!
| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| gigantic vs enormous vs huge |
Gigantic and huge just describe size, but gigantic is bigger than huge. Enormous carries a bit of a negative connotation.
Can I quickly point out that it's silly to use an unintended definition of a word when talking about how synonyms are different? (e.g. wowser with Flair on page 5, Grimalkin with Close on page 6.)
Next up:
scribble / scrawl |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:06 am Post subject: |
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Interesting thread.
Scribble sounds like a different movement or action to me than scrawl, but it is subtle and hard to pinpoint. Scribble sounds more relaxed, even more careful or conscientious if that makes sense. Scrawl just sounds like the scrawler doesn't give a damn.
I think both adults and children can scribble, but rarely should an adult ever scrawl, unless he's in a bad mood, or writing crap on bathroon walls
Maybe not a great explanation, just my initial reaction.
How about idea and concept? |
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kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:57 am Post subject: |
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| jajdude wrote: |
Interesting thread.
Scribble sounds like a different movement or action to me than scrawl, but it is subtle and hard to pinpoint. Scribble sounds more relaxed, even more careful or conscientious if that makes sense. Scrawl just sounds like the scrawler doesn't give a damn.
I think both adults and children can scribble, but rarely should an adult ever scrawl, unless he's in a bad mood, or writing crap on bathroon walls
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To scribble is make an aimless, rapid marking with something like a pen.
To scrawl is to write something in a way that's difficult to read, possibly hasty, or just illegible.
What about anxious and worried? |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Anxious can be the same as worry, but it's not always a fear of something bad. I see it as unease + eagerness, or nervousnous + eagerness. It's a reaction to something that's just about to happen or be revealed, and it's generally something that will affect you personally.
Worry is dreading something bad that may happen, but not necessarily in the immediate future. You can be worried about your parents in their old age, your children's future, the rise of China, the death of the environment. And unlike 'anxious', we often worry about things that might have no impact our daily lives.
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earth / soil |
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nio
Joined: 07 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:58 am Post subject: |
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Soil - Earth
I guess the only difference is that Earth can be used to describe the planet as a whole. Therefore its use is far broader than Soil.
Solve:
Chew - Masticate |
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billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:49 am Post subject: |
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| nio wrote: |
Soil - Earth
I guess the only difference is that Earth can be used to describe the planet as a whole. Therefore its use is far broader than Soil.
Solve:
Chew - Masticate |
I think masticate, like imbibe, is a big word for a simple thing. you should be suspect of people who use it.
to me masticate is more carnal, more animal-like than chew. and is mastication just the act of chewing or is it eating too? i'll let this one stand cuz i'd like to know more about it.
chew - masticate |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:29 am Post subject: |
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I chew my food, a lot of chewing.....
I masticate occasionally, not every day
hug/embrace |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:30 am Post subject: |
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| billybrobby wrote: |
I think masticate, like imbibe, is a big word for a simple thing. you should be suspect of people who use it.
to me masticate is more carnal, more animal-like than chew. and is mastication just the act of chewing or is it eating too? i'll let this one stand cuz i'd like to know more about it.
chew - masticate |
I can only think to say that chew applies to man and beast, while masticate applies solely (are seldomly) to beast, at least in terms of popular usage. Beyond that, what's the difference? I don't know. Oh, masticate sounds like a dirty word. Dave's filtre thinks it's dirty, anyway.
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menacing / threatening |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:56 am Post subject: |
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Initial reaction:
Menacing sounds a lot more dangerous. |
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Hyeon Een
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
I can only think to say that chew applies to man and beast, while masticate applies solely (are seldomly) to beast, at least in terms of popular usage. Beyond that, what's the difference? I don't know. Oh, masticate sounds like a dirty word. Dave's filtre thinks it's dirty, anyway.
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menacing / threatening |
Something that is menacing can exist outside of my vision. It's something that might be in a cupboard, or in the woods or on the TV show I just watched called "When Badgers think about Attacking!!!!"
Whereas something 'threatening' is something right there, right now, right in my face, right THERE be it a Grizzly Bear, a Hooligan, a Gallagher or whatever, something which is right in front of me which means me harm right this moment.
delicious v tasty.. bring it. |
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Hanson
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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Great thread!
Delicious vs Tasty:
Delicious, in my mind, should only be used sparingly, for something higher-end or special, such as a five-star restaurant's dishes.
Tasty is more every-day, something that is common but tastes good.
Speak vs Talk vs Say vs Tell |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Hanson wrote: |
Great thread!
Delicious vs Tasty:
Delicious, in my mind, should only be used sparingly, for something higher-end or special, such as a five-star restaurant's dishes.
Tasty is more every-day, something that is common but tastes good.
Speak vs Talk vs Say vs Tell |
Speak says to me talking without necessarily being in a dialogue - more formal. Talk suggests a conversation, and say has more to do with the specific things that are happening during the speaking or talking. Tell has the idea that specific information is being imparted to someone for a purpose.
awesome! vs. sweet! |
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jinglejangle
Joined: 19 Feb 2005
Location: Far far far away.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| gang ah jee wrote: |
awesome! vs. sweet! |
Actually, I think those two really are synonyms. Unless you add an "average age of speaker" subtext. |
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