Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[kerstin]

1.If he's clumsy, he can bump into the desk or try to *walk through* the desk (and stuff would fall off the desk).

Does that mean things other than the literal meaning?



2.Where do you want to *meet up*?
Does it mean anything else other than "meet"?

3.Could anyone use *belly flop* in a sentence and is that called a "swimming style"?

Thanks

[CP]

1. I've never heard anyone say, ". . . or try to walk through the desk," but I suppose it is just another way to say that he doesn't look where he's going.

2. Like a lot of verbs that have the particle "up" or "out," there's the chance that the additional word adds some meaning. You can fill the jar or you can fill up the jar, and most people feel that fill up implies filling the jar right to the top. To meet up, however, doesn't really mean anything more than to meet, as far as I know. Maybe someone else has a different take on this one.

3. I wouldn't call a belly flop a swimming style -- more like a lack of swimming style.

A belly flop is the kind of dive where the person lands in the water flat on his or her stomach -- 90 degrees off a proper dive angle. And it hurts, believe me.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[kerstin]

1.Judging *from* your diminished physique and large forehead, you...
Can I replace from with *by*?

2.speechify
intransitive verb

Definition:
1. talk self-importantly: to talk in a tedious and self-important manner, especially in giving an opinion


Is that commonly used?

[CP]

1. Judging by and judging from are usually interchangeable. In both cases you are using whatever comes after "from" or "by" as the basis for making a judgment or decision. Maybe other people have more input on this one.

2. "Speechify" is not too commonly used, but it does have the definition that you gave. It is made up of "speech" and "-ify," as in "verify," "pacify," etc. It has a slightly comical sound to it, and is used to lampoon the person doing the speaking. He isn't really saying anything important; he is just speechifying!
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[redset]

I think one difference between meet and meet up is that meeting up is usually an arrangement between two or more people, something they plan in advance, whereas meeting can also be unplanned and even the first time the people ever encounter each other.

[CP]

I'd have to agree with Redset. The addition of "up" or "out" to a verb often adds something to the meaning. "Let's meet up when we get there" would, I think, be a little different from "Let's meet when we get there," as just one example.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[RedRose]