- How did the phrase back at Square One originate?
Square one meant the rear left quadrant of the defender’s side of the field Most people, however, disagree with the last theory, for instance, as BBC America explains: There are a couple of problems with this theory Football is a two-way sport
- Where did the term Square Meal come from? - English Language Usage . . .
The use of “square” in “square meal” conveys the same sense of “proper and substantial” (and, despite the popular legend, has nothing to do with square plates) As slang for the conservative types of music jazz marked a radical departure from, “square” was a perfect fit
- What is the origin and meaning of to be a square?
The OED attests to square meaning designating one who is out of touch with the ideas and conventions of a particular popular contemporary movement from 1946, from music, in the Big Book of Swing by Bill Treadwell: Square, not versed in Swing, puritanical The second reference is from 1950 in Julien Vedey's Band Leaders: Consummate performer that Ellington is, he put these numbers over to the
- Are units in English singular or plural?
I am a little bit confused about using units in English, sometimes I hear that people use singular units for plural things, sometimes they use plural ones Which one is correct? 3 meter(s) long? du
- etymology - When was the term idiot box coined? - English Language . . .
One reference dates "idiot box" back to around 1955 "Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 2, H-O, by J E Lighter, Random House, New York, 1997 " This references Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th edition The book was published in 1962, according to what I could find
- What is the proper use of [square brackets] in quotes?
Square brackets are not ONLY used in quotes They are used often in translation For example, the bible Although not all bibles do this, one notable bible that did do this was "The Geneva Bible" The Geneva Bible translators gave particular attention to retaining the flavor and sense of the original Hebrew
- differences - Were square even quits in formal speech - English . . .
What are the differences between: be square, be even and be quits? Are they acceptable to use in formal speech? If they not, what should I use instead?
- Why does mathematics say quadratic instead of squaric?
Yes, we use the "English" words (square cube) in one context--when raising to a power--and the Latinate words (quadratic cubic) in another context--talking about the degree of an equation Yes, it happens that (a) the "English" words both derive from the Latin ones, and (b) the ones for cube happen to be the same
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