Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2006

"He must be knowing it."
somebody said.
I think it should be like this,
"He must know it."

          in the following sentences:
I don't think it's a big deal
I don't think people will make a big deal about it
what does "big deal" mean??

Here is an opportunity for all of you Wavy G fans and supporters to say
something nice about Wavy.  Don't pass it up.
Thanks in advance for your participation.

how to understand the 'by' in the below sentence,
By about 1500 we arrived at a system which has remained nearly
unchanged until today.
thanks.

I've just been rung by a machine! It did a very poor job of speech and
did a rapid talk with a very strong American accent, pausing at
intervals then carried on regardless of what I said, or not!  It could
very well be an overwrought telemarketer-turned-robot-like but quite

In the UK, was/is a registry office (at least some of them) an
employment office?
Also, is "come over" possible instead of "come round" in the
BrE?

    Quick question: In the following phrase, should there be a
comma between "two" and "moose?"   
"There were two, moose heads on the wall."
Thanks very m uch

I wonder if "spring-blind" here means a "spring-loaded blind" for
windows, one which rolls up while being pulled up by a
spring?
-----

I am surprised a bit by the presence of "it" in
"Leave it that you don't see."
I think the sentence would work both and without "it."
How's the idiom these days?

In tonight's episode of Midsomer Murders, Jones is shown singing in the
shower at Barnaby's house. DI Barnaby later tells Jones that Barnaby's
wife heard him "singing in the bath".
This would not be possible in Australian English; no way can a shower be

I know that the books say that it means "an assurance" or "a
promise"......
Is there an implication here that if that promise isn't met, that there
is a consequence?  I sense "yes"........

misspelled or misspelt
Which of these spellings is best?

I've tried to look up the etymology of the four-letter word "twat", but
all I find is "origin obscure".
Could it have started as a jokular reference to Tuat, the
netherworld/underworld of the ancient Egyptians?

While on the highway I spotted this on the rear panel of a semi:
"We hire only safe and courteous drivers".
What does it mean?
1. We hire only drivers, no typists, receptionists, politicians,

I find about 51,700 Google hits on a phrase search for "threat or menace",
a phrase often used at the end of article titles.  I consider this a
standard joke expression, parodying titles in the same style that contain
a rhetorical question that asks about a real distinction.  Here's ...