Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2006

Okay, not five, just one....
Used the word "watershed" in front of a cow orker this morning and he brought up
an interesting question...we know that the literal meaning is "all the land
drained by a system of streams and rivers", but how did the same word acquire

I have checked several dictionaries for the difference in these two
words. One says they mean the same, though "intent" is much more
formal. Is there anyone would tell me how to use these two words
directly? Thank you very much.

One question popped up. Here is the context for your reference.
ONe day when I was delivering a lecture, I was so nervous that I was a
little light-headed. What is worse, the microphone broke down just
thirty seconds into my speech. To glare at the unpleasant instrument of

In his song "The line" Bruce Springsteen sings:
my wife had died a year ago
I was still tryin' to find my way back whole
went to work for the INS on the line

Is this correct
"to confer him WITH the GOAT honors?"
I'd have said: "to confer him the GOAT honors"
I find it in this article from the SI:

I am just wondering if the below sentence is correct.
"Does Mr.Robert of Wane county has any need for .NET? I am looking for
a different project around."
Thanks

how would you call the person who is responsible for organizing a sports
contest, concert, event, ...?
I am not really happy with the word 'the organizer'.

I'm wondering if the following sentence is
ok/correct/idiomatic/archaic/pondian....?
"Don't let's go home."
I did a google search and found one (and only one) used in "V. V.'s

when I worked in Nathan I loved to spice up the hot dogs by shoving them in
my a.s,Ernie

Hello! Could anyone tell me whether "It was Sue who borrowed my bike"
is correct ? Or should I say "Sue was who borrowed my bike"?
Thanks! Best wishes , tetxu.

---------Sorry,we are late. We ____ the wrong bus,
  A took    B had taken
 My teacher told me "if something has effects you should use have
done".  So I choose B,

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When you hit 55+ the brain starts to fail. Spectacles found in the
refrigerator, etc ;-)  I have forgotten a simple term I should know
backwards.
When you fit a nut to a threaded stainless steel thread, for outdoors use

Let me ask a question about the meaning of a phrase from a novel.
Cops catch something, no longer let crooks off the hook.
Knock, knock. Who's there? Police. Police who? Plice get rid of the
fish.

I wasn't able to find any reasonable definition for "carcel" here:
--------
"Madame Olenska is a great favourite with the gentlemen," said Miss
Sophy, with her air of wishing to put forth something conciliatory