pronunciation - Is "forte" pronounced "fort" or "for-tay"? - English ...
Aug 21, 2010 · Summary: The confusion may come from 'forte' as used in music for strong or loud, which is definitely pronounced 'for tay' = /ˈfɔr teɪ/. In French, the same letters are pronounced 'fort' = …
etymology - What is the origin of the phrase "forty winks," meaning a ...
William Kitchiner M.D. (1775–1827) was an optician, inventor of telescopes, amateur musician and exceptional cook. His name was a household word during the 19th century, and his Cook’s Oracle …
Where does the phrase "hold down the fort" come from?
Jun 20, 2015 · I agree the original should be 'hold the fort' and 'hold down…' looks like an aberration. Is it too much to speculate that 'hold down…' could have come from a land-lubbers variation on …
What is the origin of the term "ginger" for red-headed people?
Aug 31, 2014 · I'd like to know the etymology of the word "ginger" in reference to red-headed people. In particular, if "ginger" in this context is related to the plant root used in cooking, I'd like to know how...
Is it "are" or "is" when the noun is plural after a gerund?
Playing shooting games are/is my forte. Watching movies is/are fun. Reading books is or are good for you. Do we use is or are for these sentences?
Is "forth and back" more proper than "back and forth"?
Aug 3, 2012 · "Back and forth" is the more correct idiom, because, well, that's the idiom. There's nothing to stop you from saying "forth and back" — a little voice is repeating the subtitle to The Hobbit, which …
Neesh or Nitch? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Aug 20, 2010 · What is the correct way to pronounce niche? I've always said and heard nitch, but now I hear neesh, but it always sounds trendy to me. Thoughts?
Differences between "propensity", "predilection" and "proclivity"
Jan 17, 2012 · 0 They're essentially synonymous: Proclivity is 'leaning to', propensity is 'nearness to' and predilection is 'preference for'. Worry about something more significant like the misuse of the words …
What do you call someone from the U.S.? [duplicate]
Feb 1, 2017 · @phoog let me get this clear, geography has never been my forte, so N.America is one continent, and S.America is a second continent. As for the driving analogy, does it hold? The UK is …
Where does the term "three sheets to the wind" originate from?
Mar 7, 2011 · The original wording of this phrase was ". . . in the wind," as mentioned in the above-referenced phrases.org.uk entry. The entry cites Pierce Egan's character's descripton of a drunk …