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in so many words

in so many words

Date: Feb 19 2009

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“I’d say there’s a lot in the lyrics regarding the journey to make the album, even if not in so many words.”

- Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose on writing songs about making his latest album. (billboard.com)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

to say something directly, clearly

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

There are two ways to tell someone something. You can exactly what you mean or you can hint at and imply your meaning. If you say someting in so many words, you say exactly what you mean and it would be hard for anyone to misunderstand you. If you wanted tell your crush that you like him or her in so many words, you’d say, “I like you. Will you go out with me?”

But sometimes you can’t say something in so many words because it’s something you’re not really supposed to talk about or it just seems better if you don’t say what you mean out loud. If you wanted to reveal your feelings to your crush indirectly, you could just give compliments like, “I love your clothes,” and “you’re so good at what you do” and hope that he or she understands your meaning without you saying it in so many words.

One place where it’s not good to be too direct is song lyrics. Axl Rose’s band Guns N’ Roses spent about 10 years making their most recent album, Chinese Democracy. None of the songs have lines like, “Making this album is really hard!” or “Man, this is taking forever!” But in his first interview in nine years, Axl says in so many words that some of the lyrics are about the process of making the record. They just don’t talk about it in so many words.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

“I got the job. They didn’t say so in so many words, but what they meant was clear.”

“I can’t believe she came back. I told her in so many words that she’s not welcome here anymore.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

VOLTS Words that doesnt left doubt about their mean when they are talked.
by VOLTSSuper Member!
directly or in a way that makes it very clear what you mean (usually negative)
by jonnyunicard
banmaixanh directly referred
by banmaixanh
mingkin say something surely
by mingkin
ultraDM in so many words - you are talking a lot about something, wanting to explain it very careful
by ultraDM
MATRIX_07 very obvious or clear I guess <_<
by MATRIX_07

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Comments

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ttyy608

China

hello,i am a new comer too . i like to make friends with

who want to learn chinese . welcome to china .

01:49 PM May 03 2009 |

snowwolf012

China

Glad to see you,I'm a new comer

 

06:40 AM May 02 2009 |

queenny

queenny

China

Embarassed

04:17 AM May 02 2009 |

ariunsanaa

ariunsanaa

Mongolia

hi, do u want to be my penpalSmile

04:08 AM May 02 2009 |

toto123123

Jordan

hi
im new here

08:51 PM May 01 2009 |

Sacred

Uzbekistan

Without love days are Moanday, Tearsday, Wasteday,Thirstday, Frightday, Shatterday, Sadday so be in love everyday!!!

09:41 AM May 01 2009 |

uoyunbat

Mongolia

hi how are you

 

09:15 AM May 01 2009 |

uoyunbat

Mongolia

hi how are you

 

09:15 AM May 01 2009 |

pavithraniranjan

India

hello everyone

12:18 PM Apr 30 2009 |

queenny

queenny

China

i just join the E BABY! nice to meet all of you here!wishes make friends with you .

02:59 AM Apr 30 2009 |

turko77

Turkey

hello , naition

07:44 PM Apr 29 2009 |

songyanyan

songyanyan

China

Eer….Hello Everyone , I'm a student, and I want to improve my English level.This is my first time to here,so I'm know nothing .I hope you could help me!

04:45 PM Apr 29 2009 |

intilish

Turkey

iam new too. i have been learning english more than 2years

08:16 AM Apr 29 2009 |

sopin

China

i’m a new comer…...

07:40 AM Apr 29 2009 |

ttyy608

China

how to use it ?

01:49 PM Apr 27 2009 |

xingtongwm

xingtongwm

Germany

yes,hi everybody

05:14 AM Apr 26 2009 |

ariunsanaa

ariunsanaa

Mongolia

hello, i have been learning english for 2 years. I want to learn english and have foriegn penpals.

01:24 PM Apr 25 2009 |

cherry jane s

China

i am new here .i want to improve my english.can you help

me

03:37 AM Apr 25 2009 |

Junior Nemo

China

Hello,everyone,I am a new comer,please hlpe more!

08:01 AM Apr 24 2009 |

Lena Kovalchuk

Ukraine

yes…it is true…i guess we must sau our felling and give them some independs! if you like this boy or girl, why aren't you tell him or her about your fellings.they can be mutual
 

01:45 PM Apr 23 2009 |

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