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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

Log in to Comment

joaco

joaco

Argentina

we should talk more often in so many words, so there wouldt be any misunderstanding.

07:11 PM Apr 22 2009 |

seabill

China

what is the mean "in so many word"

02:03 PM Apr 22 2009 |

nestle19

Azerbaijan

I AM NEW=)

07:55 AM Apr 22 2009 |

nestle19

Azerbaijan

I AM NEW=)

07:54 AM Apr 22 2009 |

nestle19

Azerbaijan

HALO EVERYONE!I AM NARA I AM FROM AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC TODAY MY FIRST TIME IN THIS CHAT

07:54 AM Apr 22 2009 |

nestle19

Azerbaijan

HALO EVERYONE!I AM NARA I AM FROM AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC TODAY MY FIRST TIME IN THIS CHAT

07:53 AM Apr 22 2009 |

HEROS_SANTI

Mexico

hello

my name is santiago my estody in the secondary

01:57 AM Apr 22 2009 |

Juli Ya

Juli Ya

Ukraine

yes, yes!!what do us do here??Innocent

09:06 PM Apr 21 2009 |

samir.huseen

Saudi Arabia

hi every bady can any  bady  tell me abuot this program

how i can use it .all so what can  wright here

 

08:42 PM Apr 21 2009 |

Juli Ya

Juli Ya

Ukraine

hello!!I am new here too!Frown

hello!!I want of english!!Frown

08:46 AM Apr 21 2009 |

Jack_as

Jack_as

Vanuatu

hey there is anybody here

08:42 AM Apr 21 2009 |

Jack_as

Jack_as

Vanuatu

hello Iam new here

08:35 AM Apr 21 2009 |

ecebahar

Turkey

im new here hi

08:57 PM Apr 20 2009 |

ahmad khalili

Jordan

nice to meet you

11:27 AM Apr 18 2009 |

zing.,

China

I would like to know more friends.,To improve my Englishthank u

12:48 AM Apr 18 2009 |

zing.,

China

hi.,everyone., .,  I am a novice

12:46 AM Apr 18 2009 |

single plane

China

en~~I'm new here,and how about you?

04:35 AM Apr 17 2009 |

iamtotallyblonde

Lebanon

Good lesson. We need more like it.

11:41 PM Apr 16 2009 |

anggipinki

Ecuador

no se hablar ingles necesito ayuda como puedo a empezar usar este programa

gracias

 

09:43 PM Apr 15 2009 |

fate2008

China

hi

03:20 PM Apr 15 2009 |

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