Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
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

Want to guess next week's slang?

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Comments

Log in to Comment

Anoor_syz

Malaysia

hello guys..
wanna be chat with me..
i am new here

04:17 AM Apr 09 2009 |

Anoor_syz

Malaysia

i intesrest to learn english more very well..

04:16 AM Apr 09 2009 |

Anoor_syz

Malaysia

hello everibodies.. i am new here

04:16 AM Apr 09 2009 |

dawit baraky

Australia

 i am happy about this but i want learn more english accent

 

 

03:04 PM Apr 08 2009 |

Susan_fish

Susan_fish

China

directly express what you want to say.

10:00 AM Apr 08 2009 |

frajer

Slovakia

ksjhdhjh

08:14 AM Apr 08 2009 |

Sacred

Uzbekistan

Hi everybody !!!

07:26 AM Apr 08 2009 |

Rayan87

Syrian Arab Republic

I need help tomn learn english

03:02 PM Apr 07 2009 |

rouhollah20

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

hi how are you,my name is rouhollah
i live in south iran near the persian gulf
many people of russian are here in boushehr port,in my city,if you want to com here i am at your service.
i will be happy that you answer me
if you want to call me , this is my phon +989173763091
send my regard for your family and your friends

06:52 AM Apr 05 2009 |

pizzachuwave

Thailand

Learning by singing^^

 

So take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
There's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
So take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me, is against the odds
And that's what I've got to faceeeee

05:12 AM Apr 05 2009 |

blackbirdchild

Germany

in so many words

12:49 PM Apr 04 2009 |

hassan sedky

Egypt

i want to learn slang english in so many words

12:30 PM Apr 04 2009 |

Sacred

Uzbekistan

Hi I'm new member of Ebaby!!!

 

08:50 AM Apr 04 2009 |

sweetyloody

Yemen

hi im from yemen too nice 2 know u

07:33 AM Apr 04 2009 |

sweetyloody

Yemen

hi evrey body im new her

07:25 AM Apr 04 2009 |

ayman89

Egypt

how can i join these lessons

02:48 PM Apr 03 2009 |

juan luis armenta perez

Congo

sabrina, estoy aqui, do you like spanish? why? ok mi nombre es Juan. please let me know, Laughing i can teach you spanish.

Best regards

Juan Luis.  

 

02:43 PM Apr 03 2009 |

mukashi

mukashi

Myanmar

We , no need to say  in so many words as we know each other why we are here. Right? Try hard to acheive our goal. Good luck ,,, everyone

10:24 AM Apr 03 2009 |

lilmouha

Senegal

hello evryone my name is nice boy and my naturell coulore is black and i love that coulore and jah bless all people who love dem welcom to evryone in my profille and i like to have friend here ok …............now if youlike to be my friend good you can teak this ........is for the girls ok man good

09:43 PM Apr 02 2009 |

mimo87

mimo87

Yemen

hiiiiiiiii evry buddy i m new there just i ll find a friends

07:22 PM Apr 02 2009 |

Likes (59):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast