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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

BDW227

China

HELLO

05:26 AM Mar 27 2009 |

man without marcy

Dominican Republic

i think is better keep everything in mistery because, if you do that the magic can gone.

02:44 AM Mar 27 2009 |

cheercherry

China

means a lot

02:06 AM Mar 27 2009 |

Smile-Yin

China

I guess maybe it means say sth clearly and directly~

01:02 AM Mar 27 2009 |

money tree

China

hello everybady!

 

02:08 PM Mar 25 2009 |

money tree

China

hello every bady!

 

02:08 PM Mar 25 2009 |

i speak english

United States

In so many words- using so many words is like describing something to someone but they get a better understanding of what your saying.

01:46 PM Mar 25 2009 |

sadiik

sadiik

Uganda

hi everyBody in here

01:07 PM Mar 25 2009 |

lovine

Germany

hi there, i’m new, please chat with me…

03:15 AM Mar 25 2009 |

Chinese heart0754

China

what do you mean?yun

01:58 AM Mar 25 2009 |

amany7

amany7

Saudi Arabia

In so many words I like this ( In so many words )

co0o0ol

06:20 PM Mar 24 2009 |

miracle.d

China

hi there!i am a new comer.

08:29 AM Mar 24 2009 |

yujunjun

yujunjun

China

hello. everyboby.

02:48 AM Mar 24 2009 |

Lonig

China

I cannot remember them.

 

12:22 AM Mar 24 2009 |

farmerj92

Austria

Sealedhi

so what are do later just be bord

08:54 PM Mar 23 2009 |

samir.huseen

Saudi Arabia

hell every bady my name is samir  am sory  i can't writing english  very will for this i want some on english to spaek with me

11:30 AM Mar 23 2009 |

eminem41

Turkey

hello everybady my name is emine

06:00 PM Mar 22 2009 |

jake-tylor

Algeria

hi evry body

03:45 PM Mar 22 2009 |

lilmouha

Senegal

hello evryone my name is mouha and am so happy to be here with all jah bless

10:06 PM Mar 21 2009 |

eclesiastes

Venezuela

  Hello everyone , I am  really happy for to be here with you

03:27 PM Mar 21 2009 |

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