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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

dilip chikane

India

i want some english people that have interest to speak with me,

01:37 PM Mar 21 2009 |

savvyk

savvyk

China

Huh! Many words do not have one means!

Also there some interest  to  exist!

12:48 AM Mar 20 2009 |

Has123

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

i am ready for chatting ND THIS IS MY EMAIL (

10:05 AM Mar 19 2009 |

Jennyz72

Jennyz72

China

i want to know more friends.

i aslo want to improve my english.

04:12 AM Mar 18 2009 |

apple.tan

apple.tan

China

I want to make friends .

I also want to improve my English and pass the exam.

03:06 PM Mar 17 2009 |

left-hander

China

I want to make friends from different countries

I also want to improve my English.  

10:13 AM Mar 17 2009 |

wishtolearn

El Salvador

is there anyone from el salvador who could join me and chat some time or we could just share some pics

10:03 PM Mar 15 2009 |

mehmetd

mehmetd

Turkey

Eyes are mirror of hearts…sometimes even if we don t say people in so many words,they can understand us in our eyes….

09:05 AM Mar 12 2009 |

billtian

China

not very much discribe

06:07 AM Mar 08 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Sometimes is necessary in so many words to say something,but not always the people support the truth ;)

05:24 PM Feb 25 2009 |

alina_medvedeva

Russian Federation

guys, tell smth in few words to help your friends understand you easier!

10:08 AM Feb 21 2009 |

Srky

Srky

Serbia and Montenegro

I would like to say in so many words how much I like slang!!

07:34 PM Feb 20 2009 |

EstebanM

EstebanM

Colombia

Please, hear the song “Sorry”, from Chinese Democracy, it’s so nice…

10:13 PM Feb 19 2009 |

SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

i say in so many words that i got this slang! thanks!!:)

02:19 PM Feb 19 2009 |

iman82

iman82

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

thanks englishbaby really i enjoyed of your lessons

12:03 PM Feb 19 2009 |

nour_2

nour_2

Syrian Arab Republic

i think that”not every body understand and get what we hint at properly”
so it’s a mysteriuos way and i prefer the direct way….
cus life doesn’t wait….

11:20 AM Feb 19 2009 |

bhuvan.ram

bhuvan.ram

India

fine but an ordinary slang which every knows i think

10:11 AM Feb 19 2009 |

Truc

Truc

Viet Nam

definitely – not use metonymy, comparative method or sth like that, make listener very easy to understand :-)

09:08 AM Feb 19 2009 |

Rayko

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

words dont come easy to me when i fall in love.

08:09 AM Feb 19 2009 |

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