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  1. etymology - What is the origin of 'bootleg'? - English Language

    Feb 20, 2011 · 6 What is the origin of 'bootleg' ('bootlegger', 'bootlegging'), in the general sense of "illicit trade in liquor" (OED)? The Online Etymology Dictionary gives one possible origin, from 1889: As an …

  2. word choice - "In the Internet" vs. "on the Internet" - English ...

    Oct 18, 2012 · I suppose the large number of "in" prepositions in the phrase can be explained like this: in many languages, including Russian we use the preposition which can be translated into English as …

  3. Whence comes the expression ‘’starve a cold, feed a fever?”

    Jul 22, 2024 · What is the origin of the expression "starve a cold, feed a fever"? It is is used as basic (perhaps incorrect) medical advice for common illnesses.

  4. "run-down" versus "rundown" - English Language & Usage Stack …

    Jul 23, 2024 · In The Complete Poems of Anna Akhmatova by Judith Hemschemeyer, we read: In this everyday gray dress, On rundown heels... I thought that "rundown" was a substantive and …

  5. Can you use 'amok' without 'run'? How? - English Language & Usage …

    1922 Bookman Mar. 23/2 Both go morris-dancing amuck on a case of bootleg liquor. 2003 B. Klähn in K. Stierstorfer Beyond Postmodernism 86 A sports-car pilot driving amok on a French coastal road.

  6. What is the origin of "ex"? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

    Dec 22, 2015 · Ex-wife, ex-boyfriend. Does ex have a full form? Google dictionary has this information about the origin of ex: But what is the origin of the usage as a prefix in the words like ex-wife, ex-boyfri...

  7. Synonyms for “you’ve got a point” - English Language & Usage ...

    Aug 19, 2022 · So the other language ought to have a way to express the “you’ve got a point” concept. What that is is a question for that other language’s stack exchange.

  8. Slang term for 'black-market food' during WW2

    Jun 10, 2023 · But the USA did not have food rationing. So how can there have been a black market? There certainly was rationing and a black market in Britain. I don't know if there was a name for such …

  9. Utilise or Utilize - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

    May 17, 2013 · I am writing in UK English and would like to confirm that we use utilise instead of utilize. I cannot seem to find a answer for this online.

  10. What is the plural form of "status"?

    Aug 14, 2010 · There are some situations where status may be considered countable. In those cases, the plural form can be used as statuses. MacMillan dictionary gives 4 definitions for status, and 3 of …