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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

mohamedyoussef

Egypt

lyrics

hint

01:57 PM Apr 15 2009 |

Sandrazhou

China

what do you talking about here often?

10:51 AM Apr 15 2009 |

single plane

China

hello,everybody, nice to meet you.

09:16 AM Apr 15 2009 |

Sandrazhou

China

hey~anybody here now?

04:46 AM Apr 15 2009 |

fate2008

China

EXACTLY

03:08 PM Apr 14 2009 |

juan luis armenta perez

Congo

how's it going? I'm fine. Thanks to God. would likr to talk with me? please. let me know.

 

Best regards.

Juan Luis

02:35 PM Apr 13 2009 |

JROJO

Mexico

how are you?

02:01 AM Apr 13 2009 |

cheekyangel

Philippines

I want to say those words directly and not in so many words…...hahah…is my sentence correct?

02:39 PM Apr 12 2009 |

Dennis Liew

China

hello guys, i'm a new comer who want to improve my writing skill for my job. any one can help me?

09:49 AM Apr 11 2009 |

Aris426

China

  I like to exchange my ideas with other people in so many words!

08:17 AM Apr 11 2009 |

maggieqin

China

me too!where city are you from?i am in chengdu

06:46 AM Apr 11 2009 |

maggieqin

China

me too!where city are you from?i am in chengdu

06:46 AM Apr 11 2009 |

helenxi

China

I am a new comer. everything seems fresh here

04:17 AM Apr 11 2009 |

Yeli

Mexico

Hi!!!

12:57 AM Apr 11 2009 |

marck89

Malaysia

Lets say that's the way to tell someone or somebody about our feeling or mean without using the direct words.may be we just give him the klu or some expressions.

08:41 AM Apr 10 2009 |

ppkk

Thailand

i'm 30 going 31. Too Old ??

07:52 AM Apr 10 2009 |

ppkk

Thailand

Hi! i'm newcomer, I'm Thai and i really want to improve my english ka.Wink

07:50 AM Apr 10 2009 |

mobanyaping

China

I want to eat a kind of fish!

It is very delicious!

04:21 PM Apr 09 2009 |

liqi_1220

China

I am a new member og Ebaby,I want to improve my English,Because sometimes I know to write ,read,but I don't know to speak!

12:46 PM Apr 09 2009 |

夏日炎炎

China

 i want to improve my English

11:36 AM Apr 09 2009 |

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