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(2-2) Imagination, Deduction and Summary -- My Mnemonic Device for Studying English Words
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In her article, my lang-8 friend listed 7 usages of the word "screw."
[1] Dictionary definition: short for screwdriver.
[2] Dictionary verb definition: to turn like a screw, with a rotating motion. "Screw that nail into the door."
[3] "I'm screwed!" It means everything's over. Usually the usage is very exaggerated, e.g. you didn't turn in your homework and you're going to get yelled at by your teacher.
[4] To be tricked or taken advantage of: "I was totally [screwed over] by that guy! He totally screwed me over!"
[5] To have a lot of promiscuous sex. The usage I see most commonly is: "They screwed like rabbits. "
[6] To waste time: "Stop screwing around!" When I was little, just about every primary and middle school teacher used this phrase to yell at their students.
[7] To make a mistake, to mess something up: "I really screwed up. Can I have another chance?" "If I don't do well on the SAT, it's going to screw up my future."
_______________________________
The below shows how I interpret English expressions. I enjoy being amused by the jokes I create. Yeah, you can call me a moron.
The definitions [1] and [2] are basic. The “screw” in the definition [1] is a noun and in the definition [2] is used as a verb. A rotating motion is like spinning, twisting, etc., the basic meaning from which many others derive.
With [3], I imagine a poor sap who is being twisted into wide egg noodles by someone or non-physical force such as fate. He can be mentally tortured by this force to near death. When a kid doesn't hand in his homework, he is either very scared as if the pressure is “twisting” him, or he is afraid his teacher is going to twist him into dead meat.
With [4], I imagine a guy to be a walking fruit whose essence, juice, is squeezed out by someone. The particle “over” can mean “falling to the ground” (knock over, kick over ect) or “overflowing” (boil over, spill over, etc). Putting them together, the expression can describe a person who has been taken advantage of and feels so angry that he is about to pass out and fall to the ground. Or, he has been cheated out of so much “juice” that it is brimming over the container.
With [5], I conjure up a porn scene where some people are having passionate sex, moving up and down in bed like cracking open bottles, or uncorking wine bottles like a piston motion and the like. It's a vivid description of their promiscuous sex.. #palm face#
With [6], I imagine someone moving/spinning around like a jerk who is convulsively twitching. Then, it's "fool around," which equates "screw around."
With [7], someone has something in hand very precious but brittle like bottles, then "screw" means "try to close it.” The particle “up” can mean “damaging and destroying” (tear up, smash up, etc.) The expression means try to close a bottle but end up breaking it.
When these meanings have sunk in, I don't think of the above scenes anymore. After all, imagination is just my mnemonic device.
[1] Dictionary definition: short for screwdriver.
[2] Dictionary verb definition: to turn like a screw, with a rotating motion. "Screw that nail into the door."
[3] "I'm screwed!" It means everything's over. Usually the usage is very exaggerated, e.g. you didn't turn in your homework and you're going to get yelled at by your teacher.
[4] To be tricked or taken advantage of: "I was totally [screwed over] by that guy! He totally screwed me over!"
[5] To have a lot of promiscuous sex. The usage I see most commonly is: "They screwed like rabbits. "
[6] To waste time: "Stop screwing around!" When I was little, just about every primary and middle school teacher used this phrase to yell at their students.
[7] To make a mistake, to mess something up: "I really screwed up. Can I have another chance?" "If I don't do well on the SAT, it's going to screw up my future."
_______________________________
The below shows how I interpret English expressions. I enjoy being amused by the jokes I create. Yeah, you can call me a moron.
The definitions [1] and [2] are basic. The “screw” in the definition [1] is a noun and in the definition [2] is used as a verb. A rotating motion is like spinning, twisting, etc., the basic meaning from which many others derive.
With [3], I imagine a poor sap who is being twisted into wide egg noodles by someone or non-physical force such as fate. He can be mentally tortured by this force to near death. When a kid doesn't hand in his homework, he is either very scared as if the pressure is “twisting” him, or he is afraid his teacher is going to twist him into dead meat.
With [4], I imagine a guy to be a walking fruit whose essence, juice, is squeezed out by someone. The particle “over” can mean “falling to the ground” (knock over, kick over ect) or “overflowing” (boil over, spill over, etc). Putting them together, the expression can describe a person who has been taken advantage of and feels so angry that he is about to pass out and fall to the ground. Or, he has been cheated out of so much “juice” that it is brimming over the container.
With [5], I conjure up a porn scene where some people are having passionate sex, moving up and down in bed like cracking open bottles, or uncorking wine bottles like a piston motion and the like. It's a vivid description of their promiscuous sex.. #palm face#
With [6], I imagine someone moving/spinning around like a jerk who is convulsively twitching. Then, it's "fool around," which equates "screw around."
With [7], someone has something in hand very precious but brittle like bottles, then "screw" means "try to close it.” The particle “up” can mean “damaging and destroying” (tear up, smash up, etc.) The expression means try to close a bottle but end up breaking it.
When these meanings have sunk in, I don't think of the above scenes anymore. After all, imagination is just my mnemonic device.
[1]和[2]是基本释义。释义[1]作名词，释义[2]作名词。screw 像一个旋转、扭转动作，从而基于此衍生出其它的释义。
对于[3]，我想象有一个倒霉鬼被人扭成麻花，或精神上被扭曲得快要挂了。比如，一个小学生没有交作业，他倍感压力，精神上受摧残，也怕老师把他扭成麻花。
对于[4]，可以把某人想象成一个水果，然后扭曲榨汁。over 可以作”倒地“的意思（knock over, kick over），或者是”溢出“的意思（boil over, spill over）。所以，这个人被骗后，气得吐血，快要倒地。或者果汁被榨干了，都溢出容器了。
对于[5]，可以想象出一个A片画面，里面的男优女优激情做爱，床震巨响。像男优四肢旋转，开一个女优瓶，做活塞运动。。很形象地在描述一个激情场面。（捂脸）
对于[6]，可以想象一个疯癫婆，浑身抽搐，四处瞎转。所以，是到处不干正事，浪费时间的意思。
对于[7]，可以想象一个人手握一个瓶子，但是太脆了，他努力打开，结果打碎了，搞砸了。 up 有”破坏的意思(tear up, smash up)。
以上就是我如何诠释英语表达的，我喜欢自娱自乐，但2B青年欢乐多嘛。一旦这些释义被我吸收后，就会被抛弃，毕竟只是帮助我记忆的工具。
对于[3]，我想象有一个倒霉鬼被人扭成麻花，或精神上被扭曲得快要挂了。比如，一个小学生没有交作业，他倍感压力，精神上受摧残，也怕老师把他扭成麻花。
对于[4]，可以把某人想象成一个水果，然后扭曲榨汁。over 可以作”倒地“的意思（knock over, kick over），或者是”溢出“的意思（boil over, spill over）。所以，这个人被骗后，气得吐血，快要倒地。或者果汁被榨干了，都溢出容器了。
对于[5]，可以想象出一个A片画面，里面的男优女优激情做爱，床震巨响。像男优四肢旋转，开一个女优瓶，做活塞运动。。很形象地在描述一个激情场面。（捂脸）
对于[6]，可以想象一个疯癫婆，浑身抽搐，四处瞎转。所以，是到处不干正事，浪费时间的意思。
对于[7]，可以想象一个人手握一个瓶子，但是太脆了，他努力打开，结果打碎了，搞砸了。 up 有”破坏的意思(tear up, smash up)。
以上就是我如何诠释英语表达的，我喜欢自娱自乐，但2B青年欢乐多嘛。一旦这些释义被我吸收后，就会被抛弃，毕竟只是帮助我记忆的工具。
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Can I have another chance?" "If I don't do well on my Gaokao exam, it's going to screw up my future."
I enjoy being amused by the jokes I create make up.
"Make up" is used a lot for making up jokes/songs/stories, or any other non-formal thing that has something to do with words.
With [3], I imagine a poor sap who is being twisted into wide egg noodles by someone or by a non-physical force such as fate.
He can be mentally tortured by this force to (a point) near death.
When a kid doesn’t hand in his homework, he is either very scared as if the pressure was “twisting” him, or he is afraid his teacher is going to twist him into dead meat.
This isn't something in the past, but more of an explanation for the present, so changing the tenses here as I did makes more sense.
"Twist into dead meat" sounds a bit strange. Maybe something like "twist his head until it comes off"?
With [4], I imagine a guy to be a looking like a walking fruit whose essence, juice, was squeezed out by someone.
Not 100% like your Chinese version (where the person turns into a fruit), but can still work. :-)
Putting them together, the expression can describe a person who has been taken advantage of and feels so angry that he is about to pass out and fall to the ground.
Or, he has been cheated out of so much “juice” that it is brimming over overflowing the container.
With [7], someone has something in hand very precious but brittle like bottles in hand, then "screw" means "try to open it.” The particle “up” can mean “damaging and destroying” (tear up, smash up, etc.) The expression means try to open a bottle but end up breaking it.
So, you can basically split the definitions into "noun", "verb", and "slang" (that can be understood from the verb after hearing a few context examples). All definitions are rather similar to each other. :-)
突然觉得编字典的人好伟大……我从来没想过screw原来可以有这么多层意思……
99%的单词，只要是同源的，基本就是本义——引申义——引申义的引申义——引申义的引申义的引申义 23333
NOTE: In many manuals of styles, it mentions that small numbers should be spelled out instead of written in Arabic unless part of a math equation or date or time. In her article, my lang-8 friend listed seven usages of the word "screw."
[3] "I'm screwed!" It means hardship/trouble will come.
Usually this usage is very exaggerated, e.
OPTION A: You didn't turn in your homework, so your teacher will yell/bitch at you.OPTION B: You didn't turn in your homework, so as far as your teacher is concerned, you're screwed.
[5] To have (a lot of) promiscuous sex.
COMMENT: As I understand it, quantity is not implied.
The [add noun] below shows how I interpret English expressions.
NOTE: A noun is needed before "below" and choices include: list, writing, examples.
COMMENT: Grammatical possible, but artificial and pragmatically improbable. A more natural wording - I enjoy making up jokes.
Below, I list/show how I interpret English expressions.
I enjoy being amused by the jokes I make up.
With [3], I imagine a poor [sap] who is being twisted into wide egg noodles by someone or a non-physical force such as fate.
You can also say....
poor fellow
poor bastard
With [4], I imagine a person as a walking fruit whose essence--juice--is squeezed out by someone.
it's better to be gender neutral when possible.
Or, he has been cheated out of so much “juice” that it brims/overflows the container.
With [5], I conjure up a porn scene where some people are having passionate sex, moving up and down in bed like cracking open bottles, or uncorking wine bottles in a piston motion and the like.
*facepalm*
This is how we usually write it...
With [6], I imagine someone moving/spinning around like a jerk who is convulsively twitching.
What does "jerk" mean in this sentence?
At first, when reading it, I thought you meant "jerk" as in "asshole" (insult) because that's what jerk can also be used for ("cheats on every test, what a jerk!"). But then came the convulsively twitching part...
Then, it's "fool around," which equates to "screw around."
With [7], someone holds/grasps something very precious but brittle in hand like bottles, then "screw" means "try to close it.” The particle “up” can mean “damaging and destroying” (tear up, smash up, etc.) The expression means to try to close a bottle only to end up breaking it.
Good on you SP to be so creative....
1) Is the phrase "the container is brimming over with water" possible?
2) #facepalm# The WORD suggested me splitting it... Thanks for this.
2) Internet English usually uses asterisks...but I guess the number sign is ok too 0_0
I had another thought. We do use the #, but for what's called a "hashtag," and usually only in the beginning. Twitter seems to have a lot of #mylifesucks. But this stuff knows no rules...
This reminds me of the 13-or-so meanings of the English word "can" detailed by John Francis in his book "Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy." Here are some that I can remember:
Can (noun)
-metal container for holding food
-toilet
-jail/prison
-a person's head
Can (verb)
-to put something into a can
-to dismiss (a person from his/her job)
-to be able to (do something)
-to be allowed to (do something)
...and several other definitions. Ain't English fun?!
I didn't know it can mean "toilet," "jail" or "to dismiss."
Are you guys still use these meanings?
If screws didn't screw around we'd all be screwed when trying to build something that requires screws to screw around and then we'd be the ones looking like we're screwing around and then we'd really be screwed wouldn't we..
[3] "I'm screwed!", meaning everything's over/trouble is to come.
I enjoy amusing myself with my own jokes.
The “screw” in the definition [1] is a noun, and in the definition [2] it is used as a verb.
A rotating motion is like spinning, twisting, etc., the basic meaning from which many of the others derive.
For [3], I imagine a poor sap who is being twisted into wide egg noodles by some person or by a non-physical force such as fate.
When a kid doesn't hand in his homework, he is either very scared, as if the pressure is “twisting” him, or he is afraid his teacher is going to twist him into dead meat.
That's a vivid description of their promiscuous sex..
With [6], I imagine someone moving/spinning around like a jerk (?) who is convulsively twitching.
With [7], someone has a fragile glass bottle in their hand, so that "screw" means "try to close the bottle.” The particle “up” can mean “damaging and destroying” (tear up, smash up, etc.) The expression means to try to close a bottle, only to end up breaking it.
I think the sentence is easier to follow if you stick with the glass bottle image the whole way through.