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Shadok Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

A few questions

Hello,

I have a few questions. Would be grateful for your help.

1. Can we use the word 'famous' in ironical context?

For example:

Then, below the 'famous' new beautiful cloth, I discovered a huge hole in the table.

2. I can't find a technical name for this part, but is that expression acceptable? :

A tap supplying the engine with petrol

otherwise I have found: The fuel inlet valve

I mean this part :

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1280&bih=709&q=Le%20robinet%20d%E2%80%99arriv%C3%A9e%20de%20carburant&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=24558l28141l0l28813l2l2l0l0l0l0l256l491l2-2l2l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

3. Can we say 'mass imbalance' meaning the lack of balance bewteen two things badly weighed out?

4. How to describe the top of all the problems which have taken place during a trip, for example :

Sunday was the final! (Sunday was the last day of a horrible journey)

Sunday was the apogee!

Thank you for your help.
  

Top answer

Shadok Hello, I have a few questions. Would be grateful for your help. 1.

— Non sequitur

  • Shadok Hello, I have a few questions.
  • Would be grateful for your help.
  • 1.
  • Can we use the word 'famous' in ironical context?
  • For example: Then, below the 'famous' new beautiful cloth, I discovered a huge hole in the table.
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7 Answers
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ShadokHello,
I have a few questions. Would be grateful for your help.

1. Can we use the word 'famous' in ironical context?
For example:
Then, below the 'famous' new beautiful cloth, I discovered a huge hole in the table.

2. I can't find a technical name for this part, but is that expression acceptable? :
A tap supplying the engine wit
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Shadok1. Can we use the word 'famous' in ironical context?
For example:
Then, below the 'famous' new beautiful cloth, I discovered a huge hole in the table.
If it's a cloth that people have been talking about a lot or that has played a prominent role in the story you're telling, then 'famous' seems OK. (In case you're comparing the usage with the Fr
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And 'nadir' instead of 'apex'.
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Mister MicawberAnd 'nadir' instead of 'apex'.
I've never heard nadir used.
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Mister MicawberAnd now you have!
Lol.

I meant, in the sense that, I've never heard it used in any conversation or read it anywhere.

How often do you find it being used?
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Well, COCA produces 309 instances of 'nadir' (vs 919 instances of 'apex'). I use it myself when I mean the low point.
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