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Michelle Cha Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

the meaning of "mean by" in "What do you mean bydreams?"

I came across a sentence "What do you mean by dreams?"
and want to know the meaning of this sentence.

I often heard and actually said "What do you mean by this?" and now I wonder what "mean by" means exactly.

Also I want to know if we can say "what do you mean this?"
If so, how are they different in meaning?
  

Top answer

" No, you cannot. The preposition is necessary. Michelle Cha I wonder what "mean by" means exactly It not an idiom or phrasal verb; it is simply 'mean' + 'by'.

— Mister Micawber

  • " No, you cannot.
  • The preposition is necessary.
  • Michelle Cha I wonder what "mean by" means exactly It not an idiom or phrasal verb; it is simply 'mean' + 'by'.
  • 'By' = 'when you say', perhaps 'by (saying/doing)'.
  • These are equivalents: What do you mean by this?
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1 Answers
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Michelle Cha I want to know if we can say "what do you mean this?"
No, you cannot. The preposition is necessary.
Michelle ChaI wonder what "mean by" means exactly
It not an idiom or phrasal verb; it is simply 'mean' + 'by'. 'By' = 'when you say', perhaps 'by (saying/doing)'.

These are equivalents:

What
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