Hello. Would you please comment on the following phrases?
Psychiatric ward

Rarely heard of outside of these limited circles

I was blown away by the spectacular view

The bow of the shockwave blew everything away in its path

Sorry to hear

I'm about to launch a start-up company

Question

Hello. Would you please comment on the following phrases?
Psychiatric ward

Rarely heard of outside of these limited circles

I was blown away by the spectacular view

The bow of the shockwave blew everything away in its path

Sorry to hear

I'm about to launch a start-up company

Answer

1) Do Americans usually say ward or hospital? Are those words virtually interchangable? What about infirmary?

2) Is 'I was blown away by the spectacular view' what  you say in your everyday talk or is it quite emphatic or literary?

3) Are there any synonyms for 'shockwave'?

4) In what situations do you say 'Sorry to hear'?

5) What's the difference between launch and start (begin)?

Thanks in advance

Answer

I agree with Steve. I'm not sure exactly what you want here.

Answer

This would be more interesting, and probably more useful to you as a learning and remembering experience, if you start off the conversation. What *do* you understand about these phrases? Are there any words (or word-combinations) that you *don't* understand? I see a literal use of a phrasal verb and then a figurative use of the same phrasal verb. Can you identify that?

Answers · 3

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