English Phrase of the Day

Definitions

English > English
or so
1. Phrase. Roughly, approximately.
How many people came to the party? – Thirty or so.
Add about a quart or so of milk and stir.
It was about half full or so.
Analysis
or		©
1. conj. Connects at least two alternative words, phrases, clauses, sentences, etc. each of which could make a passage true. In English, this is the "inclusive or." The "exclusive or" is formed by "either(...)
In Ohio, anyone under the age of 18 who wants a tattoo or body piercing needs the consent of a parent or guardian.
He might get cancer, or be hit by a bus, or God knows what.
2. conj. (logic) An operator denoting the disjunction of two propositions or truth values. There are two forms, the inclusive or and the exclusive or.
3. conj. Counts the elements before and after as two possibilities.
So
1. n. A Mon-Khmer-speaking people of Laos and Thailand.
2. conj. In order that.
Eat your broccoli so you can have dessert.
3. conj. With the result that; for that reason; therefore.
I was hungry so I asked if there was any more food.

Example Sentences

They seem to have increased again in the past month or so.  Elves need little sleep, or so I am told.  Usually he calms down after an hour or so.  He only comes through every ten years or so and stirs everything up.  I have to say, though, that the manner of my own sacking a year or so later left a bitter taste in my mouth.

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