meaning

get (one's) meaning

To understand the meaning, insinuation, or implication of what one is saying. All I'm saying is that I won't be very sad if she breaks up with her boyfriend, if you get my meaning. A: "I want him taken care of—he's become too much of a liability." B: "I think I get your meaning."
See also: get, meaning

if you get my meaning

If you understand the underlying meaning, insinuation, or implication of what I'm saying. A: "Where did Jack and Sarah go?" B: "Probably went home for a little dancing between the sheets, if you get my meaning." The boss wants the snitch "taken care of," if you get my meaning. All I'm saying is that I won't be very sad if she breaks up with her boyfriend, if you get my meaning.
See also: get, if, meaning

mean (something) as (something else)

To have a particular meaning or intention when saying or doing something. Often used in negative constructions. I didn't mean that as an insult—on the contrary, I meant it as a compliment! I don't think he meant it as a snub to you when he turned his back like that. I think he just wasn't thinking about how it would come across.
See also: mean

mean (something) by (something)

To have some hidden or ulterior meaning, judgment, or intention behind one's words or actions. Often used in questions and negative constructions. I didn't mean anything by what I said—I was just making an observation about your clothes, that's all! A: "It's not bad, for someone like you." B: "Hey, what do you mean by that?"
See also: by, mean

mean (something) for the best

To intend for one's actions to produce a positive outcome. I meant that for the best—I really wasn't trying to hurt your feelings.
See also: mean

mean business

To be grave and resolute; to be serious about what one is promising or proposing to do. Mom sounded like she means business, so you better clean your room.
See also: business, mean

mean for

1. To intend for something to be received, heard, or understood by a particular person. A noun or pronoun can be used between "mean" and "for"; often used in passive constructions. Sorry, my question was actually meant for Mrs. Roberts. I never meant those criticisms for you! You ate them all? But those cookies were meant for the children!
2. To be of importance, significance, or worth to one. A noun or pronoun can be used between "mean" and "for." It's hard to quantify what this amazing gift means for our community, but suffice to say that it will change many lives for the better. Criticism like that doesn't mean anything for me.
See also: mean

mean no offense

To not imply or intend any offensive meaning in what one says or does. Usually used in the past tense. I truly meant no offense by what I said—I was just making a literal observation about your clothes, that's all! I'm sure you meant no offense, but just consider for a moment how someone might interpret what you said.
See also: mean, no, offense

mean nothing

1. Literally, to have no discernible meaning to someone; to be incomprehensible (to someone). Could you just tell me in plain English? All that technical jargon means nothing to me. Without the right decoding software, you'll just be left with a document full of random characters that mean nothing.
2. To be completely insignificant or trivial (to someone). All your projections mean nothing if we can't turn them into actual sales. It was just a stupid one-time hookup, I swear—he meant nothing to me!
See also: mean, nothing

mean to (do something)

To have the intention, desire, or obligation to do something. I've been meaning to see that new movie everyone is talking about. A: "Did you mow the lawn?" B: "No, I meant to do it yesterday, but I ran out of time."
See also: mean

mean to (one)

To be of importance, significance, or worth to one. A noun or pronoun can be used between "mean" and "to." It's hard to quantify what this amazing gift means to our community, but suffice to say that it will change many lives for the better. Criticism like that doesn't mean anything to me—I just let it roll off me like water off a duck's back.
See also: mean

mean to say

To intend to say; to really mean. Sorry, what I meant to say was that I'll be 30 minutes late, not early. Do you mean to say that we made even less money this quarter?
See also: mean, say

mean well

To have good intentions. The phrase implies that despite such intentions, one is inept, unhelpful, or a nuisance. Gerri means well, but honestly she usually just ends up getting in the way when we're trying to do work.
See also: mean, well

not know the meaning of the word

To be completely without the particular quality, trait, or characteristic that is being described. Integrity? Ha! John doesn't know the meaning of the word! Oh please, Janet, you don't know the meaning of the word "poor."
See also: know, meaning, not, of, word

pregnant with (something)

Full of, or fraught with, or having a lot of something. Just before naming the guilty party, he gave a pause that seemed pregnant with meaning, and I wondered whether he was telling me the truth. Her speech was pregnant with emotion, and her eyes brimmed with tears as she spoke.
See also: pregnant

take on (a) new meaning

To become suddenly more meaningful; to be suddenly able to be interpreted or understood in a different and significant way. Her words took on a new meaning when I realized that she was the daughter of a billionaire. I found that the movie really took on new meaning for me after I became a parent.
See also: meaning, new, on, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

mean business

to be very, very serious. Stop laughing! I mean business. I could tell from the look on her face that she meant business.
See also: business, mean

mean no offense

not to intend to offend. (See also take no offense.) I'm really sorry. I meant no offense. It was simply a slip of the tongue. He meant no offense by it.
See also: mean, no, offense

mean nothing

 (to someone)
1. not to make sense to someone. This sentence means nothing to me. It isn't clearly written. I'm sorry. This message means nothing.
2. [for someone] not to have feeling for someone or something. Do I mean nothing to you after all these years? Do all those years of devotion mean nothing?
See also: mean, nothing

mean something for someone or something

 
1. Lit. to imply something important for someone or something; to be important or meaningful for someone or something. Are your comments supposed to mean something special for me? I mean these remarks for the government.
2. Fig. to intend for someone or something to have or receive something. Do you mean this gift for me? I mean this gift for the entire community.
See also: mean

mean well

to intend to be nice, polite, helpful, etc., but fail in the effort. I know you mean well, but your comments are sort of insulting.
See also: mean, well

take on a new significance

 and take on a new meaning
[for an event] to acquire a new interpretation; [for something] to become more meaningful or more significant. All these monuments take on a new meaning when you realize the amount of human artistry and skill it took to design and build them.
See also: new, on, significance, take
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

mean business

Be in earnest. For example, He really means business with this deadline. This idiom uses business in the sense of "a serious endeavor." [Mid-1800s]
See also: business, mean
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

mean business

COMMON If you mean business, you are serious and determined about what you are doing. One of them poked a shotgun at me. I could see he meant business. Now, in the wake of the student-led demonstrations, the party is trying to convince people it means business.
See also: business, mean

not know the meaning of the word

If you mention a word and say that someone doesn't know the meaning of the word, you mean that they do not have a particular quality or have never done or experienced a particular thing. Love? He doesn't know the meaning of the word! Ruthie was an optimist; she didn't even know the meaning of the word depression. Note: Nouns such as phrase and term are sometimes used instead of word. Patrick doesn't know the meaning of the phrase `speed limit'.
See also: know, meaning, not, of, word
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

mean business

be in earnest.
1992 New York Times The protest is a matter of principle…and also a necessary act of assertiveness by the delegates to show they mean business.
See also: business, mean

mean to say

really admit or intend to say.
1977 Jennifer Johnston Shadows on our Skin I mean to say, Joe Logan , where are you if you can't resist putting a small white tube of poison into your mouth every half an hour?
See also: mean, say

not know the meaning of the word

behave as if unaware of the concept referred to or implied. informal
See also: know, meaning, not, of, word
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

not know the ˈmeaning of the word

(disapproving) not have enough experience of something to understand what it really is; not be capable of really understanding something: Love? He doesn’t know the meaning of the word. They talk about justice, but they don’t know the meaning of the word.
See also: know, meaning, not, of, word

mean ˈbusiness

(informal) be serious about what you plan to do; be determined: He means business. If we try to escape, he’ll shoot us. I’m not joking. This time I really mean business.
See also: business, mean

mean to ˈsay

used to emphasize what you are saying or to ask somebody if they really mean what they say: I mean to say, you should have known how he would react! Do you mean to say you’ve lost it?
See also: mean, say

ˈmean well

(usually disapproving) have good intentions, although their effect may not be good: Your father means well, I know, but I wish he’d stop telling us what to do. She’s always suggesting ways I could improve my cooking. I know she means well but it really annoys me. ▶ ˌwell-ˈmeaning adj.: She’s very well-meaning, but she only makes the situation worse.
See also: mean, well

get somebody’s ˈmeaning

(informal) understand what somebody is really saying: I get your meaning. You don’t need to say any more.
See also: get, meaning
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

mean business

tv. to be very, very serious. Stop laughing! I mean business.
See also: business, mean
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

mean business

Informal
To be in earnest.
See also: business, mean
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • get (one's) drift
  • get (one's) meaning
  • get drift
  • get somebody's meaning
  • catch (one's) drift
  • Do you get my drift?
  • if you get my drift
  • Get my drift?
  • IYKWIM
  • sayin
References in periodicals archive
The second part of the book outlines the two central principles for developing meaning: the process must be inside-out, meaning that it starts inside the organization and moves out to the customer, and it must be guided by constructive criticism.
Overcrowded: Designing Meaningful Products in a World Awash with Ideas
Meaning moving for the sake of a parent's job or a life.
The Exiled Child Looks Back
First of all, the authors clarify some important concepts like meaning itself or the difference between subjective and objective meaning.
The Human Quest for Meaning. Theories, Research, and Applications, 2nd Edition
Beyond the discussions of to what extent and in which circumstances the search for meaning can be considered a positive or negative factor, Schnell (2010) has struggled to empirically evaluate another theoretical assumption held in the MIL literature: namely, that a lack of MIL directly leads to crisis of meaning (or in the logotherapeutic terms, existential vacuum or noogenic neurosis; Frankl, 1963; Frankl, 1978).
How search for meaning interacts with complex categories of meaning in life and subjective well-being?
However, there will be quite a, few homophones, words that sound the same, but with very different meanings.
Hebrew or Japanese?
Language dictionaries provide meaning and usage of words and are mostly looked up dictionaries (Pearson, 1998:68).
Semantic Information in Monolingual General Purpose Dictionaries: A Study of Urdu Dictionaries
I will try to show how the meaning of natural language can be understood as a special case of natural meaning.
Natural meaning for natural language
draws attention to Vanhoozer's use of speech-act theory to provide an account of meaning as authorial intention understood in terms of the action of an author--what he has done in, with, and through the text--not as it exists in his mind.
The Bible and the Crisis of Meaning: Debates on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture
Martin is correct in cautioning against jumping to conclusions regarding the meaning of compound words.
Dale Martin's "arsenokoites and malakos" tried and found wanting
As I read the poetry in Love's Alchemy, I couldn't help but wonder how many other poems might have been stronger, more direct in their impact, more reflective of the author's skill at layering meaning, if the Fidelers had chosen to be more literal in their translation rather than emphasizing the philosophical and religious insights that were, admittedly, the raison d'etre for the poems.
Love's Alchemy: Poems from the Sufi Tradition
Supreme Court Justices O'Connor, Kennedy, and Souter wrote: "At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.
Character education in a public school
neck; meaning: to put yourself at risk on behalf of another person or cause
Idiom's delight
Open Court's titles specialize in and emphasize philosophy and Movies And The Meaning Of Life: Philosophers Take On Hollywood keeps with the strong intent of linking philosophical concepts to everyday popular culture.
Movies And The Meaning Of Life
But, he explained, "when used in the phrase with 'narrow,' the phrase's meaning is 'a morally upright, ethically unwavering and law-abiding way of life, sometimes derogated as merely "conventional."'"
The archaeopteryx flaps back into your life
I consider myself as tolerant, even as liberal, as the next person when it comes to accepting a new idiom entering the language--idiom being, in one dictionary definition, "an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements."
A rant against illogical, but widely accepted, language misusages