You’re quite right!
Could “quite” mean completely or not enough in the same phrase? For example, “You’re quite right.” Does it depend on the accent?
Walter
Don’t worry, the use of the adverb “quite” can also be confusing for mother-tongue speakers, but in the case of “quite right” the situation is relatively straightforward. If someone says “quite right,” then the meaning is “absolutely right.” It doesn’t depend on accent or intonation. When it comes to trying to understand the use of “quite” in English, a general rule of thumb is that if the adjective being qualified by the adverb “quite” is “moderate” (for example, “good,” interesting” etc.), then the meaning is likely to be “abbastanza.” For example, “The meal was quite good.” If, on the other hand, the adjective is “stronger” or “superlative” (like “brilliant,” “amazing” etc.), then the meaning will be “assolutamente.” For example: “Cate Blanchett’s performance in Blue Jasmine is quite brilliant.”
Falling over
What’s the difference between fall over, fall down and fall off?
Marco
Most people “fall over.” “Fall down” is rarely used by itself these days, but you can “fall down” a staircase or a hole. And you can “fall off” a cliff, a bicycle, a horse etc.
Some like it hot
When talking about food people say “hot” to mean spicy. So what adjective do you use when you talk about the temperature of the food? Do you need to say warm?
Marco
Hot is also fine for the temperature of food (as are warm and cold).
Hadrian’s Wall
Which is correct: Hadrian’s Wall or Hadrian Wall?
Stefania
Hadrian’s Wall is the correct term. Hadrian Wall would be the name of a person (if, for example, Mr. and Mrs. Wall decided to play a cruel joke and call their son Hadrian.)
I’ll do it tomorrow...
What’s the difference between postpone and put off?
Simona
There’s no great difference, although “postpone” suggests that there’s a precise new date, while “put off” could imply that there isn’t.