Quote:
Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot
I just wanted to add something regarding "make out" in the sense of "to understand".
I'm not sure I would recommend an English learner use it to mean "I didn't understand."
It's certainly common enough, but if you say that you can make something out, it implies that the message or speech is garbled or presented in a way in and of itself is difficult to understand. Now, this may be true, but the problem for English learners' understanding is usually their own failing and not that of the native speaker.
To me, to say "make out" in this context is to imply that the problem is someone's other than the listener. I think that would be a little bit rude for an EFL student to do.
Just my opinion.
I'll try to bear that in mind, thanks for the comment :D
ok, I think these are going to be the last ones (hopefully):
Can you give out an exclamation, or you let it out?
And is it correct to say "You shouldn't hang about in such an unfriendly district!"