Is the phrase “use someone” sometimes good and sometimes bad? [on hold]
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I don't really know if this is the right place to ask this, but I am sure someone will know. When you say "someone used you", isn't that bad? But, when you say "I could use someone", isn't that good? What makes the difference? Thanks!
difference-in-meaning
edited Apr 5 at 23:38
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 5 at 23:19
Aidan LallyAidan Lally
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put on hold as too broad by TrevorD, Cascabel, Jason Bassford, JJJ, lbf 2 days ago
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
I don't really know if this is the right place to ask this, but I am sure someone will know. When you say "someone used you", isn't that bad? But, when you say "I could use someone", isn't that good? What makes the difference? Thanks!
difference-in-meaning
edited Apr 5 at 23:38
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 5 at 23:19
Aidan LallyAidan Lally
1
New contributor
Aidan Lally is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as too broad by TrevorD, Cascabel, Jason Bassford, JJJ, lbf 2 days ago
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
Hello, Aidan, and welcome to EL&U. Your question is a little broad, and depends on context, as you seem to be aware of. There are all kinds of possibilities here...could you please narrow it down?
– Cascabel
Apr 5 at 23:29
Bill Withers seems to have had mixed feelings on this subject.
– Sven Yargs
Apr 6 at 0:52
add a comment |
I don't really know if this is the right place to ask this, but I am sure someone will know. When you say "someone used you", isn't that bad? But, when you say "I could use someone", isn't that good? What makes the difference? Thanks!
difference-in-meaning
edited Apr 5 at 23:38
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 5 at 23:19
Aidan LallyAidan Lally
1
New contributor
Aidan Lally is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I don't really know if this is the right place to ask this, but I am sure someone will know. When you say "someone used you", isn't that bad? But, when you say "I could use someone", isn't that good? What makes the difference? Thanks!
difference-in-meaning
difference-in-meaning
edited Apr 5 at 23:38
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 5 at 23:19
Aidan LallyAidan Lally
1
New contributor
Aidan Lally is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Apr 5 at 23:38
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 5 at 23:19
Aidan LallyAidan Lally
1
New contributor
Aidan Lally is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Apr 5 at 23:38
TrevorD
10.7k22458
edited Apr 5 at 23:38
TrevorD
10.7k22458
edited Apr 5 at 23:38
TrevorD
10.7k22458
10.7k22458
asked Apr 5 at 23:19
Aidan LallyAidan Lally
1
New contributor
Aidan Lally is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Apr 5 at 23:19
Aidan LallyAidan Lally
1
asked Apr 5 at 23:19
Aidan LallyAidan Lally
1
1
New contributor
Aidan Lally is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Aidan Lally is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Aidan Lally is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as too broad by TrevorD, Cascabel, Jason Bassford, JJJ, lbf 2 days ago
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
put on hold as too broad by TrevorD, Cascabel, Jason Bassford, JJJ, lbf 2 days ago
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
Hello, Aidan, and welcome to EL&U. Your question is a little broad, and depends on context, as you seem to be aware of. There are all kinds of possibilities here...could you please narrow it down?
– Cascabel
Apr 5 at 23:29
Bill Withers seems to have had mixed feelings on this subject.
– Sven Yargs
Apr 6 at 0:52
add a comment |
1
Hello, Aidan, and welcome to EL&U. Your question is a little broad, and depends on context, as you seem to be aware of. There are all kinds of possibilities here...could you please narrow it down?
– Cascabel
Apr 5 at 23:29
Bill Withers seems to have had mixed feelings on this subject.
– Sven Yargs
Apr 6 at 0:52
1
1
Hello, Aidan, and welcome to EL&U. Your question is a little broad, and depends on context, as you seem to be aware of. There are all kinds of possibilities here...could you please narrow it down?
– Cascabel
Apr 5 at 23:29
Hello, Aidan, and welcome to EL&U. Your question is a little broad, and depends on context, as you seem to be aware of. There are all kinds of possibilities here...could you please narrow it down?
– Cascabel
Apr 5 at 23:29
Bill Withers seems to have had mixed feelings on this subject.
– Sven Yargs
Apr 6 at 0:52
Bill Withers seems to have had mixed feelings on this subject.
– Sven Yargs
Apr 6 at 0:52
add a comment |
1 Answer
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The difference is in the context. Using can refer to exploiting for one's own advantage, as in "someone used you for your money." The second meaning you refer to is benefiting from, as in "I could use someone to talk to."
answered Apr 6 at 0:44
BentoBento
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Hello Bento, welcome to EL&U. Your answer is succinct and nicely argued and you just beat me to it! I've just given you your first upvote.
– BoldBen
Apr 6 at 1:01
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The difference is in the context. Using can refer to exploiting for one's own advantage, as in "someone used you for your money." The second meaning you refer to is benefiting from, as in "I could use someone to talk to."
answered Apr 6 at 0:44
BentoBento
312
New contributor
Bento is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Hello Bento, welcome to EL&U. Your answer is succinct and nicely argued and you just beat me to it! I've just given you your first upvote.
– BoldBen
Apr 6 at 1:01
add a comment |
The difference is in the context. Using can refer to exploiting for one's own advantage, as in "someone used you for your money." The second meaning you refer to is benefiting from, as in "I could use someone to talk to."
answered Apr 6 at 0:44
BentoBento
312
New contributor
Bento is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Hello Bento, welcome to EL&U. Your answer is succinct and nicely argued and you just beat me to it! I've just given you your first upvote.
– BoldBen
Apr 6 at 1:01
add a comment |
The difference is in the context. Using can refer to exploiting for one's own advantage, as in "someone used you for your money." The second meaning you refer to is benefiting from, as in "I could use someone to talk to."
answered Apr 6 at 0:44
BentoBento
312
New contributor
Bento is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
The difference is in the context. Using can refer to exploiting for one's own advantage, as in "someone used you for your money." The second meaning you refer to is benefiting from, as in "I could use someone to talk to."
answered Apr 6 at 0:44
BentoBento
312
New contributor
Bento is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Apr 6 at 1:14
answered Apr 6 at 0:44
BentoBento
312
New contributor
Bento is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Apr 6 at 0:44
BentoBento
312
answered Apr 6 at 0:44
BentoBento
312
312
New contributor
Bento is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Bento is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Bento is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Hello Bento, welcome to EL&U. Your answer is succinct and nicely argued and you just beat me to it! I've just given you your first upvote.
– BoldBen
Apr 6 at 1:01
add a comment |
2
Hello Bento, welcome to EL&U. Your answer is succinct and nicely argued and you just beat me to it! I've just given you your first upvote.
– BoldBen
Apr 6 at 1:01
2
2
Hello Bento, welcome to EL&U. Your answer is succinct and nicely argued and you just beat me to it! I've just given you your first upvote.
– BoldBen
Apr 6 at 1:01
Hello Bento, welcome to EL&U. Your answer is succinct and nicely argued and you just beat me to it! I've just given you your first upvote.
– BoldBen
Apr 6 at 1:01
add a comment |
1
Hello, Aidan, and welcome to EL&U. Your question is a little broad, and depends on context, as you seem to be aware of. There are all kinds of possibilities here...could you please narrow it down?
– Cascabel
Apr 5 at 23:29
Bill Withers seems to have had mixed feelings on this subject.
– Sven Yargs
Apr 6 at 0:52