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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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décortiquer / peel
When you décortique something, you make a complete examination, or minute analysis, of it. You take it apart entirely - peel away all the layers, so to speak - and lay everything out so that it becomes understandable.
So "peel" might be a good translation but I think if you used peel in English, you'd have to elaborate. People'd look at you funny if you said, "I have to peel that sentence structure."
Well, to be honest, most people look at you funny if you said, "I have to analyse that sentence structure" too, since grammar-geeks are somewhat misunderstood bunch, but you know what I mean.
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Carpal Tunnel
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... since grammar-geeks are somewhat misunderstood bunch
Bless you, Bel, for understanding.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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> décortiquer / peel
dissect?
Quick definitions (dissect)
verb: cut open or cut apart (Example: "Dissect the bodies for analysis")
verb: make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features
formerly known as etaoin...
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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>>peel away the layers<<
"Peeling the onion" works, though you might have to add "layer by layer." This is said, among other things, of studying Aritstotle's "Metaphysics," where there's only peel and no substance.
Note to FS: I think even descriptivists analyse the grammar of sentences.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Do you think there is an element of "figuring something out" with the word dissect?
I've never used it in that context, but that doesn't mean it isn't by others.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Ja, you can dissect an idea: take it apart, examine it closely.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Hmm. Well, there you go. You learn something new everyday. Next time it is à propos, I'll try to use it.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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>"figuring something out"
yes; M-W gives to analyze and interpret minutely as a second meaning.
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Carpal Tunnel
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and I'd thunk it were a tribe of religious Welshmen
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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> tribe of religious Welshmen
that's what you picked, eh?
formerly known as etaoin...
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