English, please.

[viscousmemories]

Is there already a thread for miscellaneous language discussion? If so, make with the hooting, point me there, and let us never speak of this thread again. If not, there is now.

The "Sharks" on TV's Shark Tank only follow through on a fraction of the deals they make on the show.

I've noticed that 'fraction', like many words, has a literal definition and a colloquial definition. For example low voter turnout might be described with the phrase "only a fraction of the electorate showed up at the polls", but nobody would infer the fractions 9/10 or even 1/2 are implied in that statement. We all know that a 'fraction' in that sense means "a tiny fraction".

So what do you say when a fraction applies but it's not a tiny fraction?

In an article about Shark Tank, I read that the 'sharks' reserve the right to reject a deal after more extensive scrutiny of the contestant's business. So the statement I made early in this post is literally true--the 'Sharks' only follow through on a fraction of the deals they make on the show--yet as it happens the comment is misleading, since that fraction is typically >1/2.

In this case what succinct phrase would more accurately express the facts?

[Miisa]

Part or portion seem the closest, but neither really fit the situation very well.

[Ymir's blood]

The "Sharks" on TV's Shark Tank only follow through on a _________ of the deals they make on the show.

1. buttload
2. lion's share
3. snootfull
4. silent majority
5. plethora

[LadyShea]

It should be the other way around if it's more than half

The "Sharks" on TV's Shark Tank end up rejecting some of the deals after further investigation.

[Ymir's blood]

Hmm, yes. The inclusion of the word only does conjure up a meager amount, something less than should be expected. It leads to the idea that anything less than 100 percent is being dishonest or shady.

[ceptimus]

Majority.

[fragment]

TIL "frown" refers to different facial expressions in UK vs. US English.

Every time I write a character frowning now, I remember that Americans think this is something you do with your mouth and it ruins it

— Melinda Salisbury (@MESalisbury) November 28, 2022

[Ensign Steve]

Not unlike the Japanese smile ^_^ with eyes, vs with mouth :)

Maybe we don't expect our emotions to reach our eyes because we are all insincere.

[fragment]

Since covid I've been trying to figure out the whole eye-smiling thing but don't think I've mastered it. I try exaggerating the mouth movement to get some raised cheeks visible above the mask, but I'm not an exuberant smiler so it feels weird.

[Ensign Steve]

My tactic has been to forget I'm wearing a mask and wonder why everybody is such an asshole an never smiles back.

[vremya]

I'm surprised at how good I've gotten at recognizing people with masks on.

[Stormlight]

I'm surprised at how bad I am at it, really. Really, really bad.

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by Ensign Steve

Not unlike the Japanese smile ^_^ with eyes, vs with mouth

Maybe we don't expect our emotions to reach our eyes because we are all insincere.

Huh, I've seen that and interpreted it as happy but never really noticed that it's an eye-smile. That's so interesting.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by Ensign Steve

Maybe we don't expect our emotions to reach our eyes because we are all insincere.

Sincerity is the most important thing. Once you can fake that, you've got it made.

[JoeP]

Also

Originally Posted by fragment

TIL "frown" refers to different facial expressions in UK vs. US English.

* JoeP frowns at American usage

[lisarea]

Originally Posted by fragment

TIL "frown" refers to different facial expressions in UK vs. US English.

Every time I write a character frowning now, I remember that Americans think this is something you do with your mouth and it ruins it

— Melinda Salisbury (@MESalisbury) November 28, 2022

I don't think it's necessarily American. I know it's not universally American, anyway, because I found out about the different interpretations a while ago, and was also shocked to learn about the mouth version.

(I thought I'd brought it up here, but it looks like not.)