What does the phrase "in fits and spurts" mean? I met this expression in some articles, but I don't quite understand what exactly it means. Could you help me with some explanations? Thanks. Some example sentences are as follows. Inspiration comes in fits and spurts, laced with time, warmed with the heart. In fits and spurts, The Iron Lady does convey the hardships and price of power, particularly given Thatcher’s gender. Muller said global warming continues but in many fits and spurts. Like many human relationships, the end comes in tiny fits and spurts, ultimately leading to a full break up.

What does "at nickel back" mean in this sentence? "Cox says he welcomes the competition, though it could mean being relegated to a role at nickel back if McCain wins the starting job. " Does "Being relegated to a role at nickel back" mean that he would be degraded to the lowest position? I'm not quite sure about the meaning of the phrase "at nickel back". Is it a common phrase? Thanks for your help.

What does "extrapolate" mean in this sentence? The sentence is as follows. "Some science fiction writers believe that one of the responsibilities of the genre is to analyze present trends in science and society and extrapolate them into the future so that their possible impact can be assessed." The basic meaning of this word is to estimate or to infer, but I don't think it fits very well with the rest of the sentence above. Additionally, is " to extrapolate something into something" a common phrase? What does it mean? Could you help me with some explanations? Thanks.

When could we use this expression "What's there to talk about?" in a conversation? The sentence "What's there to talk about?" appeared in a conversation between two women, and it doesn't seem like a question. And the woman who said this sentence continued to tell her story or experience to the other woman in detail. Literally, it is not difficult to understand this, but I want to know if this expression is used often in casual converstations as a beginning of a long talk. Could you help me? Thanks.

Do "indemonstrable" and "undemonstrable" mean the same? The two words both mean that something is impossible to prove or to demonstrate. What's the difference between them? Could you help me with that? Thanks.

What does the phrase " shift on a dime" actually mean? I found some sample sentences with this expression "shift on a dime" in them, but I don't really understand what it exactly means in these contexts. Could you help me with some explanations? Thanks. The sentences are as follows. It's actually remarkable and shows how elections and groups really can shift on a dime depending on which election it is. Firefighters take care of this with scientific precision, despite the common knowledge that wind conditions and precipitation patterns can shift on a dime, chaotically and without notice. We are flexible and possess an unparalleled ability to shift directions on a dime to achieve our client’s objectives. Thanks.

What is the origin of the pharse " a feast of reason and a flow of soul" ? I read this expression from an aritcle. The original sentences are: " When we made a date for a meal over the phone, he'd say, It will be a feast of reason and a flow of soul. " It seems like an fixed phrase to me but I don't know how to use it in my writing. Could you help me with that? Thanks a lot.

What does " No early birds." mean in this situation? She's selling her items at a yard sale and she says "Ladies, ladies, I specifically said, ' No early birds' ." I know she's trying to attract buyers, but what does this expression " No early birds" mean in this context? Is it a fixed phrase? Could I use this expression in some other circumstances? Thank you for your help!

What does the phrase "down the stretch" mean? Some example sentences are listed below. 1 He played in nine games that season, struggling to establish equilibrium as Seattle faded down the stretch. 2 We didn't play very smart down the stretch, but played good enough to win. 3 And I know some of these situations coming down the stretch hasn't been the most favorable for us. What does " down the stretch" actually mean in these contexts? Could you help me with that? Thanks.