[General] an epic meltdown

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rodgers white

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This kid had an epic meltdown in front of Queen Elizabeth.

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I saw the above on CNN twitter. What does it mean?
 

emsr2d2

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Re: What does it mean?

"Epic" means noteworthy, incredible, huge.
A "meltdown" is when someone starts behaving very badly, perhaps screaming and shouting and, in extreme cases, exhibits violent tendencies.

The child in question was supposed to present a bouquet of flowers to the queen but he wouldn't do it. He started squirming to get away from his parents and in the end, one of them handed over the flowers. I've seen the footage. I wouldn't describe it even as a meltdown, certainly not an epic meltdown. That might be a description of a small child having a proper tantrum, screaming and crying, throwing themselves on the floor etc.
 
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rodgers white

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Re: What does it mean?

Haha, thank you for your explantion. What big words they are.
 

emsr2d2

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Re: What does it mean?

Haha, thank you for your explanation. What big words they are!

Did you look up both "epic" and "meltdown" in a good dictionary before you asked?
 

rodgers white

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Re: What does it mean?

Did you look up both "epic" and "meltdown" in a good dictionary before you asked?

I knew these two words, but I didn't understand why they were used in this situation. Sometimes, I find that I don't really understand the meaning behind the sentence, although I know every word of it.
 

Rover_KE

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Please note that I have changed your thread title.

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'
 

tedmc

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Re: What does it mean?

How about: the wayward behaviour of a small child in front of a royalty.

[Post initially deleted but then reinstated.]
 
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tedmc

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Re: What does it mean?

Rover
I was asking a question as any other learner, on whether my proposed sentence was acceptable. I was not offering a answer.
So, I don't see the reason to delete it.
 

emsr2d2

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Re: What does it mean?

Tedmc, I have reinstated your post now that you have explained that you were asking us if it was a possible sentence, not suggesting to the OP that he/she use it. The problem was that you started with "How about ...", which is used extensively on the forum to suggest an alternative correct version to the OP. I read your post the same way Rover did.

In future, perhaps start with "Is it possible to say 'XXXX' instead?"
 

Rover_KE

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Re: What does it mean?

Sorry, ted - you're right.

We don't say 'a royalty' - just 'royalty', or 'a member of the Royal Family', or better still - specifically - 'the Queen/Queen Elizabeth'.

Additionally, you'd need to put your suggested phrase into a full sentence.
 

Rover_KE

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rodgers white, I notice that you posted the same question at the same time here.

Please note our policy on this practice:

We recommend posting a question on one forum only initially. If you do not get a satisfactory answer from that forum and you feel that you have exhausted its possibilities, then of course trying a different forum might help. It is only courteous however, to tell the second forum that you have already asked the question on another forum and then give a precis of the answers you received there, along with an explanation of why you are now looking elsewhere.
(emsr2d2)

 

rodgers white

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Got it. I am very sorry for my ignorance.
 

Tdol

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Epic is often used on the internet for something out of the ordinary- epic fail, etc.
 
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