(UK, Ireland) Of a telephone number or its owner: not in the directory; unlisted.
(UK, Ireland) Of a telephone number or its owner: not in the directory; unlisted.
"ex-directory" means: Of a telephone number or its owner: not in the directory; unlisted.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"ex-directory" means: Of a telephone number or its owner: not in the directory; unlisted.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
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(US, military) : a document classification level.
A US government and military classification marking standing for 'Exclusive Distribution,' used to restrict access to a document to a very limited list of named recipients beyond the standard clearance level. An EXDIS cable or memo travels only to those specifically authorized to see it, making it more tightly controlled than an ordinary classified document. The term is most associated with State Department and intelligence cables.
(British, Ireland, informal) Any such additive, often regarded as undesirable.
Excessive stalking of a current or potential partner's exes on social media. Forensic research you will pretend you never did. "Spent 2 hours deep in the ex files last night. Found nothing, still suspicious." Honest self-reporting — the only dignified move.
"ex-directory" means: Of a telephone number or its owner: not in the directory; unlisted.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (UK) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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