what's the meaning of “It goes something like this”











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0
down vote

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I've come across with the phrase below:




I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want to eat
tacos.”




I searched online dictionaries but I couldn't find any meaning for it.



So could you please tell me what the meaning of "It goes something like this" is?



The full text is:




Every behavior has a surface level craving and a deeper, underlying
motive. I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want
to eat tacos.” If you were to ask me why I want to eat tacos, I
wouldn’t say, “Because I need food to survive.” But the truth is,
somewhere deep down, I am motivated to eat tacos because I have to eat
to survive. The underlying motive is to obtain food and water even if
my specific craving is for a taco.




Atomic habits by James Clear










share|improve this question


























    up vote
    0
    down vote

    favorite












    I've come across with the phrase below:




    I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want to eat
    tacos.”




    I searched online dictionaries but I couldn't find any meaning for it.



    So could you please tell me what the meaning of "It goes something like this" is?



    The full text is:




    Every behavior has a surface level craving and a deeper, underlying
    motive. I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want
    to eat tacos.” If you were to ask me why I want to eat tacos, I
    wouldn’t say, “Because I need food to survive.” But the truth is,
    somewhere deep down, I am motivated to eat tacos because I have to eat
    to survive. The underlying motive is to obtain food and water even if
    my specific craving is for a taco.




    Atomic habits by James Clear










    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      0
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      0
      down vote

      favorite











      I've come across with the phrase below:




      I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want to eat
      tacos.”




      I searched online dictionaries but I couldn't find any meaning for it.



      So could you please tell me what the meaning of "It goes something like this" is?



      The full text is:




      Every behavior has a surface level craving and a deeper, underlying
      motive. I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want
      to eat tacos.” If you were to ask me why I want to eat tacos, I
      wouldn’t say, “Because I need food to survive.” But the truth is,
      somewhere deep down, I am motivated to eat tacos because I have to eat
      to survive. The underlying motive is to obtain food and water even if
      my specific craving is for a taco.




      Atomic habits by James Clear










      share|improve this question













      I've come across with the phrase below:




      I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want to eat
      tacos.”




      I searched online dictionaries but I couldn't find any meaning for it.



      So could you please tell me what the meaning of "It goes something like this" is?



      The full text is:




      Every behavior has a surface level craving and a deeper, underlying
      motive. I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want
      to eat tacos.” If you were to ask me why I want to eat tacos, I
      wouldn’t say, “Because I need food to survive.” But the truth is,
      somewhere deep down, I am motivated to eat tacos because I have to eat
      to survive. The underlying motive is to obtain food and water even if
      my specific craving is for a taco.




      Atomic habits by James Clear







      meaning






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Dec 1 at 13:08









      Peace

      1,96321638




      1,96321638






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          2
          down vote













          Longman defines something like as an approximation:




          something like not much more or less than a particular amount




          The phrase can be used quantitatively:




          The house costs something like forty thousand dollars.




          which would mean:




          The house costs about forty thousand dollars.




          When we use the phrase with the word this, we mean that what follows may not be exact. For example, I might say:




          The patient went into a rant, and it went something like this: Why aren’t you giving me my medication? I want it now!




          By using “something like this,” I’m admitting that I may not be giving an exact quote, or that I might not be impersonating her mannerisms or voice with 100% accuracy.



          In the case you quote:




          I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want to eat tacos.”




          I would interpret that to mean that the craving is more of a feeling than actual words, but the person is trying to put that feeling into words. Because the person has never heard words when having his craving, he explains it by saying it goes something like this.



          A paraphrase might be:




          I often have a craving and it’s sort of like my stomach is saying: “I want to eat tacos.”




          You would use the phrase when you wish you could say something more exact than you’re able to do. That’s why (as another answer mentions) it’s often used with music, because most of us can’t carry an exact tune.






          share|improve this answer





















          • I get the general meaning of the phrase but I can not understand the meaning of the verb "goes" especially. Could you please tell me what "goes" means in this case?
            – Peace
            Dec 1 at 15:33




















          up vote
          2
          down vote













          We use the expression "it goes something like this" to introduce a short, vague or incomplete description or account of something, or a plan which is subject to modification ("Something like" denotes an approximation, as J.R. notes below).



          For example, I am telling you about my plan to to rob a bank. It goes something like this: you wait in the car while I go inside the bank. I produce a gun and threaten the cashier, who hands me some money. I rush outside and into the car, and you drive away very fast.



          Another very common use is when asking someone to identify a tune: Person A: I heard a tune the other day - it goes something like this: (sings) la-la-la-LA-LA-la-la-la. Person B: that's "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen!



          The writer is describing a situation in which he experiences a craving for tacos. he does not actually hear a little voice in his head saying "I want to eat tacos!". The introductory phrase makes that clear.



          The verb "go" used here ("it goes something like this") is used to mean "be expressed" ("it is expressed approximately like this"):




          go

          verb

          (BE EXPRESSED) ​

          B2 [ I not continuous ] to be expressed, sung, or played:



          I can never remember how that song goes.



          "Doesn't it go something like this?" said Joan, and played the first
          couple of bars on her guitar.



          [ + (that) ] The story goes (= people say) (that) he was fired after
          he was caught stealing company property.



          A headless ghost walks the castle at night - or so the story goes (=
          so people say).




          Go (Cambridge Dictionary)






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2




            Comedian Steven Wright once made fun of this oft-used phrase when he said, “This next song doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.”
            – J.R.
            Dec 1 at 13:53











          Your Answer








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          2 Answers
          2






          active

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          2 Answers
          2






          active

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          active

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          up vote
          2
          down vote













          Longman defines something like as an approximation:




          something like not much more or less than a particular amount




          The phrase can be used quantitatively:




          The house costs something like forty thousand dollars.




          which would mean:




          The house costs about forty thousand dollars.




          When we use the phrase with the word this, we mean that what follows may not be exact. For example, I might say:




          The patient went into a rant, and it went something like this: Why aren’t you giving me my medication? I want it now!




          By using “something like this,” I’m admitting that I may not be giving an exact quote, or that I might not be impersonating her mannerisms or voice with 100% accuracy.



          In the case you quote:




          I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want to eat tacos.”




          I would interpret that to mean that the craving is more of a feeling than actual words, but the person is trying to put that feeling into words. Because the person has never heard words when having his craving, he explains it by saying it goes something like this.



          A paraphrase might be:




          I often have a craving and it’s sort of like my stomach is saying: “I want to eat tacos.”




          You would use the phrase when you wish you could say something more exact than you’re able to do. That’s why (as another answer mentions) it’s often used with music, because most of us can’t carry an exact tune.






          share|improve this answer





















          • I get the general meaning of the phrase but I can not understand the meaning of the verb "goes" especially. Could you please tell me what "goes" means in this case?
            – Peace
            Dec 1 at 15:33

















          up vote
          2
          down vote













          Longman defines something like as an approximation:




          something like not much more or less than a particular amount




          The phrase can be used quantitatively:




          The house costs something like forty thousand dollars.




          which would mean:




          The house costs about forty thousand dollars.




          When we use the phrase with the word this, we mean that what follows may not be exact. For example, I might say:




          The patient went into a rant, and it went something like this: Why aren’t you giving me my medication? I want it now!




          By using “something like this,” I’m admitting that I may not be giving an exact quote, or that I might not be impersonating her mannerisms or voice with 100% accuracy.



          In the case you quote:




          I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want to eat tacos.”




          I would interpret that to mean that the craving is more of a feeling than actual words, but the person is trying to put that feeling into words. Because the person has never heard words when having his craving, he explains it by saying it goes something like this.



          A paraphrase might be:




          I often have a craving and it’s sort of like my stomach is saying: “I want to eat tacos.”




          You would use the phrase when you wish you could say something more exact than you’re able to do. That’s why (as another answer mentions) it’s often used with music, because most of us can’t carry an exact tune.






          share|improve this answer





















          • I get the general meaning of the phrase but I can not understand the meaning of the verb "goes" especially. Could you please tell me what "goes" means in this case?
            – Peace
            Dec 1 at 15:33















          up vote
          2
          down vote










          up vote
          2
          down vote









          Longman defines something like as an approximation:




          something like not much more or less than a particular amount




          The phrase can be used quantitatively:




          The house costs something like forty thousand dollars.




          which would mean:




          The house costs about forty thousand dollars.




          When we use the phrase with the word this, we mean that what follows may not be exact. For example, I might say:




          The patient went into a rant, and it went something like this: Why aren’t you giving me my medication? I want it now!




          By using “something like this,” I’m admitting that I may not be giving an exact quote, or that I might not be impersonating her mannerisms or voice with 100% accuracy.



          In the case you quote:




          I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want to eat tacos.”




          I would interpret that to mean that the craving is more of a feeling than actual words, but the person is trying to put that feeling into words. Because the person has never heard words when having his craving, he explains it by saying it goes something like this.



          A paraphrase might be:




          I often have a craving and it’s sort of like my stomach is saying: “I want to eat tacos.”




          You would use the phrase when you wish you could say something more exact than you’re able to do. That’s why (as another answer mentions) it’s often used with music, because most of us can’t carry an exact tune.






          share|improve this answer












          Longman defines something like as an approximation:




          something like not much more or less than a particular amount




          The phrase can be used quantitatively:




          The house costs something like forty thousand dollars.




          which would mean:




          The house costs about forty thousand dollars.




          When we use the phrase with the word this, we mean that what follows may not be exact. For example, I might say:




          The patient went into a rant, and it went something like this: Why aren’t you giving me my medication? I want it now!




          By using “something like this,” I’m admitting that I may not be giving an exact quote, or that I might not be impersonating her mannerisms or voice with 100% accuracy.



          In the case you quote:




          I often have a craving that goes something like this: “I want to eat tacos.”




          I would interpret that to mean that the craving is more of a feeling than actual words, but the person is trying to put that feeling into words. Because the person has never heard words when having his craving, he explains it by saying it goes something like this.



          A paraphrase might be:




          I often have a craving and it’s sort of like my stomach is saying: “I want to eat tacos.”




          You would use the phrase when you wish you could say something more exact than you’re able to do. That’s why (as another answer mentions) it’s often used with music, because most of us can’t carry an exact tune.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Dec 1 at 14:18









          J.R.

          97.2k8126242




          97.2k8126242












          • I get the general meaning of the phrase but I can not understand the meaning of the verb "goes" especially. Could you please tell me what "goes" means in this case?
            – Peace
            Dec 1 at 15:33




















          • I get the general meaning of the phrase but I can not understand the meaning of the verb "goes" especially. Could you please tell me what "goes" means in this case?
            – Peace
            Dec 1 at 15:33


















          I get the general meaning of the phrase but I can not understand the meaning of the verb "goes" especially. Could you please tell me what "goes" means in this case?
          – Peace
          Dec 1 at 15:33






          I get the general meaning of the phrase but I can not understand the meaning of the verb "goes" especially. Could you please tell me what "goes" means in this case?
          – Peace
          Dec 1 at 15:33














          up vote
          2
          down vote













          We use the expression "it goes something like this" to introduce a short, vague or incomplete description or account of something, or a plan which is subject to modification ("Something like" denotes an approximation, as J.R. notes below).



          For example, I am telling you about my plan to to rob a bank. It goes something like this: you wait in the car while I go inside the bank. I produce a gun and threaten the cashier, who hands me some money. I rush outside and into the car, and you drive away very fast.



          Another very common use is when asking someone to identify a tune: Person A: I heard a tune the other day - it goes something like this: (sings) la-la-la-LA-LA-la-la-la. Person B: that's "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen!



          The writer is describing a situation in which he experiences a craving for tacos. he does not actually hear a little voice in his head saying "I want to eat tacos!". The introductory phrase makes that clear.



          The verb "go" used here ("it goes something like this") is used to mean "be expressed" ("it is expressed approximately like this"):




          go

          verb

          (BE EXPRESSED) ​

          B2 [ I not continuous ] to be expressed, sung, or played:



          I can never remember how that song goes.



          "Doesn't it go something like this?" said Joan, and played the first
          couple of bars on her guitar.



          [ + (that) ] The story goes (= people say) (that) he was fired after
          he was caught stealing company property.



          A headless ghost walks the castle at night - or so the story goes (=
          so people say).




          Go (Cambridge Dictionary)






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2




            Comedian Steven Wright once made fun of this oft-used phrase when he said, “This next song doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.”
            – J.R.
            Dec 1 at 13:53















          up vote
          2
          down vote













          We use the expression "it goes something like this" to introduce a short, vague or incomplete description or account of something, or a plan which is subject to modification ("Something like" denotes an approximation, as J.R. notes below).



          For example, I am telling you about my plan to to rob a bank. It goes something like this: you wait in the car while I go inside the bank. I produce a gun and threaten the cashier, who hands me some money. I rush outside and into the car, and you drive away very fast.



          Another very common use is when asking someone to identify a tune: Person A: I heard a tune the other day - it goes something like this: (sings) la-la-la-LA-LA-la-la-la. Person B: that's "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen!



          The writer is describing a situation in which he experiences a craving for tacos. he does not actually hear a little voice in his head saying "I want to eat tacos!". The introductory phrase makes that clear.



          The verb "go" used here ("it goes something like this") is used to mean "be expressed" ("it is expressed approximately like this"):




          go

          verb

          (BE EXPRESSED) ​

          B2 [ I not continuous ] to be expressed, sung, or played:



          I can never remember how that song goes.



          "Doesn't it go something like this?" said Joan, and played the first
          couple of bars on her guitar.



          [ + (that) ] The story goes (= people say) (that) he was fired after
          he was caught stealing company property.



          A headless ghost walks the castle at night - or so the story goes (=
          so people say).




          Go (Cambridge Dictionary)






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2




            Comedian Steven Wright once made fun of this oft-used phrase when he said, “This next song doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.”
            – J.R.
            Dec 1 at 13:53













          up vote
          2
          down vote










          up vote
          2
          down vote









          We use the expression "it goes something like this" to introduce a short, vague or incomplete description or account of something, or a plan which is subject to modification ("Something like" denotes an approximation, as J.R. notes below).



          For example, I am telling you about my plan to to rob a bank. It goes something like this: you wait in the car while I go inside the bank. I produce a gun and threaten the cashier, who hands me some money. I rush outside and into the car, and you drive away very fast.



          Another very common use is when asking someone to identify a tune: Person A: I heard a tune the other day - it goes something like this: (sings) la-la-la-LA-LA-la-la-la. Person B: that's "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen!



          The writer is describing a situation in which he experiences a craving for tacos. he does not actually hear a little voice in his head saying "I want to eat tacos!". The introductory phrase makes that clear.



          The verb "go" used here ("it goes something like this") is used to mean "be expressed" ("it is expressed approximately like this"):




          go

          verb

          (BE EXPRESSED) ​

          B2 [ I not continuous ] to be expressed, sung, or played:



          I can never remember how that song goes.



          "Doesn't it go something like this?" said Joan, and played the first
          couple of bars on her guitar.



          [ + (that) ] The story goes (= people say) (that) he was fired after
          he was caught stealing company property.



          A headless ghost walks the castle at night - or so the story goes (=
          so people say).




          Go (Cambridge Dictionary)






          share|improve this answer














          We use the expression "it goes something like this" to introduce a short, vague or incomplete description or account of something, or a plan which is subject to modification ("Something like" denotes an approximation, as J.R. notes below).



          For example, I am telling you about my plan to to rob a bank. It goes something like this: you wait in the car while I go inside the bank. I produce a gun and threaten the cashier, who hands me some money. I rush outside and into the car, and you drive away very fast.



          Another very common use is when asking someone to identify a tune: Person A: I heard a tune the other day - it goes something like this: (sings) la-la-la-LA-LA-la-la-la. Person B: that's "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen!



          The writer is describing a situation in which he experiences a craving for tacos. he does not actually hear a little voice in his head saying "I want to eat tacos!". The introductory phrase makes that clear.



          The verb "go" used here ("it goes something like this") is used to mean "be expressed" ("it is expressed approximately like this"):




          go

          verb

          (BE EXPRESSED) ​

          B2 [ I not continuous ] to be expressed, sung, or played:



          I can never remember how that song goes.



          "Doesn't it go something like this?" said Joan, and played the first
          couple of bars on her guitar.



          [ + (that) ] The story goes (= people say) (that) he was fired after
          he was caught stealing company property.



          A headless ghost walks the castle at night - or so the story goes (=
          so people say).




          Go (Cambridge Dictionary)







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Dec 1 at 19:07

























          answered Dec 1 at 13:26









          Michael Harvey

          11.3k11027




          11.3k11027








          • 2




            Comedian Steven Wright once made fun of this oft-used phrase when he said, “This next song doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.”
            – J.R.
            Dec 1 at 13:53














          • 2




            Comedian Steven Wright once made fun of this oft-used phrase when he said, “This next song doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.”
            – J.R.
            Dec 1 at 13:53








          2




          2




          Comedian Steven Wright once made fun of this oft-used phrase when he said, “This next song doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.”
          – J.R.
          Dec 1 at 13:53




          Comedian Steven Wright once made fun of this oft-used phrase when he said, “This next song doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.”
          – J.R.
          Dec 1 at 13:53


















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