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Nettle

dhejejjeskms

Senior Member
Korean
Hello, everybody.

It seemed that "nettle" is used figuratively but I wasn't able to find other meanings other than a name of a plant.
Would you explain about the meaning of that?
(The sentence is from a BBC article.)

"At the end of the day, if a company is losing a lot of money it is difficult to carry on as it is," Mr Leggett says. "Traditional carmakers will get left behind if they haven't grasped the nettle of new technology."

Thank you.
Hello everyone,

is it acceptable to use this word in its plural form "nettles"?

Something like this "the place was totally deserted, it was but a pile of ruins, nettles and rubble."

Or is it better in its singular form?

Thank you
Yes, it's usually plural. It's rather puzzling why English commonly treats some plants as collectives but not others. If you're stung by a nettle, you need a dock leaf. Fortunately, and usually grow near each other. Why do we not say nettle, or docks?
Yes, it's usually plural. It's rather puzzling why English commonly treats some plants as collectives but not others. If you're stung by a nettle, you need a dock leaf. Fortunately, and usually grow near each other. Why do we not say nettle, or docks?

Thank you!
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