something like
∞
3.5
- idiom
:
algo así
- And it's going to look something like this, right?
- say something like
- look something like
- goes something like
I think we might have to do something like that, right?
- I think we might have to do something like that, right?
- So how can we have something like that for actual news?
- It might morph into something like official state TV.
Examples
-
Her reaction was something like shock mixed with delight.
-
Just think next time before you say something like that.
-
I think we might have to do something like that, right?
-
So how can we have something like that for actual news?
-
You know that we might never have a chance to do something like this again.
-
I know sometimes people can become attached to something like that.
-
It seems like a hotel or something like that down here.
-
Didn't something like that happen last year?
-
In fact, the movement favoring gay marriage reflects something like the opposite phenomenon.
Academic text (2008) -
It's hard to imagine how something like Rep-Rap could be entirely self-replicating.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Having some of the same qualities as another person or thing but not exactly the same
534
1.0
Having a similar appearance or quality
524
3.2
Near the exact number or amount
259
2.0
A thing like the one just mentioned
72
3.9
Similar in feeling or quality to something
60
3.9
Similar in style or idea to something
56
5.3
Like something else in style or appearance
39
2.4
A little similar to something you know
34
6.5
Similar in some ways that help you understand another thing
1
5.1
An item that helps decide the value of a property
People use it before a noun to show a value is not exact
Antonyms
How Exact
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'indicating similarity or approximation' is directly derivable from combining 'something' (an unspecified thing) with 'like' (similar to). This is a compositional, commonly used approximative pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Something like may come from the simple image of pointing at an example: something means an unknown thing and like means 'similar to'. So when people say something like, they are giving a rough amount or a similar thing — 'to indicate similarity or approximation'.