Re: 2)English idioms

gerardM Dim 20 Mar - 15:47

Maybe you've seen the George Clooney film "The Perfect Storm." That phrase has an idiomatic meaning.

Perfect Storm - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Dim 20 Mar - 17:28

Animals lick their wounds. But you can too.

Lick One's Wounds - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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MurielB Dim 20 Mar - 21:43

gerardM a écrit:
This expression is North American, and fairly new.

Hot Mess - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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Gérard A hot mess in here is also a bloody shambles in here but I don't know the origin !

gerardM Lun 21 Mar - 14:25

Boxing has given the English language several idioms, including "take the gloves off."

Take the Gloves Off - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Lun 21 Mar - 14:26

gerardM Lun 21 Mar - 14:31

Do you want just one or two posts per day from us? Or do you want "the whole nine yards"? If the latter, like and comment on our posts, and you'll get more of them. This expression is more common in the U.S., but it still shows up in British English. Its origin is uncertain.

(The) Whole Nine Yards - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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MurielB Mar 22 Mar - 14:41

Gérard, when you don't know what to say you can also talk about the weather. It is ice-breaking and helps to be at ease with people
Talking about the weather

gerardM Mar 22 Mar - 22:58

:face:Lots of songs use this idiom, including one by Adele.

Water Under the Bridge - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Mar 22 Mar - 23:01

This idiom is mostly North American.

Weekend Warrior - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Mar 22 Mar - 23:03

It's no fun walking on eggshells, either literally or idiomatically!

Walk on Eggshells - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Mar 22 Mar - 23:05

I wonder how this idea is expressed in other languages.

Wild Goose Chase - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Mer 23 Mar - 14:45

This expression is more common in the UK.

Turn Turtle - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Mer 23 Mar - 14:47

This is often used with "keep"—keep something under wraps.

Under Wraps - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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MurielB Jeu 24 Mar - 14:26

The phrasal verbs with the verb to call are also very interesting !

The phrasal verb call is made and used like the other English phrasal verbs.

Study the list below and then do the exercise that follows. Then, check your answers for the phrasal verb call.

CALL AFTER = be named after someone

He was called Joe after his uncle who had died in the war.

CALL AROUND = Visit

I'll call around in the afternoon if that's ok?

CALL BACK = Return a phone call

You better call back John, he's called twice already.

CALL FOR = A. demand B. phone call C. require D. pick sme from a certain place

A. There's not much call for refrigerators in the Arctic Circle.
B. Did you call for an appointment?
C. This good news calls for a celebration!
D. He called for her at home but she wasn't there last night.

CALL FORTH = make something happen

The tsunami in Indonesia called forth a great deal of humanitarian aid from around the world.

CALL IN = A. get someone to come and do sth B. short visit

A. We had to call in a plumber because our drain was clogged.
B. The Smith's called in last night and we had a pleasant visit.

CALL OFF = cancel

The reunion was called off because not enough people could attend.

CALL ON = A. visit B. ask a student a question in class

A. We called on the Jones family last Sunday afternoon.
B. The teacher called on Scott who knew the answer, fortunately.

CALL ROUND = visit

I'll call round in the evening if that's ok?

CALL UP = A. summon for military service B. telephone

A. He was called up to active duty when the war broke out.
B. Why don't you call up a friend and see if they want to go to town with us?

gerardM Ven 25 Mar - 18:11

That All She Wrote - Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Ven 25 Mar - 18:30

This is different from "take a shine to": begin to like something or something.

Take the Shine Off (Something) - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary

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gerardM Sam 26 Mar - 21:37

If you do online gambling, you might get "taken to the cleaners"!

Take (Someone) to the Cleaners - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Sam 26 Mar - 21:44

People who are curious enough to learn a new language usually aren't "stiff-necked."

Stiff-Necked - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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MurielB Sam 26 Mar - 21:45

gerardM a écrit:If you do online gambling, you might get "taken to the cleaners"!

Take (Someone) to the Cleaners - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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I don't know what to swindle means

1To cheat or defraud of money or property.
2. To obtain by fraudulent means: swindled money from the company.
v.intr.
To practice fraud as a means of obtaining money or property.
n.
The act or an instance of swindling

gerardM Dim 27 Mar - 10:36

The only thing that would stop us from posting on this page is if we were six feet under!

Six Feet Under - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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gerardM Dim 27 Mar - 23:01

List of Words Without Plural Form (Uncountable Nouns)

WATER, WINE, MILK, RICE, PASTA, BREAD, BEEF, PORK, FRUIT, SUGAR, SALT, FLOUR, CHEESE, BUTTER, TEA, HONEY, JAM, LOVE, FUN, WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE and more.....

MYENGLISHTEACHER.EU ·

gerardM Dim 27 Mar - 23:04

Uses of a, an, some, any –

Uses of a, an, some, any; a/an + singular countable nouns, some/any + plural countable nouns & uncountable nouns 000

ENGLISHLEARNSITE.COM ·

gerardM Dim 27 Mar - 23:12

"Small potatoes" usually aren't potatoes at all.

Small Potatoes - English Idioms & Slang Dictionary
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MurielB Lun 28 Mar - 14:32

Gérard I didn't know "small potatoes" and would have said "petty things". It's the same isn't it ?

gerardM Lun 28 Mar - 19:48

Hi Muriel,

MurielB a écrit:Gérard I didn't know "small potatoes" and would have said "petty things". It's the same isn't it ?

I cannot say for sure as "pettty" has got too many meanings:
- "petty" is a normal adjective whereas "small potatoe" is an expression(with a wink)
- for me, when applied to a person, "petty" is too specific and far from "small potate".