2)English idioms

gerardM a écrit:Mind you! Are you going to be covered with feathers and tar??

Gérard, I don't understand why you say that ?

MurielB a écrit:

gerardM a écrit:Mind you! Are you going to be covered with feathers and tar??

Gérard, I don't understand why you say that ?

Muriel,

Hi Gerard, everyone
I like the reference to cheating at a card game by hiding a favorable card up one's sleeve !Very Happy

It's because you're considering cheating at card game.

It's because you're considering cheating at card game.

Gérard, i don't consider cheating at card games because i hate playing games and I don't give a damn about  winning or losing at whatever game there is.
I just liked the expression=>

MurielB a écrit:... i hate playing games...

Same as me: I hate playing when I don't win

I understand ! my grand children like playing with me because they always win ! They are the only ones I play with....

MurielB a écrit:I understand ! my grand children like playing with me because they always win ! They are the only ones I play with....

LOL That reminds me of something!

Gérard, everyone !
I confess I have never heard of "To zonk out" do you ?

Sl. to collapse from exhaustion; to go into a stupor from drugs or exhaustion

Hi Gérard, everyone !
What about the expression "under your hat" ? It means roughly the same doesn't it ?

Hi Gérard, I have found a very interesting video about phrasal verbs with look

Thanks Muriel.

Phrasal verbs of course also exist in German (verb + separable/inseparable particles).
In French, I guess we could find a few but I'm unable to write a single one right now; however things that puzzle learners of French are "verbes pronominaux": a tiny addition of "s' se s'en etc that completely change the meaning eg s'abaisser, s'absorber, s'abuser, s'accorder, s'en aller... - there are weirder others)

Gerard there are a lot of pronominal verbs in Spanish too, many more than in French

MurielB a écrit:Gerard there are a lot of pronominal verbs in Spanish too, many more than in French

Muriel, there are several kinds of "verbes pronominaux": those that apply to oneself (se laver), those that apply to 2 persons (s'entendre), those that have a completely different meaning (se taper une besogne, se calter - the verb without "se" usually doesn't exist by itself or with a completely different meaning, s'en aller - often with "en" in between).

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Very useful expressions ! I wish I knew them all !

MurielB a écrit:Very useful expressions ! I wish I knew them all !

No need to know them all Muriel, hence no need to learn... in addition understanding them is easier than knowing them.

Gérard i  undersand most of them but I keep using the ones I know. I wish I could enlarge my vocabulary.

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Gérard I just want to add that Favorite is preferred in American English, while favourite  is preferred in British English.

MurielB a écrit:Gérard I just want to add that Favorite is preferred in American English, while favourite  is preferred in British English.

Easier my Kiwi niece uses "fav".

Ok I will use "fav" to please both (The Americans and the English)