Martes, Agosto 9, 2011
Vacation Idioms
- b and b
bed and breakfast - book in advance
to make a reservation - booked solid
to be completely full - bust one's ass
to work really hard - catch some rays
to suntan - get away for a few days
to leave a bit city and go somewhere peaceful - get away from it all
to leave a big city and go somewhere peaceful - guidebook
a book with tourist information about a place - have a lot on one's plate
to have a lot of things to do - head for
go in the direction of - hit the town
to go out and have fun - kick back
to relax - line something up
to organize - pale
to be very white - put someone up
to allow someone to stay in your home - put together
to organize - road trip
a driving vacation - run down
to be tired from working too much - soak up some sun
to suntan - stoked
very excited and full of energy - swamped
(adjective) very busy Example Sentence: I’m sorry I didn’t answer your email. I’m really swamped with work right now. The lawyer was swamped at the office, so he couldn’t go to his son’s birthday party. Media and Links: Techs swamped with broken furnaces - swamped
to be overwhelmed with work - take a dip
to swim - wear someone out
to make someone tired - wiped
to be tired
-ible -able
If the root is not a complete word, add ..-ible
If the root is a complete word, add ..-able
aud+ ible =
audible
accept+ able = acceptable
Examples:
Examples:
visible
fashionable
horrible
laughable
terrible
suitablet
possible
dependable
incredible
comfortable
If the root is a complete word ending in -e, drop the
final -e and add -able
excuse - e+ able = excusable
advise - e+ able = advisable
Examples:
desirable
valuable
Some exceptions:
contemptible
digestible
flexible
responsible
irritable
Spelling Exercise:
In the following sentences, the final four letters are omitted from each -ible or -able word. Complete each word with the appropriate ending.
1. Last night's movie about the invis____ man was so incred____ that it was laugh____.
2. My irrespons____ little brother is usually kept away from anything break____.
3. Are these new clothes really comfort____, or do people only wear them because they are fashion____?
4. I think I would be less irrit____ if my professors were more flex____.
5. I don't think voting twice in national elections is permiss____.
6. It's always valu____ to have a friend who is depend____.
7. My employer said that it isn't suit____ to have a secretary whose handwriting is illeg____.
Lunes, Agosto 8, 2011
A or AN before H?!
Use an only if the h is silent: an hour, an heir, an honourable man, an honest woman;
Use a when you pronounce the h: a hero, a hotel, a historian
(Writing tip: don’t change a direct quote if the speaker says, for example, “an historic”)
Sabado, Hulyo 30, 2011
AMERICAN IDIOMS STARTING WITH A
Welcome to our extensive list of American English idiomatic expressions! These types of phrases are used by native speakers daily. Learn these idioms and you will be on your way to speaking English in a more natural way. :)
Nearly time, high time. "It's about time you bought a new car!"
Absence makes the heart grow fonder:
Proverb that means that our feeling for those we love increases when we are apart from them.
(To) act high and mighty:
To act proudly and arrogantly.
Actions speak louder than words:
Proverb meaning that's it's better to do something about a problem than to talk about it.
(To) act one's age:
To behave in a more mature way. Frequently said to a child or teen. ex. "Bill, stop throwing rocks! Act your age!"
(To) add fuel to the fire:
To make a bad problem even worse.
(To) add insult to injury:
To make a bad situation even worse.
Against the clock:
To attempt to do something "against the clock" is to attempt to do something as fast as possible usually before a deadline.
All-out:
Complete. Very strong. "They did an all-out search for the missing boy and they found him."
All set:
Ready (to go). "All set?"
All thumbs:
Awkward. Clumsy.
A little bird told me:
When someone says "a little bird told me" it means they don't want you to know who told them.
All in a day's work:
Typical. Normal. Expected. ex. "Talking to famous celebrities is all in a day's work for some Hollywood reporters."
(From) all walks of life:
(From) all social, economic, and ethnic groups. ex. "People from all walks of life voted for him, but he still lost the presidential election."
Apple of someone's eye:
Someone's favorite person (and sometimes thing). ex. "Sarah was the apple of Tom's eye for quite a long time. He was very much in love with her."
Armed to the teeth:
Heavily armed. ex. "The rebels were armed to the teeth."
At all hours (of the night):
Very late at night, throughout the night. ex. "Her boyfriend would call her at all hours of the night."
At each other's throats:
Fighting or arguing heavily. ex. "They were at each other's throats. The arguments never stopped."
At this stage:
At this point. ex. "At this stage, it's difficult to say who will win the election."
Why learn idioms?
Learning idiomatic expressions is a very important part of the language-learning process. Much of everyday speech is based on colloquial and slang vocabulary - much of this vocabulary is based on idioms.
Our collection of American English idioms will teach you the type of language that native speakers use every day. You will become more fluent in English and will be able to communicate better.
Although this is a list of American English idioms, you will find that many of these words and expressions are used all over the English-speaking world.
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