THE MOMENT WE ENTERED THE RESTAURANT WE BEGAN TO FEEL HUNGRY,AS THE DELICIOUS SMELL OF FINE COOKING REACHED US FROM THE KITCHEN
lunes, 31 de agosto de 2009
'Lose your bottle' 246
Idiom Definitions for 'Lose your bottle'
If someone loses their bottle, they lose the courage to do something
If someone loses their bottle, they lose the courage to do something
'Under a cloud' 245
Idiom: Place in the sun 244
the world is your oyster 242
the world is your oyster
if the world is your oyster, you have the ability and the freedom to do anything or go anywhere You're young and healthy and you've got no commitments, so the world is your oyster.
See also: world
if the world is your oyster, you have the ability and the freedom to do anything or go anywhere You're young and healthy and you've got no commitments, so the world is your oyster.
See also: world
something takes the cake 240
DAVID PLAYED THE MAIN ROLE WHEN THE PROPOSAL WAS DRAFTED 232
DAVID WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DRAFOTING OF THE PROPOSAL
your John Hancock (American humorous) 228
your John Hancock (American humorous)
your signature
Usage notes: John Hancock's signature was the biggest signature on the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.If you put your John Hancock on the last page we'll be finished with the formalities.
See also: Hancock, john
IdiI()
Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd ed. Copyright © Cambridge
your signature
Usage notes: John Hancock's signature was the biggest signature on the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.If you put your John Hancock on the last page we'll be finished with the formalities.
See also: Hancock, john
IdiI()
Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd ed. Copyright © Cambridge
Let the cat out of the bag 227
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning
Disclose a secret.
Origin
There are two commonly heard suggested origins of this phrase. One relates to the fraud of substituting a cat for a piglet at markets. If you let the cat out of the bag you disclosed the trick - and avoided buying a pig in a poke (bag). This form of trickery is long alluded to in the language and 'pigs in a poke' are recorded as early as 1530.
The other theory is that the 'cat' referred to is the cat o' nine tails, which was used to flog ill-disciplined sailors. Again, this has sufficient historical record to be at least possible. The cat o' nine tails was widely used and was referred to in print many years prior to the first use of 'let the cat out of the bag'. The 'nine tails' part of the name derives from the three strands of cord that the rope lashes were made from. Each of the cords were in turn made from three strands of string. When unbraided a piece of rope separated into nine strings. The 'cat' part no doubt alluded to the scratches that the knotted ends of the lash made on the victim's back, like those from a cat's claws.
Of the two explanations, the 'pig in a poke' derivation is the more plausible, although I can find no direct documentary evidence to link 'letting the cat out of the bag' to the selling of livestock. Versions of the phrase exist in both Dutch - 'Een kat in de zak kopen' and in German - 'Die Katze im Sack kaufen'. These both translate loosely as 'to buy a cat in a bag', i.e. to buy false goods.
The cat o' nine tails story is dubious at best. It is reported that the lashes were sometimes stored in bags, but the suggested nautical punishment origin fails at the critical point, in that it doesn't match the 'disclose a secret' meaning of the phrase.
The first known use of the phrase in print that I have found is in a 1760 edition of The London Magazine:
"We could have wished that the author... had not let the cat out of the bag."
There are several other literary references to the phrase in the 1760s and 1770s, most of which place it in quotations marks - a sure sign of it being not commonly understood and consequently, newly coined.
Cats feature very often in English proverbs:
A cat may look at a king - 1546All cats are grey in the dark - 1596Curiosity killed the cat - 1921There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream - 1855 When the cat is away, the mice will play - 1607
This routine appearance of cats in the language is no doubt a consequence of them being widely kept as mousers and pets in domestic houses. As to 'who let the cats out?', we can't be certain; but it probably wasn't a sailor.
Meaning
Disclose a secret.
Origin
There are two commonly heard suggested origins of this phrase. One relates to the fraud of substituting a cat for a piglet at markets. If you let the cat out of the bag you disclosed the trick - and avoided buying a pig in a poke (bag). This form of trickery is long alluded to in the language and 'pigs in a poke' are recorded as early as 1530.
The other theory is that the 'cat' referred to is the cat o' nine tails, which was used to flog ill-disciplined sailors. Again, this has sufficient historical record to be at least possible. The cat o' nine tails was widely used and was referred to in print many years prior to the first use of 'let the cat out of the bag'. The 'nine tails' part of the name derives from the three strands of cord that the rope lashes were made from. Each of the cords were in turn made from three strands of string. When unbraided a piece of rope separated into nine strings. The 'cat' part no doubt alluded to the scratches that the knotted ends of the lash made on the victim's back, like those from a cat's claws.
Of the two explanations, the 'pig in a poke' derivation is the more plausible, although I can find no direct documentary evidence to link 'letting the cat out of the bag' to the selling of livestock. Versions of the phrase exist in both Dutch - 'Een kat in de zak kopen' and in German - 'Die Katze im Sack kaufen'. These both translate loosely as 'to buy a cat in a bag', i.e. to buy false goods.
The cat o' nine tails story is dubious at best. It is reported that the lashes were sometimes stored in bags, but the suggested nautical punishment origin fails at the critical point, in that it doesn't match the 'disclose a secret' meaning of the phrase.
The first known use of the phrase in print that I have found is in a 1760 edition of The London Magazine:
"We could have wished that the author... had not let the cat out of the bag."
There are several other literary references to the phrase in the 1760s and 1770s, most of which place it in quotations marks - a sure sign of it being not commonly understood and consequently, newly coined.
Cats feature very often in English proverbs:
A cat may look at a king - 1546All cats are grey in the dark - 1596Curiosity killed the cat - 1921There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream - 1855 When the cat is away, the mice will play - 1607
This routine appearance of cats in the language is no doubt a consequence of them being widely kept as mousers and pets in domestic houses. As to 'who let the cats out?', we can't be certain; but it probably wasn't a sailor.
before long: soon. 226
domingo, 30 de agosto de 2009
A person who has "a chip on his shoulder" is angry because of some thing that happened in the past. 225
A person who has "a chip on his shoulder" is angry because of some thing that happened in the past. Example: "He lost his game this morning, and now he has a chip on his shoulder." It is easy for a person to get in a fight when he has a chip on his shoulder, because he is already angry about something else. Example: "Watch out for that guy, he's got a chip on his shoulder." To start a fight, men used to put chips of wood on their shoulder and challenge others to "try to knock it off". Example: "What's bothering that guy?" Reply: "Nothing. He's just got a chip on the shoulder." Example: "Tom had a tough time growing up, so he's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder." You can use the definite article ("the") which sounds more general ("a chip on the shoulder"), but more often people use the personal pronoun ("his", "her", "their") to say that that specific person has "a chip on his (her, their) shoulder."
have a whale of a time 223
blood, sweat, and tears 222
what goes around,comes around 221
be all mouth 217
be all mouth (British, American & Australian informal) also be all mouth and (no) trousers (British informal)
if someone is all mouth, they talk a lot about doing something but they never do it She says she'll complain to the manager but I think she's all mouth. You're all mouth and no trousers. Why don't you just go over there and ask her out?
if someone is all mouth, they talk a lot about doing something but they never do it She says she'll complain to the manager but I think she's all mouth. You're all mouth and no trousers. Why don't you just go over there and ask her out?
Hand to mouth 215
Give someone the runaround 214
Idiom: Give someone the runaround
Idiom Definitions for 'Give someone the runaround'
to act in a way which makes it difficult for someone to do something, for example by refusing to tell them things they need to know I'm trying to get a visa, but the embassy staff keep giving me the runaround. (informal)
See also: give, runaroundto act in a way which makes it difficult for someone to do something, for example by refusing to tell them things they need to know I'm trying to get a visa, but the embassy staff keep giving me the runaround. (informal)
See also: give, runaround
Idiom Definitions for 'Give someone the runaround'
to act in a way which makes it difficult for someone to do something, for example by refusing to tell them things they need to know I'm trying to get a visa, but the embassy staff keep giving me the runaround. (informal)
See also: give, runaroundto act in a way which makes it difficult for someone to do something, for example by refusing to tell them things they need to know I'm trying to get a visa, but the embassy staff keep giving me the runaround. (informal)
See also: give, runaround
Eat my hat 213
Dear John letter 212
Idiom: All talk and no trousers 210
Idiom: All talk and no trousers
Idiom Definitions for 'All talk and no trousers'
Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.
British English Category: ClothesIdiom: All talk and no trousers
Idiom Definitions for 'All talk and no trousers'
Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.
British English Category: ClothesIdiom: All talk and no trousers
sábado, 29 de agosto de 2009
inversions 209
Inversion not only can be used to form questions and conditional sentences. Also, we can use inversion for emphasis.
Little did she know how much work was left.
On no account must you sleep at school.
Never should you remember who's your boss.
Only then can you belong to me.
Here comes the sun.
All these structure are rather
Little did she know how much work was left.
On no account must you sleep at school.
Never should you remember who's your boss.
Only then can you belong to me.
Here comes the sun.
All these structure are rather
inversions 4 208
inversions 3 207
inversions 2 206
Inversion refers to an irregular verb placement form:
Use of Question Form
In this case, the question form (auxiliary + subject + main verb) takes the place of the standard positive sentence structure (i.e. He goes to work every day):
Examples
Not only do I enjoy classical music, but I also have a season ticket to the symphony.Seldom has the boss been so upset!
Use of Question Form
In this case, the question form (auxiliary + subject + main verb) takes the place of the standard positive sentence structure (i.e. He goes to work every day):
Examples
Not only do I enjoy classical music, but I also have a season ticket to the symphony.Seldom has the boss been so upset!
miércoles, 26 de agosto de 2009
lunes, 24 de agosto de 2009
on pain of something (slightly formal 200
on pain of something (slightly formal)
at risk of experiencing something bad She says she was asked to approve the report on pain of losing her job.
See also: pain
at risk of experiencing something bad She says she was asked to approve the report on pain of losing her job.
See also: pain
in dribs and drabs 199
in dribs and drabs
in small portions; bit by bit. I'll have to pay you what I owe you in dribs and drabs. The whole story is being revealed in dribs and drabs.
See also: and
in small portions; bit by bit. I'll have to pay you what I owe you in dribs and drabs. The whole story is being revealed in dribs and drabs.
See also: and
nose out 198
throw down the gauntlet 196
throw down the gauntlet
Fig. to challenge someone to an argument or to (figurative) combat. When Bob chal— lenged my conclusions, he threw down the gauntlet. I was ready for an argument. Frowning at Bob is the same as throwing down the gauntlet. He loves to get into a fight about something.
See also: gauntlet, throw
throw down the gauntlet
to invite someone to argue, fight, or compete with you A price war could break out in the High Street after a leading supermarket threw down the gauntlet to its competitors.
See also: gauntlet, throw
to invite someone to argue, fight, or compete with you A price war could break out in the High Street after a leading supermarket threw down the gauntlet to its competitors.
See also: gauntlet, throw
Fig. to challenge someone to an argument or to (figurative) combat. When Bob chal— lenged my conclusions, he threw down the gauntlet. I was ready for an argument. Frowning at Bob is the same as throwing down the gauntlet. He loves to get into a fight about something.
See also: gauntlet, throw
throw down the gauntlet
to invite someone to argue, fight, or compete with you A price war could break out in the High Street after a leading supermarket threw down the gauntlet to its competitors.
See also: gauntlet, throw
to invite someone to argue, fight, or compete with you A price war could break out in the High Street after a leading supermarket threw down the gauntlet to its competitors.
See also: gauntlet, throw
lunes, 17 de agosto de 2009
a man may learn wit every day 194
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Pregunta:¿Cómo se hace una composición en inglés? Alejandra.***********Respuesta:¡ Hola Alejandra!Soy Marta ( colaboradora del blog para aprender inglés) Te cuento mi experiencia personal. Espero que te pueda ayudar.
Una de las cosas que más nos cuesta "a todos" cuando aprendemos una lengua nueva e incluso también en nuestra lengua materna es escribir.
Yo, después de un tiempo "disgustada" porque no me salian bien las "compositions" llegué a una conclusión: no sabemos escribir redacciones porque nadie nos ha dado las pautas que seguir para que queden bien.
Esto es igual que lo de estudiar. Mucha gente se pasa horas y horas esforzandose, estudiando y no aprueba. Se desespera porque ve que "no sirve para estudiar".Y... realmente el problema no esta en ellos ( ya que ponen esfuerzo en conseguirlo) esta en que nadie nos ha dado las pautas que seguir para estuidar, nadie nos ha enseñado nunca a estudiar (hacer esquemas, resumes, la importancia de los repasos... así como el funcionamiento de nuestro "coco" a la hora de memorizar y aprender cosas)
Bueno, yo te voy a dar mis pautas para hacer una "buena redacción en inglés". Me sirvió mucho una profesora de francés que tuve (si de francés, no de inglés). Resulta que ella es bilingüe español-francés. Se puso a prender inglés y fué viendo la enseñanza de idiomas desde un punto más real, el punto de vista del alumno.
No me enrollo más y aquí te dejo un serie de pautas.
Lo primero a tener en cuenta cuando escribimos un texto en un idioma diferente al nuestro son varias cosas:
1.- Tipo de texto que nos piden ( narración, texto de opinión..etc).
2.- Tema a tratar ( para ello es importante estar al día de temas de actualidad,leer periodico, ver noticias...)
3.- Hacer un listado de vocabulario que conozcamos sobre el tema para incluirlo en la redacción.
4.- Hacer un listado de conectores ( esto da mucho prestigio al texto que escribamos. La puntuación sera por lo tanto mejor)
5.- Incluir diferentes tiempo verbales (sobre todo en narraciones)
6.- No complicarnos la vida con frases largas y complejas. Mejor :Sujeto+ verbo+ complementos ( Nota: podemos utilizar algún relativo pero sin abusar)
7.-Olvidarnos del Spanglish ( ejje.. nos resulta muy fácil hacer traducciones literales de expresiones hechas y eso queda horrible. Es mejor aprenderse unos cuantos proverbios o frases hechas de las más utilizadas y olvidarse de lo anterior).
8.-Hacer un listado de expresiones adaptadas a nuestro nivel ( para demostrar a quien nos lo corrija que lo tenemos. Imagínate que estás en un nivel avanzado y por ejemplo solo escribes en presente simple, no utilizas conectores, ni frases gramaticales que has aprendido o que se corresponden con el nivel que dices que tienes pensarán que tienen un nivel muy elemental.
9.-Utilizar un vocabulario rico. Para ello son muy utiles los "diccionarios visuales" que agrupan el vacabulario por familias tipo: la salud, la natualeza, el cuerpo humano, la moda, la religion..etc..) Para tener un vocabulario rico de nada nos sirve "darnos un atracón" y "meternos" todo el diccinario en 2 o 3 días. Nos haremos un follón que no veas y terminaremos "odiando profundamente el inglés". Todo en exceso es malo, asi que poco a poco.
10- Tener en cuenta que el medio escrito es mucho más formal que el oral. Cuando hablamos tenemos más libertad. Cuando escribimos tenemos que tratar de cuidar más la lengua. Por ejemplo: cuando hablamos "hay que utilizar contracciones siempre: isn´t, aren´t, etc. Cuando escribimos es mejor no utilizarlas.
Y sobre todo y lo más importante no agobiarnos, practicar mucho las redacciones y poco a poco iremos mejorando. Nadie nace sabiendo.
A man may learn wit every day.Todos los días se aprende
Your Rating
Imprimir
Pregunta:¿Cómo se hace una composición en inglés? Alejandra.***********Respuesta:¡ Hola Alejandra!Soy Marta ( colaboradora del blog para aprender inglés) Te cuento mi experiencia personal. Espero que te pueda ayudar.
Una de las cosas que más nos cuesta "a todos" cuando aprendemos una lengua nueva e incluso también en nuestra lengua materna es escribir.
Yo, después de un tiempo "disgustada" porque no me salian bien las "compositions" llegué a una conclusión: no sabemos escribir redacciones porque nadie nos ha dado las pautas que seguir para que queden bien.
Esto es igual que lo de estudiar. Mucha gente se pasa horas y horas esforzandose, estudiando y no aprueba. Se desespera porque ve que "no sirve para estudiar".Y... realmente el problema no esta en ellos ( ya que ponen esfuerzo en conseguirlo) esta en que nadie nos ha dado las pautas que seguir para estuidar, nadie nos ha enseñado nunca a estudiar (hacer esquemas, resumes, la importancia de los repasos... así como el funcionamiento de nuestro "coco" a la hora de memorizar y aprender cosas)
Bueno, yo te voy a dar mis pautas para hacer una "buena redacción en inglés". Me sirvió mucho una profesora de francés que tuve (si de francés, no de inglés). Resulta que ella es bilingüe español-francés. Se puso a prender inglés y fué viendo la enseñanza de idiomas desde un punto más real, el punto de vista del alumno.
No me enrollo más y aquí te dejo un serie de pautas.
Lo primero a tener en cuenta cuando escribimos un texto en un idioma diferente al nuestro son varias cosas:
1.- Tipo de texto que nos piden ( narración, texto de opinión..etc).
2.- Tema a tratar ( para ello es importante estar al día de temas de actualidad,leer periodico, ver noticias...)
3.- Hacer un listado de vocabulario que conozcamos sobre el tema para incluirlo en la redacción.
4.- Hacer un listado de conectores ( esto da mucho prestigio al texto que escribamos. La puntuación sera por lo tanto mejor)
5.- Incluir diferentes tiempo verbales (sobre todo en narraciones)
6.- No complicarnos la vida con frases largas y complejas. Mejor :Sujeto+ verbo+ complementos ( Nota: podemos utilizar algún relativo pero sin abusar)
7.-Olvidarnos del Spanglish ( ejje.. nos resulta muy fácil hacer traducciones literales de expresiones hechas y eso queda horrible. Es mejor aprenderse unos cuantos proverbios o frases hechas de las más utilizadas y olvidarse de lo anterior).
8.-Hacer un listado de expresiones adaptadas a nuestro nivel ( para demostrar a quien nos lo corrija que lo tenemos. Imagínate que estás en un nivel avanzado y por ejemplo solo escribes en presente simple, no utilizas conectores, ni frases gramaticales que has aprendido o que se corresponden con el nivel que dices que tienes pensarán que tienen un nivel muy elemental.
9.-Utilizar un vocabulario rico. Para ello son muy utiles los "diccionarios visuales" que agrupan el vacabulario por familias tipo: la salud, la natualeza, el cuerpo humano, la moda, la religion..etc..) Para tener un vocabulario rico de nada nos sirve "darnos un atracón" y "meternos" todo el diccinario en 2 o 3 días. Nos haremos un follón que no veas y terminaremos "odiando profundamente el inglés". Todo en exceso es malo, asi que poco a poco.
10- Tener en cuenta que el medio escrito es mucho más formal que el oral. Cuando hablamos tenemos más libertad. Cuando escribimos tenemos que tratar de cuidar más la lengua. Por ejemplo: cuando hablamos "hay que utilizar contracciones siempre: isn´t, aren´t, etc. Cuando escribimos es mejor no utilizarlas.
Y sobre todo y lo más importante no agobiarnos, practicar mucho las redacciones y poco a poco iremos mejorando. Nadie nace sabiendo.
A man may learn wit every day.Todos los días se aprende
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