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Understanding American English Phrases

Understanding American English Phrases

Date: Sep 27 2011

Topic: Idioms and Slang

Author: englishteacher24/7

Lesson

If you desire to learn Fluent American English, it is necessary to understand the many idioms, phrases, slang etc.  It's possible to increase your vocabulary of phrases to add to your formal study of English.

I've been publishing these mini lessons in the Teacher's Forum and this actually is Mini Lesson No. 20 there.  However, they will be published here also as lessons accessible from my profile page. 

Mini Lesson No. 1

Weigh in / A leg up / You nailed it

A. Weigh in= To offer your opinion or judgement in a discussion, argument or a certain matter.

Origin/Background of the phrase:

To determine the weight class of a fighter such as boxers or wrestlers, they must prove they are eligible for their weight class. Once their weight has been confirmed, they can proceed with the fighting match.

When used as a phrase, you are making your opinion known. Here are some examples:

1. With the campaign season starting, the public is waiting for the Republican candidates to "weigh in."

2. Everyone was waiting for the president to "weigh in" concerning his plan to improve the economy.

3. Until the referee "weighs in," we won't know if the basketball shot made when the clock ran out will count!

B. A leg up= To gain an advantage or receive a helping hand.

Origin/Background of the phrase:

The first known use of this phrase was in 1837.

This phrase is from the act of an equestrian receiving assistance in mounting a horse. The person helping the rider would cup his hands (put them together with the inside facing up) tp allow the rider to use the cupped hands as a step while the other person lifted him up and over onto the horse.

Can you imagine how this phrase can be used to indicate someone received help or has an advantage? Here are some examples:

1. The runner sacrificed going to a celebration party to get "a leg up" on the competition by receiving a good nights rest.

2. College students are always trying to get "a leg up" to be accepted by a college!

3. To get "a leg up" for a job interview, it helps if you can meet someone from the company.

C. You nailed it= To get something absolutely right (correct) or you were successful at doing something.

Origin/Background of the phrase:

I could not determine the origin of this phrase, however, my guess concerning the logic of the phrase may be that when you nail something, you attach something to a definite point. When using the phrase, you're correct on a certain point. Here are some sample statements:

1. Jane "nailed it" when she predicted the winning team.

2. "Daughter, "you nailed it" when you got all "A's" on your report card!"

3. The Defense Attorney "nailed it" when he proved the defendant was in another place, thus, vindicating his client of all criminal charges.

English lessons from within:

Determining the mood of the speaker/writer:

It is important to understand the mood of the speaker/writer, this is the foundation of the words that will follow. As you gain experience learning English, you will learn not to take everything in a literal sense. Your goal will be to discern the mood of the speaker/writer.

I've started a new lesson entitled: "Inside the language" which I invite you to read on my profile page.

Well, that's all I have for you in this session, here are the phrases for

Mini Lesson No. 21

A shoe-in / Waiting for the other shoe to drop / Caved and Caved-in

Until next time, use English as much as you can!

Comments

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englishteacher24/7

United States

I thank you both for “weighing in!”

12:29 PM Apr 09 2012 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Dear, Alston. 


English language is not an easy task but “over the long haul” we will succeed in it especially having such brilliant teacher like you are.


“You know what” is a very over used expression in Russian language. It was quite easy for me to memorize this expression. Smile

07:08 AM Apr 09 2012 |

1 person likes this

ali fattahi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Thanks alot . very helpful

06:22 AM Apr 09 2012 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Julito, I owe you one. Very good use of the phrases.


Thanks!

01:31 AM Apr 08 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Mr.Alston, You Know What? your are a great teacher ,   with your help,over the long haul ,  we might be able to  write and speak  english well . I won´t be able to skip english classes , at least on your   watch.Embarassed

01:17 PM Apr 07 2012 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Mini Lesson No. 5 – Over the long haul / Not on my watch / You know what:


A. Over the long haul: For a lengthy period of time.


Origin/background of the phrase:


The origin of this phrase dates back to 1925-30.  It comes from the thought of trucks hauling cargo over long distances.  Its used in conversational English to describe something that is considering the long term results and not the immediate time frame.


Example sentences:


1. Saving money can be a sacrificial habit but “over the long haul” you can accumulate a large sum of money.


2. My job doesn’t pay a lot, but “over the long haul” I will acquire a lot of experience which will make it worth it.


3. If you exercise regularly, “over the long haul” it will be beneficial to your health.


B. Not on my watch: Not during my time of responsibility.


Origin/background of the phrase:


The timeframe of this phrase is not determined, however, its a nautical term.


In the nautical field, day and night is divided into “watches” such as the first watch, second watch, third watch, etc.  If someone is on duty, they are responsible for anything that happens during their “watch.”  “Not on my watch” means they do not want any problem to happen during their time of service.


Examples:


1. I’m not going to lose 3 astronauts, “not on my watch!” (from Apollo 11 movie)


2. The production quantities cannot be below the minimum amount, “not on my watch” said the production manager.  We’ll celebrate when we exceed the expectations!


3. I don’t want the ordered supplies to miss the next flight and be late on arrival, “not on my watch!”


C. You know what: A phrase which precedes a statement to bring emphasis to the object of discussion.


Origin/background of the phrase:


This phrase dates back to the mid-1900’s and is a short version of “do you know something?”  A person will speak this phrase just before making a statement that they are passionate about, either positive or negative.


Its a very over used expression in conversational English.  It is not a question that seeks an answer.


Examples:


1. Parent-to-child: “You know what? If you don’t improve your school grades by next semester, your free time is gone!”


2. “You know what?” If it continues to rain, our crops will be destroyed!


3. ““You know what?” I think you’re a fantastic person!”


D. How phrases are used


Phrases are used as a short-cut to expressing a thought without saying it in a long formal way.  Also, the speaker is usually passionate about the thought they are expressing.


Not always, but oftentimes the thought is of a negative nature.  The speaker is expressing a complaint or praise about something.  Context will determine which one.


For example a person may say, ”...that new restaurant is the bomb!”  This is slang for ”...that new restaurant serves very good food and has excellent service!”  In other words, the person was very pleased with the experience they had at the new restaurant.


Along with learning English, you must learn conversational English, or you won’t be able to understand a lot of what natives are saying.


Be encouraged, it’s not as difficult as it may seem.  If you are consistent, you will gradually learn as the occasion presents itself.


I’m preparing a new lesson on “Comparing learning English to learning how to ride a bicycle” using satire humor which will be located in the humor learning section on my profile page in about a week.


The phrases for Mini Lesson No. 6 are:


A piece of cake / Comes out in the wash / The proof is in the pudding


12:52 PM Apr 07 2012 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Mini Lesson No. 5 is coming, stay tuned!

08:22 AM Mar 24 2012 |

1 person likes this

englishteacher24/7

United States

Mini Lesson No. 4 – Pushing the envelope / Stay put / Back down


A. Pushing the envelope: To reach or exceed established boundaries or limits.


Origin/background of the phrase:


The origin of this phrase may come from the field of aviation where an airplane’s limits are realized.  Tom Wolfe’s book, “The Right Stuff,” written in 1979 was about airplane test pilots and the early space program popularized the term.


Example sentences:


1. The iphone was “pushing the envelope” when it used technology to compete against the desktop computer.


2. Employee-to-boss: Boss, I need to change my scheduled vacation time-frame from July to March.


Boss: We are extremely busy right now and we need you.  Your request is really “pushing the envelope!”


Employee: I’m aware of it, but I’ll be very appreciative if you will approve my request!


Boss: Okay, but when you return, I expect you to hit the ground running!


Employee: You got it, boss!


3. When political candidates “push the envelope” they may go too far and not be elected.


B. Stay put= To remain in your present location.


Origin/background of the phrase:


The origin of the phrase is difficult to determine.  It is used informally to indicate someone or something is stationary.


Example sentences:


1. Taking a vacation can be expensive, but if you “stay put” you can save money!


2. My mother wants me to “stay put” and do my homework!


3. I hope the picture frame will “stay put” and not fall off the wall.


C. Back down= To stop challenging or pursuing something.


Origin/background of the phrase:


The origin as a phrase appears to have started in the 1990’s.  You will find it in newspaper articles or news reports in describing someone who has stopped fighting for a ‘cause’ or something similiar.


Be careful not to confuse this phrase with the literal meaning of the phrasal verb “back down” which means to reverse your direction such as in the statement ”...going back down the ladder.”


Example sentences:


1. Its obvious the second place candidate is not going to win the election, therfore, he should “back down” and save his time and money.


2. “If you “back down” from being unreasonable, you may be able to persuade your opponent!”


3. The legislature will not “back down” from raising taxes.


English lessons from within:


Literal definitions can get you into trouble if you’re not careful.  Combine dictionary meanings with real life meanings using context as your guide.  Think about what the speaker is saying. Sometimes you have to “read between the lines.”


“Reading between the lines” is to determine what the speaker mean without it being expressed in a direct sense.


For example: If a job position appears to be open at a company but your friend in the human resources department says to you: “I wouldn’t get my hopes up!”  This statement means the company has already determined they have someone to offer the job position to, but is going through the formality of the interviewing process.  Your friend cannot tell you that information officially because they could get fired.  You “read between the lines” to understand what is being communicated indirectly.


I hope this information will be helpful as you continue to learn English.


Here is the link to more of these type of lessons I write in the Teacher’s Forum:


http://www.englishbaby.com/forum/TeacherTalk/thread/390410?page=24


You will have to scroll through all of the lessons and comments.


The phrases for Mini Lesson No. 5 are:


Over the long haul / Not on my watch / You know what


You can now follow me on Tweeter, here’s the link:


https://twitter.com/#!/247Englishteach


The key to learning English is to take every opportunity to read, write, listen and speak in English.  Until next time, have a nice day!

09:52 AM Jan 28 2012 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

You’re welcome Nora and Ali.  Hamidgoodboy continue to read the lessons and you’ll increase your knowledge.

08:31 AM Jan 25 2012 |

ali fattahi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Thanks

03:41 PM Jan 24 2012 |

nora333

nora333

Saudi Arabia

thank you 

11:41 AM Jan 24 2012 |

hamidgoodboy

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i want to khow how to speak english very well

07:01 PM Jan 10 2012 |

Ahoo Golzar

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Welcome julito ;)

03:04 PM Jan 10 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Ahoo,   thanks for your  feedback, very useful.

02:46 PM Jan 10 2012 |

Ahoo Golzar

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I found some phrasal verbs and thought may be helpful for others too,and here is the direct link :


http://grammar-teacher.com/english-phrasal-verbs-into-part-3/


If somebody ‘flies into’ an emotional state, they do it very suddenly and without warning.



  • He flew into a panic when he heard that the big boss was coming.

  • She flew into a rage when she heard that her project had been cancelled.


If you ‘fool someone into’ doing something, you trick them into doing it.



  • I fooled him into believing that next Monday was a public holiday.

  • She fooled me into thinking that John was Italian.


If you ‘slip into’ a bad state or condition, you gradually start to be that way.



  • The economy is slipping into recession.

  • He improved for a while but now he’s slipping back into his old habits.


If you ‘run into’ somebody, you meet them by chance.



  • I ran into Martin when I was doing some shopping.

  • I hope to run into you again one of these days.


If a quantity ‘runs into’ the thousands, it is more than one thousand.



  • The money spent on the project must run into the millions.

  • The death toll runs into the hundreds.


If you ‘run into difficulties’, you begin to experience them.



  • The company ran into difficulties in the 90s when consumer tastes changed.

  • We’ll run into problems if we don’t act now.


If you ‘settle into’ a new job, you begin to feel relaxed and at ease.



  • How are you settling into your new job?

  • I’ve had problems settling into my new company.


If you ‘fling yourself into’ a task, you do it with a lot of energy.



  • He’s flung himself into his new job. He’s already made a lot of changes.

  • She flings herself into everything she does. She has an amazing amount of energy.


If you ‘sink money into’ a project, you invest it.



  • Microsoft have sunk millions into developing their range of products.

  • We’d need to sink a lot of money into the factory to turn it around.


If you ‘sink into’ a state, you gradually get worse.



  • He’s sunk into a depression over the last few months.

  • The company has sunk deeper and deeper into debt.

02:40 PM Jan 10 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Yes Ryo! why would buy something that is free?


If you find a particular lesson interesting you just have to click “like” on it, it’ll be stored  on your profile  for you to review at any time. very convenient!

04:07 PM Jan 05 2012 |

1 person likes this

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

And Ryo if you keep  at it. you will be wehre you wanted to be. Lucks Friend!

03:35 PM Jan 05 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

I don’t cave in under pressure.


Happy 2012 to you Teacher!!

02:10 PM Jan 03 2012 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!


I HOPE 2012 WILL BE THE YEAR THAT YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS!

09:01 AM Jan 01 2012 |

1 person likes this

englishteacher24/7

United States

Examples of the phrases “caved” or “cave in” in the US news.


Background:  In the US Congress there has been some intense disagreements between the Democratic and Republican parties.  The latest was concerning a 2-month extension of a payroll tax to continue to tax American workers at a lesser amount.  The Democrats were for it and the Republicans was against it.  The extension is scheduled to end on January 1, 2012 which would result in reduced take home pay for over 160 million workers.  If it would happen, many people may blame the Republican party, which in an election year would not be politically good for them.  Therefore, they changed their mind and gave President Obama and the Democratic party a political victory.


The phrase that is used to describe this type of activity is called “caved” or “caving in” which was the phrases in Mini Lesson No. 2


Here are some actual headlines of the use of this phrase:


1. “President Barack Obama rejoiced as Republicans caved in and approved 2 more months of fatter paychecks.”   New York Daily News 12/23/11



2.  “Boehner Blasted Before Caving On Payroll Tax”  WLWT.com 12/22/11



3.  “GOP freshman: House caved to Dems again, gave gift of uncertainty. ” The Hills Blog Briefing Room 12/22/11



4.  “Why the GOP caved in the payroll tax fight: 4 theories”  theweek.com  12/1/11



5.  “Krugman: “Obama caved in over tax cuts” and Republicans “expect him to cave again””  Americanblog.com  7/11/11



6.  “Republicans cave in, hand Obama big victory”   By Arun Kumar, IANS  two circles.net 12/23/11



7.  “Concessions or a Cave-In?”  insidehighered.com  6/2/11


To read Mini Lesson No. 2, please click on page 2 and scroll down to the lesson dated November 29, 2011.


09:11 AM Dec 26 2011 |

1 person likes this

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