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EXTREME SPORTS
Do you like the excitement of extreme sports? If so, you might be an 'adrenaline junkie'. Find out more about white-water rafting and parkour in this video.
Three word expressions
Here are ten common English expressions, along with an explanation and example sentence.
Black and white
Dos and don'ts
Haves and have nots
Ins and outs
Kiss and tell
Odds and ends
P's and Q's
Pros and cons
Rights and wrongs
Tried and tested
black and white = something which is extremely clear: "He told her in black and white that she couldn't leave the house while he was out."
dos and don'ts = the rules: "There are various do's and don'ts about driving in the UK."
haves and have nots = people who are rich and those who are not: "In London you can find the haves and have nots of the population."
ins and outs = the details: "I don't know the ins and outs of the situation, so I can't really advise you."
kiss and tell = when someone sells a story of themselves and a famous person: "The British tabloids are famous for publishing kiss and tell stories."
odds and ends = small pieces of various items: "She made a stew with the odds and ends she found in the fridge."
P's and Q's = manners (such as please and thank you): "Mind your P's and Q's when you visit them!"
pros and cons = advantages and disadvantages: "There are a few pros and cons that we should consider before buying a new house."
rights and wrongs = all the good points and bad points of a situation: "Regardless of the rights and wrongs of company policy, you need to give a month's notice."
tried and tested = something which has been well tested: "Using salt is a tried and tested way of getting red wine out of a carpet."
Here are ten more expressions:
Ups and downs
Come and go
Back and forth
Dribs and drabs
Said and done
Cat and mouse
Trial and error
Flesh and blood
Down and out
By and large
ups and downs = very good times and very bad times: "They have a lot of ups and downs in their relationship."
come and go = use somewhere as your base: "Feel free to come and go as you please!"
back and forth = not to stay still, but to keep travelling between two places: "I'm so glad I'm moving. I was getting sick of going back and forth every day. Now my journey to work will be a lot quicker."
dribs and drabs = not a steady amount of something: "The marathon runners finished in dribs and drabs."
said and done = to have the final word on something: "When it's all said and done, the new reception area is going to be a credit to the company."
cat and mouse = doing something in the same way that a cat plays with a mouse: "The guerillas played a cat and mouse game with the much better-equipped army."
trial and error = to do something new by making experiments and occasionally failing: "The new computer system has been installed. But it's a bit trial and error at the moment – nobody really knows how to use it."
flesh and blood = your family: "I have to help him if I can – he's my flesh and blood."
down and out = someone who has no money at all who has to live on the street: "There are too many young down and outs in London."
by and large = generally: "By and large, our customers prefer good service to low prices."
And a further ten expressions:
Up and running = in operation: "The new company is now up and running."
Noughts and crosses = a game where you take it in turns to put your symbol (either a nought or a cross) into one of nine spaces. The idea is to have a row of either three noughts or three crosses, but your opponent tries to block you. The game looks like this:
O X O
X O X
X O X
Bring and buy = a fair where people try to raise money for a cause by bringing something that other people might want to buy: "I'm making a cake for the school's bring and buy next week."
Hide and seek = a children's game where one child hides and the others try to find him / her: "Someone's been playing hide and seek with the TV remote control again!"
Around and about = a vague phrase to avoid saying where you have been exactly: "Where have you been – I've been worried!"
"Oh, around and about, you know."
To and fro = another way of saying "back and forth": "I'm exhausted – I've been going to and fro all week!"
Over and out = something you say to show you have come to the end of your message: "The last thing they heard from the pilot was 'over and out'."
Done and dusted = properly finished: "Well, that's this project done and dusted. We need a holiday now."
Dead and buried = something that will not happen: "That idea is now dead and buried – the Executive Committee decided some time ago to go with another proposal."
Wine and dine = to entertain someone lavishly: "He's well-known for wining and dining his business partners."
Bread and butter = your main source of income, or the most important issue: "Health and education are the bread and butter issues facing the UK government."
Spick and span = very tidy and clean: "Her house is spick and span at all times."
Wheel and deal = to make deals when buying and selling things: "If you need a new car, try speaking to John. He's a bit of a wheeler and dealer!"
PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
PLAY WITH PREFIXES.
Hens sort out the pecking order
TRANSCRIPT
REPORTER: A lot of pluck perhaps, but there's not much urgency here. The annual World Hen Racing Championships hoped to rival human sport - but for these chicks, racing is for the birds.
MIKE GIBSON, HEN OWNER: "Well the UK is doing well in the Olympics, so why not the chicken?"
REPORTER: Rules are sparse: no dogs, no pecking and winners were almost as scarce as hen's teeth. In fact, organizer John Barry said performance was downright fowl.
JOHN BARRY, ORGANIZER: "I've been here for twenty years now running the hen racing, since 1992, and I can definitely say apart from the final, that is definitely the worst set of hens I have ever seen in my life, shocking, absolutely shocking, the owners need to go back and have another word with themselves!"
REPORTER: And despite many ruffled feathers, there was eventually a winner.
REPORTER: A lot of pluck perhaps, but there's not much urgency here. The annual World Hen Racing Championships hoped to rival human sport - but for these chicks, racing is for the birds.
MIKE GIBSON, HEN OWNER: "Well the UK is doing well in the Olympics, so why not the chicken?"
REPORTER: Rules are sparse: no dogs, no pecking and winners were almost as scarce as hen's teeth. In fact, organizer John Barry said performance was downright fowl.
JOHN BARRY, ORGANIZER: "I've been here for twenty years now running the hen racing, since 1992, and I can definitely say apart from the final, that is definitely the worst set of hens I have ever seen in my life, shocking, absolutely shocking, the owners need to go back and have another word with themselves!"
REPORTER: And despite many ruffled feathers, there was eventually a winner.
VOCABULARY
How many hen-related puns did you spot? Here's a list:
1. Pecking order is the colloquial term for a hierarchical system of social organization in chickens (if a bird pecks at something it moves its beak forward quickly and bites at it). The term pecking order is also used to describe the relative status or power of people within a group.
2. Pluck is another word for courage, and if you pluck a chicken, you pull out its feathers to prepare it for cooking.
3. If you say that something is for the birds, you think that it is worthless or ridiculous.
4. If something is as scarce as hen's teeth, it is very difficult or impossible to find. • It was the President's inauguration and hotel rooms in Washington were as scarce as hen's teeth.
5. Fowl is another word for bird, especially one that can be eaten as food such as a duck or a chicken. It's homophone foul means unpleasant or disgusting.
6. If a bird ruffles its feathers, it makes them stand out on its body, for example when cleaning itself or when it is frightened. The figurative expression to ruffle someone's feathers means to cause them to become very angry, nervous or upset. • His direct, often abrasive approach will doubtless ruffle a few feathers.
How many hen-related puns did you spot? Here's a list:
1. Pecking order is the colloquial term for a hierarchical system of social organization in chickens (if a bird pecks at something it moves its beak forward quickly and bites at it). The term pecking order is also used to describe the relative status or power of people within a group.
2. Pluck is another word for courage, and if you pluck a chicken, you pull out its feathers to prepare it for cooking.
3. If you say that something is for the birds, you think that it is worthless or ridiculous.
4. If something is as scarce as hen's teeth, it is very difficult or impossible to find. • It was the President's inauguration and hotel rooms in Washington were as scarce as hen's teeth.
5. Fowl is another word for bird, especially one that can be eaten as food such as a duck or a chicken. It's homophone foul means unpleasant or disgusting.
6. If a bird ruffles its feathers, it makes them stand out on its body, for example when cleaning itself or when it is frightened. The figurative expression to ruffle someone's feathers means to cause them to become very angry, nervous or upset. • His direct, often abrasive approach will doubtless ruffle a few feathers.
From The English Blog
WORDBUILDING
WORD FORMATION - PREFIXES & SUFFIXES, by Carlos Reis
Find this and other parts of speech exercises in English Exercises .org
SPORTS PLAYED IN BRITAIN
SPORTS IN BRITAIN
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Today's Word/phrase:
a long shot
something which you think will not work but you'll try anyway
- It's a long shot, I can't see it working but let's try anyway.
Recent Words of the Day
to jump the gun
to say something too early before you know if it's right
- We need to tell Sarah but we have to get all the facts first we mustn't jump the gun and get it wrong.
on target
going to achieve your goals
- Our latest figures show that we are on target to reach this month's sales forecast
ADJECTIVES FOR DESCRIBING PERSONALITY
50 adjectives to describe the personality
in English and Spanish.
| English | Spanish |
| ambitious | ambicioso |
| annoying | pesado |
| argumentative, quarrelsome | discutidor |
| bad-tempered | malhumorado |
| big-headed | creído, engreído |
| bitchy | de mala leche, venenoso; |
| brave | valiente |
| cantankerous | cascarrabias |
| carefree | despreocupado |
| careless | descuidado, poco cuidadoso |
| cautious | prudente, cauteloso, cauto; |
| charming | encantador |
| cheerful | alegre, jovial; |
| conceited, full of oneself | presumido |
| conservative | conservador |
| conventional | convencional |
| cowardly | cobarde |
| crazy, nuts | loco, chiflado |
| cruel | cruel |
| dull, boring | soso, aburrido |
| flirtatious | coqueta |
| friendly | amigable, simpático, agradable |
| generous | generoso |
| hard-working | trabajador |
| honest | honesto |
| kind | amable |
| laid-back | tranquilo, relajado |
| lazy | perezoso, vago |
| loyal | fiel |
| mean | tacaño |
| modest | modesto |
| moody | de humor cambiante |
| naive | ingenuo, inocentón |
| naughty (children) | malo, travieso (niños) |
| open-minded: narrow-minded: | de actitud abierta, sin prejuicios de mentalidad cerrada, intolerante; |
| pious | piadoso |
| polite | cortés, educado |
| proud | orgulloso |
| reliable: he’s a very reliable person | fiable, confiable: es una persona en la que se puede confiar |
| self-confident: to be self-confident | seguro de sí mismo: tener confianza en sí mismo |
| selfish | egoísta |
| sensible | sensato, prudente; |
| sensitive | sensible |
| shy - introverted | tímido, vergonzoso - introvertido |
| strict | estricto, severo, riguroso |
| stubborn | terco, testarudo, tozudo |
| sympathetic (understanding) | comprensivo |
| talkative | conversador, hablador |
| trustworthy | digno de confianza |
| two-faced | falso |
| weird | raro, extraño |
PLANNING A HOLIDAY
Planning a holiday
Many people take their main holiday in summer, and although some people choose a last-minute break, others plan their holiday months in advance.
The beginning of the year is a good time for people to start looking at holiday brochures. Tour operators (companies that organise holidays) as well as travel agents (the people that sell holidays) give lots of information about holiday destinations and types of holiday. Apart from the traditional two-week beach holiday, you can choose from a range of holidays: a cruise (holiday on a ship), an activity holiday (a holiday that involves walking, cycling, climbing or other sports), a city break (a weekend or a few days in a different city) and so on.
A lot of people choose a package holiday, where flights and accommodation are included in the price. But many people prefer an independent holiday, where they make their own travel arrangements.
If you travel independently, you will need to book your flights or train tickets.
Unless you have an onward destination, you will probably book a return journey. Then you will need to make a reservation at a hotel, or another place to stay, such as a campsite (if you are camping in a tent), or a caravan site (if you are staying in a caravan), or a B&B (a bed and breakfast).
For all types of foreign holidays, it is essential that you check you have all your travel documents. Make sure your passport hasn't expired, and that you have a visa if necessary. If you are travelling to some countries, you also need to make sure that all your vaccinations (protection against illness) are up to date. For some countries you might need a vaccination against hepatitis, or yellow fever, for example.
As your departure date gets nearer, you can start to plan the details of your journey. Perhaps it will be a good idea to buy a guide book, or a phrase book, if you don't speak much of the local language. Some people like to read up on (= get lots of background information) on where they are going, and find out about the places of interest and "must-see" sights. It's also fun to make a packing list, so you don't forget any vital clothes or toiletries.
It's also a good idea to buy local currency in advance, if your flight gets in (= arrives) in the middle of the night, when no banks are open. Most airlines also advise you to take out (=get) travel insurance just in case your flight is delayed or cancelled, or if you get ill and need to be repatriated (sent back to your country).
Don't forget to make arrangements for your pets and your house while you're away. Put your dog into kennels (a dog hotel), and leave a key with your neighbour just in case! Hopefully your neighbour will keep an eye on your house while you're on holiday! Finally, get to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Nowadays it can take much longer to get through security and onto the plane.
Have a nice trip and send your neighbour a postcard!
FROM THE WEB PAGE
IDIOMS.
An idiom is an expression,word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.
For example: in the English expression "to kick the bucket" a listener knowing only the meanings of kick and bucket would be unable to deduce the expression's true meaning: to die.
Here we have two more useful examples.
English tricks
We are going to learn some new words. ( el inglés que se escucha en la calle)
Slack
Lisa, where’s your homework?
Uhmm, I didn’t do it. I’ve been slacking.
(Lisa, dónde están tus deberes?
Uhmm, no los he hecho. He estado haciendo el vago)
Pass with flying colors
Stop studying! You are prepared enough, you’ll pass with flying colors, trust me.
(Para de estudiar! Estás suficientemente preparado, aprobarás con los ojos cerrados, confía en mí)
Catch up on something
I’ve been traveling and now I have to catch up on my reading.
(He estado viajando y ahora tengo que ponerme al día con la lectura)
Take it easy
A: I have so much work to do!
B: Just start from the beginning and then we’ll see. Take it easy.
(A: Tengo mucho trabajo por hacer!
B: Solo tienes que empezar por el principio y luego ya veremos. Tómatelo con calma!)
You crack me up
“You crack me up”
(“Me parto de risa contigo”, “Me muero de la risa contigo” o “Me mondo de risa”)
Heads up
A: Heads up! The teacher is coming!
B: Wow! that was close, thanks for the heads up!
(A: Cuidado! Se acerca el profesor!
B: Vaya! por poco, gracias por el aviso!)
Piss off!
A: I like your new shoes, did your mom get them for you?
B: Piss off!
(A: Me gustan tus nuevos zapatos, te los ha comprado tu mamá?
B: Que te den!)
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