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AAE Q81: 'to rock'
2007-07-11 14:56:00
HiI get stuck with the word "rock". Like 'rock your body', 'rock your desktop'.What does it mean?The www.thefreedictionary.com didn`t help me. LubosHi LubosThe verb 'to rock' has many unusual meaningsto daze with or as if with a vigorous blow: 'a hard right rocked the contender' to astonish or disturb greatly: 'the scandal rocked the community'to rouse to excitement (as by performing rock music): 'the band rocked the crowd' to sing, dance to, or play rock music: 'rock your body'to be extremely enjoyable, pleasing, or effective: 'her new car rocks'. 'rock your desktop'Therefore I would say that 'rock your body' often means 'dance' and 'rock your desktop' means to improve your desktop (make it enjoyable and 'cool')Hope this helpsM
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Phrase of the Day 112: 'piss poor'
2007-07-09 21:18:00
"that's piss poor!"definition: if something is described as being "piss poor" it means it is extremely bad or terrible.(spatny)example: "Hey mate you are piss poor at chess!"
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British Culture: Teenage Pregnancy
2007-07-09 01:22:00
Britain has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in western Europe, twice that of Germany, three times higher than France and six times that of the Netherlands. While the rest of the continent has seen dramatic falls in teenage parenthood since the early 80s, the UK's rate has remained high since 1977. Each year, around 56,000 babies are born to teenage mothers in Britain with nearly 8,000 conceived by girls under 16 and 2,200 by under 14-year-olds. The difficulty of solving the problem is made worse by the fact that there is no single identifiable reason for such high rates. Poverty, poor educational opportunities, being born to a teenage mother, and lack of work opportunities are all factors, while rates of pregnancy have been found to be highest among the most vulnerable girls, those in deprived areas and those in care. One recent report, for the National Children's Bureau, showed a quarter of girls leave local authority care pregnant with a further quarter becoming pregnant wit...
More About: Culture , Pregnancy , British , Teenage , Teenage Pregnancy

AAE Q80: beggars can't be choosers
2007-07-08 23:25:00
Hi Matt, What does "beggars can´t be choosers" mean?Maybe it´s not correct but I hope you understand...Thank youHi,"beggars can't be choosers" definition: people who are in great need must accept any help that is offered, even if it is not a complete solution to their problems.example: "I can't afford a new car. A second hand car will have to do--beggars can't be choosers. "This expression was familiar enough to be included in John Heywood's 1546 collection of proverbs.ThanksM
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Phrasal Verbs: S
2007-07-07 13:30:00
save * up + accumulate (money) I hope I will be able to save up enough money to go to school. see about + arrange or consider something My dad said he was going to see about buying me a car. see * off say good-bye to someone at the beginning of their trip (at the airport, train station) Did you see your sister off at the train station? see to + make sure something happens, arrange I'll see to it that Mr. Ramirez gets your message. see * through finish something despite difficulties Are you going to be able to see your studies through now that you have a baby? sell * out tell on someone My partner in crime sold me out for a reduced jail sentence. set * up arrange a relationship My mom set me up with her friend's son. set * up falsely incriminate a person I don't think he killed those men. Somebody set him up. set up + arrange (an appointment, a meeting,etc.) I set up an appointment with my doctor at 3:30 this afternoon. settle on + ...
More About: Phrasal Verbs , Rasa

Phrase of the Day 111: 'cost a bomb'
2007-07-04 14:33:00
"to cost a bomb" definition: if something costs a bomb it means that it is really expensive. example: "I can't afford to buy the flat screen telly that I want because it costs a bomb".
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Phrase of the Day 110: 'crikey'
2007-07-03 15:29:00
"Crikey!"definition: 'crikey' is an exclamation of surprise; similar to 'Wow!'(jejda!)example: "Crikey! Look how tall that man is!"
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Phrase of the Day 109: 'wind someone up'
2007-07-02 22:28:00
"to wind someone up"definition: if you are winding someone up, it means you are making fun of them.(dráždit, škádlit, dobírat si koho)example: "I'm sorry I didn't mean to say you are stupid; I was just winding you up"
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AAE Q80: The Most Used English Words
2007-07-02 12:54:00
Hi, Do you know page or pages somewhere on the internet where I can find most used english words??Thank youPavelHi,I actually have two lists on this site. The Top 200 Most Used English Words The 96 Most Used Verbs in EnglishThere is another site which lists the most common English words hereCheersMatt

AAE Q79: How old is English?
2007-07-02 00:53:00
Hi!!!Please, how old is English language? ThanksPetraHi Petra,English is a West Germanic language that originated from the Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to Britain by Germanic settlers and Roman auxiliary troops from northwest Germany and the Northern Netherlands. Britain was settled by these speakers around the year 450 AD. If we use this as a starting point, the English language is just over 1,500 years old.450–1100 Old English (Anglo-Saxon) – The language of Beowulf.1100–1500 Middle English – The language of Chaucer.1500–1650 Early Modern English (or Renaissance English) – The language of Shakespeare.1650–present Modern English (or Present-Day English) – The language as spoken today.Please click here to see more info about the history of the English Language.Hope this helpsM

Phrase of the Day 108: 'All right?'
2007-07-01 20:12:00
"All right?" definition: This is used a lot around London and the south to mean, "Hello, how are you"? You would say it to a complete stranger or someone you knew. The normal response would be for them to say "All right?" back to you. It is said as a question. Sometimes it might get expanded to "all right mate"?(jak se mas?) example: J: "All right? Bill"B:" Not bad mate, you?"
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Modern British Families (BBC)
2007-07-01 15:38:00
Modern British Families Listen to the story Father leaves for work in the morning after breakfast. The two children take the bus to school, and mother stays at home cooking and cleaning until father and the kids return home in the evening. This is the traditional picture of a happy family living in Britain. But is it true today? The answer is - no! The past 20 years have seen enormous changes in the lives and structures of families in Britain, and the traditional model is no longer true in many cases. The biggest change has been caused by divorce. As many as 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce, leading to a situation where many children live with one parent and only see the other at weekends or holidays. There has also been a huge rise in the number of mothers who work. The large rise in div...
More About: Modern , Lies

Phrase of the Day 107: 'like a bear with a sore head'
2007-06-29 18:35:00
"Like a bear with a sore head"definition: if someone's like a bear with a sore head, they complain a lot and are unhappy about something.example: "John is in a really bad mood today; he is like a bear with a sore head"
More About: Head , The D , Bear

AAE Q78: 'like to do' vs 'like doing'
2007-06-29 17:33:00
Hi,I saw this in a textbook. (It was an article about "my kind of entertainment")"I like to get lost in a film and forget my worries."Why not I like getting lost ....?We learnt at school that after like in this type of sentences we should use "ing-forms" Would it have another meaning? Thank you for your answer.HiFirstly both like + infinitive (like to get) and like + -ing (like getting) are possible. In most cases there is no significant difference in meaning.In British English, there is sometimes a difference between "I like doing" and "I like to do" : I like doing something means that generally I enjoy it.I like to do something can mean it is a regular habit or I think it is good or right to do it.I like living here (I enjoy living here generally)Mary likes peoples to be on time (she thinks it is a good idea for them to be on time).I like swimming. (In general) I like to swim in the mornings (regular).Note: The difference between the two are very slight. As a non-native speaker...
More About: Like , Doing , To Do

Phrase of the Day 106: 'drop a clanger'
2007-06-28 12:29:00
"to drop a clanger"definition: to make an embarrassing mistake(blbost, faux pas)example: "When I asked a large lady on the tube if she would like my seat since she was so obviously pregnant, she took the seat then told me she was fat, not pregnant! I really dropped a clanger."
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AAE Q77: 'directions, fruit and vegetable'
2007-06-27 23:20:00
Hello!Please, in a situation of "asking the way" you would say:"go past the bank", "past the bank", "go pass the bank", "pass the bank" - are all expressions correct?, is there any difference among them? "Go past the bank" and "past the bank" are both correct and basically the same (here past is a preposition) "Pass the bank" is unusual. It would probably be better to say "you'll pass the bank" (you will go past the bank). "Go pass the bank" is not possible. (pass is a verb)Also, I would like to ask you if I can use words "fruit" and "vegetables" both in singular and plural and vice versa and then what are their meanings? The noun “fruit” can be either countable or uncountable, depending on context. It is usually uncountable when we speak of “fruit” in a non-specific way, for example in the sentence: “We must eat five servings of fruit and vegetables every day.” Even when many different kinds are involved, we can still use “fruit” as an uncountable noun, fo...
More About: Fruit , Vegetable , Directions , Dire , Rect

Phrase of the Day 105: 'give someone a bell'
2007-06-27 15:49:00
"to give someone a bell" definition: to call/telephone someone(telefonovat)example: "Bye Nick, I'll give you a bell next week"
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AAE Q77: Punctuation
2007-06-26 12:39:00
Hello, I would like to get some info about the rules of English punctuation.Or a link where I could find any useful rules.Thanks a lot!cheers,IvaHi Iva,Although there are general rules for English punctuation, there are differences of styles between, for example, British and American English, some publishers and some writers. Here is a general advice for using punctuation correctly.End your sentences with a full stop (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!). Use the full stop to mark the end of a statement. It is one of the most commonly used punctuation marks. The accessibility of the computer has increased tremendously over the past several years. The question mark ( ? ), used at the end of a sentence, suggests an interrogatory remark or inquiry. What has humanity done about the growing concern of global warming? The exclamation mark ( ! ) suggests excitement or emphasis in a sentence.I can't believe how difficult the exam was!Use the semicolon and colon properly. The sem...

Phrase of the Day 104: 'cold turkey'
2007-06-25 14:38:00
"to go cold turkey"definition: to quit something abruptly. (usually some type of drug)(absták)example: You will not lose weight until you give up chocolate - I suggest you go cold turkey.origin: The expression originates from the goose bumps and palor which accompany withdrawal from narcotics or tobacco. One's skin resembles that of a plucked, cold turkey.
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Phrasal Verbs: hold
2007-06-25 00:05:00
hold * back + restrain The police held the demonstrators back while the politicians entered the building. hold back not allow to advance in school The teacher held Frank back a year, so he couldn't enter fifth grade. hold * off + restrain Mr. Johnson held the dog off while we crossed the yard. hold off on + delay We should hold off on making dinner until your parents arrive. hold on grasp tightly Hold on tight! The roller coaster is about to take off. hold on tell someone to wait on the telephone Hold on a minute. I'll get Carol. hold on to + grasp tightly Make sure you hold on to the hand rail as you walk down the stairs. hold out not give in, continue to resist Stop holding out and tell us where you found all of these old records. hold out against + not give in, resist They held out against enemy attack. hold * up + delay (a flight, traffic); The accident held traffic up for an hour. hold * up + rob (a bank, a person) with a w...
More About: Phrasal Verbs , Rasa

Phrase of the Day 103: 'barking up the wrong tree'
2007-06-24 03:46:00
"to be barking up the wrong tree"definition: to be following a dead end path, pursuing an incorrect lead or assumption.(být vedle, mýlit se, netrefit se, být mimo mísu)example: "If you think those gloves will convict OJ, you are barking up the wrong tree."origin: This phrase comes from the USA and originates in the practice of racoon hunting. Raccoons are partly nocturnal animals and are hunted with dogs. The raccoons often take hide in trees. When the dogs see them up a tree they stand at the base and bark - occasionally, in the dark, they get the wrong tree.
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AAE Q76: 'involve /engage, manage /succeed'
2007-06-21 11:25:00
Hi again,Can you tell me diference between involve and engage? and manage and succeed?Thanks a lot RadkaHi Radka,Sorry for the delay in answering. Manage and SucceedManage and succeed can both mean the same: to be successful or to achieve a goal. The difference is how they work in combination with other verbs:manage + infinitivesucceed + in + gerund"I managed to carry the box upstairs""I succeeded in carrying the box upstairs"Involve and Engage Again both of these verbs can have the same meaning: to participate. Engage is the formal of the two and suggests that they are more mentally involved in a task. However essentially they are synonyms.Hope this helpsM
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Phrase of the Day 102: 'over the hill'
2007-06-20 23:44:00
"to be over the hill"definition: to be past your prime, to be old.(nebýt už nejmladší)example: "Every time I see these kids and their baseball caps I can't help but feel over the hill."origin: A reference to a journey over a hill. Once you reach the top of the hill and begin your journey down, you have past the midpoint and are on the downside or decline (over the hill). With age, once you have past your peak, you are on the downside.
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Phrasal Verbs: give
2007-06-20 12:30:00
give * away + give something without asking for anything in exchange Why did Nancy give all of her furniture away? give * away + betray (a secret) We are having a surprise party for Susan next Saturday, so don't give our surprise away by acting suspicious. give * back + return something you borrowed When are you going to give that book back to your teacher? give in stop trying Never give in! You can do it! give off + release (a smell, light) That white flower gives off a beautiful smell. give * out + distribute I earn extra money by giving out brochures on the street. give out become very tired (inf.) I hope this car doesn't give out in the middle of the desert. give * up + surrender something The police told the thief to give his gun up. give up surrender Never give up learning English!
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AAE Q75: 'chat to/with'
2007-06-18 15:59:00
Hi,Which is correct "chatting with you" or "chatting to you"?TerraHi,Both are correct, but there is a very slight difference in meaning.Chat ting WITH implies a give-and-take. You are engaging in that activity along with another person.Chatting TO, on the other hand, comes across as you, alone. You can chat, or talk, TO anything - it doesn't have to talk back.When you talk TO people, they listen. When you talk WITH someone, they talk back. Same with chatting.I hope this helps.Matt

AAE Q74: 'heart-shaped'
2007-06-18 15:54:00
Hello there,Which is correct? "I saw a heart shaped face boy" or I saw a heart shape faced boy" OR are both wrong?MelHi MelThe correct sentence would be "I saw a heart-shaped faced boy"However I think it would just be easier to say "I saw a boy with a heart-shaped face"Hope this helpsM
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Phrasal Verbs: take
2007-06-18 14:11:00
take after + resemble a parent or relative I take after my father. Who do you take after? take * away + remove, seize or capture The soldiers took the captives away. take * back + retract something you said I demand that you take back what you said. take * back + return an item to a store The dress my grandmother bought for me didn't fit, so I took it back and exchanged it for a pair of pants. take * down + write down what is said Would you mind taking down my messages while I am on vacation? take * down + remove (from a high place) The city government made the shop take down their bright, neon sign. take * for consider, view as Do you take me for an idiot? take * in + learning Are you taking in all of these phrasal verbs? take * in + deceive a person He was taken in by the con artist. take * in + make smaller when sewing I lost weight, so I need to take some of my skirts to the tailor to have them taken in. take * off when a plane...
More About: Phrasal Verbs , Rasa

Phrase of the Day 101: 'gone to the dogs'
2007-06-18 13:52:00
"to go to the dogs"definition: to go to ruin; to be ruined; to worsen in appearance, character or behaviour(jít od devíti k peti; být na tom cím dál hùr)examples: "John has really gone to the dogs since his girlfriend left him""This area has really gone to the dogs since the factory closed"origin: This is an analogy to the scraps of waste food etc that were thrown to dogs from medieval baronial dining tables. They were of no other use. Thus, if someone is said to have 'gone to the dogs', he is also regarded as worthless.
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AAE Q73: a few questions from Miriam
2007-06-18 01:29:00
Hi MattPlease, what does exactly this sentence mean: (I saw it in a dialogue between two friends):"I´m so happy for you."Does it mean that I share your happiness together with you or I am delighted with you and proud of your success. And, please, how do you express that incorrect meaning.Hi. "I´m so happy for you." does mean that I share your happiness with you. It is normally said to a close friend or family member when something good has happened to them and you want to express that you are glad that they have had this good fortune.May I also ask you what is the difference between these tree expresions:fetch / pick upThe main difference between these two verbs is:fetch means to go and pick something up and then bring it back .The dog fetched the stick we had thrown (the dog ran, picked it up and brought it back)Can you fetch me a newspaper when you are at the shop? (can you go to the shop, buy me a newspaper and bring it back?)fall asleep / be asleepfalling asleep is the process...
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AAE Q72: 'a good weather'
2007-06-17 01:34:00
HiDo you say such a good weather or such good weather? thanks soo muchMarkyHi,We say 'such good weather' (weather is an uncountable noun and so you can't use a/an).For more information about countable and uncountable nouns click here.Hope this answers your question.Matt
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