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Phrase of the Day 100: 'see a man about a dog'
2007-06-14 11:27:00
"See a man about a dog"definition: if you tell someone you are going to see a man about a dog, it is a way of saying that you do not want to tell them where you are really going.example: "Steve didn't want Jana to know that he was going to buy drugs so he told her that he was going to see a man about a dog."origin: The expression comes from the 1866 play 'Flying Scud' by Irish-born playwright Dion Boucicault. One of the characters uses the words as an excuse to get away from a tricky situation. This character says: "Excuse me Mr. Quail, I can't stop; I've got to see a man about a dog".
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AAE Q71: a few questions
2007-06-13 19:43:00
Hello,I have couple of questions.ThanksJán1. I saw this:"I can swim like a fish." but "It is as sweet as honey." Why do you use like in the first sentence and as in the second one? - I think they both refer to simile.Both of these expressions are similes."I can swim like a fish." means that I can swim similarly to a fish"It is as sweet as honey" means that it is the same level of sweetness as honey.Simile - a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with `like' or `as'). It is still a simile when you compare two things as being similar (using like) or as being the same (using as).2. What is the difference between plenty of and enough, for example "plenty of glasses" or "enough glasses"If you have 'plenty of glasses' you have more than enough. For example if you are having a party and invite twenty people. 30 glasses would be plenty.If you have 'enough glasses' you have a sufficient or adequate number of glasses. In th...
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AAE Q70: 'Have a good day'
2007-06-13 19:29:00
Hello Matt,I would like to ask you - Is it usual or common to use "Have a good day"? What is the actual meaning of this phrase?Thanks for your answer.MirekHi Mirek,From my experience the phrase "Have a good day!" is quite common. In fact, I use it almost everyday in the morning when I say goodbye to my students. Practically it means: "Have a good 'rest of the' day.example: Jana: Good bye, see you next week.John: Bye and have a good day!Jana: Thanks, you tooIt may also be used to end an informal e-mail or sms, for example:That's fine. See you tomorrow at 5pm. Have a good day! MattHope this helpsM

Phrase of the Day 99: 'fly off the handle'
2007-06-13 19:23:00
"to fly off the handle"definition: to go into a rage; to react in a very angry way to something someone says or does(ztratit nervy; vyletìt)example: "John McEnroe would often fly off the handle at the tennis judges for any close decisions."origin: The origin for this expression comes from U.S. frontier settlers. While repairing something, their axe head would sometimes come loose and fly off the handle. This was not only dangerous, but also held up work for others until it was fixed - much to the annoyance of all.
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AAE Q69: 'open'
2007-06-11 22:59:00
Hi Matt,Sorry to bother you, I saw in a textbook this sentence: "The shops are open 24 hours."Why not are opened - isn´t this a passive?MiriamHi Miriam,The confusion here is because 'open' is both an adjective and a verb.In the sentence above the adjective is used. To use the verb 'open' would be difficult because opening something is usually a single action: "The shops are opened at 9am" (meaning that someone opens the shops at 9am).I hope this answers your
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Phrase of the Day 98: 'egg on your face'
2007-06-10 20:55:00
"to have egg on your face" definition: to be embarrassed.(vypadat hloupe/jako hlupák; být za vola)example: "Make sure you have your story straight - go public without the facts and you will have egg on your face."origin: From the embarrassment suffered if the yellow yoke is on ones lips or beard after eating a soft boiled egg in one of those egg cups, a favorite breakfast of the upper crust. Yellow egg shows up especially well on a beard or mustache.
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AAE Q68: 'update' vs 'upgrade'
2007-06-10 19:26:00
Hi MattI would like to ask you what's the difference between upgrade and update Thanks JosefHi Josef To upgrade: to replace (a program or device) with a more recently released, better version. Upgrades are major revisions.To update: to add and delete elements of data (to a program or device), bringing it more up-to-date. Update s are often small bug fixesTo give you an example: My computer uses Windows XP and every few weeks I get some updates from Microsoft, but eventually I might want to upgrade to Windows Vista.Hope this answers your questionM

AAE Q67: 'how do you do?'
2007-06-10 02:43:00
Hello! I would like to ask you - When can I use the phrase:"How do you do!" When I meet someone for the first time, or when I meet an old friend, or my boss? Isn´t the phrase a bit old-fashioned, too? Thanks for answer.MiriamHi,The phrase "How do you do?" is similar to saying "Nice to meet you" or "Pleased to meet you" and is used when you meet someone for the first time (when you are being introduced to someone). I think the phrase is quite old-fashioned and I personally have never used it. In this situation I normally say "Pleased to meet you".Hope this helpsMHi Matt,how shall I politely react on "How do you do"?Some time ago we learnt at school that when somebody says it to you you should only repeat it and that´s all...So where´s the kernel of Poodle :-DRomanHi Roman,You are correct that it is most common to reply with"How do you do?"However it is also fine to reply with the phrase"Pleased to meet you".M

Phrase of the Day 97: 'tie the knot'
2007-06-08 11:27:00
"to tie the knot"definition: to get married.(praštit do toho)example: "I understand you want a baby, but don't you think you should tie the knot first. In fact maybe you should get a girlfriend first."origin: Some marriage ceremonies actually tie together the wrists of the bride and groom. Webster defines "tie" as "to unite in marriage".
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Facts about the UK
2007-06-08 01:03:00
General:Full Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandGeographic Coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W Flag: The U nion Flag (Union Jack)Type of Government: Constitutional monarchyHead of State: Queen Elizabeth II Capital City: London (population: 6,770,400) is the capital of the UK and of England. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. Cardiff is the capital of Wales. Main Cities: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, CardiffHighest mountain: Ben Nevis in Scotland, at 1,343m (4,406 ft)Longest river: The Severn, 322 km long, which rises in central Wales and flows through Shrewsbury, Worcester and Gloucester in England to the Bristol Channel. Largest lake:Lough Neagh 396sq.km (153 sq miles) Deepest Lake:Loch Morar in the Highlands of Scotland, 310 m (1,017 ft) deepHighest waterfall: Eas a'Chual Aluinn, from Glas Bheinn, also in the Highlands of Scotland, with a drop of 200 m (660 ft)Deepest cave: Ogof Ffynnon...
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World Happiness
2007-06-07 23:41:00
This is the first time a map of global happiness has been published.
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Britain's Dreams
2007-06-07 22:54:00
This is from an article in the IndependantHappiness of friends and family most important to BritonsBritons have little regard for wealth and fame and aspire instead to a comfortable life and happy family, a study has found.The survey of the nation's dreams and aspirations revealed that most people sought happiness from close personal relationships rather than material gain.Britons' top aspiration is for family and friends to be happy and successful (29.9 per cent) followed by financial security and a comfortable life (27.2 per cent), compared with 6 per cent who crave celebrity and wealth, The National Lottery Dream Study found. Don Slater of the London School of Economics, who led the study, said: "Popular culture suggests that our dreams are in the main about great wealth, celebrity, power and fame."Across all phases of the research we found the opposite is true. People's dreams are generally rather modest, on the whole realistic - an extension of who they are and how they live...
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Phrasal Verbs: make
2007-05-18 14:19:00
make * out decipher I can't make out your handwriting. What does this say? make * out + write a check or other document Who should I make this check out to? make out succeed He really made out in the stock market last year. make out progress How is your son making out in his new job? make out kiss passionately I saw Benno and Isabelle making out in the movie theater last night! make out with + kiss someone passionately Did you make out with Sally? make * over do again The teacher made me do my homework over. make * up + invent ( a story) Don't believe anything she says. She always makes things up. make * up + complete what was missed Fortunately, my professor let me make up the exam I missed yesterday. make * up + put on cosmetics I takes me 10 minutes to make my face up. make up reconcile You two have been friends for so long that I think you should make up. make up for + compensate for Allen made up for being late by get...
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Phrasal Verbs: put
2007-04-18 14:16:00
put * across + communicate (an idea or suggestion) clearly so that it is understood I thought Ms. Smith put her ideas across rather clearly in the meeting. put * away + return to the proper place of storage I told you kids to put your toys away. put * down + insult, say bad things about She always puts down people who don't share her opinions. put in + officially submit a request (in the armed forces or public services) He put in for a transfer to the division in Los Angeles. put * off + postpone Don't put off your work - do it now! put * on + wear Make sure you put on a sweater before you go outside. put * on + deceive I didn't believe a thing he said. I think he was putting me on. put * out + extinguish (a fire) Don't use water to put out a grease fire. put * out + inconvenience someone I don't want to put you out, but could you pick me up at the airport. put out + spend (usually used with unreasonably large sums of money) I can...
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Phrasal Verbs: check
2007-03-18 13:16:00
check back return to see if everything is OK We will check back tomorrow to make sure the project is finished. check by + go to a place to see if everything is OK We need to check by the office to see if the documents are ready. check for + try to find They checked for termites before they bought the house. check in enter a hospital, hotel etc. They need to check in before noon. check into + enter a hospital, hotel etc. They checked into the hotel at 11:00 AM. check into + investigate, look for (often through a service) We are checking into discount flights to London. check * off + make a mark next to (an item on a list) Check each name off the list. check on + make sure something is OK Let's check on the baby again before we go to sleep. check * out + investigate, take a look at He checked out the new restaurant down the street. check out leave a hotel, hospital It's already eleven. We need to check out. check out of + leave a ...
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Phrasal Verbs: Get
2007-01-28 02:32:00
get * across + cause to be understood It's difficult to get humor across in another language. get ahead make progress I can't get ahead even though I work two jobs. get ahead of + surpass You need to work overtime in order to get ahead of schedule. get along have a good relationship Do you and your sister get along? get along with + have a good relationship Giovanna doesn't get along with her two brothers. get around + avoid someone or something Some people get around paying taxes by hiring a good accountant. get around go many places It's easy to get around town with public transportation. get away escape The bank robbers got away. get away with + do something against the rules or illegal and not get caught or punished My sister gets away with everything! get by survive without having the things you need or want I lost my job, so I am having a hard time getting by this year. get by on + survive with minimal resources It's nea...
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