Today’s blog for English students is an opportunity to turn typical day to day British conversation which is often misinterpreted into simple language.
1. Chelsea has just scored a goal against Manchester United in the cup final.
Jack jumps out of his seat, turns to the Manchester United supporter, and says sarcastically, “Gordon Bennett, mate! In it balderdash?”
So, the question is who does Jack support, and what does his comment mean?
2. Jill is out on the town with her friends. While she is walking along the high street from pub to pub, a Lamborghini Sian goes by them.
She stares at the green Sian with eyes wide open, turns to her friends and remarks, “Blimey, the bee’s knees!”
So, what does she mean?
3. Her fiancé told her to economize on a wedding dress. She got upset by her groom’s remarks.
“John, how could you? I want the cream of the crop!”
So, what does she mean?
Whatever your situation there should be a few phrases, similes, and metaphors on the tip of your tongue.
The English language is special whilst poetic, and there are more words than most languages. It is rich in words that vary slightly in meaning or that have differing connotations (subtle meanings).
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Vocabulary builder:
Gordon Bennett (idiom) = surprise, contempt, outrage, disgust
"Gordon Bennett" is an English-language idiomatic phrase used to express surprise, contempt, outrage, disgust, or frustration.
Mate (n) = friend, pal, buddy, companion, comrade, chum, (ant) rival
Balderdash (n) = nonsense, boloney, garbage, rubbish, tripe, twaddle, hogwash, (ant) sense
Blimey (exclamation) = informal British English used to express one's surprise, excitement, or alarm. British slang known as an exclamation of surprise or annoyance.
The bee’s knees (idiom) = an outstandingly good person or thing, to be excellent or of an extremely high standard.
Cream of the crop (idiom) = the best of the best, individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class. He was certain that the judges would recognize his show rabbit as the cream of the crop.
Phrases = a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit, typically forming a component of a clause.
Similes = a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion, or crazy like a fox).
Examples of Similes Using “as” or “like”
That knife is as sharp as a razor. It fits like a glove.
He's as sick as a dog. She chatters like a monkey.
It was as big as an elephant. He moves like a snail.
She's as cold as ice. They eat like pigs.
He's as good as gold. My son swims like a fish.
Metaphors = a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
1. She has got a heart of stone = is a sign that she is not warm, loving, or compassionate.
2. It’s the apple of my eye = something that the speaker loves more than anything else in the world.
3. You are my sun = from Shakespeare when he compared Juliet to the sun in Romeo and Juliet. Describing someone as the sun is a way to elevate their level of importance.