Splitting ____________ – argue over tiny details/be too precise about little things Choose the right answer: hairs hair nail nails scroll down for the answer scroll some more The right answer is: Zechariah Judy hairs. (This expression comes from the idea that hairs are too thin to… Continue reading Instant Idiom: splitting ___________
By Jacqueline Schaalje Wrote Many of my students who come to me to practise their speaking tell me their problem is not with professional presentations. They are an ace explaining their job in professional language. They know all the jargon, the special words that are used in their field. Where is their problem? They’re afraid… Continue reading Lots of Tips for Small Talk
knot (noun) [pronounce not] – a tie (of material or people) knot (verb) – to tie into a knot knotty (adjective) – complicated David Merrett Here are some examples of how you can use it: These garbage bags have drawstrings that you can tie with a knot to close them. The cat’s hairball (= the stuff they throw… Continue reading Word to the Wise: knot
By Jacqueline Schaalje Illustrations by Akau Anyieth Now some more about have in the meaning of have someone do something for you. If you’ve read the article about have, you know that this sentence: “I have my gardener take care of my garden,” means that the gardener is doing my garden because I asked him to.… Continue reading Get Someone to Do Something for You
gullible (adjective) – naïve, believes things easily gullibility (noun) – naiveté gullibly (adverb) – naively Jirka Matousek Here are some examples of how you can use it: Gullible tourists thought they were buying thousands-year-old antiquities, but in fact they were mass-produced at a factory. Aren’t you ashamed taking advantage of a young gullible teenager? I was… Continue reading Word to the Wise: gullible
By Jacqueline Schaalje Fly Flew – Katmary A student of mine asked me for a list of common verbs, with their past forms, because he keeps getting confused. Here is the list that I made for him. You could find this useful too. Common verbs that are regular: Present Past Talk Talked Walk Walked Work… Continue reading Word List of Common Verbs – Present and Past Forms
haywire (noun) – not working in the right way, also figuratively: mad You usually say: to go haywire. Sarah Rosenau Korf Here are some examples of how you can use it: Are you afraid of robots going haywire? That is the subject of a lot of SF movies. In the chaos after the earthquake, the government… Continue reading Word to the Wise: haywire
By Jacqueline Schaalje PortoBay Hotels & Resorts In this article you’ll learn some basic hotel language and how to make a reservation for a room. Booking a Room I know you can book a room on the internet and not speak to a single person, but you’ll need to know the words anyway. And in… Continue reading Hotel English: Booking a Room
By Jacqueline Schaalje This is fresh from my Teaching lab! Talking to students about room and rooms, and time and times, I realized that they didn’t always understand what I meant. And the reason is that these words can have different meanings, which can be confusing. Maybe you have this problem too, so let’s have… Continue reading Problems with Time and Room
The ____________ hour – the first hour or so after a serious accident in which medical treatment can give the patient a chance to survive Choose the right answer: blue white black golden scroll down for the answer scroll some more The right answer is: Eugene… Continue reading Instant Idiom: The ____________ hour
English with a Smile 