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V.7.3 - Colloquial language

Which sounds right?

Average: 1.5 (230 votes)

When I lived in South Africa, I was fascinated to discover that when they hurt themselves they don’t say 'ouch', they say 'eina'! It got me thinking about other 'sounds' we make in English and their meanings. So here's a quick fun lesson on some English sounds. Can you decide what the literal meaning of each sound is? I hope you enjoy it!

Lesson by Caroline

Link: What's happening?

High-Intermediate Level - What are Euphemisms?

Average: 3.2 (25 votes)

Expression of the day: Neither here nor there

Average: 3.4 (21 votes)

This idiom is used at Upper Intermediate level.

When a fact or opinion is neither here nor there, it is not important.

Words that have the same meaning (synonyms) of neither here nor there are unimportant, inconsequential, irrelevant and immaterial.

Idiom of the day 'That's That'

Average: 1.7 (174 votes)

That's that

or 'that takes care of that'

Meaning: There is no more to be said or done; the matter is finished.

Example:

"Father said he wouldn't buy you a new car, and that's that." - I won't discuss it any longer.

"I've finished packing all the boxes, and that's that." - The task of packing the boxes is now finished.

Phrase of the day: 'Never Happier than when -ing'

Average: 3.3 (15 votes)

What do you like to do in your spare time (free time)? What activity makes you happy? Let's use 'swimming' as an example.

As you know, you can say "I love swimming" or "Swimming is my favourite activity".

Today, let's take a look a new phrase that you can use which shows your favourite activity:

Word of the day: Spick and Span

Average: 2.7 (26 votes)

Adjective: spick and span (also spick-and-span, spic and span)

Word of the day: Shambles

Average: 3.2 (18 votes)

Chat Room and SMS English

Average: 2.9 (86 votes)

The generation gap is a popular term used to describe differences between people of a younger generation and their elders, especially between a child and his or her parent's generation.

Once you have crossed the generation gap, you are old, out of touch and there is no way back!

Here's a good way of finding out if you are now on the other side of the generation gap:

Learn English Slang - 5 new words

Average: 3.9 (13 votes)

Here are 5 common English slang words. Remember that slang is very casual and should only be used in informal situations. These words are usually used by young-adults. I'll let you decide if you are too old to use them!

to cane

To do something at high speed or recklessly (British English only):

English for Angry Situations

Average: 1.7 (194 votes)

These are some useful adjectives, idioms and slang you can use the next time someone gets angry.

Angry Adjectives:

Here are some adjectives that we use that mean angry. They are show strong anger. They can be used in any situation - none of them are slang.