IdiomSite.com - Find out the meanings of common sayings English Glossary of Grammar Terms A fully cross-referenced English glossary of linguistic and grammatical terms. Each grammar definition contains an explanation and cross-references to other relevant grammar terms. Usable for both native speakers interested in language and linguistics, and students of English as a second language (ESL, EFL, ESOL, and EAP)English grammar terms of all levels from beginner to advanced. Search the Glossary of English Grammar Terms Browse by Category: Adjectives and Adverbs Articles Collocation Colligation Complement & Object Conditionals Conjunctions Determiners Direct & Indirect Speech Discourse Figure of Speech Functions & Text General Gerunds and Infinitives Learning and Teaching Literature Modals Nouns Parts of Speech Phonetics Phrasal Verbs Phrasal Verbs Prefixes & Suffixes Prepositions Pronouns Pronunciation Questions Readability Tests Relative Pronouns Spelling and Punctuation Varieties and Dialects Verbs and Tenses Vocabulary This English grammar glossary is under continual development.
Slangopedia: Slangordbok, slanglexikon, slangord, sköna ord, ordbok, uttryck och talesätt Word Spy Idioms – as clear as mud? Miranda Steel is a freelance ELT lexicographer and editor. She has worked as a Senior Editor for dictionaries for learners at OUP and has also worked for COBUILD. In this post, she looks at some of the weird and wonderful idioms in the English language. Idioms are commonly used in spoken and written English. Native English speakers are usually confident that their readers or listeners will recognize the idiom, so well-known phrases rarely need to be given in full. Some idioms can be shortened in other ways such as long story short (to cut a long story short). “Anyway, long story short, it turns out Drake isn’t really his father.” Sometimes only a fragment of the original idiom remains. Another common way of changing an idiom is to reverse its meaning. Many idioms are very versatile and can be changed in a variety of ways. “Why use a stick when a carrot will work better?” “Their approach is all stick and no carrot.” “They are using every carrot and stick at their disposal.” Like this:
75 Simple British Slang Phrases You Should Probably Start Using Oh, the Brits. No-one can snark quite like they do, and there are certain turns of phrase that are so utterly delightful, the rest of the world really should sit up and take note. Below are just a few common British phrases that you might like to work into your daily vernacular, as they can pepper any conversation with a little extra something. Aggro: Aggressive/in someone’s face.“Are you having a laugh?”: Statement of incredulity, like “you’ve got to be kidding”, and such. Now you know the British slangs, what about idioms? Featured photo credit: Underground via ShutterstockRead full content
Free Visual Dictionary & Thesaurus | Online Dictionary | Associated Words | Synonyms Dictionary at SnappyWords.com It’s an online interactive English dictionary and thesaurus that helps you find the meanings of words and draw connections to associated words. You can easily see the meaning of each by simply placing the mouse cursor over it. Why use Snappy Words visual dictionary? Easy to use dictionary and thesaurus. Learn how words associate in a visually interactive display. How do I use it? Type words in the search box and click Go or simply hit Enter. Place the mouse cursor over a word to view the meaning. What dictionary does Snappy Words use? The Snappy Words interface queries the WordNet lexical database developed by Princeton University and made available for students and language researchers. Useful Sites Another fun, free and interactive education application is the Madison Falls High School course which covers core high school subjects.
Cliche Finder Have you been searching for just the right cliché to use? Are you searching for a cliché using the word "cat" or "day" but haven't been able to come up with one? Just enter any words in the form below, and this search engine will return any clichés which use that phrase... Over 3,300 clichés indexed! What exactly is a cliche? This is Morgan, creator of the Cliche Finder. Or, you might like my crazy passion project: Spanish for Nerds: Learning Spanish via Etymologies! Back to cliches... if you would like to see some other Web sites about clichés? © S. Special thanks to Damien LeriAnd to Mike Senter Morgan's Web page
British Slang If you’re planning on visiting London in the future, you might just want to familiarise yourself with some British Slang expressions that are very commonly used by the British. They will be very useful particularly if you’re likely to be socialising with Londoners. 1. This famous expression is always used on trains and the London Underground (Tube). 2. “Mate” is British Slang used to refer to men. 3. If something is “naff”, it is very uncool. 4. This British Slang word is not to be confused with the film of the same title where the main characters removed all their clothes for a striptease act. 5. The literal meaning is larva, but it is also another word for food. 6. “I love Pringle Crisps. 7. When the English don’t like something, but don’t want to be rude they will say: ” I’m afraid that going to nightclubs is not my cup of tea”. 8. This is another British slang word for the UK currency, the pound. 9. 10. This basically means ‘thank you’. If you enjoyed this post, please share it. Shanthi
100 Words for Facial Expressions By Mark Nichol Face it — sometimes you must give your readers a countenance-based clue about what a character or a subject is feeling. First try conveying emotions indirectly or through dialogue, but if you must fall back on a descriptive term, try for precision: 1. Absent: preoccupied 2. Subscribe to Receive our Articles and Exercises via Email You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed! 12 Responses to “100 Words for Facial Expressions” Lucia Hello!
French Words and Expressions in English Updated October 16, 2015. Over the years, the English language has borrowed a great number of French words and expressions. Some of this vocabulary has been so completely absorbed by English that speakers might not realize its origins. Other words and expressions have retained their "Frenchness" - a certain je ne sais quoi which speakers tend to be much more aware of (although this awareness does not usually extend to actually pronouncing the word in French). The following is a list of French words and expressions which are commonly used in English. adieu "until God" Used like "farewell": when you don't expect to see the person again until God (when you die and go to Heaven) agent provocateur "provocative agent" A person who attempts to provoke suspected individuals or groups into committing unlawful acts aide-de-camp "camp assistant" A military officer who serves as a personal assistant to a higher-ranking officer aide-mémoire "memory aid" 1. amour-propre "self love" Self respect
a word a day A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg We equate French with sophistication and when we import French words into English, we look at them with rose-colored glasses. We often give them special meanings. In French, concubin/concubine are simply people living together. This week we'll feature five terms from French that relate to love, lust, and sex. risque or risqué (ri-SKAY) adjective: Bordering on indelicacy or impropriety, especially in a sexually suggestive manner. From Fremch risqué (risky), past participle of risquer (to risk). "A woman who was fired from her job at a NY lingerie business says she was fired because her employer complained her work attire was too risque." "The normally pristine Senator Evan Bayh made a risqué joke about a fellow Indianan from a town called French Lick."