WHY LEARN SLANG AND COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS
Language is forever
changing. What is currently acceptable or popular may be replaced by something
else in years to come, and the use of slang is a strong testament to that.
Slang is just an alternative way of saying something. It is sometimes hard to
identify what is slang and what is not. Colloquial expressions are
often acceptable in informal writing because they are used in communication in
movies, newspapers, radio, television, and other mass media The more you learn,
the more you will know when to use or not to use them in your formal writing.
No matter what, knowing these common everyday expressions is a plus for all ESL
learners.
Easy mark: a likely victim.
e.g. If you are so
unsuspecting, you may become an easy mark for swindlers.
Go the whole hog: go through
thoroughly.
e.g. The
prosecutor went the whole hog when he inspected the murder
weapon.
Dead from the neck
upwards:
stupid.
e.g. Don’t follow
his example; he’s dead from the neck upwards.
Nod is as good as a
wink:
take note of the hint.
e.g. I think he was
trying to tell you to resign; a nod is as good as a wink.
After a fashion:
in a way, but not the best one.
e.g.
I can play the piano—well, after a fashion.
Bazillion: a great number of.
e.g. The national debt
is now in bazillion dollars, and the Congress needs to do
something about that.
No way: not at all.
e.g. “Are you going
to give him a hand?” “No way; he’ll be on his own.”
Chip on one’s shoulder: a grudge against.
e.g. She still has a chip
on her shoulder: your infidelity some years ago.
Ace someone out:
win out over someone.
e.g.
I plan to ace him out in
the first round of the competition.
No two ways about it: no other
alternative.
e.g. The man had to
file for bankruptcy; no two ways about it.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen
Lau
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