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. Slang and 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.

By a long chalk: by a great amount.

e.g. He lost his re-election by a long chalk.

Get wise to: discover; realize.

e.g. Soon you’ll get wise to what is really happening under the roof.

Go the whole hog: go through thoroughly.

e.g. The prosecutor went the whole hog when he inspected the murder weapon.

Alive and kicking: in good health.

"How is your grandmother doing?" "Very much alive and kicking."

For a song: very cheaply.

e.g. I got that piece of antique for a song.

Head above water: out of debt.

e.g. Nowadays, it is not easy to keep your head above water.

Mean-green: money.

e.g. Can I borrow a little mean-green from you?

All that jazz: all that sort of thing; etcetera.

e.g. He was telling everyone about his success in real estate investment and all that jazz. Well, we all heard that before.

In a jiffy: soon.

e.g. The manager will see you in a jiffy.

Next to nothing: hardly anything.

e.g. “Did she leave you anything at all?” “Well, next to nothing.”

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Choice of Sentences

Writing is made up of sentences. Effective writing consists of different types of sentences put in different paragraphs to bring out the ideas of the writer. There are different types of sentences serving different functions.

The simple sentence

The simple sentence is made up of a subject and a predicate (a verb, or a verb + noun/adjective/adverb/preposition etc. to complete the sentence).

e.g. The woman went to Mexico.

             (subject) (predicate)

e.g. Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States.

               (subject)        (predicate)

Identifying the subject and the predicate helps you in subject-predicate agreement.

e.g. Drinking a glass of warm milk and taking a hot bath help me sleep better. (NOT helps)

e.g. Every house in the neighborhood has been searched. (NOT have)

e.g. Each of the students was given an assignment to do over the weekend. (NOT were)

The simple sentence (usually short) is used to make a statement, or to emphasize an idea.

However, overuse of short simple sentences may result in choppy sentences, showing lack of unity.

e.g. It was a beautiful day. The sun was warm. We wanted to go for a walk. We decided to go to the lake. (choppy)

e.g. It was a warm and beautiful day, and we decided to go to the lake for a walk. (improved)

The compound sentence

The compound sentence is made up two or more simple sentences joined together by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, for, so, yet), or a punctuation mark (colon, semicolon).

e.g. The man took the money, and (he) ran away.

e.g. You finish this work, or you don’t get paid!

e.g. I don’t want to go, nor will I.

e.g. He was poor, but he was happy.

e.g. We were thirsty, for the weather was hot.

e.g. He worked hard so he passed his test.

e.g. The boy practiced very hard, yet he did not make the swim team.

The compound sentence is used to show relationship, sequence, or importance of ideas in a sentence.

The complex sentence

The complex sentence is made up two or more simple sentences joined together by a subordinating conjunction (after, before, since, when, although).

e.g. After the man took the money, he ran away.

The emphasis is more on he ran away than on the man took the money; the complex sentence here not only shows the sequence of the action but also focuses on he ran away “after” taking the money.

Compare: “The man took the money, and (he) ran away.” In this compound sentence, the emphasis is on the man took the money as well as (he) ran away.

e.g. Before the postman came, the woman had already finished writing the letter.

e.g. When the postman came, the woman gave him the letter.

It is important that you construct different types of sentences to express your ideas.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Words Easily Confused and Misused

The following words are easily confused and misused:

Abjure: swear or promise to give up; perjure: swear falsely under oath.

e.g. There were times when Christians were forced to abjure their faith.

e.g. If you perjure in a court of law, you will be prosecuted.

Some time:  a period of time; sometime: approximately (as an adverb), former or occasional (as an adjective); sometimes now and then (as an adverb).

e.g. We have been for the train for some time.

e.g. Why don't you visit me sometime?

e.g. She was my sometime girlfriend.

e.g. Sometimes I like her, but sometimes I don’t.

Lay: put down (a transitive verb requiring an object); lie: be in a resting or horizontal position (an intransitive verb, without an object).

e.g. To lay down one's life to save the life of another is a courageous act.

e.g. They laid a cable under the river bed (past tense).

e.g. They had laid a cable under the river bed (past participle)

e.g. I want to lie on the sofa (present tense).

e.g. I am lying on the sofa (present participle).

e.g. I lay on the sofa (past tense).

e.g. I had lain on the sofa for an hour (past participle).

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Learn Some Tenses

Learn the present perfect tense: it indicates an action in the past, but with a present effect.

Compare the following sentences:

e.g. I reported to the police. (past tense)

e.g. "Why don't you call the police?" "I have reported to the police."(present perfect tense)

In the first example, the action took place in the past, e.g. "yesterday."

In the second example, the action also took place in the past, but the past action has a present "implication" or "effect"; that is, "I don't have to report to the police NOW, because I already REPORTED yesterday. So the present perfect tense is: past action + present effect.

e.g. The patient has died.(it's TOO LATE to call the doctor)

e.g. He has messed up our plans. (that is why everything is a mess NOW)

e.g. I have watched that movie. (I don't want to see it AGAIN)

e.g. The crime rate has gone up in Chicago. (the crime rate is STILL GOING UP)

Compare the following:

e.g. Many people die from cancer. (present tense, indicating a FACT)

e.g. He messes up our plans. (i.e. he is a trouble maker all the time)

e.g. My dog watches the door at night. (it stays close to the door every night)

e.g. Food prices go up with inflation. (food prices and inflation go hand in hand)

Next time, I'll talk about past tense and past perfect tense.

To learn more about tenses, read my book Effective Writing Made Simple.

Stephen Lau

Learn Some Tenses

Tenses play a pivotal role in effective writing: they highlight the time sequence of events. In other languages, for example, the Chinese language, there are no tenses; time sequence is indicated simply by using adverbs (words that describe or modify the verbs in sentences), such as "today", "tomorrow", "now" , "last week" , "soon" and "later."

First of all, learn the present tense and the present continuous tense.

Use the present tense to indicate an action that is factual or habitual. Examples of the present tense are as follows:

• I like hamburgers. (factual)
• He eats like a pig. (habitual)
• She enjoys ballet. (habitual)
• Obama is the President of the United States. (factual)
• They go to that church every Sunday.(habitual)
• We love Italian food. (habitual)

Use the present continuous tense to indicate an action that is happening or going on at this moment, or an action that will happen very soon. Examples of the present continuous tense are as follows:

• He is eating like a pig. (now he is eating like a pig, although this may not be his habit of eating)
• She is enjoying the ballet; don't disturb her! (she is paying all her attention to the ballet at this moment)
• They are going to that church right now. (they are ready to go now, or they are already on their way to that church)

Notice the difference in the following two pairs of sentences:

We shall leave when we are ready. (the action is in the future)

We are leaving soon. (the action is also in the future, but the present continuous indicates "very soon")

She plays the piano. (she is a pianist, or she can play the piano)

She is playing the piano (she is at the piano right now)

To learn how to write better, read my book Effective Writing Made Simple.

To learn about tenses, come back for more.

Stephen Lau

Why Everybody Can Write

Writing is an important and indispensable communication skill. We communicate with others through written words in the form of mostly e-mails and letters. In our work, many of us may have to write reports and memos. Writing is part of what we have to do in our daily lives to express what we want and what we feel. 

However, many of us are just afraid to write for the obvious reasons: we don't know how to write, what to write about, and, above all, we are simply afraid to write. Why is writing such a daunting and difficult task to so many of us, such a big challenge when we pick up a pen or sit in front of the computer?

First of all, we have to dismiss the myth that you have to be talented to write. The truth of the matter is that everybody can write. Writing is not necessarily a talent; as a matter of fact, it is just a skill, just like cooking or gardening. As a skill, it is learnable and teachable. We don't need to have the talent first in order to write; you write first, and may then discover your talent in writing. Even without talent, you can still write; everybody can write. After all, it is just a skill that can be perfected with practice. Like walking, you learn how to walk by walking; by the same token, you learn how to write by writing. 

The first hurdle that you need to overcome is that you don't know what to write about; in other words, you have little or no ideas. But we all have something to say just about anything. The reason why you think you have little to say is that you don't pay enough attention. Awareness,is concentration, which is focusing the mind on the present moment, looking at the things or people around you. Unfortunately, in this contemporary world, many are multitasking, doing too many things all at the same time without paying adequate attention to what they are doing. If you are more observant of your surrounding, you will find that you have a lot to say just about anything or anyone around you. The key to content in writing is awareness. Learn to pay attention to details.

The second hurdle is how to write what is on your mind, or how to put your ideas into words. To put your abstract thoughts into concrete words is the fundamental skill in writing. That is to say, you have to learn the basics of writing, such as words, sentences, and paragraphs; you have to put them in a coherent and intelligible way so that they convey clearly and precisely to your readers what you want them to know or understand. Unfortunately, there is no short cut. You have to learn all the basics, such as sentence construction, types of sentences, paragraph development, as well as some basic vocabulary and idiomatic expressions to help you master the skill.  

Empower yourself with the skill of writing will help you overcome the third hurdle, which is lack of confidence. Knowledge not only gives you confidence but also takes away your fear and anxiety in writing. Practice is the solution. You learn how to write by writing. Don't worry about making mistakes. Remember this: a writer is worth all the critics. The more you write, the more proficient you become as a writer. 

My book Effective Writing Made Simple is a handbook for all who wish to learn the basics of good writing. It starts you from the very beginning, especially if English is not your first language. Even if English is your first language, you still need to know how to write. You must bear in mind that speaking and writing are too different skills: what you speak is not the same as what you write.

Stephen Lau

Learn Some American Idioms (5)

Learn some American idioms. The English language is rich in idiomatic expressions. A student studying American English as a foreign language with only limited knowledge of idioms will find himself or herself in a serious disadvantage in reading, discussions and debates.

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Lord it over: to dominate
e.g. Your boss lords it over everyone in the office.

Have one's nose in a book: reading a book
e.g. I like books, and I always have my nose in a book.

Johnny-on-the-spot: at the right place at the right time
e.g. Here you are, Johnny-on-the-spot. You're the person we need!

Rack one's brain: think hard
e.g. I racked my brain the whole morning, but I couldn't come up with an explanation.

Take forty winks: take a nap
e.g. She is taking her forty winks now; come back later.

In the wrong: on the wrong side of the issue
e.g. I can't argue with you; you always think that everyone else is in the wrong.

Lose one's train of thought: forget what one is saying
e.g. If you are not paying attention, it is easy to lose your train of thought.

Have other fish to fry: other things to do
e.g. I cannot help you right now: I have other fish to fry.

In the wind:about to happen
e.g. Is it in the wind that we are going to get a pay rise?

Take something or someone on faith: believe with little evidence
e.g. I'm telling you the truth. Just take it on faith!

Stephen Lau

Read my book Effective Writing Made Simple. To download the Amazon Kindle edition for only $4.40, click here; to purchase the paperback edition for only $7.00, click here; to download the e-book for only $4.40 from ClickBank, click here.

Learn Some English Slang (6)

Learn some English slang. Slang is highly ephemeral: it changes from one generation to another. Slang terms come into existence for various reasons, some obvious, some inexplicable, but most of them are delightfully direct and to the point. The use of slang adds spice to speech and writing.

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Like hot cakes: very quickly
e.g. These tickets are going to sell like hot cakes.

On the carpet: about to be reprimanded
e.g. I'm afraid we're now on the carpet; we're going to get an earful from the principal.

Peg out: dying  for
e.g.I'm so thirsty: I'm pegging out for a drink

Horse around: fool around
e.g. Don't just horse around; find something useful to do.

Call a spade a spade: be very frank
e.g. I'll call a spade a spade: you're dead wrong about the issue.

Hot seat: a difficult situation
e.g. If you don't follow my advice, you'll soon find yourself in a hot seat.

Cut above: slightly above
e.g. You are a cut above the rest of the candidates.

No can do: you cannot do that
e.g. This is no can do!

Hot potato: a controversial issue
e.g. Same sex marriage is a hot potato these days.

Left-handed oath: promise not to be kept
e.g. Your promise is no more than a left-handed oath.

Stephen Lau

Read my book Effective Writing Made Simple. To download the Amazon Kindle edition for only $4.40, click here; to purchase the paperback edition for only $7.00, click here; to download the e-book for only $4.40 from ClickBank, click here.

Learn Some English Slang (5)

Learn some English slang. Slang is highly ephemeral: it changes from one generation to another. Slang terms come into existence for various reasons, some obvious, some inexplicable, but most of them are delightfully direct and to the point. The use of slang adds spice to speech and writing.

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Square up to: face boldly
e.g. Can you square up to your boss?

Look in: a chance
e.g. I don't think you'll have a look in for that job.

Slap: exactly or precisely
e.g. He came back slap at 5 o'clock.

Plank down: pay a deposit
e.g. If you plank down $20, I'' reserve it for you.

Square meal: a satisfying meal
e.g That was a real square meal. I'll definitely come back.

Brain-wave: a sudden inspiration
e.g. With a brain-wave, we came up with a plan.

Slave one's guts out: work very hard
e.g. Your boss certainly slaves your guts out.

Mouthful: a long and important speech
e.g. The manager gave his staff a mouthful.

Sit up: surprise
e.g. What he told us  just now really made us sit up.

Rattled: drunk, confused
e.g. The man looked rattled; don't go near him.

Stephen Lau

Read my book Effective Writing Made Simple. To download the Amazon Kindle edition for only $4.40, click here; to purchase the paperback edition for only $7.00, click here; to download the e-book for only $4.40 from ClickBank, click here.

Learn Some Idiomatic Expressions (4)

Learn some idiomatic expressions. The English language is rich in idiomatic expressions. A student with only limited knowledge of idioms will find himself or herself in a serious disadvantage in reading, discussions and debates.

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Poke about: search for something
e.g. He was poking about the basement, looking for the lost files.

In one's prime: at one's peak or best time
e.g. My mother could work long hours when she was in her prime, but those were the days.

Out of the hole: out of debt
e.g. Today many people find it difficult to get out of the hole.

Put in one's oar: interfere
e.g. I put in my oar as soon as I knew he was taking the wrong steps.

Lay it on thick: exaggerate
e.g. He was laying it on thick when he said he had made a fortune in the stock market. .

On pins and needles: anxious; in suspense
e.g. She was on pins and needles before the surgery.

From pillar to post: from place to place
e.g. Because of my work, my family had to move from pillar to post.

Look the other way: ignore on purpose
e.g. The Congress preferred to look the other way, instead of solving the debt crisis.

Come a cropper: meet misfortune
e.g. He came a cropper as soon as he started his own business.

Get someone's ear: get someone to listen to you; get someone's attention to what you are saying
e.g. His wife got his ear and talked for almost an hour.

Stephen Lau

Read my book Effective Writing Made Simple. To download the Amazon Kindle edition for only $4.40, click here; to purchase the paperback edition for only $7.00, click here; to download the e-book for only $4.40 from ClickBank, click here.

Learn Some English Slang (4)

Learn some English slang. Slang is highly ephemeral: it changes from one generation to another. Slang terms come into existence for various reasons, some obvious, some inexplicable, but most of them are delightfully direct and to the point. The use of slang adds spice to speech and writing.

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(4)

Out in the sun: slightly drunk.

e.g. You look as if you were out in the sun.

Room to swing a cat: ample space.

e.g This bedroom is so small--hardly room to swing a cat!

Play it low: take an unfair advantage of.

e.g. He got his promotion by playing it low.

Rough and ready:: makeshift.

e.g. The room is rough and ready for the unexpected guest.

Salt away: store away money.

Where did the money come from? You must have salted it away.

Plastered: drunk.

e.g. When he came home from work, he looked plastered.

Out with it: confess; be honest.

e.g. Out with it, what did you do with my money?

Play up with: mess up; cause trouble.

e.g. The storm played up with our plans.

Over one's head: beyond understanding.

e.g The speech was over everyone's head. 

Rough it: live with it; endure.

e.g. This is not much of bed; you've got to rough it.

Stephen Lau

Read my book Effective Writing Made Simple. To download the Amazon Kindle edition for only $4.40, click here; to purchase the paperback edition for only $7.00, click here; to download the e-book for only $4.40 from ClickBank, click here.

Learn Some Idiomatic Expressions (3)

Learn some idiomatic expressions. The English language is rich in idiomatic expressions. A student with only limited knowledge of idioms will find himself or herself in a serious disadvantage in reading, discussions and debates.
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Not for love or money: not at any price.
e.g. All tickets are sold out; you won't get one for love or money.

To crown it all: on top of everything else.
e.g. He forgot to bring the documents. To crown it all, he forgot his passport.

Become second nature: become habitual.
e.g. You have to continue practicing it until it becomes second nature to you.

Walls have ears: be careful what you say.
e.g. If I were you, I would shut up; walls have ears.

A house of cards: an idea that has no foundation.
e.g. His proposal is no more than a house of cards.

Go to the wall: fail; go bankrupt.
e.g. His business overseas has gone to the wall.
e.g. In this day and age, the weakest go to the wall.

As close as an oyster: secretive.
e.g. You can never get any information from him; he is as close as an oyster.

Like a fish out of water: in an awkward or unfamiliar environment.
e.g. In a room full of ladies, he felt like a fish out of water.

Milk and water: feeble; weak.
e.g. These milk-and-water economic policies won't help the economy at all.

Stephen Lau

Learn Some English Slang (3)

Learn some English slang. Slang is highly ephemeral: it changes from one generation to another. Slang terms come into existence for various reasons, some obvious, some inexplicable, but most of them are delightfully direct and to the point. The use of slang adds spice to speech and writing.

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(3)

Double Dutch: Incomprehensible talk.
e.g. For 20 minutes, he had been talking double Dutch as if he were drunk.

No two ways about it:: no doubt; no other alternative.
e.g. This is the way to go; there're no two ways about it.

Cop out: faint; pass out; die.
e.g. As soon as she heard the news, she copped out.

Make someone's ears burn: talk intimately behind someone's back.
e.g. What you have been saying about your wife must have made her ears burn.

Grand slam: a great success.
e.g. The project was a grand slam.

Knock off: create; make.
e.g. This composer has the talent to knock off a masterpiece.

Make head or tail of: understand.
e.g. Honestly, I could not make head or tail of what he was saying.

Noodle: a simpleton; a fool.
e.g. He is no more than a noodle; don't pay any attention to him.

Make it snappy: Be brief.
e.g. Please make it snappy! We don't have all the time in the world.

Pack up: stop working.
e.g. If you make one comment, I'll pack up and go.

Stephen Lau

Read my book Effective Writing Made Simple. To download the Amazon Kindle edition for only $4.40, click here; to purchase the paperback edition for only $7.00, click here; to download the e-book for only $4.40 from ClickBank, click here.