5 Common Idioms

Words to Avoid

Even people who speak English as their native language sometimes make mistakes in pronunciation. This is mostly due to regional dialects. For instance, I may often say the word “tomato (toe-may-toe)” like “toe-may-ter” due to my dialect.  But, there are also words that people say….that are socially accepted as words, but they aren’t actually words at all.  Confused? I will give you a few words to avoid writing or saying:

1.      Irregardless: Used often in the place of “regardless”.

2.      Supposably: Used often in the place of “supposedly”.

3.      Misunderestimate: Used in the place of “underestimate”.

4.      Alright: Used in place of “all right”.

5.      Alot: Used in place of “a lot”.

5 Common Idioms

Notes~~~~

Hi^^

I will make some cute videos for this blog, as well as some sound clips of the words I highlight. I think it would be more beneficial to actually hear the word as well. And, I may also make some fun quizzes and similar things over time.  This is still a new project, and I would like to make it more fun. If you have any suggestions, please share them!^^

Thank you~~~~~~~~~

Current Event #3

Source & Full Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/barbara-wade-rose/papua-new-guinea-witchcraft-burned-stake_b_2688403.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&ir=Weird%20News

Vocabulary:

Doused: (past tense of “douse”/tr. verb)= pour a liquid over, drench

(Example: She was doused in water by her prankster brother.)

Persecution: (noun)= the act of persecuting (discriminating against) on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs that differ from those of the persecutor.

(Example:  You can’t turn away a genuine refugee fleeing persecution.)

Initiated: (tr.verb)= to set going by taking the first step; begin

(Example: He initiated the conversation with his crush by saying “hello”.)

Archaic: (adj.)= Of, relating to, or characteristic of a much earlier, often more primitive period

(Example: Spanking is an archaic form of discipline.)

Myopic: (adj)= lacking foresight or scope; narrow-minded/short-sighted

(Example: The management was myopic in estimating how much food would be required for the company picnic.

Fomenting: (tr. Verb)= To promote the growth of; incite

(Example: The prisoners were fomenting a riot to distract the guards so they could escape.

“Witches” Still Being Burned at the Stake

At the end of last week, a 20-year-old woman, Kepara Leniata, was doused in gasoline and burned at the stake for witchcraft in Papua New Guinea. Her persecution and murder was apparently initiated by the relatives of a six-year-old boy who had died. Obviously the death of a child is a terrible event, but even accusing Leniata of witchcraft seems archaic……………….

………….The famous case of Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai is really no different than Kepara Leniata except for its happy ending. The Taliban shot her because she wanted to attend school; in their myopic eyes she was practicing the sorcery of fomenting girls' desire to learn. They used bullets rather than a stake. But she is alive today both because of modern medicine, and because she has left Pakistan and is now living in Britain. To end horrors like the burning in Papua New Guinea, Oxfam says, criminalize accusations of sorcery instead of allowing a citizenry to persecute sorcerers.

Words With Alternate Meanings #2

Previously, we saw the word “dead” used as a substitute for the word “very” in the term “dead serious”.

Of course, we know that “dead” means: no longer living/alive.

But, from time to time, you may hear other uses for the word “dead”:

Dead Wrong: completely wrong

Example: He thought he would not lose his job, but he was “dead wrong”.

(the) Dead Center (of): the center-most point (of something)

Example: She stood in the “dead center” of the room, observing everyone around her.

(to be) Dead Meat: to be in very serious trouble.

Example: After he stole money from her, she screamed to John, “You’re dead meat!”

Dead Drunk: extremely drunk, to the point of passing out.

Example:  After drinking more sake than anyone else, Tanaka-san was “dead drunk”.

Dead Weight: in a larger group, a person or group who does not contribute. Or, someone who prevents others from moving forward/advancing (in an activity/job/etc.)

Example:  Tom never has the presentation ready on time. He’s just “dead weight”.

Drop Dead: general insulting retort. (Used to mean, “Die!”)

Example: “Your dress is particularly ugly today.”

                  “Drop dead!”

Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Breathtakingly beautiful.

Example: That movie actress is “drop dead gorgeous”.

Dead on my Feet: extremely tired, to the point of collapsing

Example:  After working a double shift, I am “dead on my feet”.

Dead End: of an activity, an insurmountable obstacle. Or:  An end of a road or passage from which no exit is possible

Example: She took a wrong turn while driving and came to a “dead end”.

Dead Ringer: something that could be confused for something else, due to close appearance, characteristics, etc.

Example: You are a “dead ringer” for your brother.

Over (One’s) Dead Body: interjection used to mean that something will not happen (unless one is dead and cannot prevent it.)

Example:  “Dad, will you buy me another car, since I wrecked my last one?”

                   “You’ll get a new car “over my dead body!”

Brain Dead: unintelligent; unwise; incapable of thinking logically.

Example:  Why can’t I remember algebraic equations?!?! I am so “brain dead”!

And, of course, there are other uses as well. But, these are some that I hear the most.  I hope you find this “dead useful” (very useful). Hehe （*/∇＼*）

Current Event #2

Source & Full Article: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/hackers-use-alert-system-zombie-warnings-1C8364739

Vocabulary Highlights:

Dead Serious: (American Slang) (adjective) very serious.

The word “dead” is sometimes used to represent the word “very”.

Examples: “I was dead tired, today.”  “He was dead drunk when he left the party.”

Handful: (noun) a small number or amount.

Example: “There were only a handful of students absent from school, today.”

Apprehend: (verb) to take into custody; seize

Example: “The police failed to apprehend the criminal after his crime.”

Prankster: (noun) a person fond of playing pranks

Example: “Tom plays the funniest tricks! He is such a prankster.

Hackers: (noun; plural of “hacker”) a person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data.

(Additional word: Hacked: To gain access to (a computer file or network) illegally or without authorization)

Example: The hackers hacked into the company’s system and stole all of their client’s banking information.

Story Snippet:

Hackers Use Alert System for Zombie Warnings

Warnings about the zombie apocalypse may seem pretty amusing, but officials say they're dead serious about figuring out who hacked into the nation's public warning system to broadcast such messages in a handful of states.

"Local authorities in your area have reported the bodies of the dead are rising from their graves and attacking the living," the message warned. "Do not attempt to approach or apprehend these bodies as they are considered extremely dangerous."

The subject matter may be humorous, but Greg MacDonald with the Montana Broadcasters Association said the consequences of such attacks on the alert system could be severe.

"This looks like somebody being a prankster, but maybe it's somebody testing just to see if they could do this, to do some real damage," MacDonald said. "Suddenly you create a panic and people are fleeing somewhere and you end up with traffic jams and accidents and who knows what."………………….

Talk About It~~

ゾンビの黙示録？楽しそうですね！^^;

Words With Alternate Meanings #1

Sometimes you may hear words that are used in a way you may not be familiar with because they have multiple meanings. I know I struggle with this in my own language-learning studies.

Let's look at the word "pretty", for example.
We know "pretty" is an adjective that means "attractive in a delicate way".

(Example: Amy is very pretty, today.)

But, "pretty" has several other meanings, also:

Pretty (adverb) = a moderately high degree.
(Examples: I am pretty tired. ( = I am very tired.)
(She was pretty mean to him at the party.) ( = She was very mean to him at the party.)

Pretty (noun) = an attractive thing, usually an accessory such as jewelry.
(Example: She bought a ring, a bracelet, and various other pretties.)

Pretty (adverb) = to make attractive
(Example: She prettied herself up for the party.)

Talk About It~~

Have you heard this word used in alternate ways?

Current Event #1

Source and full article: http://gma.yahoo.com/ala-hostage-hard-time-sleeping-154747993--abc-news-topstories.html

Vocabulary Highlights:

Bunker: (noun) an underground shelter, often of reinforced concrete
Example: Because they were in the underground bunker, they survived the bomb attacks.

Snatched: (verb) an act of kidnapping (slang; snatch, snatches, snatching)
Example: The kidnapper snatched the child from the playground when his mother wasn’t looking.

Standoff: A stalemate or deadlock between two opponents.
Example: The standoff lasted for days before the robber released his hostages.

Firefight: (noun) a hostile confrontation that involves gunfire
Example: The confrontation of the two opposing gangs resulted in a firefight.

Slings: (verb) throws about (sling, slung, slinging)
Example: She slings her hair in a funny way when she dances.

Story Snippet:
For the first time since his release from an underground Alabama bunker, 6-year-old Ethan and his mother, Jennifer Kirkland, have revealed new details about his six days as a hostage, telling TV-host Phil McGraw that he "has had a very hard time sleeping soundly."

Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, abducted Ethan and held him in a 6-by-8-foot bunker 4 feet underground near Midland City, Alabama. He had snatched the boy from a school bus after shooting the driver to death.

The standoff ended after six days when Dykes engaged in a firefight with SWAT agents before they stormed the bunker and killed him.

Ethan and Kirkland sat down with McGraw for an exclusive one-on-one interview last week, in which they described Ethan's time underground with Dykes.

"He has said a few things," Kirkland said in the interview that will air on "The Dr. Phil Show" Wednesday. "Now I know that he has had a very hard time sleeping soundly. He slings his arms and tosses and turns. He's cried out a few times." ………………….

Talk About It~~
Imagine being held hostage for days. What traumas would you suffer?
あなたが人質だったら、どんなトラウマに苦しむだろう？

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