We use this idiom to say that we cannot find a better word or phrase to describe something. In Spanish we would say: A falta de una palabra mejor.... We can also say: 'For Want of a Better Term'. Politicians should behave, for want of a better word, decently. … [Read more...]
Urbanism – Vocabulary
Sophisticated vocabulary to speak about cities and neighbourhoods. I hope you'll find it useful. Sustainable, walkable, mixed-use neighbourhoods - This is a type of urban development that blends multiple uses, such as residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment, into one space, where those functions are to some degree … [Read more...]
Idiom Spot 1
There are many common English idioms to do with food. These examples will help you understand them. The icing on the Cake The concert itself was great, but getting to meet the band was the icing on the cake . Have a lot on your plate She’s got a lot on her plate, especially with the new project starting this week. Put all your … [Read more...]
It Pays to Be Aware
We use the expression It pays to do sth or It pays smo to do sth when we mean that it is (always) a wise or advantageous idea to do the thing specified; doing this specific thing will (always) yield a positive effect. It pays to study different languages, as we live in a globalized society. It pays a person to start planning for … [Read more...]
Eat Your Heart Out!
We use "eat your heart out" to indicate that we think someone will feel great jealousy about something. If this is the case, we will use it with the name of a person who might be jealous. When it is followed by the name of a famous person, you are joking that you are even better than that person: My backhand is improving all the time: Federer, … [Read more...]
I can’t Make Head or Tail (out) of It
This idiom is used when we mean that we cannot understand someone or something at all, that is, we cannot make any sense of someone or something. It may also be used in plural: "Make heads or tails (out) of it", but this form is more frequently used in the US. I've been working with this program for hours, but I still can't make heads or … [Read more...]
Sink or Swim
We use this idiom 'Sink or Swim' when we are in a situation in which someone must either be successful right away or succumb to failure. We imply that succeeding or failing depends completely on their own efforts and abilities. After we've studied and learned all we can, we have to take the test and sink or swim. It's too late to help her … [Read more...]
Can you Splash Out?
Splash out is an informal term we use when we mean that someone spends an extravagant sum of money on something. It can be used alone, such as in this case: We splashed out last night and went to a very expensive restaurant. Can she afford to splash out a little? Is her budget unlimited? If we translated “splashed out” into … [Read more...]
He Has Money to Burn
When we say that someone has money to burn, we mean that they have more money than they need and so spend it freely and often unnecessarily. He bought that expensive car because he has money to burn. 'Be made of money' is another idiom we use to mean that someone has a lot of money, but normally, we use it in the negative as a denial to a … [Read more...]
Don’t Beat About/Around the Bush!
In Spanish, 'Beat around / about the bush' means 'Andarse por las ramas' or 'Andar con rodeos'. In English, we use this idiom: To speak vaguely or euphemistically so as to avoid talking directly about an unpleasant or sensitive topic. "Don't beat about the bush, just tell me how serious the problem is." 2. To discuss a matter without … [Read more...]
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