English Expressions & Idioms

Every cloud has a silver lining

2010-06-04T16:40:00.001-07:00

When we say that “every cloud has a silver lining” it means that every sad or unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant situation.
Keep that in mind, and have a great weekend, folks!

Where there's a will there's a way

2010-06-04T16:34:00.001-07:00

One of the things I like the most is proverbs! They're always very nice, full of insightfulness and they help us see the language in a more native-like way. One of the first I’ll post here is “Where there's a will there's a way”, meaning that, when a person really wants something he/she will do whatever it takes to get it! Nice, huh??

Câmbio

2010-06-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

Mostly heard in military movies, the expression "roger" or "roger that" is the equilvalent to "câmbio".
"Roger" means "I have received all of the last transmission" in both military- and civilian aviation radio communications. This usage comes from the initial R of received: R was called Roger in then-current radio alphabets such as the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet.
"Roger that. Over and out" "Câmbio e desligo"

não tenho condições de comprar um carro

2010-06-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

When, in Portuguese, we mean to say that we have no money to buy something, a car, for example, we say "eu não tenho condições de comprar um carro". In English, however, the same idea must be expressed like this: "I can't afford to buy a car".
Most students get lost in translation by trying to use an expression similar to Portuguese: "I have no conditions to buy a car" or " I don't have conditions to buy a car", which completely misses the point.

Pois não?

2010-06-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

This one is very funny! I was reading a very nice blog about Brazilian expressions for Americans and the blog author mentioned we, Brazilians, use 'Pois não?' when a salesman wants to help you in a store. The correct way to say that in English is: 'Can I help you?'. Isn't it weird? Don't you agree with the post? Why do we say that? It makes sense to us, but not for them. Le'ts imagine you enter a store in the USA and the salesperson says: 'Because no?' LOL
That's it!!
Have a nice afternoon.

Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga

2010-06-03T21:40:00.001-07:00

Now a proverb before going to bed. It is 1:37am and I am still awake and I have to wake up early tomorrow. :(

The early bird catches the worm

na pior das hipóteses

2010-06-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

This expression I really like: 'in the worst-case scenario'

It means: the worst possible future outcome.

Example: Let's look at the worst case scenario!

Very simple, right???

retrado falado

2010-06-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

police sketch

composite sketch

facial sketch

p.s. it might have other ways to say the same thing. I always post the ones I remember. :)

bem feito!

2010-06-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

'It serves you right!' is the closest I could think of as 'bem feito' in Portuguese. There must be other ways to say the same thing. I believe this is the most used by Americans, though.

Do not forget that 'well done' is different. It can be either something performed accurately and diligently; executed with skill and efficiency or a meat that was thoroughly cooked, esp. until all redness was gone.

topa????

2010-06-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Britney one of these days and paid attention to a nice expression: 'to be game'.

In the song '3' she sings: 'So are you game?'

'To be game' means that you are ready and willing to do something.

For example:

Is anybody game for some pizza?

Are you game for a swim?

Or simply: Are you game?

desmancha prazer

2010-06-03T20:47:00.001-07:00

Some time ago I watched a horror movie (I don't remember the name) and really liked this expression: 'You're such a bust kill!'

There is another expression with the same meaning: wet blanket!!!!

pisar nos calos de alguém

2010-06-03T20:06:00.001-07:00

This one goes for a student of mine. While in class, she asked me how to say 'ele pisou nos meus calos'. For a moment, I thought and realized I had no idea how to say that! So I looked up in the dictionary.

Here it goes:

According to Oxford, 'calo' is CORN. And the expression is: 'to tread sb's corns / toes'.

e.g. He trod on my corns.

This idiomatic expression is the same as we use here in Brazil.

Tread means: to set down the foot or feet in walking; step; walk

The questions is: is it still used nowadays?

Welcome

2010-06-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my blog!!! I am going to be writing about interesting expressions in English that I either find interesting or that my students ask me in class.

I'll be posting new expressions every week and my co-worker and friend is going to help me out!

I hope you enjoy!