Τρίτη 29 Ιουλίου 2014
Κυριακή 27 Ιουλίου 2014
IDIOMS
Idiom. "To wear your heart on your sleeve"
Meaning: People who wear their heart on their sleeve
express their emotions freely and openly (they do not hide them), for
all to see. Their emotions and affections are clear for all to see.
Origin: When knights fought each other during the Middle Ages, they would dedicate their performance to a woman of the court --usually someone they were in love with. To let their feelings be known to all, the knights pinned a handkerchief or a scarf belonging to the woman onto their sleeves, or the colours of the lady they were supporting, in cloths or ribbons tied to their arms.
Example:
Origin: When knights fought each other during the Middle Ages, they would dedicate their performance to a woman of the court --usually someone they were in love with. To let their feelings be known to all, the knights pinned a handkerchief or a scarf belonging to the woman onto their sleeves, or the colours of the lady they were supporting, in cloths or ribbons tied to their arms.
Example:
"You are just wearing your heart on your sleeve."
"to call the tune"
"To call the tune"
means to have the most power and authority in a situation. The person
who calls the tune makes the important decisions about something and
controls the situation.
Examples:
be in charge, be in control, be the boss, be at the helm/wheel, be in the driver's seat, pull the strings, run the show.
from
Examples:
- "In this part of the mortgage market, the banks call the tune."
- "Nancy said that it's her turn to call the tune."
- "Who would then be calling the tune in Parliament?"
be in charge, be in control, be the boss, be at the helm/wheel, be in the driver's seat, pull the strings, run the show.
from
IELTS Uruguay.
EXPLORE THE UK
Education UK Map...
'From sandy beaches and mountains, to rolling green hills. From music festivals and football matches, to theatre and art galleries - there’s so much for you to discover in the UK! Explore photos and find places to visit with this interactive map.' http://
'From sandy beaches and mountains, to rolling green hills. From music festivals and football matches, to theatre and art galleries - there’s so much for you to discover in the UK! Explore photos and find places to visit with this interactive map.' http://
Σάββατο 26 Ιουλίου 2014
Τρίτη 8 Ιουλίου 2014
Shakespeare's Sonnets. SONNET 5
Shakespeare's Sonnets.
SONNET 5
Those Hours, that with gentle work did frame
The lovely gaze where every eye doth dwell,
Will play the tyrants to the very same
And that unfair which fairly doth excel:
For never-resting Time leads Summer on
To hideous Winter and confounds him there;
Sap check'd with frost and lusty leaves quite gone,
Beauty o'ersnow'd and bareness every where:
Then, were not summer's distillation left,
A liquid prisoner pent in walls of glass,
Beauty's effect with beauty were bereft,
Nor it, nor no remembrance what it was.
But flowers distill'd though they with winter meet,
Leese but their show; their substance still lives sweet.
SONNET 5
Those Hours, that with gentle work did frame
The lovely gaze where every eye doth dwell,
Will play the tyrants to the very same
And that unfair which fairly doth excel:
For never-resting Time leads Summer on
To hideous Winter and confounds him there;
Sap check'd with frost and lusty leaves quite gone,
Beauty o'ersnow'd and bareness every where:
Then, were not summer's distillation left,
A liquid prisoner pent in walls of glass,
Beauty's effect with beauty were bereft,
Nor it, nor no remembrance what it was.
But flowers distill'd though they with winter meet,
Leese but their show; their substance still lives sweet.
Summary:
Sonnet 5 compares nature's four seasons with the stages of the young man's life. Although the seasons are cyclical, his life is linear, and hours become tyrants that oppress him because he cannot escape time's grasp. Time might "frame / The lovely gaze where every eye doth dwell," meaning that everyone notices the youth's beauty, but time's "never-resting" progress ensures that this beauty will eventually fade.In an extended metaphor, the poet argues that because flowers provide perfume to console people during the winter, it is natural for the youth to have a child to console him during his old age. Without perfume from summer's flowers, people would not remember previous summers during the long, hard winters; childless, the young man will grow old alone and have nothing to remind him of his younger days.Winter, an image of old age, is regarded with horror: "Sap checked with frost and lusty leaves quite gone, / Beauty o'ersnowed and bareness everywhere." The "lusty leaves" imagery recalls the "lusty days" from Sonnet 2 and reemphasizes the barrenness of the youth's old age, in which he will look back longingly on his younger days but have nothing to remember them by. However, in the final couplet, the poet evokes a comforting tone, suggesting that immortality is attainable for the young man, just as it is for summer's flowers when they are transformed into perfume, if only the young man would father a child.
Sonnet 5 compares nature's four seasons with the stages of the young man's life. Although the seasons are cyclical, his life is linear, and hours become tyrants that oppress him because he cannot escape time's grasp. Time might "frame / The lovely gaze where every eye doth dwell," meaning that everyone notices the youth's beauty, but time's "never-resting" progress ensures that this beauty will eventually fade.In an extended metaphor, the poet argues that because flowers provide perfume to console people during the winter, it is natural for the youth to have a child to console him during his old age. Without perfume from summer's flowers, people would not remember previous summers during the long, hard winters; childless, the young man will grow old alone and have nothing to remind him of his younger days.Winter, an image of old age, is regarded with horror: "Sap checked with frost and lusty leaves quite gone, / Beauty o'ersnowed and bareness everywhere." The "lusty leaves" imagery recalls the "lusty days" from Sonnet 2 and reemphasizes the barrenness of the youth's old age, in which he will look back longingly on his younger days but have nothing to remember them by. However, in the final couplet, the poet evokes a comforting tone, suggesting that immortality is attainable for the young man, just as it is for summer's flowers when they are transformed into perfume, if only the young man would father a child.
Everyday English in Conversation
Everyday English in Conversation:
This Conversation Starters section of the Everyday English in Conversation is developed to engage you in meaningful situations as happens in our daily conversation. It is recommended that you first attempt to develop a response and then compare your answers with the sample responses. We believe by paying attention to the native-speakers' oral responses, you'll learn how to express your feelings and ideas properly and idiomatically.
Now, begin surfing into Conversation Starters.
This Conversation Starters section of the Everyday English in Conversation is developed to engage you in meaningful situations as happens in our daily conversation. It is recommended that you first attempt to develop a response and then compare your answers with the sample responses. We believe by paying attention to the native-speakers' oral responses, you'll learn how to express your feelings and ideas properly and idiomatically.
Now, begin surfing into Conversation Starters.
Δευτέρα 7 Ιουλίου 2014
Κυριακή 6 Ιουλίου 2014
Σάββατο 5 Ιουλίου 2014
English Collocations for Talking About Sports
English Collocations for Talking About Sports | My English Club
The verb do is used for more
individual sports – you do yoga, do gymnastics, do martial arts, and do
aerobics. Also, in more general terms, you do exercise. Another
common individual exercise is to lift weights.
The first important collocation
involving sports is when to use the verbs play, do, and go. We
typically use play for team sports – you play soccer, play
basketball, play tennis, play baseball, and play golf.
involving sports is when to use the verbs play, do, and go. We
typically use play for team sports – you play soccer, play
basketball, play tennis, play baseball, and play golf.
The verb do is used for moreindividual sports – you do yoga, do gymnastics, do martial arts, and do
aerobics. Also, in more general terms, you do exercise. Another
common individual exercise is to lift weights.
The verb go is used with most
activities that end in –ing: you go swimming, go biking, go surfing, go rock
climbing, go bowling, and go fishing.
activities that end in –ing: you go swimming, go biking, go surfing, go rock
climbing, go bowling, and go fishing.
With the team sports, we can use the
word game or match: a soccer game, a basketball game, a
tennis match, etc. You can win the game, lose the game, or tie
the game – that’s when the final score is 1-1 or 2-2, for example.
word game or match: a soccer game, a basketball game, a
tennis match, etc. You can win the game, lose the game, or tie
the game – that’s when the final score is 1-1 or 2-2, for example.
A team can play a home game –
when they play in their own stadium or field – or an away game – when
they play at the opposing team’s stadium or field. When there are many teams
that are playing many games to see which one is the best, we call this a tournament.
when they play in their own stadium or field – or an away game – when
they play at the opposing team’s stadium or field. When there are many teams
that are playing many games to see which one is the best, we call this a tournament.
When one team is winning in the
middle of the game – for example, 3-1 – we say that team has the lead. However,
the other team can make a comeback – score points from a losing position
– and take the lead, 4-3.
middle of the game – for example, 3-1 – we say that team has the lead. However,
the other team can make a comeback – score points from a losing position
– and take the lead, 4-3.
With the sports that use “do” and
“go,” we typically use the word competition – a gymnastics
competition, a martial arts competition, a surfing competition, an ice skating
competition, etc. The exception is sports where you go from one place to
another – like running, biking, and swimming – in that case, we often call the
event a race.
“go,” we typically use the word competition – a gymnastics
competition, a martial arts competition, a surfing competition, an ice skating
competition, etc. The exception is sports where you go from one place to
another – like running, biking, and swimming – in that case, we often call the
event a race.
Athletes can enter a competition and
try to win first place. Some athletes try to enhance their
performance with illegal substances such as steroids. But if they fail a
drug test, they’ll be disqualified from participating.
try to win first place. Some athletes try to enhance their
performance with illegal substances such as steroids. But if they fail a
drug test, they’ll be disqualified from participating.
If the athlete is performing well, they may achieve
a personal best – and if they perform better than ANYONE ever has in the
past, then they could even break the world record or set a new world
record. If they get injured, however, they might have to withdraw from
the competition (voluntarily leave the competition).
a personal best – and if they perform better than ANYONE ever has in the
past, then they could even break the world record or set a new world
record. If they get injured, however, they might have to withdraw from
the competition (voluntarily leave the competition).
Πέμπτη 3 Ιουλίου 2014
Newsela daily news
Newsela :
Newsela is free for students to explore a world of nonfiction and test their comprehension. Updated daily with real-world news from major publications, students can participate in conversation about the most urgent topics of our time, all while becoming stronger readers.
Newsela is free for students to explore a world of nonfiction and test their comprehension. Updated daily with real-world news from major publications, students can participate in conversation about the most urgent topics of our time, all while becoming stronger readers.
Purdue OWL Writing Lab
Purdue OWL: ESL Instructors and Students
The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing
resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free
service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the
community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many
writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for
in-class and out-of-class instruction.
The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing
resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free
service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the
community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many
writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for
in-class and out-of-class instruction.
Τετάρτη 2 Ιουλίου 2014
The Online Slang Dictionary
The Online Slang Dictionary | Real definitions for real slang words
The Online Slang Dictionary is a dictionary of slang words, neologisms, idioms, aphorisms,
jargon, informal speech, and figurative usages. It has been edited and maintained by
Walter Rader (waltergr@aol.com)
since its creation in December 1996.
The Online Slang Dictionary is a dictionary of slang words, neologisms, idioms, aphorisms,
jargon, informal speech, and figurative usages. It has been edited and maintained by
Walter Rader (waltergr@aol.com)
since its creation in December 1996.