Learn more idioms and expressions in American English. The language of American English is different from British English, and learning American English idioms will help you improve your communication skills. Idioms are expressions that can be used in many different situations. They are commonly used in colloquial language, and they can make your sentences more…
Welcome to American English Idioms: Lesson 18. In this lesson you have 3 American English idioms to read, listen to, translate, and pronounce in English. Please focus and do your best so that you can learn and improve your knowledge of American English idioms. Don’t forget to use the comments section below to share your…
DIVIDE THE SPOILS The phrase divide the spoils is an idiom that has its roots in France. The phrase came into usage during the 1300s, when Edward III of England was trying to assert his dominance over France. He pressured Philippe VI of France to turn over control of French territories to him by using…
BURNING QUESTION A question that is often asked is about how to have a better understanding of public opinion. It can be helpful to use polls that are open-ended, where respondents are able to provide their own responses. This might help avoid unintentional biases, for example on the part of the pollster. A burning question…
CORNERED A situation in which one is backed into a corner with no possible retreat is called ‘cornered’. This can be an idiom for when an individual has gone past the point of no return, or feels that they are in a position where they have nowhere to go. The phrase ‘cornered’ is an idiom…
BUTTER (SOMEONE) UP A buttering up is a tactic that an individual can use to get on someone’s good side. The use of this term may be derived from the practice of applying butter to bread and other food items in order to make it more palatable. A lot of times, people will butter someone…
Welcome to American English Idioms: Lesson 12. In this lesson you have 3 American English idioms to read, listen to, translate, and pronounce in English. Please focus and do your best so that you can learn and improve your knowledge of American English idioms. Don’t forget to use the comments section below to share your…
Chapter 6: Cultural Significance of American English Idioms Cultural Background of American English Idioms Introduction and Context:As an English learner, understanding American English idioms is essential for effective communication. In this subchapter, we will explore the historical and cultural origins of these idiomatic expressions and their connection to American history, literature, and popular culture. By…
BY WORD OF MOUTH This means that information is transmitted through speech and orally, as opposed to written text. People who can understand the language of those speaking will be able to understand what the message is, but those who cannot need some form of translating. This type of communication can be lost by people…
BOXED IN/BOX (SOMEONE) IN Boxing someone in is the process of restricting the movement of a person. It can be done by making their movements slow and ponderous, or by preventing their progress altogether. The process of boxing someone in can be achieved in one of two ways: slowing down and obstructing. Slowing down and…