The Free Dicitonary Language forums RSS feed for The Free Dicitonary Language forums available in English, Spanish, French, German, and many other languages Copyright 2008 - 2017 Farlex, Inc. Unslayable. Tried looking into a dictionary if USLAYABLE ever exist, but had no entry in the dic. Does the word exist? Surprisingly it not in the TF either.

Many thanks.
Drool ]]>
Sun, 26 Mar 2017 08:26:34 GMT
(Advanced learners) What does "irony" mean? NOT A TEACHER

Dear Advanced Learners:

&quot;Irony&quot; is a word that many native speakers use incorrectly.


A few years ago, a local newspaper reported something like this: &quot;Two robbers held up the store. Ironically, there were two police officers across the street who were having lunch at a restaurant across the street at the time of the robbery.&quot;

a. Even I realized that the reporter had used the wrong word. If anything, it was just coincidental.


I almost never use the word &quot;irony,&quot; for I realize that I do not understand it well.

Today I read something that I wanted to share with you advanced learners, for it might help you to use that word correctly.

There are three types of &quot;irony&quot;

1. Verbal irony.

a. When a speaker says the opposite of what is true.

i. I think that teachers often give this example: It's raining cats and dogs, but you say, &quot;What a beautiful day!&quot;

2. Dramatic irony.

a. When the reader knows that the opposite of what a character expects will happen.

i. When Romeo thinks that Juliet is dead.

3. Situational irony.

a. When a person is unaware that the opposite of what s/he expects will happen.

i. You have studied hard for two weeks for a final exam. Then you discover on exam day that you have studied the wrong notes.

Source: William Safire, Coming to Terms (1991), page 103.

Sat, 25 Mar 2017 14:25:39 GMT
(Advanced learners) Suddenly becoming very RICH! NOT A TEACHER

Dear Advanced Learners:

I was reading a magazine article when I came across a word that suggested to me a topic that might interest some of you.


Most people in the States consider themselves to be poor or middle class (neither rich nor poor).

Occasionally, one of them suddenly becomes super wealthy (rich).

Maybe that person is an actor, athlete, singer, etc.

Sometimes people who become wealthy &quot;overnight&quot; do not know how to speak or act in a way that wealthy people supposedly speak and act.

For example, that person may not know which fork to use for the salad when s/he attends a formal dinner.

For example, that person may build a huge (super big) house that makes the whole neighborhood look strange.

For example, that person may buy five expensive automobiles to show everybody how wealthy s/he is.

Sometimes people whose families have been wealthy for generations will mock (laugh at) that person.

Sometimes people whose families have been wealthy for generations will not invite that person to their social events.

Here are some unkind words that native speakers (and especially writers) use to describe a person who has suddenly become very wealthy and who may not know how to speak and act the way wealthy people supposedly speak and act:

1. Raul is a parvenu.
2. Mona is an upstart.
3. Tony is a social climber.
4. Betty is a nouveau riche.
5. George is an arriviste.


Of course, I do NOT know French.

But even a stupid person such as I (am) can guess that #4 means &quot;newly rich&quot; and that #5 comes from the French word for &quot;arrive.&quot; But I had to consult my dictionary to learn that &quot;parvenu&quot; comes from French, meaning &quot;arrive.&quot;

Have a nice weekend!]]>
Fri, 24 Mar 2017 13:58:32 GMT
(Expression) The baby is OK NOT A TEACHER

Dear Learners:

Here is a very good expression for your vocabulary.


Here in the United States, there is a certain law about something.

a. That law has good points.
b. That law has bad points.

Some people say, &quot;Let's keep the good points, and change the bad points.&quot;

Some people say, &quot;Let's throw away the complete law and write a new law.&quot;


The people who want to keep the good points and change the bad points are telling the other people: Please don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

That is, the &quot;baby&quot; is good; the (dirty) &quot;bath water&quot; is bad. But, of course, it would be wrong to throw away both the baby and the bath water.

So the good points of that law are the &quot;baby,&quot; and the bad points are the (dirty) &quot;bath water.&quot;

Your bilingual dictionary can do a better job than I (can) in explaining this expression.

Have a nice day!

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 13:27:35 GMT
Hap vs Happening
Do you Still use the word &quot;Hap&quot; ?

I understand that &quot;Happen&quot; and &quot;Happening&quot; are the &quot;children&quot; of &quot;Hap&quot;

Hap + en = to make hap ?

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:45:55 GMT
It wasn't until after Can you explain to me what does &quot;wasn't until after&quot; mean. The text is

Clancy hardly looked at us at dinner, and it wasn't until after we left that Ashley told me he probably thought we were religious nuts.

P.S. Sorry for my English, I'm bad in my Russian either.]]>
Wed, 22 Mar 2017 13:10:29 GMT
How do I pronounce "THE"? NOT A TEACHER

Dear Fellow Learners:

Of course, you know how to pronounce &quot;the&quot; in &quot;Mona takes the bus to school every day.&quot;

But sometimes native speakers wish to emphasize the word.

So they pronounce it something like thee.

They often do this when they think that someone or something is very special.

I hope that these examples will give you a general idea of what I mean.


Mona: I am studying the policies of the Chinese government.

Raul: Well, then you must absolutely read the English edition of the Chinese newspaper People's Daily.

Mona: Why?

Raul: Because it is the (&quot;thee&quot;) newspaper for serious students of Chinese politics. ( = All the news in it comes directly from the government leaders. Most other newspapers do not have this privilege.)

Mona: I want to study how to design buildings.

Raul: Really? Then I suggest that you visit the European city of Helsinki.

Mona: Why?

Raul: Because everyone in your profession says that Helsinki is the (&quot;thee&quot;) place for design. ( = People from around the world go there to study the architecture of its buildings. P.S. I got the idea for this sentence from a newspaper article.)

Mona: I'm looking for a new house. What neighborhood should I live in?

Raul: How much are you willing to pay?

Mona: Two or three million dollars. I'm willing to go as high four million.

Raul: Well, everyone says that Rainbow Park Estates is the (&quot;thee&quot;) neighborhood to live in. ( = It is an outstanding place. It has the newest houses, important people live there, and there are gates and fences for 99% security. I got the idea for this sentence from the Free Dictionary.)

Mona: There are so many books about Shakespeare's life. Which book should I buy?

Raul: I suggest that you buy a book entitled ___________ that was written by __________.

Mona: Why (do you recommend) that book?

Raul: Because everyone seems to agree that ______ is the (&quot;thee&quot;) expert when it comes to Shakespeare's life. ( = She is considered to be No. 1 when it comes to understanding Shakespeare's life.)

Have a nice day!]]>
Wed, 22 Mar 2017 12:17:37 GMT
There are good teachers and there are GOOD teachers. NOT A TEACHER

Dear Fellow Students of English: Do you understand the meaning of the following sentences?

Mona: I think that Mr. Smith is a good teacher.

Raul: So do I. But don't forget something.

Mona: What?

(1) Raul: There are good teachers and there are GOOD teachers.

Mona: New York City is a large city.

Raul: I agree. But don't forget something.

Mona: What?

(2) Raul: There are large cities and there are LARGE cities.

Mona: Movie stars are rich people.

Raul: Yes, they are. But don't forget something.

Mona: What?

(3) Raul: There are rich people and there are RICH people.


I am sure that you probably interpreted those sentences something like this:

1. Yes, Mr. Smith is a good teacher, but many teachers are better.

2. Yes, the Big Apple is a large city, but many cities in the world are larger.

3. Yes, movie stars are rich, but many people are richer.

Have a nice day!

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 13:13:25 GMT
Last month and next February
I would like to now more about the usage of the words last and next with respect to months and days. Here is the thing:

Now is March, 2017.

Last month - It's clear : February, 2017
Last February: Is this February, 2017; February, 2016; or it could be both?
Next April: April, 2017 or April, 2018?

Today is Tuesday, 12th week.

Last day: I think this is the same as yesterday.
Last Monday: Is this yesterday; or Monday a week before (11th week)?
Next Friday: Is this the Friday of this week or the Friday of the next?
Tue, 21 Mar 2017 08:43:16 GMT
Will you help me understand the meaning of &quot;mollyhorn&quot; in the text below?

'Now, folks, let me guess what you have been talking about.'
'Ay, sure, if you will,' said Sam.
'About me.'
'Mow, it is a thing I shouldn't have dreamed of doing, otherwise,' said Fairway in a tone of integrity; 'but since you have named it, Master Yoebright, I'll own that we was talking about 'ee. We were wondering what could keep you home here mollyhorning about when you have made such a world-wide name for yourself in the nick-nack trade - now, that's truth o't.'

-Book Third, Chapter one,'My mind to me a Kingdom is', &quot;the Return of Native&quot;, Thomas Hardy-

Your help will be deeply appreciated.
Mon, 20 Mar 2017 15:29:50 GMT
Bank Clerk or Bank Worker Bank Clerk and Bank Worker?

When do you use Bank Clerk? And when do you use Bank Worker?

Is there a big difference?]]>
Mon, 20 Mar 2017 14:45:20 GMT

Dear Fellow Learners:

This morning I was shocked when I read in a prominent American business magazine the word &quot;mice&quot; to refer to more than one computer mouse.

To me, &quot;mice&quot; are those little four-legged animals. &quot;Mouses&quot; are those things that we use with our computers.

I have just done some Googling, and it seems that many dictionaries accept both plurals when referring to a computer mouse.

Which one should you use in business correspondence?

I guess the decision rests with your employer.

Have a nice day!

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 13:37:25 GMT
FYI Tips for When Learning Anything - Such As a New Language
I don't know the website I stumbled upon, but the ideas seemed logical to me.

Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:04:09 GMT
(Vocab) Do you have a PAUNCH? NOT A TEACHER

Dear Fellow Learners:

The dictionary says that the word &quot;paunch&quot; refers to a protruding (sticking out) abdomen (stomach) on a person.

As people get older, many of them start to develop a paunch, for as people get older, certain foods (especially those with sugar) affect our weight differently from the time when we were younger. And many people are not so physically active as they were when they were younger.

I am computer illiterate, so I cannot post an illustration. Just type &quot;paunch&quot; in the &quot;IMAGES&quot; section of Google, and you'll immediately understand what a paunch is. You'll think: &quot;Oh, yes! In my first language, we call it a _____.&quot;


Americans often use humorous terms for a paunch. Here are two:

1. If one drinks too much beer, it may result in a paunch. So the term is &quot;beer belly.&quot;

2. If you drive an automobile, you know that it has four tires. Maybe you keep a spare (extra) tire in the trunk of your car just in case you need it.

Well, if a person has a paunch, some people will say: &quot;Look at that spare tire!&quot;]]>
Sun, 19 Mar 2017 13:33:03 GMT
A word for ADVANCED learners NOT A TEACHER

Dear Advanced Learners:

If you already know this word, then you are really, really &quot;advanced.&quot; Congratulations!

If you do not, this is a word that you may actually wish to use in speech or writing.

1. &quot;Chloe doesn't have an ear for languages [ = she does NOT have a natural ability to quickly learn languages], but she has become proficient [fluent] in German by dint of hard work.&quot;

2. &quot;Raul is not handsome, but he is very popular with the girls by dint of his fantastic personality.&quot;


Have you guessed the general idea?

The April, 2017, issue of Reader's Digest (where I got the first example sentence) tells us that &quot;dint&quot; in that kind of sentence means power.

In other words:

a. Chloe became proficient in German by the power of hard work.
b. Raul is popular with girls by the power of his personality.

P.S. Do you like that expression in No. 1? Some people DO seem to have an ear for languages. For example, they say that children quickly learn languages. Many of us adults spend too much time worrying about grammar, instead of just listening and imitating.]]>
Sat, 18 Mar 2017 14:59:28 GMT
breather This teacher says that &quot;Yes! I need a breather!&quot; sounds more natural as a response to &quot;The negotiation today is really tough!&quot; than &quot;Yes! I need to rest!&quot; does. Could you tell me why?]]> Sat, 18 Mar 2017 11:07:58 GMT Go with your gut - go with somebody's gut
- go with somebody's instinct

Do these two mean the same?

Here's an example of &quot;go with somebody's gut&quot;:

Here's an example of &quot;go with somebody's instinct&quot;:

Sat, 18 Mar 2017 10:58:27 GMT
cheeky little monkey Neil and Catherine starts talking about a hyphen in this video at 3:07. What does Catherine call a hyphen? A cheeky little monkey? What does the phrase mean?]]> Sat, 18 Mar 2017 00:53:07 GMT (Expression) It cost me A LOT OF money! NOT A TEACHER

Dear Fellow Learners:

You may want to add this to your list of expressions.


Mrs. Smith: I hear that you and Martha are leaving next week for a six-month trip to Europe.

Mr. Miller: That's right! Now that the kids have left home, we can fulfill our dream of visiting the Old World.

Mrs. Smith: Were you able to find an inexpensive [cheap] group tour?

Mr. Miller: No way! Martha and I are flying first-class. We're going to stay at the finest hotels. We're going to dine at the best restaurants. I have even hired a driver and car in each of the 15 cities that we'll visit.

Mrs. Smith: Oh my! Won't that cost you an arm and a leg?

Mr. Miller: I don't care! Nothing is too good for my Martha!]]>
Fri, 17 Mar 2017 13:08:58 GMT
agree on vs agree about
The Works of the Rev. Thomas Halyburton: Containing, The Great Concern of ..., by Thomas Halyburton, Robert Burns

But I suppose the case was this, he had concluded that they were agreed about the being of one true God, and to make his religion complete, he behoved to have them some way agreed about his worship too.

Is not this to mock the world, to propose general articles, and tell the world agreed about them while yet one half is not agreed what is the true signification of these general words?

Well, was the world agreed about this right explication of them?

Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:22:50 GMT