Colloquial English

[Алексей Конобеев]

To tie the knot - to get married. Two people are like two ropes and they get married to tie "the knot" which keeps them together.

- what a vivid image!

[Алексей Конобеев]

Stranger Danger - a slogan that appeared in the 1960s and is still used to teach children basic safety rules, including the "Never go with a stranger" one.

[Olchik]

ToBurn the candle at both ends can be referred to people who work hard long hours without having enough rest (from early morning till late at night). Do you burn the candle at both ends?!

[Genya]

ToBurn the candle at both ends can be referred to people who work hard long hours without having enough rest (from early morning till late at night). Do you burn the candle at both ends?!

 

Yes! I have to...

[Алексей Конобеев]

When your boss requires you to attend a meeting during your lunchtime and buys you something to eat, it's called a hostage lunch

[Алексей Конобеев]

headphone syndrome happens when someone is listening to music wearing headphones and replies to you VERY loudly because of that.

[Алексей Конобеев]

There is an interesting trans-Atlantic difference in the meaning of the word lush. In Britain it means something pleasant and desirable (hence the name of the hand-made cosmetics chainstores), whereas in the USA it means... a heavy drinker who gets intoxicated easily.

[Алексей Конобеев]

Kodak courage is a tendency to do something extra-courageous (like putting a snake around your neck or water-skiing or something you wouldn't normally do) when being photographed. As in I was feeling shy at first, but then I got Kodak courage with all those cameras around and finally did the bungee jump off the bridge

[Genya]

Алексей Конобеев, thank you for such interesting expressions!

[Алексей Конобеев]

Lemon law - there are state laws in teh USA that provide a financial remedy for those who bought cars which don't work well. These cars are called lemons, and the federal lemon law protects citizens of all states.

It is interesting that this name for the law is derived from the fact, that in the 1800s people in the USA used the word "lemon" to describe an unfriendly ('sour") person, but since early 1900 the word refers to anything mechanical which is low-quality and keeps breaking down. A laundered lemon is a car, the owner of which sells it without telling the customer about the known history of mechanical problems with it.

[Алексей Конобеев]

a stan is a general name that some not very educated people (including journalists) use to denote the many Asian republics whose names end in -stan (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to name but a few)

[Алексей Конобеев]

a chronoptimist is a person who always believes that it'll take him less time to do something than it really does. Hence all the shifts in plans.

[Алексей Конобеев]

a nillionaire - a person who has no money

[elkaJUNE]

At a loose end-if you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.

 

_ _ _

Man Friday-from 'Robinson Crusoe', a 'Man Friday' refers to an assistant or companion, usually a capable one. The common feminine equivalent is 'Girl Friday'. (Also, 'right-hand man').

 

_ _ _

Salad days-your salad days are an especially happy period of your life

[Алексей Конобеев]

the quiet kid - a child in the classroom who is hardly ever talked to by other classmates, and usually only to ask what answer he's got for a specific question of a test. Otherwise he/she is excluded from the class's social life because he\she is outwardly interested only in studying.

[Алексей Конобеев]

duh (sounds like да) is what people say when someone says something too obvious and self-evident. Like "Sunny day, isn't it?? - Duh!"

[elkaJUNE]

duh (sounds like да) is what people say when someone says something too obvious and self-evident. Like "Sunny day, isn't it?? - Duh!"

Isn't it from Russian?

[Алексей Конобеев]

Isn't it from Russian?

From what I could find, it's just an onomatopoeic sound resembling gruntling noises.

[Алексей Конобеев]

A nerd is someone who is very clever but is so preoccupied by an interest or hobby (usually computers) that is considered to be somehwt socially inadequate. A nerd usually knows a lot and ends up in very highly-paid positions, but a nerd's knowledge is so detailed and complicated that usually only other specialists are interested in it.

[Алексей Конобеев]

Stop pulling faces at me, or you'll stick like that!" - this is what a parent may say to a cild who is making faces. Parents' lingo can be quite interesting, because many people are prepared to go any lengths to persuade or dissuade a child. For example, when someone wants to make a child to eat something up from the plate, a parent often says: "Eat it up, or you won't see the bunny!" (or whatever picture is there on the bottom of the plate).

[Алексей Конобеев]

Cyber Monday - while Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving when the new shopping season starts and so it is the busiest shopping day of the year, Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving which is said toi be the busiest online shopping day of the year. the expression "Cyber Monday" first appeared in November 2005.

[Алексей Конобеев]

The word deadline now means the time by which a certain task must be completed. But it used to have a more literal meaning. In the 19-th century the word meant a line, the crossing of which could inflict severe penalty, sometimes even capital punishment. For example, during the Civil War in America the 'dead line" was the line drawn around a military prison camp, and if a prisoner crossed the line, he would get shot.

[Алексей Конобеев]

Do you ever use counting rhymes with children? Perhaps the most widespread one is "eeny, meany, miney, moe". There are many local versions of it, and it dates back to at least 1850-s.

[Harry Smith]

Fat cat

A fat cat is a person who makes a lot of money and enjoys a privileged position in society.

Fat head

A fat head is a dull, stupid person.

[Harry Smith]

Man Friday

From 'Robinson Crusoe', a 'Man Friday' refers to an assistant or companion, usually a capable one. The common feminine equivalent is 'Girl Friday'. (Also, 'right-hand man'. )

 

Melting pot

A melting pot is a place where people from many ethnicities and nationalities live together.