40 Common English Idioms

Learning English isn’t as easy as some might think. First, grammar muddies the waters (makes things unclear), and idiomatic expressions only add fuel to the fire (make things worse). If you’re taking the TOEFL or the TOEIC, or just want to know more common idioms,  study this list of 40 common idiomatic expressions before you take the test. They may just help your English language acquisition soar (get much better). Common English Idioms 24/7: Twenty-four hours a day; seven days a week; all the time; constantly. My little sister irritates me 24/7!A short fuse: A quick temper. Jamie is known for his short fuse; just a few days ago he screamed at his coach for not letting him play.A taste of your own medicine: Bad treatment deservedly received for treating other people badly.  After constantly being prank-called, Julian decided to give Juan a taste of his own medicine and ordered twenty-seven pizzas to be delivered to Juan’s house.Butterflies in my stomach: To be nervous.  Liam had butterflies in his stomach before he went on stage to play the violin.By the skin of your teeth:  To just barely get by or make it.  Lester made the dance team by the skin of his teeth; you can tell he hasnt been dancing jazz for very long.  Cat got your tongue?: Can’t you speak? (Usually said to embarrass the other person).  I just saw you kissing my boyfriend. What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?Crying w olf:  To ask for help when you dont need it.  You have cried wolf so many times that no one believes you when youre really hurt.  Cut someone some slack:  To not judge someone too harshly.  Hey. Cut me some slack. I was really busy with my frog hunting business last week and forgot to call. Im sorry!Down for the count: Tired; giving up; unable or unwilling to participate any longer.  No, you can’t take my dog for a walk—she’s down for the count after chasing cats all day.Draw the line: To stop; to know the point where something goes from okay to not okay.  Now I draw the line at speaking in front of 34,000 people.Easier said than done: Not as easy as it appears to be.  You want me to come to work at 6:00 AM? Easier said than done!Every cloud has a silver lining: You can find good in every bad situation.  Even though you just got fired, remember that every cloud has a silver lining—at least you don’t have to work for that grouchy b oss anymore!Finding a needle in a haystack: Virtually impossible to find.  Trying to get a new job these days is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.Fish out of water: To be out of place.  Tom felt like a fish out of water at the Star Trek convention his new girlfriend begged him to attend.Get something off your chest: To talk about something that has been bothering you for a long time; to admit something you have done wrong.  I have to get this off my chest—I copied your answers on the SAT. Thanks for the 15th percentile score, by the way.  Give it a whirl: To try something.  I’ve never gone kite-boarding, but I’m prepared to give it a whirl!Go down in flames:  To fail suddenly and spectacularly.  The football players career went down in flames after the media learned hed been losing on purpose to settle gambling debts.  Go the extra mile:  To make an extra effort.  My dentist always goes the extra mile, offering free back massages at the end of a stressful tooth extraction.  Hang in there:  Be patient. Wait it out.  I know youre struggling right now in school but just hang in there. Itll get easier. I promise.  In the fast lane: A life filled with excitement.  When Curtis turned forty, he decided he needed to live life in the fast lane, so he quit his job as a dentist and decided to tour Europe by motorcycle.In the nick of time: Almost too late.  You gave me that main idea help in the nick of time—my teacher just gave us a quiz on that reading skill and I passed it!Let the cat out of the bag: Tell a secret.  Brady’s surprise party is going to be great if you don’t let the cat out of the bag.Let the chips fall where they may:  To let something happen, no matter if its good or bad.  Look. Im going to just try out for the cheerleading squad and let the chips fall where they may.  Lose your marbles: To go crazy; insane.  Mom  has really lost her marbles; shes making me p ractice writing the ACT Essay seven times this week!Once in a blue moon: Rarely.  In Florida, the temperature drops below freezing only once in a blue moon.Plain as day: Obvious; clear.  It’s plain as day that you’re in love with her, so just admit it.Play second fiddle: To be less important.  I hate playing second fiddle to my sister; she always does things better than I do!Put your foot in your mouth: Saying something you shouldn’t have.  Jessica really put her foot in her mouth when she asked about John’s job right after he lost it.Pull yourself together:  Calm down and behave normally.  Pull yourself together, man! Sure, your girlfriend just dumped you and then you got hit by a car, but you cant let those things get you down.  Sick and tired: To be bothered or annoyed by.  She is sick and tired of her dog chewing up her shoes every day.Sleep on it: To think about something for a while before making a decision.  Don’t tell me w hether you’ll move to Texas with me or not today. Sleep on it, and get back to me tomorrow.Snug as a bug in a rug: Warm and cozy; content.  That baby looks as snug as a bug in a rug cuddled up next to his mother.Step up your game:  To start performing better.  Listen, Jen. Youd better step up your game if you want to get all As in Miss Finchs Physics class. She isnt easy!Stick your nose into something: To interfere.  Sharon always sticks her nose into everyone else’s business.Straight from the horse’s mouth: Directly from the person involved.  Listen to the news straight from the horse’s mouth; we’re all getting bonuses this week!Take it easy: Relax.  I know you’re not feeling well, so try to take it easy today.Tip of the iceberg: The small easily visible part of a larger problem.  The fact that Carrie is dating a member of the mafia is just the tip of the iceberg; she’s also smuggling contraband into the country.To not see the wood for the trees: To be so involved with the details that you don’t get the most important facts.  She always argues about the silliest things; it’s like she can’t see the wood for the trees.Up a creek without a paddle: In an unlucky/bad situation.  If you don’t have any money to pay for the repairs we just made to your car, I guess you’re up a creek without a paddle because you can’t have your car back.You rock!: You are great.  Dude. You rock. Thanks for offering to watch my pet iguana all week.   These are just a few of the thousands of idioms in the English language. Get your feet wet (start) with these, and then move on to the idioms that will knock your socks off (astound you).

Comparing Beowulf, The Wanderer, And The 13th Warrior

Ty DeJames Mr. Neely 4-17-15 One common question in literature that always reappears is What is an epic hero? Or better yet an epic hero in Anglo Saxon culture. I believe there is more to being a hero than just being strong or intelligent. An epic hero in my eyes is oneself who comes to portray the beliefs of the society in which the tale/story is depicted. A few great examples of the Anglo Saxon epic hero are the literary characters in Beowulf, The Wanderer, and The 13th Warrior. These are all outstanding examples of Anglo-Saxon epic heroes because they all came to show the evident characteristics bravery, loyalty, friendship. In the Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, the meaning of to be a hero was to be a warrior and or a strong being. A hero also had to possess the vast characteristics of being strong, intelligent, and courageous. All warriors of Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, had to be willing to face any odds and be willing to be the underdog that chases success. Also they had to fight to the death for their glory and accept their each individual fates. The typical Anglo-Saxon hero was always able to be all of these and still be humble and very down to earth. Out of all literature Beowulf is, arguably, the best example one can use of an Anglo-Saxon hero. But, in The 13th Warrior, Ibn Fadlan (played by Antonio Banderas) similar to Beowulf, also shows many of the characteristics that come to show the qualities one needs to possess to become an Anglo-Saxon

Airport ownership Free Essays

Airport as being fully privately owned enterprise is very important problem. There were a lot of conferences, dedicated to this problem, which tried to examine and study experience of world practice of privatizing and shareholding of airports as one of means to increase effectiveness of work in conditions of market relations. Some countries cannot make airports being fully privately owned enterprises because they don’t have legal securing in governmental property of usage airports. We will write a custom essay sample on Airport ownership or any similar topic only for you Order Now Absences of legalized documents which give right of management by governmental property don’t give opportunity to attract foreign investors, limit development of non-aviation activity, and create a lot of other problems. So, holding such conferences is a good opportunity to determine conditions of reforms in civil aviation and to analyze development of business in airports. Nowadays integration processes and economic reforms which take place in Europe create qualitative new situation in the field of air transport. In these conditions coordination of efforts in the country, forming of legal regulations and regulation of activity of aircraft companies, airports and other organizations of this field, directed at guaranteeing of safety flights and protection of customers’ interests is very important. During last dozen of years more then one hundred of governmental aircraft enterprises and airports were made fully privately owned enterprises in Russia – it is more then in countries of Europe, USA and Canada. In the United States the attempts to privatize airports are more successful working with small airports (Robert Poole and Adrian Moore p.2) There was a possibility to rent an airport a little bit earlier. Actually, anybody was able to rent an airport, runway, avian stations, etc – anybody who paid more. Airport didn’t have any advantage during that rent. The tasks of leaser, which doesn’t care of airport’s problems, are easy to understand: to get higher profit from lease. And nobody knows how the leaser will take care of that leased property. Aircraft Company, on the contrary, is interested in maintenance of that property on necessary level, because it gets main funds from take-off and landing. (Robert W. Poole p.3)We came to conclusion also that making airport fully privately owned enterprise shouldn’t be made by impulse. It takes years in the European countries to get all permissions to make airport privately owned. Some aircraft companies consider purchase of airports to be very profitable. For example, â€Å"Austrian Airlines† pans to buy airport of Bratislava (Slovakia). The matter it that Bratislava’s airport is located 20 km from Vienna and Austrians want to use this airport as dispersal field. Besides, Slovakia enters European Union and quantity of flight to Bratislava can be increased. Austrians hope to become the main airline not only in Austria, but in neighbor Slovakia. Indian government also decided to give â€Å"green light† to make two biggest governmental airports fully privately owned enterprises, which are located in administrative capital of country New Delhi and financial capital Mumbai (the city, which was known as Bombay). The minister of civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy announced in September 11, 2003 that cabinet of ministers adopted plans to sell 74 percent share holdings of both airports to private enterprises. Within eight months government will prepare to auction and to finish receiving of applications (Reuters agency p.1). Airports will be transformed in two separate companies, with partial participation of government. Accordingly, the companies will be made privately owned separately, with help of auctions. Airports Authority of India, AAI – governmental department, which controls 130 airports in the whole territory of country, will keep 26 percent share holding as well as functions of safety and management of air movement. In such a way the airports will have opportunity to become huge international junctions and to start compete actively with other airports of regions, as well as between themselves. How to cite Airport ownership, Papers

Analytic Play Review Of The Taming Of The Shrew Essay Example For Students

Analytic Play Review Of The Taming Of The Shrew Essay The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare is probably one of Shakespeares earliest comedies. Its plot is derived from the popular war of the sexes theme in which males and females are pitted against one another for dominance in marriage. The play begins with an induction in which a drunkard, Christopher Sly, is fooled into believing he is a king and has a play performed for him. The play he watches is what constitutes the main body of The Taming Of The Shrew. In it, a wealthy land owner, Baptista Minola, attempts to have his two daughters married. One is very shrewish, Katherine, while the other is the beautiful and gentle Bianca. In order to ensure Katherine is married, Baptista disallows Bianca to be espoused until Katherine is wed, forcing the many suitors to Bianca to find a mate for Katherine in order for them to vie for Biancas love. Many critics of the play condemn it for the blatant sexist attitude it has toward women but closer examination of the play and the intricacies of its structure reveal that it is not merely a story of how men should put women in their place. The play is, in fact, a comedy about an assertive woman coping with how she is expected to act in the society of the late sixteenth century and of how one must obey the unwritten rules of a society to be accepted in it. Although the play ends with her outwardly conforming to the norms of society, this is in action only, not in mind. Although she assumes the role of the obedient wife, inwardly she still retains her assertiveness. Most of the plays humour comes from the way in which characters create false realities by disguising themselves as other people, a device first introduced in the induction. Initially this is accomplished by having Christopher Sly believe he is someone he is not and then by having the main play performed for him. By putting The Taming Of The Shrew in a play within a play structure, Shakespeare immediately lets the audience know that the play is not real thus making all events in the play false realities. Almost all characters in the play take on identities other than their own at some point of time during the play. Sly as a king, Tranio as Lucentio, Lucentio as Cambio, Hortensio as Litio and the pedant as Vicentio are all examples of this. Another example of this is Katherine as an obedient wife. In The Taming Of The Shrew, courtship and marriage are not so much the result of love but rather an institution of society that people are expected to take part in. As a result of the removal of romance from marriage, suitors are judged, not by their love for a woman, but by how well they can provide for her. All suitors compare the dowry each can bring to the marriage and the one with the most to offer wins the womans hand in marriage. This competition for marriage is like a game to the characters of the play. While discussing the courtship of Bianca with Gremio, Hortensio says He that runs fastest gets The ring Act I, scene i, l. 140-141 likening receiving permission to wed Bianca to winning a race. In the game, however, women are treated like objects that can be bought and sold rather than as human beings. This is expected since the society is a patriarchal one. For example, Lucentio, Tranio and Petruchio are all defined with reference to their fathers and all the elderly authority figures, like Baptista and Vicentio, are men. .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .postImageUrl , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:visited , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:active { border:0!important; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:active , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How does Shakespeare create excitement and tension in Act 3 Scene 1? EssayThe taming of Katherine is not a womens shrewishness being cured as much as it is a woman being taught the rules of the patriarchal game. Katherine has learned how to be assertive and with this knowledge is able to control men, and a woman controlling a man is considered against the rules of the game. The play ends with Katherine proving that she is truly cured of her shrewishness and is the most obedient of the three newlywed wives at the end of the play. This is demonstrated in her soliloquy when she lectures the other wives on the proper way in which a woman should behave: I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace, Or seek rule, supremacy, and sway, When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. Act V, scene ii, l. 161 164 Although most critics interpret the play as being that of a woman finally acting the way in which she is supposed to act, it is difficult to believe that a character as vibrant and strong-willed as Katherine is changed so easily. Following with the device of false realities that Shakespeare set in place so early in the play, it would seem more logical that Katherine would simply be acting the part of the obedient wife in order to be accepted in the society in which she lives. Katherine can play a part very well and can even enjoy doing it. This is shown on the road to Padua from Petruchios house when Kate is forced to address Vincentio as a woman and says, Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet Act IV, scene v, l. 37. The Taming Of The Shrew is a light-hearted comedy that is better seen than read. This is especially true since a lot of the humour in it is physical or slapstick humour which is possible only on stage. The complexity of the play is refreshing, as many of the modern plays of today are quite linear and do little to keep a readers attention. Another favourable aspect of it is the subplot involving Lucentio and Bianca which lends itself as the basis for many humourous moments, most notably between Lucentio, Hortensio and Bianca. The obvious sexist attitude of the play does not hinder it because of the reasons stated above. One must also take into account the attitudes of sixteenth century England and the fact that the play is a comedy and is not meant to be taken seriously.

Analytic Play Review Of The Taming Of The Shrew Essay Example For Students

Analytic Play Review Of The Taming Of The Shrew Essay The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare is probably one of Shakespeares earliest comedies. Its plot is derived from the popular war of the sexes theme in which males and females are pitted against one another for dominance in marriage. The play begins with an induction in which a drunkard, Christopher Sly, is fooled into believing he is a king and has a play performed for him. The play he watches is what constitutes the main body of The Taming Of The Shrew. In it, a wealthy land owner, Baptista Minola, attempts to have his two daughters married. One is very shrewish, Katherine, while the other is the beautiful and gentle Bianca. In order to ensure Katherine is married, Baptista disallows Bianca to be espoused until Katherine is wed, forcing the many suitors to Bianca to find a mate for Katherine in order for them to vie for Biancas love. Many critics of the play condemn it for the blatant sexist attitude it has toward women but closer examination of the play and the intricacies of its structure reveal that it is not merely a story of how men should put women in their place. The play is, in fact, a comedy about an assertive woman coping with how she is expected to act in the society of the late sixteenth century and of how one must obey the unwritten rules of a society to be accepted in it. Although the play ends with her outwardly conforming to the norms of society, this is in action only, not in mind. Although she assumes the role of the obedient wife, inwardly she still retains her assertiveness. Most of the plays humour comes from the way in which characters create false realities by disguising themselves as other people, a device first introduced in the induction. Initially this is accomplished by having Christopher Sly believe he is someone he is not and then by having the main play performed for him. By putting The Taming Of The Shrew in a play within a play structure, Shakespeare immediately lets the audience know that the play is not real thus making all events in the play false realities. Almost all characters in the play take on identities other than their own at some point of time during the play. Sly as a king, Tranio as Lucentio, Lucentio as Cambio, Hortensio as Litio and the pedant as Vicentio are all examples of this. Another example of this is Katherine as an obedient wife. In The Taming Of The Shrew, courtship and marriage are not so much the result of love but rather an institution of society that people are expected to take part in. As a result of the removal of romance from marriage, suitors are judged, not by their love for a woman, but by how well they can provide for her. All suitors compare the dowry each can bring to the marriage and the one with the most to offer wins the womans hand in marriage. This competition for marriage is like a game to the characters of the play. While discussing the courtship of Bianca with Gremio, Hortensio says He that runs fastest gets The ring Act I, scene i, l. 140-141 likening receiving permission to wed Bianca to winning a race. In the game, however, women are treated like objects that can be bought and sold rather than as human beings. This is expected since the society is a patriarchal one. For example, Lucentio, Tranio and Petruchio are all defined with reference to their fathers and all the elderly authority figures, like Baptista and Vicentio, are men. .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .postImageUrl , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:visited , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:active { border:0!important; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:active , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How does Shakespeare create excitement and tension in Act 3 Scene 1? EssayThe taming of Katherine is not a womens shrewishness being cured as much as it is a woman being taught the rules of the patriarchal game. Katherine has learned how to be assertive and with this knowledge is able to control men, and a woman controlling a man is considered against the rules of the game. The play ends with Katherine proving that she is truly cured of her shrewishness and is the most obedient of the three newlywed wives at the end of the play. This is demonstrated in her soliloquy when she lectures the other wives on the proper way in which a woman should behave: I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace, Or seek rule, supremacy, and sway, When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. Act V, scene ii, l. 161 164 Although most critics interpret the play as being that of a woman finally acting the way in which she is supposed to act, it is difficult to believe that a character as vibrant and strong-willed as Katherine is changed so easily. Following with the device of false realities that Shakespeare set in place so early in the play, it would seem more logical that Katherine would simply be acting the part of the obedient wife in order to be accepted in the society in which she lives. Katherine can play a part very well and can even enjoy doing it. This is shown on the road to Padua from Petruchios house when Kate is forced to address Vincentio as a woman and says, Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet Act IV, scene v, l. 37. The Taming Of The Shrew is a light-hearted comedy that is better seen than read. This is especially true since a lot of the humour in it is physical or slapstick humour which is possible only on stage. The complexity of the play is refreshing, as many of the modern plays of today are quite linear and do little to keep a readers attention. Another favourable aspect of it is the subplot involving Lucentio and Bianca which lends itself as the basis for many humourous moments, most notably between Lucentio, Hortensio and Bianca. The obvious sexist attitude of the play does not hinder it because of the reasons stated above. One must also take into account the attitudes of sixteenth century England and the fact that the play is a comedy and is not meant to be taken seriously.