Visual thesaurus:
Example sentences from the web:
- David is a straightforward guy; he always says what he thinks.
- Our divorce settlement was very straightforward.
- You know, I just want some normal, straightforward family life.
Tag: Learning English
“To rain on someone’s parade” – English idiom
Meaning => to disappoint or discourage someone.
Examples:
- “Listen, I hate to rain on the fun parade but has anyone heard from the National Committee?”
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Don’t Rain On My Parade – Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl)
Don’t tell me not to live
Just sit and putter
Life’s candy and the sun’s
A ball of butter
Don’t bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade
Don’t tell me not to fly
I’ve simply got to
If someone takes a spill
It’s me and not you
Who told you you’re allowed
To rain on my parade!
I’ll march my band out
I’ll beat my drum
And if I’m fanned out
Your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn’t fake it
Hat, sir, I guess I didn’t make it!
But whether I’m the rose
Of sheer perfection
Or freckle on the nose
Of life’s complexion
The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye
I gotta fly once
I gotta try once
Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, life is juicy
Juicy, and you see
I gotta have my bite, sir!
Get ready for me, love
Cause I’m a “comer”
I simply gotta march
My heart’s a drummer
Don’t bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade!
I’m gonna live and live now
Get what I want, I know how
One roll for the whole shebang
One throw, that bell will go clang
Eye on the target, and wham
One shot, one gun shot, and bam
Hey, Mister Arnstein, here I am!
I’ll march my band out
I’m beating my drum
And if I’m fanned out
Your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn’t fake it
Hat, sir, I guess I didn’t make it
Get ready for me, love
‘Cause I’m a “comer”
I simply gotta march
My heart’s a drummer
Nobody, no, nobody
Is gonna rain on my parade!
Click here if you want to know the origin of this idiom: Know Your Phrase
“Instance” – What does it mean?
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Example sentences from the web:
- This is an instance of misuse of power.
- Now, take this car, for instance.
- Is this an instance of disagreement between the Council and the Commission?
A watched pot never boils – English proverb
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Example sentences from the web:
- Whoever said “a watched pot never boils” obviously didn’t own a microwave.
- Jane was nine months pregnant and Tom hovered over her anxiously. She said, “You might as well go away and play some golf. A watched pot never boils, you know!”
- There’s no point sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring. A watched pot never boils.
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“Ahead of the curve” – English Idiom
Example sentences from the web:
- We’re looking for ideas that are edgy, ahead of the curve.
- It is not exactly ahead of the curve to take four and a half years to make only an informal request.
- The challenge in business is to stay ahead of the curve.
English4Gamers – Episode 8 – Doom
The 8th episode of English4Gamers is finally out! I suggest that you take a look at the vocabulary list before watching it ;-). This time, Richard and I decided to play Doom, a 1993 science fiction horror-themed first-person shooter (FPS) video game. If you want to test your listening comprehension, you can try to fill in the gaps with the correct words in the sentences below the video. You can download a PDF version of the video & the answers.
TO GUIDE = to accompany (a sightseer) to show points of interest and to explain their meaning or significance.
Ex. He guided her to the front row and sat beside her.
TO RELEASE = to make available to the public.
Ex. The band’s latest album will be released next week.
TO BLEED = to lose blood.
Ex. She was bleeding from the face and hands.
BY THE WAY = used in speech to introduce a statement or question that may or may not relate to the current topic of conversation.
Ex. By the way, have you received that letter yet?
AMMO = objects that can be shot from a weapon, such as bullets or shells.
ACCURATE = precise; able to produce results that are correct.
Ex. The machines were not yet accurate enough to give useful results.
Free downloadable PDF version: English4Gamers – episode 8 – Doom – Vocabulary
Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with the correct words from the box:
- RICHARD: With the blue button you _____________.
- RICHARD: With the green button you ___________ weapon.
- ANNA: There was like an __________________ and it went wrong. So there are these ___________________ people walking around.
- ANNA: It’s like … I’m ________________ to playing it on my __________________ and it’s so different.
- RICHARD: Go in __________________ of the stairs and press only the forward button.
- ANNA: Here there is a secret _____________________ I’m sure.
- RICHARD: Go _________________, on the left side. There should be a secret room.
- RICHARD: This is the first secret. There are two ______________________.
- RICHARD: Your nose is ___________________ by the way.
- ANNA: I’m __________________. Look at my face, full of blood and wounds.
- ANNA: I want the ______________________.
- ANNA: We need another weapon. This is not __________________________.
- ANNA: Go straight on and up the stairs. Go through the room with the ________________ to the lift.
- ANNA: I think so … To the _______________ and travel __________________. So you have to take a lift.
- ANNA: That’s an imp. You see that he has _____________________ on his shoulders and on his elbows.
- RICHARD: Yes, they are really ___________________ by the way.
Free downloadable PDF version (without answers):English4Gamers – Episode 8 – Fill in the gaps exercise (without answers)
Free downloadable PDF version (answers) : English4Gamers – Episode 8 – Answers
“A good husband makes a good wife” – English proverb
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Example sentence:
- Don’t blame your wife for being quick-tempered with you; you haven’t been kind to her lately. A good husband makes a good wife!
QUICK-TEMPERED => becoming angry quickly and easily.
“Night owl” – English idiom
Image source 1; 2.
Some articles on this topic:
Early Bird or Night Owl? It May Be in Your Genes
The Dark Side of Being a Night Owl
New words in English: “clipped wing generation”; “genervacation”; “adultism”
clipped wing generation noun the generation of young adults who are unable to be independent of their parents because they cannot afford independent living costs, William Wragg, aged 28, is among …
Source: New words – 9 May 2016
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