Tag: Real English

“Stick to your guns” – English idiom

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To stick to your guns

Idiom 1-09 example

Example sentences from the web:

  • You must admire the way she sticks to her guns. She is not easy to persuade.
  • I’ll stick to my guns on this matter. I’m sure I’m right.
  • The people of the community stuck to their guns and marched in protests.

ORIGIN OF THIS IDIOM …

This expression originated at a time when guns were becoming the weapon of choice in warfare.
“Stick to your guns” was a command given to sailors manning the guns, on military boats. They were to stay at their posts even when the boat was being attacked by enemies.

Stick to your guns – Bon Jovi

So you want to be a cowboy
Well you know it’s more that just a ride
Guess you got to know the real thing
If you want to know the other side
Ain’t nobody riding shotgun
In this world tonight

And when you spit, you better mean it
You got to make ’em all believe it
If you’re gonna be the one

Stick to your guns
Ain’t nobody gonna hurt you, baby
You can go for the trigger
But only if you have to
Aim from the heart
Some will love and some will curse you, baby,
And you can go to war
But only if you have to
It’s only if you have to

So you want to be the big time
Some people have to drag you down
There’s no living in the backseat
If you’re gonna drive through town
And when you pray for independence
Boy, you better stand your ground

You got to give it all you got now
Or you might get shot down
Fight hard until the battle is won

Stick to your guns
Ain’t nobody gonna hurt you, baby, 
You can go for the trigger
But only if you have to
Aim from the heart
Some will love and some will curse you, baby,
And you can go to war
But only if you have to
But only if you have to

Solo

Well, you know that I been through it
I got the scars to prove it
Fight hard and the Battle is yours

Stick to your guns
Ain’t nobody gonna hurt you, baby
You can go for the trigger
But only if you have to
Aim from the heart
Some will love and some will curse you, baby,
And you can go to war
But only if you have to
It’s only if you have to

But stick to your guns

Whatever – English slang

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Whatever

Example sentences from the web:

  • Boy: I am exhausted today. Looking forward to going home and doing nothing, hopefully, you’re up for the same?
    Girl: Yeah, whatever.
  • Whatever. It’s like you want to get your heart broken again.
  • Whatever… just another reason we made the right decision.

An interesting discussion on this topic: When did “Whatever.” begin to be used as a sentence?

Notice that ‘whatever’ has other meanings. It can be used as an adverb, a conjunction, a determiner, or a pronoun.
As a pronoun it introduces a relative clause and its meaning is: ‘everything‘; ‘anything that‘. For example: Do whatever he asks you to. As an adjective, it means ‘of any kind‘; ‘in any amount‘; ‘no matter what‘. For example, I saw no point whatever in continuing. Furthermore, we use it in questions as a synonym of ‘what’, but with more emphasis. For example: Whatever do you mean? = What do you mean? ‘Whatever’ is also used as a conjunction. In this case, it connects two clauses: I won’t go there, whatever he says.

“Knackered” – British slang

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Knackered

Example sentences from the web:

  • The rider forgot to eat before the last climb of the day and he was completely knackered half way up
  • I helped my parents with house chores today. I’m too knackered to join you for dinner, I’m sorry.
  • She has finished the book. Then she fell asleep immediately, she was so knackered!

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” – English proverb

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Don't give up

Proverb 29-07

In times of crisis, those who are most resilient and determined take action and prove they’re worth.

Example sentences from the web:

  • I realize we’re lost. But always remember, – “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
  • The football team was losing the game, so at half time the coach reminded them that when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
  • Anna lost her job and her boyfriend dumped her for her best friend. She carried on. When the going gets tough the tough gets going. Three months later she was in a better job and going out with a really nice guy.

If you still don’t get the meaning of this proverb …

“The going” => the situation
“Gets tough” => becomes difficult
“The tough” => people who are strong and enduring
“Get going”  => become fully engaged

There is a song named after this proverb: When the going gets tough, the tough get going by Billy Ocean.
If you like the 80s, listen to it! 😉

 

Lyrics:

When the going gets tough
The tough get going, tough, tough, huh, huh, huh
When the going gets tough, the tough get ready

Yeah, ooooh, du da do da

I got something to tell you
I got something to say
I’m gonna put this dream in motion
Never let nothing stand in my way
When the going gets touch
The tough get going

I’m gonna get myself ‘cross the river
That’s the price I’m willing to pay
I’m gonna make you stand and deliver
And give me love in the old-fashion way

Woooh

Darlin’, I’ll climb any mountain
Darlin’, I’ll do anything

Ooh, can I touch you (can I touch you)
And do the things that lovers do
Ooh, wanna hold you (wanna hold you)
I gotta get it through to you, oooh

When the going gets tough
The tough get going
When the going gets rough
The tough get rough
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Ooooh baby

I’m gonna buy me a one-way ticket
Nothin’s gonna hold me back
Your love’s like a slow train coming (slow train coming)
And I feel it coming down the track (woh)

Darlin’, I’ll climb any mountain
Darlin’, I’ll do anything
Ooh (ooh) can I touch you (can I touch you)
And do the things that lovers do
Ooh, (ooh) wanna hold you (wanna hold you)
I gotta get it through to you (ooh)
‘Cause when the going gets tough
The tough get going
When the going gets rough
The tough get rough

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Wooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Darlin’, I’ll climb any mountain
Darlin’, I’ll swim any sea
Darlin’, I’ll reach for the heaven
Darlin’, with you lovin’ me
Oooh (oooh)

Oooh, can I touch you (can I touch you)
And do the things that lovers do (can I touch you)
Oooh, wanna hold you (wanna hold you)
I gotta get it through to you

When the going gets tough
Going gets tough
Going gets rough
Going gets rough…

“To waffle” – British slang

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To waffleImage source

Probably you knew already the common meaning of “waffle” in British and American English. If you didn’t … this is a “waffle”:
waffle

A “waffle” is a type of pancake with a pattern of square dents in it, made in a waffle iron.

According to Random House Dictionary waffle with the British English meaning of talking idly, and foolishly without purpose is derived from waff (which means to bark or to yelp like a dog) and first appeared in print between 1695-1705.

Example sentences from the web:

  • She waffled when asked what she thought of her sister’s new boyfriend.
  • If you don’t know the answer, it’s no good just waffling (on) for pages and pages.

From a British newspaper clipping (1957):
newspaper - to waffle

Image source

Remember that in American slang the meaning of “to waffle” is different.
Example sentences from the web:

  • American voters waffled in 2000.
  • He waffled on an important issue.
    [= to fail to make up one’s mind; to equivocate; to waver; to oscillate between options].