Idiomatically speaking

[Alan]

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Hi,

There are several ways to communicate with others and probably the best way is to speak plainly. On the other hand it's very useful to use idioms now and again as I have explained in my latest newsletter:

http://www.english-test.net/newsletter/idiomatically-speaking-188.html

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Youscream_Icecream]

Hi Alan,

As always, you essays are very amusing and refreshing to read. Hats off to you and your great work.

Y.I.
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Need a speaking partner?
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[Geo777]

Hi, Alan

Thank you very much for this intresting essay. If "brevity is the soul of wit" then idiom is the soul of language.
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Slow but sure.

[Nour1]

Thank you Mr. Alan
you teach us alot. I take my hat off to you

[Kur Akech Thiek Kur]

That was great essay Alan, I enjoyed reading your eloquent writing. Best wishes! Kur

[Bagheera]

I like English idioms very much, but they say idioms often sound offensive, like 'butter fingers' or 'bull in a china shop' and you have to be very careful. Besides there are a lot of obsolete idioms which are hardly worth being used.

The problem is how to choose just necessary ones avoiding sell-by date ones?
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I'm a natural blonde, please speak slowly ;-)

[Aarubee2007]

Hello Mr. Alan,

I really liked the article ' idiomatically speaking'. So, I want to know that where can one find such idioms to read and learn.

Aarubee

[Alan]

Hi Aarubee,

There are many sites on the Internet you might find useful like this one:

http://www.idiomsite.com/

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Nabilbahnas]

Sir Alan
I'm really indebted to you. Your articles enrich my English.so I write to thank you and wish you everlasting success.
Nabilbahnas

[Dieter Radke]

Hallo Alan
I've got some problem in Duke of Kent's text: ''Than stands on any shoulder that I see '' !
It would be very gently if you could help me.
Thanks so much
Terry

[Alan]

Hi Terry,

Could you please direct me to the exact text. I have written so much material for the site that I can't immediately put my finger on every piece.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[Torsten]

Hi Alan,

The phrase appears in this newsletter issue: http://www.english-test.net/newsletter/idiomatically-speaking-188.html

TOEIC listening, photographs: A lady pointing

[Alan]

[Bloom68]

Hello,
'butter fingers' What does it mean?

[Beeesneees]

It is an idiom applied to a rather clumsy person who tends to drop things.

(It's as if their fingers are made of butter - soft and slippery - so that they cannot gain a proper hold on the object and it slips from their grasp.)
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"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett