English and so on

【Difference in the life habit has prevented us from communicating】《Its key word is a straw》

I'm going to show the example for the conversations with regard to the idiom which is interesting and useful.

A; "I just can't stand it any more. He is intolerable."

B "What do you mean?"

A "He's constantly asking favors of me."

B "Well,can't you put up with it? He is an old man."

A " But this morning at 4:30 he rang me for the eight times. It was the last straw. He just wanted a glass of water"

B "Be patient John. You'll get yourself old some day."

【A word is an imagination,so we can take advantage of it like this】《Its key word is a chair》

There are all sorts of ways of saying concerning a chair according to its form and usage when trying to say in English. An ordinary one is the chair,but if it's the one in a drawing-room we call it a sofa or couch,and if it's the long one it's a bench. When sitting on it the more comfortable one is an armchair.

We call a person who sits on the …

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【A word is an imagination,so we can take advantage of it like this】《Its key word is a chair》

We call the one who sits on armchair and says this and that and thinks over on armchair without doing anything an armchair critic. We call the one who does only criticize an armchair critic.

When adding the which is the definite article to chair its meaning seems to become different. Oh! I may have made a mistake. I've frequently added the to the word.

Speaking of getting the chair it means being installed as a professor in the university in England. If saying he's finally get the chair,it means that he becomes a professor at last. If saying who was in the chair,it means asking that who was the chairman in the meeting. If using chair as a verb,it's also the same meaning of being the chairman.

Who chaired the meeting?

Western way of thinking itself for the chair is different from us a little. An Western room where there is no tatami chair is an important place in which they yield …

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Thank you for your message.

It doesn't always mean that I want to show off,and as you've told there are lot of errors in my English. I'm sorry for it but I can't help it,for I'm non native English speakers. I'll not be afraid of making a mistake,though I've tried to avoid it as much as I can.

I've want to be a wonderful English speaker some day,but as for me it's almost self education,so there are plenty of errors in my English.

Without using,English abilities won't improve at all,I'm sure,but if adopting wrong way it may not be efficient. To my sorrow I'm not sure what to do. A good way to improve my English abilities doesn't occur to me at all.

Making friends with native English speakers or going to an English conversation school are good ways,but I'm not good at associating with others and I don't have enough money to go to the school.

The ways of using conjunctions are also in the wrong,I'm sure. The problem is I'm not sure what kind of place is in the wrong in my English.

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【A word is an imagination and we can make use of it like the next】《Its keyword is a chair》

At an Western room where there is no tatatami the chair is an important place where the Western people can yield themselves day and night,so the chair isn't the one on which they sit a little but the one on which they can sit for a long time comfortably.

There is other chair which doesn't have a support for the back. We call it a stool. The stool has a meaning of a toilet stool,so when saying it we should be careful of it. The conversation which is useful and interesting.

A:Great news about John Smith,isn't it?

B:Haven't heard. What's he done?

A:He's got finally the chair.

B:About time! He must be the most intelligent and hard-working man on the campus.

A:And he gives the best lectures. Great news!

【There is this expression becaus of different custom】《Its keyword is a bed》

It seems that a word of 寝台 has disappeared from the Japanese spoken language lately. Other word of 寝台車 in a train…

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【There is this expression owing to different custom】《Its keyword is a bed》

Other word of 寝台車 in a train barely remains. When pronuncing an English word,bed in Japanese,it's not clear whether it's ベッド or ベット. If being an idiom the bed has various meaning. The one which is familiar with us is『go to bed』. Then none of the articles like a or the are added to the word. We need to be careful of it.

If saying 『I got out of bed on the wrong side』it means waking up in a bad humor or being in a bad mood in the morning. If saying 『Let me make the bed for you』it means preparing for the bed for you. Speaking of bed and breakfast it means an English dosshouse. It's close to what is called a Japanese 民宿 which is a private home providing meals and lodging for tourists.

They abbreviate the bed and breakfast as B.B. The B.B is preparing for breakfast and being able to stay with a low accommodation charge comparatively. The place where they sleep is a bedroom. When saying the scale of the house or …

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【There is this expression thanks to different custom】《Its keyword is a bed》

When saying the scale of the house or saying whether the house is good or bad,they frequently express them as the number of the bedroom. For instance if saying 『He bought a five-bedroom house』it means it's a very big house,for the house has usually two-bedroom or three-bedroom.

They call what is called a bed town in Japanese a bedroom suburb or a dormitory suburb. I'm going to show the conversation which is useful and interesting.

A:I got out of bed on the wrong side this morning. Do I feel funny!

B:I know what you mean. I have those days too. Bad-tempered all day.

A:Yeah. I had a fight with John,shouted at the dog,complained about lunch…!

B:I think you'd better go back to bed!

【If being able to understand this idea it's just that we have only to make an effort a little more.】《Its keyword is light and electricity》

When saying a Japanese word 電気 in English we use the word of electricity but when talking…

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【If being able to understand this idea it's just that we have only to make an effort a little more.】

《Its keyword is electrictty and light.》

When saying the Japanese word 電気 in English they say electricity,but when talking about the electricity everyday life they hardly use the word. There seems to be other varied expressions in English.

For example when switching on or off the electric light,they say the light went off or turns on the light. When being dark a little in the room,they say the lights are too little dark in the room. The power failure or the current is off means 停電 in Japanese. The switch which turns on or off the whole house is the main. When asking its place they say "Where're the mains?"

When saying all the electrical things in the whole house they use the electricity. The place where the plug is inserted is called an outlet. There is a plug at the end of electric appliances. When buying the electric appliances in England and America they have to install the plug…

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【If being able to understand this idea it's just that we have only to make an effort a little more.】《Its keyword is electricity and light.》

When buying an electric appliances in England and America they have to install the plug for themselves. When installing the plug to the code they say plugs in. If the fuse blows they say the fuse was burnt out. As to the voltage,while it's 110-volt in the U.S.A. it's 240-volt in the U.K. If wanting to use a Japanese electric appliance there,a transformer is indispensable. A light bulb is an electric bulb. The bulb has also meaning of plant,so sometimes we should say it's the electric bulb.

An interesting and useful conversation.
A:Turn all the lights off,John.

B:I switched the mains,too.

A:Is that really necessary? We're only going to Spain for a week.

B:You can never be too sure. Mrs. Smith's house caught fire when she was away.

A;You may be right.

【When watching the TV the eye of the English changes into square?】《Its keyword is television》

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【When watching the TV the eyes of the English change into square?】《Its keyword is television.》

TV is originally an abbreviation of television. If saying televi in England it doesn't make sense. They make use of the word of TV in the U.S.A .and the word of telly has been taken advantage of in the U.K.

We should be careful of the pronunciation of the TV. If saying TB by mistake it's an abbreviation of tuberculosis. When pronouncing the v we do it to chew the lower lip with upper teeth lightly and breathe out between the teeth and the lip.

Speaking of the TV,the number of the TV channels in Japan are so many if comparing it to other countries. The TV is always telecast in Japan but there are few countries like Japan. As to the nationwide relay on the TV the U.S.A. has CBS,NBC,and ABC and the U.K. has BBC and ITV.

If a child is involved in watching the TV and neglect its study its parents are worried about it. It's the same in any country in the world. There is a way of saying …

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【When watching the TV the eyes of the English change into the square?】《Its keyword is television.》

There is an English way of saying that you'll get square eyes. I don't know why but as for the cinema,a word of see is used. For example see a movie or see a cinema. On the other hand as to the TV instead of the see,other word of a watch is used. We should be careful of it.

If having a visitor they turn off the TV as their etiquette unless they have a special special condition. It seems to be important for them to pay attention to the sound of volume of the TV so as to avoid the trouble between the neighbors. When the sound of the volume of the TV is noisy and loud and if they want the volume of the sound to be low they say," Will you turn it dowm a little?"

To tell the truth I want to express the conversation in the book,but its space is too small to do. Maybe we can express 1024 letters here,but it's limited to 1000 letters. I hate it.

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【The eyes of the English change into square?】《Its keyword is television》

An interesting and useful conversation.

A: Peter,switch off the TV,will you?

B; Dad,it'll be over in five minutes.

A: You're always glued to the TV screen. You'll get square eyes.

B: But you're always watching the baseball and your eyes aren't square yet!

A: Peter!

【Please be careful of a way of saying of which we the Japanese frequently make use】《Its keyword is child and kid》

They call someone who isn't yet an adult a kid or a child. The kid is more informal. If calling its own young person the kid it's all right,but if calling other's one kid they should avoid it,

While we the Japanese seem to say" How is your child?" and we don't mind gender of the child they take advantage of son or daughter and say "How's your son?" or "How's your daughter?"

In general the children in the Europe and the United States have a strong independent spirit,it seems that they become grown-up earlier than Japanese children.

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【Please be careful of a way of saying of which we the Japanese frequently make use】《Its keyword is child and kid》

One of its reason is that the whole society make much of an individual,as a result without having a strong independent spirit they find it hard to lead their lives there. On the other hand Japanese children are protected in their groups like a family,school to which they belong. They are conscious of the member in the group gradually and establish themselves. It seems unclear which one is right.

They seem to respect the children's individuality earlier,but they draw a clear line between the child and the grown-up. A phrase that children should be seen but not heard shows us the situation. In short children should be the place where we can look at but they can't assert themselves.

It shows us one side on English and American home training. It looks like a Japanese phrase that children should be silent. When we the Japanese reprove the children we use the phrase,

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【Please be careful of a way of saying of which we the Japanese frequently take advantage.】《Its keyword is kid and child》

We could guess from the phrase that it's one side on the home training in the Britain and the United States. When reproving children for something we tend to say like the next. "Children must be silent." The phrase that children should be seen but not heard looks like the Japanese one.

In addition in a vehicle grown-ups don't give their seat to any children in the West. Without pampering it may help with the independent spirit on the Western children. Instead of sitting themselves Japanese parents make their children sit in the vehicle. If a foreign people looks at the scene,it's said that it finds it strange.

Interesting and useful conversation.

A: They really are naughty children,aren't they?

B Yes, Mary doesn't believe in shouting at the children.

A: Well.that's not why my grandmother used to say. Children had to be well-mannered all times.

B: Children …

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【Please be careful of a way of saying of which we the Japanese frequently make use.】《Its keyword is kid and children.》

B: Children should be seen but not heard.

【It may be shameful of you to use the straightforward remark】《Its keyword is loo and restroom》

If trying to express a comfort station, there are lots of ways of saying in English. The English people seem to say loo often recently. If wanting to ask its place,it's just that we have only to say like the next. "May I ask where the loo is?" In general the Americans call the one in an ordinary home a bathroom and the one in a formal place a restroom.We should avoid using the word of toilet as much as we can in the United States.

On the other hand the English call the one in their house a toilet or bathroom,the one in the formal place a lavatory,the one for a male the jents,the one for a female the powder room. The restroom is the place where taking a rest in England. It doesn't mean the toilet there.

Public lavatory also…

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【It may be shameful of you to use the straightforward remark】《Its keyword is loo and restroom》

A public lavatory also means a public convenience. The author said he'd happened to come across a remark of comfort station. All of them are euphemism 婉曲表現 for the restroom.

When being in the restroom and someone knocked on the restroom's door from the outside,it's all right if saying someone in. The author says a book says like that but he said he'd never heard anyone say in the West.

First of all if not being used the door of the restroom is usually open. If being used it's shut,it's natural. Besides there is a little space in the lower part of at the restroom in the United States,so if being used everyone can see the feet in the restroom.

Interesting and useful conversation

A: I want to go to the loo. Do you know where it is?

B: No,let me ask.
Excuse me,can you direct me to the restroom,please?

C: Sure. Down the hall,second door on your left.

B: Thank you very much.

C: Not at…

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【It may be shameful of you to use the straightforward remark】《Its keyword is loo and restroom》

Interesting and useful conversation

C:Not at all.

【Except for a way which we learn by heart,there is no way】《Its keyword is telephone and phone》

A word of 電話 in Japanese is equivalent to a telephone and a phone is also the same meaning in English. They use both of them as verb. For example they say "Phone me tomorrow" or "Telephone me tomorrow." The Americans usually say "call me" and "give me a buzz",which is informal way. The English say "Ring me" "Give me a call" or "Give me a ring"

When someone called them and they wanted to know who telephoned them,they say "Who's calling,please?" On the other hand when calling up someone if they weren't sure who received the phone they were at loss. Then they ask "May I ask who I'm speaking to?" or changing the subject into the first person and say "Who am I talking to?"

If wanting to call up someone to the telephone,they say "May I speak to〜?" …

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【Except for a way which we learn by heart,we have no way】《its keyword is telephone and phone》

If the one who is close to them a little they say "Is there?" When answering the telephone,they say "This is〜” or it's sometimes "It's〜” and "〜here" but when it's the first time they met they say at first "My name is〜"

When asking who received the telephone there are other ways of saying like the next."Who is this,please?" or "Who is that,please?"

When receiving the telephone if they need to call someone else,they say "Shall I put 〜on?" or "Shall I put on to〜?"

If saying 公衆電話 which is Japanese word with the English they say it's pay phone or public telephone. They call the telephone inside the building like inside a hotel it's house phone.

The interesting and useful conversation

A: Hello.

B: Hello.

A: Hello.

B: Hello. May I ask who I am speaking to you?"

A: George. Don't you remember last year at the beach?

B: Oh,yes. You bought me a beer.

A: Yes,that's right.

B: Nice to hear…

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【Except for a way which we learn by heart we have no way】《Its keyword is telephone and phone》

B: Nice to hear your voice again. Is John there?

A: Sure. Hold on.

【Few people seem to know the expression and the way of saying with which we're not familiar as we expect】《Its keyword is window》

When changing the Japanese word of 窓 into the English we use the word of window. It is important for us not to confuse the window with the wind. When saying the window,the last part of the sound becomes u.

Both the wind and window start from the alphabet of the w,so we should stick out our lips as possible as and say u clearly.

Few people know a windowsill in Japan in regard to the window. The windowsill is just in front of the window and sticks out a little from the window. Few Japanese windows usually have the windowsill,so we the Japanese aren't familiar with it.

European and American house decorate the window shell with some flower. For example they say."Put that potted plant on…

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【Few people know the expression and the way of saying with which we're not familiar as we expect】《Its keyword is window》

For example they say "Put the potted plant on the windowsill." There is a glass in the window,but they don't call it a window glass. They call it a window-pane.

Speaking of window seat,it's the seat in an airplane. It's at the window. The window also has the meaning of what we call the show window. Speaking of the window dressing it's decoration on the show window or window dressing settlement 粉飾決算.

Without buying any goods,peering into a show window,we call it window shopping. If changing the noun into the verb and saying"We were windowshopping along the street" it means that we were peering into the shops on the street for a long time.

There is a situation in which something went out of the window. If using a metaphor 比喩 and saying "My confidence went out of the window" it means losing confidence really.

We call the place where we buy a ticket at a station…

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【Few people know the expression and the way of saying with which we're not familiar as we expect】《Its keyword is window 》

We call the place where we buy a ticket at the station a ticket window and a square place on a thin paper for the address on an envelope is also the window and the envelope which has the window is a window envelope.

When we call the windows in each room,if it's in a kitchen we call it a kitchen window and if it's in a bedroom we call it a bedroom window. It's just that we have only to put the common name of the room before the window.

Conversation

A: We had a new German teacher last week.

B: Oh. What was he like?

A: Well,actually he is very strict. He corrected my pronunciation every two or three seconds.

B: Did he?

A: My confidence went straight out of the window! I'm afraid to speak now!

B: You'll get used to it. You'll find your German will vastly improve.

【If wanting to say a Japanese phrase of 鬼のいぬまに in English how should we say?】《Its keyword is …》

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【If wanting to say a Japanese phrase of 鬼の居ぬ間に in English,how should we say?】《Its keyword is cat and mouse》

When saying a cat everyone can recognize what it is,but if wanting to say 三毛猫 or トラ猫 in English,we find it hard to say. They call the 三毛猫 a tortoise-shell cat in English,for the color of the cat looks like the one of the tortoise's back. They call the トラ猫 a tabby cat in English. If the cat is a male,they call it a tomcat.Speaking of a big cat,it means wild animal like a tiger or lion. Some men have whiskers and the word of whiskers is also used for the cat.

There are some idiomatic expression on the cat. If saying "let the cat out of the bag" it means lets out a secret. If saying "Don't let the cat out of the bag." It means that trying not to divulge the secret.

While there is a Japanese idiomatic expression of 鬼の居ぬ間に they say while the cat's away. It comes from the phrase of "While the cat's away,the mice will play. It means that while someone terrible or troublesome is …

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【If wanting to say a Japanese phrase of 鬼の居ぬ間に in English,how should we say?】《Its keyword is cat and mouse》

It means that when someone terrible or troublesome is away,doing everything what it wants to do. If saying "Who bells the cat?" it means easier said than done. Who'll do the hard work actually?

The cat seems to be cautious,so there is a way of saying,"Let's wait for the cat to jump" It means that looking at the cat carefully and make sure the direction of its moving. In short it means that let's wait a little longer and see what happens.

A game of cat and mouse is a kind of a child's play. If saying play cat and mouse with,it means handling something halfheartedly or waiting for a right time to give it to someone.

Conversation

A:The boss is away on business until Tuesday.

B:I know. How about an early lunch?

A:Mm…He'll never know. How about finishing work a little earlier too?

B:Good idea! When the cat's away,the mice will play!

A:Bad little mice,aren't we?

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【Expressions with which we the Japanese are unfamiliar】《Its keyword is bathroom》

A bathroom is the place where there is a bath,shower or basin,I'm sure everybody knows it,but they use the word as a lavartory. In general they take a bath in lukewarm water quickly. Almost all of the bathrooms have a shower and without taking a bath they frequently take a shower.

The container which there are some lukewarm water is a bath tub. When putting in the lukewarm water,the bath additive gives out bubble. The bath additive is exclusive use for the bath tub. They call it bubble bath. They call the hot water in the bath tub bath water.

If saying "Don't throw out the baby with the bath water." it means that be careful not to throw away everything. It's a figurative 比喩的 expression. When taking a bath there is somebody who is good at sing a song,I'm wondering. They call it a bathroom singer.

They call 蛇口 which is a Japanese word a tap or faucet. The tap is the English and the faucet is the …

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【Expressions with which we the Japanese are unfamiliar】《Its keyword is bathroom》

The tap is the English and the faucet is the American. The tip of the shower where the water runs is a nozzle. A small towel with which they wash themselves in the bathroom is a wash-cloth in American and a face-cloth in English. A bigger one a little is a hand towel and a bigger towel with which they dry the whole body after taking bath is a bath towel. After going out of the bathtub and the one with which they dry the feet is a bath mat.

Conversation

A: Who's going to sing next? How about you,John?

B: I'm only a bathroom singer.

A: Everyone is a bathroom singer,anyway. Come on! Have a go!

B: O.K. but don't feel sorry you asked me.

【English expression with which they use some colors】

1 My bank account is in the black.

2 He looks as white as sheet.

3 That's a white lie.

4 He started shouting out of the blue.

5 I'm feeling blue. That's blue Monday feeling.

6 My account is in the red.

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【English expressions with which they use some colors】

7 He was treated to the red carpet.

We'll roll out the red carpet when he comes.

8 We painted the town red.

9 He's still a greenhorn.

10 He has a green thumb.

11 Look it up in the yellow pages.

12 He is in the pink.

13 He was born to the purple.

14 That's a gray area.

15 I saw a slightly gray-haired jentleman.

【The culture of water. The place where the sense of feeling in the Western people are different from us the Japanese】《Its keyword is water》

Japan is the country which frequently offers a glass of water than any other country. Whenever going in a restaurant or in a tearoom and sitting on the chair in silence,either a waiter or a waitress offers a glass of water. If being in a foreign country,we have to ask like that,"May I have some water,please?"

There are sorts of way of calling the water. We call it the water in an ordinary situation,but if buying the one in the bottle,we need to distinguish the one of …

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【The culture of water. The place where the sense of feeling in the Western people are different from us the Japanese】《Its keyword is water》

If buying the water in the bottle,we have to distinguish the one which has fizziness from other which doesn't have. They call the fizziness which has carbonic acid 炭酸 a sparkling water or fizzy water. Contrary to it they call the ordinary one a still water or non-sparkling.

Without being get used to the sparkling water,it seems that it makes them feel thirsty more. They call the sparkling one a carbohydrate and the ordinary one a non-carbohydrate formally,but the sparkling and non-sparkling are usually used everyday life conversation.

While looking at the word of the water in letters we find it easy to understand,if listening to the word it seems to be hard to grasp it. When the Americans pronunce the word it sounds ワラ,so we need to pay attention to it,but when we the Japanese say the word we should do it clearly.

Speaking of watery,it means …

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【The culture of water. The place where the sense of feeling in the Western people are different from us the Japanese】《Its keyword is water》

Speaking of watery,it means washy,or its seasoning is light. If putting the ice into coke,some people hate it,for it becomes washy,then they also should use the word of watery.

"If the water is used as verv,I find it interesting." The author said like that. If saying,"Oh,that makes my mouth water." It means that something looks so delicious that saliva is secreted in the mouth.When giving some water to a garden plant or a flower the water is used as verb.

When swimming,without being stuck out of the surface of the water,we can't breathe,so if saying "I've got to keep my head above water." it means that we have to lead our life.

Conversation

A;Hi,how are you doing?

B:I can't complain. Thank you. How about you?

A:I'm fine too. Thank you.

B:Looks like you're always busy.

A:Actually I'm doing a bit of moonlighting アルバイト. I have to keep my…

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【The culture of water. The place where the feeling of sense in the Western people is different from us the Japanese】《Its keyword is water》

Conversation

A: I have got to keep my head above water,you know.

【Why does the word of fishy have an image of dubious?】《Its keyword is fish》

It seems that everyone knows 魚 is fish in English,but when wanting to say 淡水魚 in English,we the Japanese are apt to confuse. It's a fresh water fish. Contrary to it,海水魚 is a ocean fish in English. Both it's singular and plural they say it's fish. We seem to be unfamiliar with it.

Speaking of a fish story,it means to be a boastful account on the fishing,so it turn out to be an inaccurate account,or an exaggerated one,.so the word of fishy is dubious from a series of association on the fishing.

If saying,"There's something fishy going on." it means that it has dubious atmosphere somehow. A job which they are engaged in selling the fish is a fish monger. A job which they are engaged in getting the fish …

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【Why does the word of fishy have an image of dubious?】《Its keyword is fish》

A job which they are engaged in getting fish is a fisherman. A person whose favorite thing is fishing is also called the fisherman or an angler. We are familiar with a salmon and a trout in everyday life,especially lots of people seem to love to eat a rainbow trout.

The Western people doesn't try to distinguish 平目 from 鰈 at all. They call both of them a sole,a plaice,or a flounder. As for エビ in Japanese,they call it a shrimp,a prawn,or a lobster from little one in order. Each of them has different name,so we have to be careful of it.

Speaking of ニシン in Japanese,it means a herring. If adding red in front of it and saying a red herring,it's an idiom that something which turns aside their attention.

In general,they don't eat any fish with raw. If saying on Japnese 刺身,"We eat raw fish" directly,it has an impression as if we grabbed the fish and ate it direct,so we need to come up with an idea. For example …

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【Why does the word of fish have an image of dubious?】 《Its keyword is fish》

When saying we should think up something ourself,for example,"We eat a slice of raw fish with soy sauce"

Conversation

A: John,we're supposed to be talking about import and export figures,not your trip to New York.

B :OK,I understand.

A: Stop chasing red herrings and get back to main discussion.

B: But l learned a great deal in New York.

A: That can wait till later.

B: Perhaps you're right. Where were we?

【Do you know an apple has other meaning?】《Its keyword is the apple》

When saying apple in English,it doesn't seem to be easy as we expect. When listening to it,it sounds not アップル but アポー,so when pronouncing we should rather say アポー than アップル.

The apple is good for our health,for there is a way of saying in English,"An apple a day keeps the doctor away." It means that if eating the apple a day we don't need the doctor. The apple has other meaning of something important. If saying "John is the apple …

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【Do you know an apple has other meaning?】《Its keywords is the apple》

If saying John is the apple of her eyes,it means she loves him blindly. It is equal to the Japanese idiom,目の中に入れても痛くない,and the apple is equivalent to the 目 in this case.

If adding other word of polish to the apple,and if saying applepolishing,it means getting on a person's good side 取り入るor flattering. It isn't a good meaning very much.

New York has a nickname of Big Apple. On the other hand,one more typical fruit is an orange,but it's a general term for the citrus fruits. Each kind has each name. They call the Japanese mikan a tangerine. Some people say"If calling New York the Big Apple,we should call Tokyo Big Mikan",but it's doubtful whether or not the nickname is firmly established.

The Japanese mikan is called Satsuma in the U.K. I find it interesting. 果物 is fruit in English,and they usually use its singular form."Would you like some fruit?" They say like that. If changing the fruit into its adjective…

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【Do you know an apple has other meaning?】《Its keyword is apple.》

If changing the fruit into its adjective,fruity,it means homosexuality or lesbianism,so we should be careful of it,but if saying fruity on wine,it means it's flavor of fruit literally.

Conversation

A: Mary can't seem to find anything wrong with her son at all.

B: I know. I've told her the truth,but she refuses to believe me.

A: That doesn't surprise me. I told her about what he said,but she wasn't interested.

B: It's no use. John is the apple of her eyes. We just have to accept it.

【It's the country of eating meat,so distinguishing the way of calling it is important】《Its keyword is meat》

A Japanese word 肉 is equivalent to a meat in English,but it's not clear very much. The way of saying is different according to its kind. Beef is the meat of the cattle,and the pork is the one of a pig,and the mutton is the one of a sheep,and venison is the one of a deer. The meat of a calf is veal and the meat of a lamb is…

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【It's the country of eating meat,so distinguish the way of calling it is important】《Its keyword is meat》

The lamb is the meat of a young sheep. They call the meat of bird pourtly as a general term. A chicken is a common farm bird that is kept for its meat and eggs. A turkey is a bird that looks like a large chicken and is often at Christmas and Thanksgiving. They don't seem to have a custom of eating the meat of the horse,so it doen't have its own proper noun in English.

We the Japanese tend to think that they eat a steak everyday,but it seems to be we are in the wrong. In addition,speaking of the steak,it means beef,so they don't have to say "beer steak"

It is certain that they often eat meat in the meal,but whenever they have a meal,it doesn't always meat that they eat the beef,for the beer is more expensive than other meat even in the Western,so they usually eat the pork,chicken,or even ham and sausage.

There are some people who usually eat the vegetable mainly. We call them…

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【As it's the country of eating meat,the distinguished way of calling it is important】

There are some people who eat vegetables alone. We call them vegetarians. It seems that they've increased lately. There are some people who don't eat a specific meat owing to religious conditions,so if inviting them to dinner,they ask the guests like the next.

"Is there anything you don't care to eat?"

Speaking of beef,it means complaining something in American colloquial language. Muttering something to itself.

As for the ground meat,the British say it's mince meat,and the American said it's hamberger meat. When staff ask them the degree of burning the meat in a restaurant,they do like the next."How would you like it?" Then they answer like the next."Rare,please" "Medium rare,please." "Medium,please." "Well-done,please"

『Conversation』

A: Stop beefing,George!

B: But they've taken out so much tax. I wonder if it's worth working.

A: But you're getting twice as much salary as me even after tax.…

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【As it's the country of eating meat,the distinguished way of calling it is important】《The keyword is meat》

『Conversation』
A continuation of the last response.

A: What have you got to complain about?

B: It just seems a lot of money.

A: Anyway,let's not complain. Too much grumbling will give you an ulcer.

【Salt means money,earnings or something important in English】《Its keyword is salt》

Salt is one of well-known English word,so everyone recognize it,but when looking at its spelling,some people may have been perplexed for a moment if trying to pronounce it in English. If trying to say it in the angular Japanese phonetic syllable,it may not be appropriate. I'm sure of it,but I have no choice. It's not サルトbut ソルト.

Speaking of the salt,while we the Japanese are apt to imagine sugar,it's the pepper in English. There seems to be different between the Japanese and the English with regard to the thing which corresponds to the salt.

The salt has also the meaning of its own earnings…

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【The salt means money,earnings,and something important in English】《Its keyword is salt》

The salt has meanings of earnings,if saying,"He's not worth his salt."it means that his work isn't equivalent to his salary. If saying"You'd better take it with a grain of salt." It means that you'd better discount it.

When eating or drinking something,if feeling taste of salt,they'll say it's salty. For example,"this soup is a little salty." In general,we call a spice a condiment.

While salty means feeling taste of salt,spicy means being given a pleasant burning feeling in its mouth. When feeling spicy,they also say it's hot,but when listening to the what others say,sometimes they're not sure whether it's too pleasant burning feeling in its mouth or spicy,so they're forced to ask,"You mean hot in taste or in temperature?"

If having season with salt,they say it's salted. They call the food which doesn't have the kind of season,they say it's unsalt,or plain. Speaking of the salt of the earth…

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【Salt means money,earnings,or something important in English】《Its keyword is salt》

Speaking the salt of the earth,it means that the decent people who support the society.

Conversation

A: John's such a component teacher. The students love him.

B: He certainly deserves the salary he gets.

A: I wish I could say the same about Robert. He's certainly not worth his salt.

B: He always finishes his class before time.

A: And he's never prepared.

B: That's certainly true.

【There are two ways of saying the situation in which they are drunken】《Its keyword is booze and wine》

They call a liquor booze as slang in English. Then the liquor is often poor quality. The Phrase of on the booze means that drinking lots of liquor. If saying he's been on the booze since this morning,it means that he's been drunken since this morning.

If saying the situation of being drunken in a roundabout way,they say under influence. Without saying the person is under influence what kind of thing,they recognize…

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【There are two ways of saying the situation in which they are drunken】《Its keyword is booze and wine》

Speaking of under influnece,without saying the situation in detail, they recognize the person is under influnece what kind of thing. It's drunken. If saying he was under influence when he drove home,it means that he was drunken when he drove home.

The way of saying the liquor in general,it stands for wine,so they call the liquor shop the wine shop,but it doesn't always mean that the wine alone has been sold in the shop. They call the kind of place the liquor shop or the package store in the U.S.A. It's called off license in the U.K.

If saying there is an off-license on the corner,it means that the liquor shop which is on the corner. Originally it means not having its license. In short while they were allowed to sell the liquor,they weren't allowed to let anyone got drunken there.

We the Japanese sometimes call the liquor alcohol,and they also call it alcohol drink. If saying he is…

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【There are two ways of saying the situation in which we are drunken】

《Its keywords are booze and wine》

If saying he is alcoholic it means he is addicted to liquor.

While we call a drink which doesn't include alcohol a soft drink,we call a drink which includes alcohol a hard drink.

If saying,"Would you like a drink?" it means we suggest that others drink beverage. If it isn't limited to the beverage,we have only to say "Would you like something to drink?"

〔Conversation〕

A: John was stopped by the police again.

B: What for?

A: Same as always. Drinking and driving. He is always driving under the influence.

B: He is in real trouble this time. Probably he will have his license taken away.

【Brand and an amount,we should get used to the ways of their saying】

《Its keyword is beer and lager》

Even if saying a beer to a barman in a foreign countries,it seems to be difficult for us to get our favorite beer. We need some knowledge on its kinds and the ways of saying it.

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【Brand and amount…we should get used to the ways of their saying】

《Its keyword is beer and lager》

In general,the beer we the Japanese drink in Japan is called a lager beer. If wanting to drink a beer which look like the same beer as the Japanese beer,we have to say "One lager,please." but as to the lager,there are two kinds in the Western countries. The one is in the bottle and the other is draught,so we have to show the barman which one we want to drink.

Moreover,if choosing the draught,we have to say the size of the glass,it means the amount of the beer. Then "Half of draft lager,please."or "Pint of lager,please."

The pint means the unit of the capacity. It's 0.57 liter in England,and 0.47 liter in the U.S.A. The half means a half pint.

Except for the lager,there are other beers. The one is bitter whic is peculiar to the England,and the other is stout which is black beer and another is ale. When ordering the beer in a pub in foreign countries,we have to appoint one of them.

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【Brand and amount…we should get used to the way of their saying】

《Its key word is beer and lager》

There is foam on the beer. They call it head in the slang. If saying "Put some head on it" it means that asking to put foam on the beer.

When drinking the beer there are three kinds of glass. The one is a tumbler. The other is a jug which is made of clear glass. Another is a mug which is a chinaware.

『Conversation』

A: What'll you have?

B: What have you got?

A: Lager,mild,stout and of course bitter.

B: Which is the most popular?

A: Probably bitter is.

B: Okay. A pint of best bitter,please.

【Whenever ordering a tea,they always offer tea with milk. Why?】

《Its keyword is tea》

When looking up 紅茶 in Japanese—English dictionary,there is a word of a black tea in it,but the author said he'd never heard the phrase even in the England which is the home of the tea.

Speaking of tea,it means 紅茶 in the Britain and the United States. While they call the 紅茶 tea they call the Japanese tea…

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【Whenever ordering a tea,they always offer the tea with milk. Why?】《Its key word is the tea》

While they call the 紅茶 the tea,they call a Japanese tea a green tea. There are each tea in China and Korea. They call them a Chinese tea and a Korean tea respectively.

When drinking the 紅茶 in Japan,we usallly discriminate between a tea with lemon and a tea with milk,but they usually drink the tea with milk in England which is the center of the 紅茶.

If wanting to drink the tea with lemon,when ordering we have to say the effect that we want to drink it like the next. "May I have a cup of tea with a slice of lemon?" Sometimes they seem to call the tea with lemon a Russian tea.Anyway when ordering a tea they always offer the tea with milk.

Contrary to it,they call a Japanese 抹茶 a powdered tea. They call the 茶道 a tea ceremony. As to the Japanese two words of 紅茶 and 茶道,instead of the Japanese,I want to express them with other English words,but to my sorrow it doesn't occur to me. I can't help it

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【When ordering the tea they always offer the tea with milk. Why?】《Its keyword is the tea》

The lives of the English are closely connected with the 紅茶, an expression which is related to the 紅茶 frequently appears in their everyday conversation. Its typical one is "That's not my cup of tea." It means that it's not my favorite things or I don't like it.

When saying『a cup of tea』 quickly,it seems that as if they said cuppa tea,so if speaking of cuppa,it means a cup of tea. If saying"Fancy another cup?",raising its tone,it means they ask whether or not others want to another cup of tea.

『Conversation』

A: How about joining us on a skiing holiday next month? We are going to Austria.

B: Skiing isn't really my cup of tea. I'm more interested in lying on the beach.

A: What about John? Do you think he is interested?

B: Perfect. He loves skiing. Why don't give him a ring?

【It seems that there is sweet perfume in a spoon in the Western countries. Why?】《Its keyword is spoon and cutlery》

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【It seems that there is sweet perfume in spoons in the Western Countries】《Its keyword is spoon and cutlery》

The generic name for a knife and spoon is cutlery in tableware. There is an indication of cutlery in a place where a knife,spoon and fork are sold in a department store.

On the other hand,a plate or cup are generally called crockery in tableware. The crockery is also the generic name for chinaware which includes each plate. By the way a pillowcase or sheet like bending is also called bed linen. If saying "They provided us with crockery,cutlery and bed linen." it means they provided us a part of tableware and bedding which we need for everyday life.

A spoon is included in the cutlery. We call a small spoon a teaspoon. The teaspoon has meaning of small amount. If saying two teaspoon of sugar,it means 小さじ2杯. There is a word of teaspoonful. It has the same meaning.

As to the spoon,there is a way of saying spoon feed. It means that making a child eat food with a spoon. It has…

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【It seems that there is sweet perfume in spoons in the Western countries. Why?】《Its keyword is spoon and cutlery》

It means overprotection,or teaching something carefully,unnecessarily. If saying 『He spoonfeeds his students』,it means he overprotects his students.

When saying he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth,it means he is from a good family or he was born into a rich family.

Though it has nothing to do with the spoon,there is a way of saying which comes from a person's name. It's spoonerisms. It means that making a mistake in pronunciation of the first phrase,and the way of saying is in reverse order.

For example,there is a phrase of well-oiled bicycle,but instead saying so,we happen to say well-boiled icycle by mistake sometimes. The spoonerisms is the situation like that.

Conversation

A:Professor Jenkins really spoonfeeds his students. He writes all their footnotes and prepares select bibiographies for each assignment.

B: I'd rather prefer to think form myself.

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【It seems that there is sweet perfume in spoons in the Western countries. Why?】《Its keyword is spoon and cutlery》

Continuation of the conversation.

A: Me too! A little bit of help is fine,but not too much. There is no sense of achievement.

【Bread is a thing like the staple food in conversation for the Western people】《Its keyword is bread and bakery》

Although a Japanese word,パン is bread in English,we can't buy the one which we want,if using the one word alone,for there are so varied bread that without saying its kind we can't get the one which we want in the Western countries.

For example,Japanese sliced bread 食パン is sandwich bread,and a little round one is a dinner roll. The one on which is put some raisins is a raisin bread. What is called Japanese 菓子パン is a bun.

Besides,we have to say its color,either white or brown. The one which is made of wheat is white and other ingredients like rye is brown. When ordering sandwich or toast a shop assistant asks a customer,"Brown or white?"

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【Bread is a thing like staple food in conversation for the Western people】《Its keyword is bread and bakery》

A shop where the bread is sold is bakery or baker's.

Speaking of baker's dozen,it means 13 from long ago. I find it interesting.

The bread is staple food in the Western countries,so there are lots of expressions in which the bread is used in everyday conversation. For example,speaking of bread and butter,it means economic power which is necessaray for life.

When saying,"Acting has been his bread and butter.",it means that he has made a living by doing plays. He works as an actor.

If saying,"Life is not all bread and butter."it means that the purpose of lifeto isn't for eating alone. When putting the 『bread and butter』in front of a noun as adjective,it means it's necessary in life at least.

If saying "That's bread and butter issue."it means that it's the most basic question.

When saying,"He knows which side his bread is butter on." It means that he knows which side is…

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【Bread is a thing like staple food in conversation for the Western people】

《It's keyword is bread and bakery》

If saying,'He knows which side his bread is buttered on' it means that he knows which side is advantageous for him.

『Conversation』

A:Tom's not been well these days.

B:Do you think he can continue to act?

A:I doubt it.

B:But acting has has always been his bread and butter. How is he going to earn a living?

A:I really don't know. That's the big question.


【If being able to order like that in a restaurant,it's all right.】《It's keyword is vegetable and salad.》

Japanese word,野菜 is vegetable and サラダ is salad. When ordering in a restaurant,two of them are different a little,so we should be careful.

While a heated garnish for main dish like meat or fish is vegetable,and uncooked one is salad. They also call the garnish trimmings. If wanting to eat all the garnish,they say,'All the trimmings, please.'

There are all sorts of vegetables. They call a cabbage a head of cabbage.

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【If being able to order like that in a restaurant,it's all right.】《It's keyword is bread and bakery.》

As for a Japanese word of 茄子,the way of calling it is different between the U.S.A. and the U.K. They call it an eggplant in the U.S.A. and an aubergine in the U.K.

As to a potato,no one can continue to grasp a hot potato for a long time,so if saying,'This is a hot potato.'it means something tiresome or a problem which is hard to solve.

Speaking of string beans,it means edible and we can eat its shell. There are other what's called 豆 in Japanese like broad beans or peas. When calling it beans without adding anything,…


By the way I suddenly feel sleepy. Good night .

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【If being able to order like that in a restaurant,it's all right】《Its keyword vegetable and salad》

There seems to be all sorts of beans and peas,but when ordering in a restaurant,we should be careful not to confuse with them.

『Conversation』

A:Why don't your sister get a scholarship.?

B:I wish I know.

A:Does it have anything with her ethnic background?

B:Possibly,yes I had the same problem.

A:Oh,did you?

B:Yes,this issue is a hot potato.



【A thing which is suitable for a dessert of a conversation. Its ending is this】《Its keyword is dessert》

When saying デザート,it's just that we have only said dessert,but we should pay attention to its pronunciation,for if putting the accent on the first part,it becomes a desert,at the same time,when spelling if failing to spell s,it also becomes the desert.

As you know,the Western people have custom of eating something light after a meal. When a shop assistant asks a
customer it does like the next,'What would you like for dessert?'

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【A thing which is suitable for a dessert of a conversation. It's ending is this.】

《The keyword is dessert.》

Instead of the dessert,the word of pudding seems to be used everyday conversation often in England.

They usually choose cheese,something sweet,cakes,ice cream,or fruits as dessert. Unexpectedly the cheese is served as dessert,but they usually eat with wine which is served before.

Coffee is done after the dessert,and isn't dessert. Without ordering the dessert,if wanting to drink the coffee at once,they say,'Just a cup of coffee,please.'

When being askied a way of drinking the coffee,'How would you like your coffee?' it depends. Some people say'Black please.' Others 'With cream,no sugar please.' And another 'With sugar,no cream,please.'

They call a beverage which they drink at the end of a meal a liquor,it's usually served after the dessert. It's brandy or port wine. Then they are usually away from the table of the meal,they drink,going on having a chat. They think of a…

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【A thing which is suitable for a dessert of a conversation. It's ending is this.】

《The keyword is dessert.》

Instead of the dessert,the word of pudding seems to be used everyday conversation often in England.

They usually choose cheese,something sweet,cakes,ice cream,or fruits as dessert. Unexpectedly the cheese is served as dessert,but they usually eat with wine which is served before.

Coffee is done after the dessert,and isn't dessert. Without ordering the dessert,if wanting to drink the coffee at once,they say,'Just a cup of coffee,please.'

When being askied a way of drinking the coffee,'How would you like your coffee?' it depends. Some people say'Black please.' Others 'With cream,no sugar please.' And another 'With sugar,no cream,please.'

They call a beverage which they drink at the end of a meal a liquor,it's usually served after the dessert. It's brandy or port wine. Then they are usually away from the table of the meal,they drink,going on having a chat. They think of a…

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【A thing woks suitable for a dessert of a conversation. Its ending is this.】

《The keyword is dessert.》

Then they think of a timing of taking a leave with the liquor in its hand.

Conversation

A:Oh,that was a delicious meal.

B: I'm glad you liked it. Now,what would you like for dessert? We have cheese,ice cream,cakes, and fruit salad.

A:Fruit salad please.

『Some expressions on foods or vegetable.』

1: That's my cup of tea. It means that it's my favorite thing.

2:That's a piece of cake. It means it's easy to do.

3:His room is always in applepie order. It means that his room is always arranged neatly.

4:You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. It means that we can't achieve anything without a sacrifice.

5:An Apple a day keeps a doctor away. It means that if eating an apple every day,we don't have to go to see a doctor.

6:His daughter is the apple of his eye. It means that the father loves his daughter very much.

7:We got a lemon. As to the machinery,some are hit…

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『Some expressions on foods and vegetable』

7:We got a lemon. It means that as for machinery there was hit or miss.

8: That's sour grapes. It means never admitting of being a bad loser.

9:Who brings home the bacon? It means that the one who ears money for our livelihood is me.

10: Our mother is the breadwinner in our family. It means that our mother makes a living.

11: He knows which side his bread is buttered on. It means that he recognizes which side is profitable.

12: Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. It means that while she looks as if she wouldn't harm even a fly,she does wrong.

13: These two are chalk and cheese. It means that they don't resemble at all.

14: Take his stories with a grain of salt. It means that we should discount his stories.

15: He is not worth his salt. It means that when we take into account his salary,he should work harder.

16: Let him stew in his own juice. It means that let him do as what he likes for a while.

17: He is a ham. It means that he is …

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『Some expressions on foods and vegetables.』

17: He is a ham. It means that he is engaged in wireless communication or a poor actor.

18: That's a red herring. It means being going to change the subject.

19: We were packed like sardines. It means that the train was overcrowded.

20: He shut up like a clam. It means that he suddenly became silent.

21: I want you to talk turkey. It means that I want you to talk frankly and seriously.

22: They are like peas in a pod. It means that they are exactly alike.

By the way,three is still lots of space ,but I suddenly feel sleepy,so I can't go on any more today.

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【Though a topic on money is common between Japan and America …】《Its keyword is money and shark》

In general,as to us the Japanese,I find it hard to talk about money,but they have to be clear so as to prevent them from occurring unnecessary troubles in foreign countries.

There is phrase in English like the next,『Business is business.』It means that they think they must be quite distinct on money. They talk about the condition on the job,including the reward,before starting the job,they call the condition terms. When wanting to say the reward politely,they say remuneration. When speaking in a roundabout way,it’s a financial reward.

When talking about the terms,they make use of those phrases well and say,“Could you tell me about the remuneration?” or “Do you have any idea what the financial reward is?” If wanting to get right to the point,they say “How much do I paid for this?”

When there is a limit on the money,we the Japanese say,金のなる木は無い,there is an English phrase like that.

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【Though a topic on money is common between Japan and America…】《Its keyword is money and shark》

When there is a limit on money,we the Japanese say,金の成る木は無い、English native speakers also say.“Money doesn’t grow on trees” I find it interesting.

There is a one who spends money at once. We call it “Money burns a hole in his pocket” When wanting to borrow some money,they say,“May I borrow some money？

A signed acknowledgement of a debt is IOU. It comes from I owe you. It means that I am indebted to you. They call a consumer finance サラ金 a loan shark. It seems to make them think of the situation in which a shark chases a game.

Conversation

A：I’d be careful of Bill if I were you.

B : What do you mean?

A : Don’t borrow any money from him.

B : Why not?

A : I have heard he charges very high interest rates on money borrowed. He is a shark.

B : Really? I can’t believe it. Anyway I get the message.

【Why are the Americans so straightforward?】《its keyword is salary and pay》

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【Why are the Americans so straightforward?】《Its keyword is salary and pay》

There is a Japanese phrase,サラリーマン,as everybody know,a reward of the labor is salary. If there is the one who is well paid,they call the person “He or she is on a very good salary”

In Japan,not only salary,給料,but pay have been used lately. As for the situation of the reward,they say,“Is the good pay?” Or “The pay isn’t very good.”

In general,the pay is the money which is paid for a single work. On the other hand the salary is the money which is paid regularly. It’s a fixed salary. The phrase of income is similar to the salary. It’s also the fixed salary.

Except for the salary,when they get the money of the rent for the house,or royalties 印税,the two of them mean the income. Then when asking the income they say,“Have you got any income apart from your salary?”

The wage is usually weekly pay and it’s paid in cash. The income for a doctor,lawyer,and accountant is called a fee. There’s a lecture in which…

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【Why are the Americans so straightforward?】《Its keyword is salary and pay》

There is a lecture in which a doctor,professor or accountant are invited. They call the reward for them honorarium.

When doing some kind of work,sometimes there is extra benefit. They call it a perquisite. They call it perks in their conversation. For instance when working we need the cost of a meal or traveling expenses. If we don’t have to pay the charge,it becomes perks. When using the phrase they adopt the plural form.

They call a profitable job a lucrative. It has nothing to do with the type of job. When gettin a huge money unexpectedly,I want to say ぼろ儲け in Japanese,they call the money “the money for old rope”

Conversation

A: Can you tell me more about the job?

B : Sure. The terms are here on this sheet. Right here.

A : I see.

B : Are there any perks besides the pay?

A : Yes. Free lunches and free taxi rides on the way home after 10 p.m.

B : Good. | will take it.

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【Why are the American straightforward?】《Its keyword is salary and pay》

When talking about money in English,while the Americans tend to ask frankly,the British are apt to avoid a direct impression like money or pay and speaking in a roundabout way. For example,“Can you tell me a bit more about it?” they ask like that and get the information out of a person

【As for a purse,the American have image in which the the purse shuts its mouth】《Its keyword is purse and wallet》

Japanese word,財布,while it’s seemingly easy but when being asked how to say in English,I have to think of it a little,said the author of this book,英単語おもしろ事典. If there is a person who learns it by heart mechanically,the purse is 財布,please be careful,especially in the U.S.A.

The purse means a handbag in American English. If a male says carelessly,“I forget my purse” it seems to be very strange. By the way,the handbag is as it is in British. It’s the handbag.

While the purse is for females,the one for males is a wallet.

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【As for a purse the American have an image in which the purse shuts its mouth】《Its keyword is wallet and purse》

The one for some billls is called a billfold,but it doesn’t always mean that the word of the purse isn’t use for the one in which the money is put. The one for small part of coins is called a coin purse,and the small sum of coins are called small change.

Minimum unit of Japanese money is 1yen at present. The same one in British is equivalent to 1 penny. The penny has also the general meaning of the small sum of money,or change.

When asking with the end of rising,“A penny for your thought?” it means asking what you think. It’s an informal way of saying,“I’ll give you a penny so tell me what you’ve thought.”

Conversation

A : Oh,here you are,John. A penny for your thoughts?

B : If you give me a pound,I’ll let you know.

A : Come on,John. Tell me.

B : Actually,I was thinking about our wedding anniversary.

A : Oh,how sweet of you,darling!

B : How would you like to…

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【As for a purse,the American have an image in which the purse shuts its mouth】《Its keyword is wallet and purse》

Conversation

B : How would you like to celebrate it?

A: Well,let me think.

When the purse is used as verb it means that puckering すぼめる its mouth. If saying,“She purse her lips with disgust” it means that she hurt her feeling so much that she puckered her lips.

【As long as ther is some money beside them,its feeling will get through to others】《Its keyword is coin and penny》.

If saying a metallic currency,it’s a coin. The phrase of the coin is so much spread in Japan that there have been some Japanese phrases コイン ロッカー、or コインランドリー. If saying them in English,the former one is a coin operated locker,and the latter is laundromat or launderette.

Each coin in British and the U.S.A, has a nichname. A coin of 5cent is called a nickel,but it’s hard to pronounce. If saying it with a Japanese style,ニッケル to them,they won’t understand it at all. When they say it it …

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【As long as there is some money beside them,its feeling will get through others】《Its keyword is coin and penny 》

When they say nickel it looks like as if they said ネコ,we the Japanese seem to feel like so,so we should be careful of it. The coin of 10cent is dime,and the one of 25cent is quarter.

On the other hand,in the U.K.they call both of the former 5pence coin and the former 1shilling coin bob,as to the 10pence coin at present which is the former 2 shilling one they call it florin.

Dollar and pound are also the money which are used in the U.S.A. and in the U.K. Each of them has a nickname. The dollar is buck and the pound is quid. For example if having 10 dollars,they say,“I have ten bucks”,if having 10 pounds,they say,“I have ten quid” while the buck has a plural form the quid doesn’t. We should be careful of it.

Both of 1cent in the U.S.A.and 1pence in the U.K.is called penny. There are lots of expressions in conversation on the penny. If saying,“He is a penny pincer”,it…

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【As long as there some money beside them,its feeling will get through others】《Its keyword is coin and penny》

If saying he is a penny pincer,it means that he is a miser. The word which means economical is good ones and bad ones. Thrifty is good but stingy is bad,so we should be careful of it.

When using a public lavatory they used to need a penny,so if saying,“Let me spend a penny” it means wanting to go to the restroom.

Conversation

A: Hello.

B: Oh,hi. How are you?

A: I’m fine,but you look worried. What’s on your mind?

B: I am thinking about the money John’s just borrowed from me.

A: I know how you feel. He is such a penny pincer.

B: And he is always so tactful.

By the way,when saying,“The penny has dropped”,it means making itself understood,why? It comes from the next situation.When using a pay phone in the U.K.for a long long ago,if there was one who picked up the receiver and a coin of penny drop downward,they could talk over the telephone each other.

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【This is the time when not only English native speaker but non native should insist on its right】《Its keywords is change and silver》

An Japanese word,お釣り is change,and small amount of money is small change. When asking whether or not someone has small change,they say,“Do you have any small change?”

As for the way of passing some change,both way of the U.S.A.and U.K.is different from the one in Japan. By the way,I’ve never been to any foreign countries,so I can’t understand their way of passing changes very much,so this time,my description may be shorter and more strange a little.

When there isn’t enough change,if saying,“I was short changed”,it’s all right. After receiving the change,if thinking the salesclerk has taken a little much more money,they say“”I was overcharged.

When wanting to break a bill,they say,“Can you give me small change for this,please?”

They sometimes call small change silver. When saying,“Can you give me a pound in silver and the rest in notes,please?”…

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【This is time when not only English native speaker but non native English speaker should insist on】

《Its keyword is change and silver》

When saying,“Can you give me a pound in silver and the rest in notes,please?”,it means wanting a pound in coins and the rest in bills.

Conversation

A: How much was the taxi fare?

B: One thousand three hundred and twenty yen.

A: Quite reasonable. I thought it would be more.

B: It was.

A: What do you mean?

B: I gave the driver a five thousand yen more and I was short-changed. He only gave me two thousand six hundred eight yen!

A: You’re kidding.

B: No,I’m serious. Look.


It seems that the people in Europe and the American aren’t good at figuring. Even easy figures,every time they write down it on the paper,so it takes a time a little. Moreover it’s sometimes in the wrong,so we should check it. It seems that they can’t do the math in their heads.

【This is common knowledge in Europe and America. When buying something,please don’t forget】

《》

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【This is common knowledge in Europe and America. When buying please don’t forget】《Its keyword is receipt》

We usually use the word,レシート in everyday conversation in Japan. The English one is receipt as it is. There is the p in the spelling,but they don’t pronounce. The first pronunciation is r. When pronouncing,we should try to bend the tip of the tongue as much as possible and say.

To be exact,there seems to be two kinds of receipt. The one we receive at a cashier レジ and other one on which the item of each goods we bought were printed.

The one we receive the one in exchange of the goods is called a till receipt. Other one on which the goods were written in details is a written receipt or a itemized receipt.When the till receipt alone isn’t enough,they say,“May I have a written receipt,please?”

Without a receipt,they can return nor exchnge articles. Even being short-changed,they won’t pay no attention to it,so we should be careful.

When wanting to return articles,they say…

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【This is common knowledge in Europe and America. When buying something don’t forget please】《Its key word is receipt》

When wanting to return articles,they say,“Can I have a refund on this?” and when wanting to exchange it “Can I exchange this for something else?”

The word of receipt means that not only the paper which means that someone received some money,but receiving something else.If saying,“We’re awaiting the receipt of further information.” it means that we’ve been waiting for still more information.

Conversation

A: Six thousand four hundred yen,please.

B: Here you are. Can I have a written receipt?

A: Certainly. Who should I make it out to?

B: Peter Jones.

A: And the date?

B: Today’s date,please.

A: Here you are,sir.

B: Fine. Thanks a lot.

When buying something,let’s try to get into the habit of receiving a receipt. When something troubled happens in articles or there aren’t enough articles after paying the money,we need the receipt.

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【Could you call me the exact name,for the specialized field in which I’m engaged is is different in a delicate way】

《Its keyword is safe and thief》

Strong metal box with a special lock that is used for keeping money is called a safe. It’s an easy word,while when using it as adjective,it easily occurs to us,when using as noun,it doesn’t unexpectedly. Needless to say,it is so as to prevent our valuables,important documents,and cash from being stolen from a thief,and it’s usually a fireproof.

We usually call the one who steals things from other a thief,if saying it in Japanese it’s 泥棒,but when saying it in English,its meanings varied,and various words have been used for it,though the most ordinary one is the thief.

The thief steals in other’s house stealthily and steals a thing from there in secret. As to its characteristic,it doesn’t use a weapon and seldom hurts others.

A burglar is worse than the thief. Its better than a robbery but worse than the thief,maybe. It breaks into…

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【Could you please call me the exact name the specialized field in which I’m engaged,for it’s different in a delicate way】

《Its keyword is safe and thief》

The burglar breaks into the other’s house. It’s large-scale and attacks a jewel’s shop,a bank and a train and loots things by force.

The other who steals goods secretly in a store is called a shoplifter. When using it as a verb,it shoplift. On the other hand the other one who steals things from other people’s pocket or bags in public place is calle a pickpocket. I’m sure we should be careful not to be picked from our pockets,but what should we do to be concrete?

The one who tricks somebody in order to get money or etc is called a con man. It’s an abbreviation of a confidential man,but the word of con is also used as a verb like the next. “We were all conned”

Conversation

A: I thought you said he was a professor.

B: That’s what he told me.

A: I believed him.

B: John lent him some money. So did I. So did Mary and she was…

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【Could you please call me the exact name the specialized field in which I’m engaged,for it’s different in a delicate way】

《Its keyword is safe and thief》

Conversation

B: So did Mary and she was swindled out of two thousand dollars.

A: And John lent him five hundred dollars and he never saw it again. He seemed so honest,but he was a con man.

B: Oh! How terrible!

There has been such the plenty of shoplifting in the America and England that the goods are tied up with chains or there is a a metal of alarm device on each goods. If doing shoplift,when trying going out from the shop the alarm device will work. The precaution against the shoplifting in the Western countries is by far more severe than in Japan.

Fraud is called confidence or confidence trick in England and game in America. A con man is also called a swindler. It’s the one who deceives a person or organization and extorts some money from them.

【We have to do it at least before we have been dishonored a bill 不渡り】

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【We have to do it al least before we have been dishonored a bill】

《The keyword is cheque》

Speaking of cheque,everybody can recognize it,but its spelling is different between England and America,so we need special attention. While check is used in America,cheque is in England. Its pronunciation is the same.

Personal checks have been spread so much in the U.K. that almost all of the payments are all right as long as they have bank cards or cheque cards which are issued by a bank. When asking its address,they say,“Who do I make the cheque（cheque）payable?”

Moreover,not only in the U.S.A. but in Japan,credit cards are spread so much that almost all of the people can use its payment with the credit card. When having finished going shopping and tried to pay,they will be asked,“Cash or charge?”in the U.S.A. and“Cash or cheque?” in the U.K.

They ask the way of paying,“How would you like to pay?” If using a credit card,they show it to the store clerk and ask,“Do you accept this card?”

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【We have to do it at least before we have been damaged by a dishonored bill.】

《The keyword is cheque》

They call a dishonored check a rubber check,or a bad check. If saying,“He gave me a rubber cheque” ,it means that his cheque was dishonored.

The word of check has also other meanings. It means Putin’s a thing in a person's care for a while. If saying,“Can I check this case with you,please?”,it means asking others to leave its case in other’s care,.

Conversation

A: I told you I didn’t trust Tony.

B: I wish I’d believe you.

A: Why? What happened?

B: Well,I sold him my stereo and bike.

A: Yes?

B: And he gave me a check.

A: So what’s the problem?

B: It bounced. Tony gave me a rubber check.

A: I’m not surprised.

The check has a also meaning of making sure something. If saying,“Check the brake”,it means that making sure whether or not the brake functions.

If saying double check,it means making sure whether or not it’s all right with two kinds of way at least. If saying…

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【We have to do it at least before we have been damaged by a dishonored bill.】

《The keyword is cheque》

They call a dishonored check a rubber check,or a bad check. If saying,“He gave me a rubber cheque” ,it means that his cheque was dishonored.

The word of check has also other meanings. It means Putin’s a thing in a person's care for a while. If saying,“Can I check this case with you,please?”,it means asking others to leave its case in other’s care,.

Conversation

A: I told you I didn’t trust Tony.

B: I wish I’d believe you.

A: Why? What happened?

B: Well,I sold him my stereo and bike.

A: Yes?

B: And he gave me a check.

A: So what’s the problem?

B: It bounced. Tony gave me a rubber check.

A: I’m not surprised.

The check has a also meaning of making sure something. If saying,“Check the brake”,it means that making sure whether or not the brake functions.

If saying double check,it means making sure whether or not it’s all right with two kinds of way at least. If saying…

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【We have to do it at least before we’ll have been checked by a dishonored a credit】

《The key word is cheque》

If saying double check,it means making sure something for dual things. Speaking of check on,it means making sure of something. For example,if saying “Check on its police record” it means ordering to make sure whether or not it has a criminal record.

【A topic in which we can’t stop chuckling is common to all nations】

《Its keyword is banker and bunker》.

Everybody knows a Japanese word 銀行 is a bank,but speaking of a person who works in the bank,we are a little forced to puzzled over to choose which one,banker,or a bank clerk. The banker means an executive in the bank. Speaking of a bank clerk or a till clerk,it means a person who is engaged in a work at the counter in a bank.A branch manager of the bank is a bank manager.

A bunker of golf resembles the banker on the spelling and pronunciation,but there is no relation between them.

By the way,you may have heard a word…

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【A topic in which we can’t stop chuckling is common all nations】

《Its keyword is banker and bunker》

You may have heard a word of bank holiday,it’s a day off for the bank in England,and they regard the day as a national holiday there.

It’s defense is very strict in a foreign countries especially in Western countries in general,and a wire netting or an iron fence divide the bank into two place like the people who work in the bank and its customers. Either the wire netting or iron fence prevents the customers from reaching hands out in the counter.

There is no place where one can reach its hand through the counter in any bank in the Western countries,so the Western see a Japanese bank for the first time,it seems that they are surprised a little at the Japanese bank. As for the way of counting the bill,the Japanese are by far better than the Western. They are so clumsy with their hands that they are much slower than the Japanese.

A bank book 通帳 is a passbook. Speaking of a banknote..

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【A topic in which we can’t stop chuckling is common to all nations】

《Its keyword is banker and bunker》

Speaking of a banknote,it’s not the bankbook but a bill,so we should be careful of it. The money which everyone has with it is called sometimes bank balance,but it also means 預金残高 in Japanese.

When using the bank as a verb,it means relying on something or somebody,so if saying“I’m banking on you”,it means that I’m rely on you.

To my sorrow,there are some phrases for which I can’t use other English one like the bank balance. For example,a bank account 銀行口座,savings account 普通預金,and the saving account is used in the U.S.A.and deposit account is used in the U.K.

As to 当座預金 in Japanese is current account or checking account. The former is in the U.S.A.and the latter in the U.K. 口座番号 is account number.

The concept for this thread is trying to say everything in English. Whether or not it’s suitable as English is another story. At first I should try to do,but .....

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【A topic in which we can’t stop chuckling is common to all nations】
《Its keyword is banker and bunker》

Though I’ve tried to say them,but there are some English words which I can’t say in other English words like a bank account,saving account,account number and so on. I’m sorry for it.

When going to a bank,some people laugh,and others weep. The ones who laugh are naturally rich,so there is an English way of saying,“He is laughing all the way to the bank.” It means that he's made a profit so much that he can’t stop laughing. I wish I could be the one like him.

Conversation

A: What's he doing?

B: He owns several real estate companies in Tokyo.

A: No wonder. He spends money like water.

B: I know. He’s laughing all the way to the bank. Property in Tokyo is skyrocketing.

【There is difference between British English and American English. Does it originate from each national character?】

《The keyword is store and shop》

A Japanese word,店 is a store in the U.S.A.and a shop in the U.K.

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【There is difference between American English and British English. Does it originate from each national character?】

《The keyword is store and shop》

While a person works at a place where some goods are sold is called a sales clerk in the U.S.A.it’s called a shop assistant in the U.K. As to the places where some goods are sold,they are varied. I’m going to show some of them which they often come across.

A place where some breads are sold is a bakery in the U.S.A. and is a baker’s in the U.K. A place where some medicines are sold is a drugstore or pharmacy in the U.S.A.and a chemist’s in the U.K. A place where some vegetables are sold is a vegetable store in the U.S.A.and greengrocer’s in the U.K.


A place where some fishes are sold is a fish store in America and a fish... in America. The part of ... is monger’s. I want to express it without ...but if I do,I can’t contribute my response,so please connect the fish with the monger’s. I find it ridiculous,for I’ve never tried to...

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【There is difference between American English and British English. Does it originate from each national character?】

《The keyword is store and shop》

I find it ridiculous,for I’ve never tried to slander nor abuse anyone on this response of mine this time,but the four alphabets prevent me from contributing. What does the four alphabets mean?

To return to my main topic,I’m going to go on my response.

A place where some meats is sold is a butcher shop in the U.S.A.and a butcher’s in the U.K. A place where some flowers are sold is a flower shop in the U.S.A.and a florist’s in the U.K. A place where stationery is sold is a stationery store in the U.S.A.and a stationer’s in the U.K. A place where some books are sold is a book store in the U.S.A.and a book shop in U.K.

A place where a shoe is sold is a shoe store in the U.S.A.and a shoe shop in the U.K. A place where a clothing for a male is a haberdashery in the U.S.A.and a haberdasher’s in the U.K.and so so.

A large shop that is...

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【There is difference between America English and British English. Does it originate from each national character?】

《The keyword is store and shop》

A large shop that is divided into sections selling different types of goods is a department store. A shopping center of which arcade style is a shopping mall,it seemed to have been remarkable nowadays. Its spelling is mall,but pronunciation is モ．

Adding a talk to a shop,and if saying a shop talk,it means that a talk on a job or other job which is needed special knowledge. When saying,“talking shop” it means doing the talk on business. When saying,“Let’s not talk shop any more” ,it means they aren’t going to talk on the business no longer.

Conversation

A: Thank goodness. We’re done.

B: Yes,we’re off the hook.

A: Shall we go and have a drink on the way home?

B: Yes,but on one condition,let’s not talk shop any more. O.K.?

A: O.K.

In general,when going shopping,a sales clerk is amiable in the U.S.A. When stepping into a store....

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【There is difference between American English and British English】

《The keyword is store and shop》

When stepping into a store,the sales clerk addresses to the customer in the U.S.A.like the next,“Can I help you?” On the other hand,lots of people seem to say that the shop assistants aren’t so friendly in the U.K.

If wanting to take a look at the goods,they said,“Let me have a look” or “May I have a look?” After buying something,there happens to be trouble on the goods,and wanting to raise an object to the goods,they seem to say,“May I speak to the manager?”

When returning or exchanging articles,they need the receipt absolutely,so they seem to make it a rule to keep it for a while. The day when a shop or a store are open is usually from Monday to Saturday,plenty of them aren’t open on Sunday. We should bear it in our mind.

There are lots of expressions in which animals are used. We are forced to think why it is.

1 That’s a white elephant. It means it’s a useless thing.

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2 He is like a bull in a china shop. It means that he is the one who breaks a thing. I’m wondering if its meaning is concrete, abstract,or both of them. I’m not sure of it.

3 Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. It means that don’t make a complain about a present.

4 The last straw breaks the camel’s back. It means that even if something trivial,if happening successively,it caused a catastrophe.

5 We can’t teach an old dog new tricks. It means that teaching an obstinate old man something new is impossible.

6 Monkeys see,Monkeys do. It means that an indiscriminate imitation. Imitating something imprudently without discrimination.

7 He took the lion’s share. It means that he alone reaps something profittable.

8 Who’s going to bell the cat. It means asking ,who is going to do the hardest thing? I’m wondering if it originates from Aesop’s Fables.

9 We are beginning to smell a rat. It means that we have some inkling of it.

10 They’re running he rat race. It means that...

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10 They’re running the rat race. It means that there’s been a race which is futile.

11 He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It means that he is a villain who pretends to be kind. If looking at the English sentence,it reminds me of a familiar Japanese expression,羊の皮を被った狼

12 He eats like a bird. It means that he has a small appetite.

13 He eats like a horse. It means that he’s a big eater.

14 He drinks like a fish. It means that he is a heavy drinker. I’m wondering there’r some females who are like 12 before marriage,and they change into the ones like 12 or 13,but both the males and females change with the passage of time.

15 Pigs might fly. It means that it’s impossible.

16 Don’t count chickens before they are hatched. It means that we shouldn’t count on it before we win it. It’s equivalent to a Japanese proverb,取らぬ狸の皮算用.

17 He chickened out at the last moment. It means that he shrank from it in the very end and gave it up.

18 That’s a chicken and egg situation. It means the…

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18 That’s a chicken and egg situation, it means that we aren’t sure which is earlier.

19 He produced a rabbit out of a hat. It means that a good idea occurred to him in spite of being difficulty.

20 He took the bull by the horns. It means that he tackled the problem squarely without fear.

【Others look nice.Is it same everywhere?】

《The keyword is garden and yard》

A piece of land next to a house where flowers and vegetables can be grown,usually with a lawn.While they call it a garden in England it’s a yard in America.

Speaking of the yard in the U.K.it means a little vacant land between buildings. On the other hand,speaking of the garden in the U.S.A.it’s frequently larger scale one than other one in an ordinary house.

A lawn is accompanied by a garden,the way of calling it is different between the U.S.A.and U.K. The lawn is used in the U.S.A.grass is often adopted in the U.K.but the one which cut out the lawn is called a lawn mower both in the U.K.and…

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【Others look nice. Is it same everywhere?】

《The keyword is garden and yard》

The one which cuts down lawn is called a lawn mower in both the U.K.and the U.S.A.

The mental state in which others look better is the grass is greener on the other side. The grass on the other side looks somehow greener,somehow nicer. There is also a familiar Japanese expression. It seems to come from the foreign expression.

When making a mistake in pronunciation,the grass changes into glass,so we should be careful about it. Bending the tip of the tongue enough and pronouncing the r well is essential.

While we the Japanese focus our attention to looking at the garden,not only looking at it but holding a party and going on a picnic there in the Western countries. The Western people put the garden to practical use.

A: You’re never satisfied,Mary. Why can’t you believe that the position you have now is a good one.

B: But Ann has a better office,she works shorter hours,and she seems so happy…

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【Others tend to look nice. Is it the same everywhere?】

《The keyword is garden and yard》

Conversation

A: The grass is always greener on the other side,you know. Maybe Ann thinks your job’s better than hers.

B : Do you really think so?

A: Yeah.

Favorite things of the ones who love to work in the garden is gardening. If saying the one who is familiar with the gardening,“He’s got green fingers.”,or “He has green thumb.” A shop which sells young plants 苗木 or seeds is called a nursery shop.

Speaking of the nursery,it reminds us of a nursery school. The word of nursery is also used there. If thinking of a nurse who looks after sick people,the way of saying doesn’t occur to us easily. Speaking of a nursery man,it means a gardener specialized in trees.

【There are sorts of insects. What is the one which almost everyone dislikes?】

《The keyword is worm》

There are sorts of insects. The one is insects. Others which are long and soft are worms. When pronuncing,we should be careful of it.

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【There are sorts of insects. What is the one which almost everyone dislikes?】

《The keyword is a worm》

Judging from its spelling,if reading like the Roman alphabet,it becomes ウオーム. In fact,it's not the ウオ〜ム but the one which is close to ワーム. If saying ウオ〜ム,it means warm.

By the way,I've wanted to make the オ small,but I have little knowledge on the keyboard,so I can't do it.

There are other kind of insect called bug. What is called 南京虫 is a bedbug. The insect is the generic term,so every insect has each name,as a result we need to memorize one by one,for example,dragonfly,butterfly,beatle,lightbug,firefly and so on.

On the other hand,a long soft insect called a worm,which almost everyone seems to hate it. If there is a can filled with the worms,and imaging opening it all at one and,we can understand the meaning of a phrase,“Oh,that's a can of worm.” It means being beyond one’s control,or something troublesome very much.

When finishing making film,the film will be set in a can…

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【There are sorts of insects. What is the one with which almost nobody is pleased?】

《The keyword is a worm》

When finishing making a film,the film will be set in a can,so if saying “It's in the can” it means being completed,or it's been already over.

Conversation

A: Alex,I've got a really complicated problem I want to talk to you about.

B : Brian and Penny’s engagement you mean?

A: Mm…Brian was engaged to Jean,and Penny was engaged to Tom. Tom and Jean are not speaking to each other.

B: It's a difficult situation,isn't it?

A: And to make matters worse,I'm in love with Penny.

B: Oh dear,it's a real can of worm,isn't it?

【How much can we believe the talk of an angler?】

《its keyword is fishing》

The angler is a person who catche fishes as a hobby.

While speaking of fishing,everyone recognizes it at once,we find it hard to speak the ones in English in relation to its tools and small articles,for instance,a fishing rod,fishing line,float,and a sinker.

When fishing the …

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【How much should we believe a talk of an angler?】

《Its keyword is fishing》

When fishing,except for the tools like the fishing rod,fishing line,flood or sinker,they need a hook and a bait. The way of a fishing of using the bait is a bait fishing. There is an idiom,“hook,line and sinker.” It means accepting whatever it is without thinking of anything,without saying uncritically.

If failing to catch a fish though it caught the hook,then they say,“I got it on the hook,but I failed to land it.” If it's just that the angler failed to catch,they say the fish got away,but the fish could narrowly escape from the hook,so they call the situation,“the fish came off the hook.”

When the idiom of the come off the hook is used metaphorically like “We're off the hook.”it means that we narrowly could escape from a difficult thing,or being released from duties.

Whenever failing to catch the fish,the angler tends to say,“I shouldn't have missed it,for it must be the big one.”but if saying it in…

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【How much should we believe a talk of an angler?】

《The keyword is fishing.》

However if saying it in English exactly,it's“It's always the big one that gets away.” The angler is accompanied by a boastful account,and they call the exaggerated talk a fisherman’s yarns.

A: Did you see the boxing match yesterday?

B: Yes. I don't understand why Johnson let Harris win.

A: I agree. Johnson was winning easily,but in round 5,he suddenly get careless and let Harry off the hook.

B: There is a rumor he was paid to do that.

A: Do you really think so?

B: I don't know.

The way of fishing of using a hook like a fishing lure 毛針 is posed as a bait is called a fly fishing. As to the fly fishing,we need a fishing rod,line,and reel which we wind the line with the fishing lure. Whether or not there is a fish on the hook then is another story.

After succeeding in fishing,they need a thing in which they put the fish. They call it a creel 魚籠 びく,or just a basket. Even if succeeded in fishing,some …

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【How much should we believe a talk of an angler?】

《The keyword is fishing》

Even if succeeded in fishing,some people return the fish to the river. They call it catch and release. There is a store for tools on fishing. They call it a tackle shop.

【There is a big difference between the Western countries and Japan on the way of handling a dog】

《The keyword is dog》

There is no any other animal than a dog which gets along with the everyday life in the U.S.A.and the U.K. Without being any dog,they don't always call the family complete. Besides the dog has assimilated into the human society in such the various situations that its range of activity is large.

The passengers can be aboard with the dog on almost all of the vehicles in the Western countries,in addition when staying at a hotel during its trip,the dog is able to be entrusted with lots of hotels.

The author of this book said like the next,“I'd frequently seen a driver of a taxi with a dog on the seat next to him drive.

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【There is a big difference between the Western countries and Japan on the way of handling a dog】《Its keyword is dog》

When teaching something new,the younger the better with regard to the dog too,so there is a way of saying like the next.“You can't teach an old dog new tricks.” In general,it means that even if explaining something new to the old,it's of no use.

While in Japan,we keep a dog outside the house as watchdog,they usually keep it with family members inside the house.

When asking whether the dog is male or female,they say,“Is it he or she?” If a contraceptive 避妊 operation is over,it's androgynous,and its personal pronoun 人称代名詞 is it. To be precisely,then the male is spayed,and the female is neutered,but they say,“Our dog is fixed.”in everyday life.

Conversation

A: Old Mrs. Saito is going to live in Spain with her son.

B: But she doesn't know any Spanish. She enjoys only Japanese food. Spain would be very difficult for her.

A: Well,but she could learn to like…

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【There is big difference between the Western countries and Japan on the way of handling a dog】《Its keyword is dog》

Conversation

A: Well,she could learn like Spanish things.

B: That's what you think,but you can't teach an old dog new tricks. She'd be happier in Tokyo.

When reading a book and stopping reading halfway,some people turn down the corner of a page. They call the part a dog earned.

When being in a restaurant,all of the people can't eat up the dishes,so some people go back with the things which they can't eat up. Then they use a bag. They call it a doggy bag.

【Debt increases as if a snowball were rolling down on a slope covered with snow. The principle is common to all nations】《Its keyword is snow》

Speaking of snow,everyone can imagine it easily. If saying,“It's snowing” the situation occurred to us at ease,but if trying to say,雪が積もってる in English,we may be puzzled a little. The situation is “The snow is staying on the ground.”

When snowing almost all of children tend…

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【Debts increases as if a snowball were rolling down on a slope covered with snow. The principle is common to all nations. 】《The keyword is snow》

When snowing almost all of the children tend to make a figure of a person made out of snow,it means a snowman,and they'll say,“Let's build a snowman!” Others grasp some snow and press it in their hands and make a snowball,and they'll say,“Let's have a snowball fight!”

The snowball is also used as a verb. If saying,“Children are snowballing out there.”it means that the children are having a snow fight in the open air. The snowball has also other meaning. It means that something increases as if the snowball was rolling.

If saying,“Our debts are snowballing.”it means that our debts are increasing more and more. I think I want to avoid the situation.

It has nothing to do with the weather at all,but there is an idiom like the next.“I'm snowed under.”it means that I'm so busy that I'm afraid I'll be dead. It's a figurative 比喩的 expression.

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【Debts increase as if a snowball were rolling down on a slope covered with snow】《Its keyword is snow》

Conversation

A: John,I know you've got a lot of work to do and you're terribly busy,but I really must see you.

B: Tom,I'm snowed under with work. I can't possibly see you until Friday at the earliest. I can see you on Saturday.

A: Is that a promise?

B: Promise!

If adding the to snow and it's the plural,the snows,it means a snowy season. When the snow prevents them from going out,they say,“be snowed in”or “be snowed up.”so when saying,“We were snowed in during the snows” It means that we'd been locked up in the house during the snowy season.

【When getting under the umbrella they pretend to be a duck in the U.K?】《The keyword is umbrella》

Speaking of an umbrella,it seems to be familiar with even us the Japanese,but an expression in conversation over the umbrella is hard to express unexpectedly. For example,if saying 傘を差す in English,how should we say? It seems that put your…

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【When getting under umbrella,they pretend to be a duck in the U.K.】《Its keyword is umbrella》

If saying 傘を差す in English,it seems that they say,putting one’s umbrella up.“Even if having little rain,the Japanese put its umbrella up” the British say so and they are surprised at it. It seems that they have lots of rain in the U.K.,so they don't put up their umbrella when they have rain a little. We the Japanese are surprised at it.

When wanting to say,傘にお入りなさい in English,how should we say? It's “Why don't you get under my umbrella?”or “Won't you duck under my umbrella?” Then they use the duck as verb. It originates from the action that a duck moves down its head.

When blowing a strong wind,the umbrella’s shape changes into a small sake cup. We call it what is called オチョコ. It's “The umbrella was blown inside out”in English.

The umbrella is also used figuratively. If saying,“The lazy son is still under his parents’ umbrella.”it means that he is still dependent on his parents.

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【When getting under umbrella,they pretend to be a duck in the U.K.?】《Its keyword is umbrella》

There is a place where ‘umbrella bar’ written in English at a station in the U.K. Though saying the bar,it's not the place where they don't drink. The bar means only a place in this case,and the umbrella bar means displaying to repair an umbrella. We can see a bulletin board in which the word of bar is used somewhere else like Heel bar,sandwich bar,or Milk bar.

The Heel bar is the place where a shoe is repaired. The sandwich bar seems to be a kind of restaurant,and the Milk bar is a kind of cafe.

Conversation

A: John’s a policeman,isn't he? Aren't you worried when he's on duty?

B: Yes.He’s often sent out on dangerous missions. But its his job and he loves it.

A: Brave man.

B: And on really dangerous missions the police operate under the umbrella of highly trained security forces.

A: Well,that's a relief to know.


There's one more standard joke over the umbrella and rain,but there…

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【When getting under an umbrella they pretend to be a duck in the U.K.?】《Its keyword is umbrella.》

A: Do you think it will rain today?

B: No,I don't think so,because I'm carrying an umbrella.

It's a standard joke over the umbrella and rain. Ironically,when not having an umbrella,strange to say,it tends to rain,but the joke says opposite thing.

【Speaking of 山 in Japanese,it reminds us of mountain,but it doesn't always mean that it's accepted】《Its keyword is mountain》

Speaking of 山 in Japanese,a word of mountain occurs to us at once,but if it's comparatively low,they call it a hill. The word of the hill is used sometimes for a place which we usually call a slope.

When asking a way,they sometimes say like that,,“Oh,it's at the top of that hill.” It means that it's on the slope,there is no hill then.

If it's the mountain,when being a fire,we are apt to think it's a mountain fire,but it's in the wrong,for the mountain is the part which is a rise in the land up ahead,so it doesn't…

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【Speaking of 山 in Japanese,it reminds of us mountain,but it doesn't always mean that it's accepted.】《The keyword is mountain》

The place is the mountain to be sure,but to be exact the mountain is a place which is a rise in the land up ahead,and it doesn't burn,so the place which burns is the part of forest,so if a fire breaks out there,they call it a forest fire.

When getting over something hard,we the Japanese say ヤマを越す. They say it in English like the next,“We're over the hump”

When there is lots of things,they use the phrase,mountains of or a mountain of. When having a lot of works to do,they say,“I've got mountains of work to do.”

If saying,“Make a mountain out of a molehill”,it means exaggerating a trifle thing. Mountaineering means climbing a mountain. Activity of going for long walks in the country is called hiking.

There seems to be a phrase of bus hiking in Japan,but if saying “bus hiking”it doesn't make sense,for it's what is called a Japanese English.

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【Speaking of 山 in Japanese,it reminds us of mountain,but it doesn't always mean that it makes sense in the Western countries】《Its keyword is mountain》

Conversation

A: How about a round of golf on Saturday? Don't tell me you've got too much of work again.

B: Sorry,John. I've got mountains of work to do. Tuesday is the deadline for Peter. I've got a report to finish and to translate and …

A: OK,maybe next time.

It is frequently said that there are lots of mountains in Japan,then using the mountain as an adjective,they say,“Japan is a mountainous country.” There is an English word of which meaning is close to the mountain,it's a wood. It means that an area of land that is covered with trees.

“We took a walk in the woods.” When using,they often adding the and adopt the plural,like the example,the woods.

【There is a way of saying of British style,fine weather. Can you understand their humor?】《Its keyword is rain》

Needless to say,rain falls from the sky. When saying,“It's raining”…

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【There is a way of say of English style,fine weather. Can you understand their humor?】《The keyword is rain》

When saying it's raining,roughly speaking, we can recognize its situation at once,though it's varied.

Instead of saying,it's raining,if saying,it's pouring,it means that it's raining heavily. If saying,it drizzling,it means that it's light rains with small drops. If saying it's sprinkling,it seems it's heavier than drizzling a little,I'm sure.though as for the expression I have little confidence.

If being ended up raining suddenly,they say,“I was caught in a shower.” If wanting to avoid a rain and to go somewhere like an eave,they say,“Let's take shelter over there.”

England is famous for lots of rain,so when raining,even if they hate it,they say a joke like the next,“Lovely English weather isn't it?”

Sleet is a mixture of rain and snow. Hail is small balls of ice. Snowstorm is blizzard. Storm is violent wind and heavy rain,when thunder is added,they call it thunderstorm.

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【There is a way of saying of English style,fine weather. Can you understand their humor?】《The keyword is rain》

There is a way of saying,“Let me take a rain check on that.” When being invited on something,it's an idiomatic expression of declining it. When games like baseball are discontinued,a ticket will be substituted for it. They call it a rain check.

Conversation

A: You look like a drown rat!

B: Yeah! I was caught in shower. The weather forecast said it'd be cloudy.

A: You can't always trust that. Fortunately I took my umbrella.

B: Next time I will. Get me a towel,will you?

A: Sure.

There is a way of saying in England,“April showers bring May flower.” It means literally that when raining April,it makes some flowers come out May.

【Difference between the nationality? When taking a photo in foreign countries,we should be careful】《The keyword is photograph》

It is said that no other nation frequently takes a photograph than the Japanese, it seems that we the Japanese take a …

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【Difference between the nationality? When taking a photo in foreign countries,we should be careful of it.】《The keyword is photograph》

It seems that we the Japanese take a picture so often. It seems that whenever lots of the Japanese go abroad or we welcome the people in foreign countries,we always take a photograph.

The author of this book,英単語おもしろ事典,said like the next.“I've ever been to Italy,then my Italian friends told me that he had met a Japanese tourist who didn't have a camera with him for the first time,so I couldn't take out my camera from a suit case and returned to Japan.”

If the enthusiasm for taking a photo rises so much,we the Japanese tend to take a photograph for anything anywhere so much that we are forced to be frowned by the people in the foreign countries. As for a personal photograph,there seems to be the right to its portrait 肖像権,so we should refrain from taking a photograph for anybody.

Whie a picture is an American way of saying,a photograph an English.

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【Difference between the nationality? When taking a photo in foreign countries,we should be careful of it】《The keyword is photograph》

When in conversation,thay call it a photo briefly. A photograph which is taken and in informal way is called a snapshot. Other photograph for the face which is attached to a passport or an identification card is a head and shoulders or a mug shot.The mug shot has also a meaning a wanted person’s photo from the police,so when using,we should be careful.

When its memory is so good,they seem to think as if it were taken with a picture,so they say the one who has a good memory,“He has a photographic.”,and if saying,“He has a good photographer.”it means that he is good at taking a photo.


Developing a film is done in a pharmacy both in the U.K.and U.S.A. After taking a picture,and going to the pharmacy with the photo for the developing and printing,its sales clerk asks,“Gloss,or Matt?” It means asking,“Is the photo finished with a gloss 光沢 one or not?”

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【Difference between nationality? When taking a photo in foreign countries,we should be careful of it】《The keyword is photograph》

Conversation

A: I see Mark got a hundred percent again in the kanji test.

B: | know. I always seem to make mistakes. I'm doing my best, though.

A: You haven't got a photographic memory like Mark. He just looks at the page for a couple of minutes and he's got it.

B: Some people are lucky.

【Illegal parking is also a source of a worry even in the Western Countries】《The keyword is parking》

Parking in a big city is a source of worry whether in the East or IN the West. If saying in other phrase,“Parking is a headache in every city in the world.” If wanting to emphasize it,we have only to put “big” in front of the headache,big headache.If a ticket of the illegal parking is issued,then they say“I got a parking ticket.”

When trying to park in Japan,we try to do from the back as much as we can,but the foreign people often try to park from the front with ease.

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【Illegal parking is also a source of a worry even in foreign countries】《Its keyword is parking》

An oncoming car sometimes comes across the center line,and it parks on the oppasite road in the U.K.,so we have to be careful of it.

The place where a car is parked is called a parking lot or parking zone in the U.S.A.and car park in the U.K. There is a vending machine for the parking ticket at the car park in the U.K. After putting the coin and buying the ticket,they put the ticket against the windshield on the car from inside.

The one who is in charge of the car park comes to see whether or not the parking ticket is bought,so without buying the ticket and showing the it like that,the one who is in charge of the car park regards it as illegal parking,and it'll be forced to be fined.

Conversation

A: John must be the unluckiest guy in the world!

B: Why? What happened？

A: He got another ticket！Two weeks ago he parke outside my house and got one.

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【Illegal parking is also a source of worry in even foreign countries.】《The key word is parking.》

Conversation

A: Last Tuesday too,and now this morning.

B: You'd better tell him to take a taxi next time!

In general,as to the charge for parking,Britain and the United States are lower than Japanese,especially some places where parking on street is allowed on Sunday or late time at night,but being stolen belongings from the car frequently happens,we should be careful.

When parking and being away from the car.we must not put our baggage or anything valuable in the place where it is seen easily from outside. Needless to say,when being away from the car,we should make it a rule to shut the window and lock the car. I'm afraid that being stolen the car itself is more than Japan.

【The custom which we the Japanese never have. Let's look into what is called garage sale.】《The keyword is garage.》

The garage is also it is in English,but its pronunciation is different between the Britain …

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【The custom with which we the Japanese have been familiar. Let's look int what is called garage sale】《The keyword is garage.》

The garage means also as it is in English,but its pronunciation is different between British and American. Our way of saying it is close to the one of the American.

In general,speaking of the garage,it has two meanings. The one is the one with its house,and the other is the place where a car is repaired. Many of them are with a gas station,so when saying it often means including the gas station

Lining up old furniture and small articles in a garage and selling them to the people in the neighborhood,or passerby with reasonable prices is called a garage sale.

Making use of second hand goods and using them again is rational from the economic point of view. As to the things of children,when they become bigger,they are useless.but trying to throw away,they tend to hesitate, Every house has those kinds of things.

Thus,while they have,they seldom use them,they…

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【The custom with which we the Japanese have never been familiar. Let's look into what is called garage sale.】《The keyword is garage.》

Thus while they have,they seldom use them,they call the situation a white elephant.

The garage sale is called a boot sale in British. It comes from the boot is the back part of a car where baggages are put. Anytime,both of the phrases are same meaning with regard to the basic idea. They are the one which they take advantage of useless things so as to get rid of the useless rationally.

Conversation.

A: Mary is leaving for the States in June.

B: Great! I'm looking forward to her garage sale.

A: Me too! She says she's got all sorts of bargains. A sofa,a lamps,a hair drier…

B: And she said they're all like new.

A; I can hardly wait.

The place where fuel is supplied for a car is called a gas station in America,and petro station or filling station in British. Gas is an abbreviation of gasoline and petro is the one from petroleum. They use the …

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『Continuation of the last response.』
Thay use contracted form of gas or petrol in their conversation in the West.

【As long as we know this,we won't get lost in the subway⁉️】《The keyword is train and subway.》

As for a means of transportation in Japanese railroad,while there are two kinds,汽車、電車,and we change its manner of speaking to suit the occasion,a word of train combines both of them in English. The word which is equivalent to the Japanese 電車,a tram or street car used to be for a long time ago,but the word seems to be adopted in the place where the street car runs. They seldom use it. Almost all of them seem to be the train.

The Underground Railroad is subway in the U.S.A.and tube in the U.K.,but a vehicle itself is called the train in both of the country. When waiting for a train in the subway and the train arrived they say“The train is pulling in.”and they don't say“The subway is pulling in.”

American subway isn't the vehicle but a general term for the Underground Railroad.

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『Continuation of the last response.』
Thay use contracted form of gas or petrol in their conversation in the West.

【As long as we know this,we won't get lost in the subway⁉️】《The keyword is train and subway.》

As for a means of transportation in Japanese railroad,while there are two kinds,汽車、電車,and we change its manner of speaking to suit the occasion,a word of train combines both of them in English. The word which is equivalent to the Japanese 電車,a tram or street car used to be for a long time ago,but the word seems to be adopted in the place where the street car runs. They seldom use it. Almost all of them seem to be the train.

The Underground Railroad is subway in the U.S.A.and tube in the U.K.,but a vehicle itself is called the train in both of the country. When waiting for a train in the subway and the train arrived they say“The train is pulling in.”and they don't say“The subway is pulling in.”

American subway isn't the vehicle but a general term for the Underground Railroad.

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【As long as we know this we won't get lost in the subway.】《The keyword is train and subway.》

On the other hand,speaking of subway in English,it means a pedestrian crossing,an underground crosswalk and if wanting to try to say the railroad below ground,it's the tube or underground.

Oh! I'm afraid that I may confuse the word of underground. In general,the word of the underground is the place under ground,but it's also used for the Underground Railroa,I'm sure.

A person who is in engaged in a job of collecting money from passengers or checking their tickets in the train is called a conductor in the U.S.A.,and a guard in the U.K.

They call a single vehicle a car or carriage. When there are some cars and wanting to get in the first car,they say,“Let's take the front car.”on the other hand,if wanting to get in the latter car,they say,“Let's take the rear car.” When a train arrives they use the phrase of pull in,but when it goes out the phrase of pull out is used.

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【As long as we know we won't get lost in the subway.】《The keyword is train and subway.》

Conversation

A: What time did you say John’s train was due in?

B: Five fifteeen. Any minute now.

A: Oh,look at platform 2. There's a train pulling in.

B: No,that's going to Edinburgh. John’s train arrives at platform 4.

A: Are you sure? Look! John is waving from the window.

B: Sorry,dear.

British luxurious train which has a dining car is called a pullman. The one for dining or sleeping is called a dining car or sleeping car. In their conversation,they usually shorten them and they call each of them a dinner or sleeper. A vending machine for a ticket is called a ticket machine.

【There are sorts of pieces of paper which are used for a tickte,voucher or coupon. If using the right word in the right place,then we may be a decent English speaker.】《The keyword is ticket and coupon.》

In general,we eat food three times regularly a day. Each of three has each name,but when putting together…

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【There are sorts of pieces of paper which are used for a ticket,voucher,or coupon. If using right word in the right place,then we may be a decent English speaker.】《The keyword is ticket and coupon.》

…but when putting together,they call them a meal. We sometimes accept the meal in exchange for a ticket,then we call the ticket a meal ticket. When using the meal ticket figuratively,it means the staff in livelihood,or means in living,though the ways of saying are informal.

When saying,“I can't leave him,for he is my meal ticket. ”,it means that I'm forced to depend on him,for he's supported me.

The way of saying the meal ticket is a voucher in Britain,for example,when saying a luncheon voucher,it means a meal ticket for lunch.

If wanting to getting on a vehicle,they need a ticket. When buying it they need to say whether it's a one way or round trip. On the other hand,instead of them,the words of single or return are used for each phrase in Britain.

When buying the ticket for a …

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【There are sorts of pieces of paper which are used for a ticket,voucher or coupon. When using the right word in the right place,we may be a decent English speaker.】《The keyword is ticket and coupon.》

When buying the ticket for aboard,needless to say they have to distinguish between a grown-up and kid. Then an adult and child are used in the U.S.A. Contrary to it,nothing is added to the grown-up and the word of half is used for the kid in the U.K. For example,they say,“Three and three halves,single to Victoria,please.” in the U.K. It means one-way ticket to Victoria for three grown-ups and three children.

Conversation

A: How does Tom manage to afford such nice suits? All Saville Row,you know.

B: Mary’s his meal ticket. She is the daughter of a millionaire from Texas.

A: is she? No wonder.

B: She provides the basic income.

A: Lucky people.

There has been a system called a temporary license or what is called 若葉マーク in Japan,but ther is nothing which is equivalent to them in the…

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【There are sorts of pieces of paper which are used for a ticket,voucher,and coupon. When using the right word in the right place,we may be a decent English speaker.】《The keyword is ticket and coupon.》

A word which is equivalent to a card is a coupon,ticket,and voucher. We the Japanese frequently say coupon everyday life,it originates from the English. The word has been used in various areas like a complementary ticket,an exchange ticket for a gift,a ticket for an application,a meal ticket,or a coupon tickte 回数券.

Speaking of pools coupon in England,it means an application card for a bet in a football game. The one who bets on the football game is filling in the application card and takes part in the bet.

By the way,as for the last comment in this thread,I made a mistake,for I confused the comment in this chapter with other in the next chapter. I'm sorry for it. I should try not to make a mistake as much as possible,but no one is perfect,especially for me,for I'm afraid I'm asperger.

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【How different they are! The circumstance on a car in Japan,British,and America.】《The keyword is car and vehicle.》

Speaking of a car,almost everybody can recognize what it is,but as to a vehicle which is the general term for the car,there seem to be a lot of people who tear their hair out over the word. When pronouncing,it is tiresome a little. The h in the spelling isn't pronounced.

If saying,“No vehicles are allowed on this road.”,it means that the road is no thoroughfare for vehicle. While the Britis have used the word of motorcar even now,the American say either a car or automobile,and it's abbreviated to auto. For instance,they call a traffic accident on a car auto accident.

When going out in the car,they call it going for a drive. The one who steers the car is called a driver,and the other one who sats on the back seat and makes a request this way and that is called a back seat driver. The phrase is also used figuratively,and it means the one who meddle in others too…

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【How different they are! The circumstance on a car in Japan,British,and America.】《The keyword is car and vehicle.》

The backseat driver means that the one who meddles in others too much though its position isn't responsible for anything.

They call a driver a motorist in British. We the Japanese often use the word of what is called a paper driver,but when saying it to the Western people,it doesn't make a sense,so we should be careful of it. The English doesn't have any appropriate phrase which expresses the Japanese one,so they are forced to say like the next. “I got a driver’s license,but I've hardly ever driven since then.”

While the American say driver's license,the British driver's license.

Conversation

A: You know what John said?

B: About what?

A: About our new project.

B: No,what did he say?

A: He said we should postpone it.

B: Oh,he's poking his nose in again.

A: Yes,he is a typical back seat driver.

We the Japanese have system what is called a temporary driver's …

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【How different we are! The circumstance on a car in Japan,British,and America.】《The keyword is car and vehicle.》

While Japan has system of a temporary license and what is called 若葉マーク,they don't have in Britain and America. The one which is close to the Japanese system is a display board called a learner’s plate,to which the alphabet of L is attached.

As long as the learner’s plate is put both on the front and back of the car and the one who has driver’s license sits next to driver’s seat,even if they don't have driver’s license,they can practice for a drive on the road.

Why can they do such the amusing expressions? They are pleasant idioms which are addicted to us…I'm going to start a new chapter from now on.

【Is a bag in the English a magical one? Enjoyable expressions spring out from it one after another.】《Its keyword is a bag.》

Speaking of a bag in English,everyone knows it,but they are varied from the one in which we put papers to other one for traveling. They call a little…

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【Is a bag in the English a magical one? Enjoyable expressions spring out from it one after another.】《The keyword is the bag.》

They call a little case a briefcase,and as for a big one like a suitcase,they call as it is. They call a bigger one a trunk. A ransel with which we the Japanese are familiar is a kind of bag for an elementary school children,but there are any ransels in British and America,in addition,the ransel isn't the English but the German.They call the one which the children use when going to school a satchel.

When going shopping,they also put the goods in the bag. Then a salesclerk often asks them in the shop,“Do you want it in a bag?”,so we should bear it in our mind.

They call a shopping bag a carrier bag or as it is. When conversing,a carrier alone is enough. They call a canvas bag in which they can put everything in a carryall.

When saying,“It’s in the bag.”,in their conversation,it means all right,or going well. When saying,“Who let the cat out of the bag?”,it …

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【Is a bag In the English a magical one? Enjoyable expressions spring out from it one after another.】《The keyword is bag.》

When saying,“Who let the cat out of the bag?“ it means that as it is literally,but it has other one,“Who divulges the secret?”

A female tends to be worried about the place under the eye if it begins to sag. They call the place the bag,and as to one’s financial condition,they also use the bag.

When saying,“She has bags under her eyes” it means that she is in a situation which she is worried about,and “Let me ask my bag.” it means that I should think over my financial condition carefully. If saying,“bag and baggage” it means that one’s personal belongings, everything which it has.

Conversation

A: How can you trace all that luggage?

B: I’ll get back and speak about the manager about it. I'm sure he can help us.

A: I very much hope so.

B: Don't worry. It's in the bag. Stay put. I'll be right back.

【If wanting to make an appointment,we mustn't use a promise.】

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【Is a bag In the English a magical one? Enjoyable expressions spring out from it one after another.】《The keyword is bag.》

When saying,“Who let the cat out of the bag?“ it means that as it is literally,but it has other one,“Who divulges the secret?”

A female tends to be worried about the place under the eye if it begins to sag. They call the place the bag,and as to one’s financial condition,they also use the bag.

When saying,“She has bags under her eyes” it means that she is in a situation which she is worried about,and “Let me ask my bag.” it means that I should think over my financial condition carefully. If saying,“bag and baggage” it means that one’s personal belongings, everything which it has.

Conversation

A: How can you trace all that luggage?

B: I’ll get back and speak about the manager about it. I'm sure he can help us.

A: I very much hope so.

B: Don't worry. It's in the bag. Stay put. I'll be right back.

【If wanting to make an appointment,we mustn't use a promise.】

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【If wanting to make an appointment,we mustn't use a word of promise.】《The keyword is diary and appointment》

Oh! I've made a mistake again. I've done double contribution in my last response. I should have been more careful of it. I'm sorry for it.

There is a book in which they write down things that they have to do,remember etc. They call it a diary or an appointment book. When someone asks them on a plan,and they have to make sure of it,they say,“Let me check it with my appointment book.”When having a tight schedule in the next week,they say,“I'm afraid I'm fully booked next week.”

When meeting someone or asking something,obtaining its consent for meeting beforehand is common sense. They call the consent an appointment,when using it as verb,they say make an appointment. When asking to put its appointment among others appointments by force,they use a word of squeeze. The squeeze has a feeling that it stuffs something among others against their will.

In British they call the diary…

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【If wanting an appointment,we mustn't use a word of promise.】《The keyword is diary and appointment.》

As for the diary,there is a way of calling it a pocket book in British,on the other hand it means that it's a handbag for a female in the U.S.A. We should be careful of it.

When having an appointment,and gone for the meeting,they always say to a reception clerk,“My name is…I have an appointment to see …at…” Then they never use a word of promise.

Conversation

A: What seems to bothering you?

B: I've got a terrible pain in my back.

A: How serious is it,Mr.Jones?

B: Quite bad. I can hardly walk for myself. I must see a doctor as soon as possible. Could you squeeze me in this afternoon?

A: I'll see what I can do. Let me see. Can you come at 5：30?

B: Great. Thank you.

【When saying an opinion,if having a variety of it,we can be a leader in a meeting there.】《The keyword is opinion.》

They call an organized occasion when a number of people come together in order to discuss or …

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【When saying an opinion,if having a variety of it,we can be a leader in a meeting there.】

《The keyword is opinion.》

They call an organized occasion when a number of people get together in order to discuss or decide something a meeting or conference. They adopt staff meeting for the meeting in a department or in a workplace. When using the conference,it’s often large-scale.

They call a person who controls a meeting a chairman or chairperson. Emcee is a person who presides a reception or party. It seems to be initials from masters of ceremonies according to the book.

A matter that need to be discussed or dealt with in the meeting is agendum. It’s a singular form and agenda is a plural one. When classifying the agendum minutely,they call it item. A record on the meeting is called minutes and whenever saying,it’s always plural form,so we should be careful of it.

A formal suggestion at a meeting that they discuss or vote on is a motion,and for example,if saying,“I made a motion to….”

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【When saying an opinion,if having a variety of it,we can be a leader in a meeting there.】

《The keyword is opinion》

A formal suggestion at a meeting that they discuss or vote on is a motion and for example if saying,“I made a motion to adjourn.”,it means that I’ve called a recess. When others approved the motion,they say the motion was seconded,and if being adopted,they say the motion was carried.

When speaking in a meeting,it seems to be hard,but there is a useful way of saying when speaking its opinion,amending its opinion,they say on second thought. If saying,“On second thought I’ve decided to go.”,it means that I’ve reconsider it and made up my mind to go.If saying,“I’m beginning to have second thoughts about it.”,it means that I’ve started to think it over once more.

In general,when saying its thought,they use a word of opinion. If saying,“What’s your opinion of the new system?”,it means asking others their thought on the new system. When saying its thought,they use the…

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【When saying an opinion,if having a variety of it,we can be a leader in a meeting there.】

《The keyword is opinion.》

In general,when saying its thought,they use a phrase of in its opinion. It seems that we’ve heard of saying,“in its understanding” it seems to originate from a Japanese literal translation. In an idiomatic expression,we should use the phrases such as,“in my opinion”,“in my view”,or “from what I understand.” They also use the view like the opinion.

When saying its own thought,after saying,“The way I look at it is this…”we can show our opinion to others. If wanting to say its own thought,they say,“That’s my personal opinion.” When wanting to listen to an objective thought of a third party,they say,“Let’s listen to a third person’s opinion.”

Conversation

A: John asked me to attend his wedding in London.

B: And did you say ‘yes’?

A: Well,at first I said no. London’s so far away,but on second thoughts,I decided to go.

B: I think you made the right decision. Mary will…

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Continuation of the last response.

Conversation

B: I think you made the right decision. Mary will be pleased.

A: And John,too!

【Speaking of a shirt,is it a dress shirt,or underwear?】《The keyword is shirt.》

As you know,シャツ in a Japanese word is equal to shirt,but as to what kind of shirt,it doesn’t always seem that everyone have confidence on it. In addition,its pronunciation is also different from the Japanese. The part of the English pronunciation includes the one between ア and エ of the Japanese vowel. Moreover in American pronunciation,bending the tip of the tongue and makes the r sound good.

If speaking the shirt alone,it seems that everyone is apt to be at a loss what to say. We need to add some words to the shirt so as to tell between some kinds of shirts. The underwear is a T-shirt or undershirt. What is called a Yシャツ is a dress-shirt. An open-necked shirt is a sport shirt. The one like a trainer of Japanese style is a sweat shirt.

A ランニング of Japanese style which…

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【Speaking of shirt,is it a dress shirt or underwear?】《The keyword is shirt.》

What is called ランニング of the Japanese style which doesn’t have any sleeves is a vest in Britain and a sleeveless undershirt in America. Speaking of vest in the American English,it means that a piece of clothing with buttons down the front and no sleeves that is often worn over the dress shirt and under a jacket as a part of a man’s suit. The vest of the American style is a waistcoat of the British style. We should be careful of it.

Western people don’t seem to wear an underwear of long sleeves or long underpants. They usually seem to wear a short sleeve undershirt and briefs.

There is an interesting expression in which the shirt is used. It’s “give the shirt off his own back.” He gives the shirt which he wears to others,so it means he is hopelessly good-natured.

When expressing,I’ve kept a male in my mind in this chapter until now,and as for a female,the word of shirt is hardly used for,but …

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【Speaking of a shirt,is it a dress-shirt or underwear?】《The keyword is shirt.》

As to an underwear for a female,it’s a lingerie or undies,and the one which she wear over the underwear’s is called a blouse.

Conversation

A: I told John I was writing my thesis and the next day his word processor arrived at my home.

B: And when I told John I was going to Spain,he sent me a guidebook,maps and a case of Spanish wine.

A: I know what you mean. He’d give you the shirt off his own back,wouldn’t he?

【If putting on other’s shoe,what will happen?】《The keyword is shoes.》

Speaking of 靴 in Japanese,shoes occur to almost us the Japanese,and when showing us the shoes and asking us to say,この靴 it seems that almost everyone says this shoes,but if thinking of it carefully, I find it strange.for the shoes are plural form of a shoe,so we should say a pair of shoes,or these shoes. When trying to say something which are sets in English,I find it complicated.

Even if speaking of shoes,they don’t always…

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【If putting on other’s shoe,what will happen?】《The keyword is shoe.》

Even if speaking of shoes,they don’t always mean that it limits to single one. For example,there are boots,and the ones when skiing,they put on ski boots. The one which they put on in the room,they call it slippers.

In the Western’s life,when a day is over and going to the bed in their bedroom,for the first time they put off the shoes,and change the shoes for slippers. They keep their shoes all day,so they regard the shoes as a part of clothes like a shirt or sweater.


If trying to sayf,“put on one’s foot other’s shoe” like,“to step into someone’s shoes.”its meaning is interesting. It means succeeding to other.

Conversation

A: Most people have to work to get to the top.

B: But not in John’s case. He just stepped into his father’s shoes.

A: And he’s got such a responsible job.

B: Do you think he can manage?

A: I doubt it. He is still a little too young.

B: Yes,he needs more experience.

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【People in the Jones is a pronoun for the one who are vain ones.】《The keyword is name.》

Whenever being friendly with others,everyone calls their names each other. The Westerns have custom like that. Moreover they use nicknames,so William is Bill,Elizabeth is Liz or Beth.

They think the name as a part of the language,so when exchanging greetings,they say not only hello,but say other’s name,like,“Hello,Beth.” However,from the beginning,they find it hard to use other’s name for their seniors,elders or strangers.

In that situation,they choose the proper moment and ask,“May I call 〜.” If we the Japanese say,“Please call me Ken.”or “Please call me Mika.”almost all of them also say,“Please call me Bill”like that.

If being unable to listen to other’s name well,we should ask,“What was your name again,please?”raising the end of the word,and then if failing to listen to the name,we should ask the spelling,“How do you spell it,may I ask?”

It is hard to listen to the name of a foreigner,so…

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【People in the Jones are pronoun for the one who are vain.】《The keyword is name.》

It is usually hard to listen to a name of a foreigner clearly,so even if asking it in return,it isn’t impolite of us so much.

As to a title,it’s usually added to the family name,but Sir alone is added to a first name,so we should be careful of it. For example,there is a famous grammarian,Sir Randolph Quirk,though I’ve never heard of it,when calling him using the sir,it’s not SIr Quirk but Sir Randolph,so we should be careful of it.

It seems that Jones is an ordinary name,so if saying,“Keep up with the Jones.”it means that without being second to anybody in the neighborhood leading its life,making itself look big.

Conversation.

A: Darling,Mary next door is going to Spain tomorrow. What about our going to Portugal?

B: What?

A: Jone bought them a new microwave oven. We need a new one too.

B:What?

A: Jone bought Jenny…

B: Darling! Stop keep up with the Jones. I love you,isn’t that enough?

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【Both of them are seat,but we should use the right word in the right place.】《The keyword is desk and table.》

When pronounciating table,it seems to be complicated a little for us the Japanese,for we should say テーボー rather than the Japanese style pronunciation of テーブル. Thus as to the pronunciation of the last part of エル,we should substitute オ or ウ for ル. It seem to be close to the English pronunciation.

On the other hand,as for the desk,the way of saying Japanese style is all right,and while we should stress the first syllable of デ,we should pronounce the last one,ク weakly as if we swallowed something.

Needless to say,they aren’t my own comment but the author’s,and to tell the truth to my sorrow,I’m not good at pronounciating. In addition,I’ve made use of English-English dictionary sometimes. While it’s useful,I’m afraid it prevents me from improving my English ability if I rely on it too much,so I should be careful of it.

When answering the telephone,if the person who should…

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【Both of them are seats,but we should use the right word in the right place.】《The keyword is desk and table.》

When answering the telephone,if the person who should answer the telephone isn’t there then,they say,“He or she isn’t at its desk at the moment.” Speaking of desk work,it means an office work and a desk phone is literally the phone on the desk.

They sometimes call the front of a hotel a desk,in particular in America,speaking of a desk clerk,it means a receptionist in the hotel.

Speaking of table,they often use for it in relation to a dining table. If saying,“I’d like to book a table.”,it means wanting to make a reservation for a meal,and be added the word of for three,it means that the reservation is for the three people.

If speaking,“It’s the best table in the house.”,it means that the table is better than any other one in the house.

Conversation

A: This is John Evans speaking. It’s my wedding anniversary tomorrow. I’d like to book the best table in the house.

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【Both of them are seats,but we should use the right word in the right place.】《The keyword is desk and table.》

Continuation of the last response.

B: The one by the window overlooking the harbor,sir?

A: Yes,that’ll be perfect.

B: What time,sir?

A: How about 7：30?

B: No problem,sir. We are looking forward to seeing you and Mrs. Evans then.

【When wanting an autograph from a star in the West,a sign doesn’t make sense at all.】《The keyword is sign.》

Some Japanese people say instead of a complicated seal,we should adopt a sign of the Western style. By the way,the sign in the Western style is different from the one which have been familiar with us the Japanese.If asking a star for its sign,it makes no sense a bit.

Then instead of the sign,using a word of an autograph,and they say,“May I have your autograph,please?”

The sign is equal to a signature in the West,so the word has been used for papers. Then when asking they say,“Please sign here.”,or “Please put down your signature here.”

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【When wanting an autograph from a star in the West,a sign doesn’t make sense at all.】《The keyword is sign.》

The sign has also other meaning like a mark or signal. Speaking of sing language it means conveying its own will with gestures or motions. Marks on the roads are called traffic signs,and a billboard is also called signboard.

Instead of a seal ハンコ,a sign is used in the West,so it has to be its own original. The one which no one can imitate,and being able to write it the same one always. Whenever showing the sign,if the form of the character is different,it’s meaningless.

They are sometimes forced to show their sign on the back of the check in a bank or store,for the signs need to be made sure. The sign has to be done in front of others who want the sign as a general rule,otherwise other don’t recognize whether or not the sign is original.

We the Japanese may feel it unpleasant until we get used to do it,for as if we were doubted,but if the confirmation is needed,everyone does.

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【When wanting an autograph from a star in the West,if using a word of sign,it doesn’t make sense at all.】《The keyword is sign.》

Conversation

A: May I have your autograph,please?

B: With pleasure. How long have you been collections autographs?

A: Four years. Madonna signed her name here. Paul McCartney here and Diana Ross here.

B: Where do you want me to sign?

A: On the front page. I’m your greatest fan!

B: Here you go.

【The way of praising a tie may make you a sociable one.】《The keyword is tie.》

I don’t know why,but without saying necktie,they say a tie in English. We the Japanese say,ネクタイをしめる in Japanese,but they say,putting on a tie,so they don’t use a verb which is equal to the Japanese word,しめる

Speaking of wearing a tie,it means a situation of going on having the tie. When removing the tie,they say taking off the tie. They call a pin which fixes the tie a tie clip or tie pin. The British don’t seem to use the tie pin very much,for they may think not using the tie pin…

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【The way of admiring a tie may make you a sociable one.】《The keyword is tie.》

The British don’t seem to use a tie pin very much,for Birtish fashionable style may be not use the tie clip but make the tie sway as it is. If the tie is awry,they say,“Oh,your tie is crooked.”and if wanting to fix it,they say,“Let me straighten it up.”

The way of praising other's tie or scarf well is one of knacks in sociable conversation. For example,if saying “Oh,your tie looks very nice.”or coming to the point,“Oh I like your tie.”or“I like your scarf”it’ll be all right. If being praised,it’s just that they have only to say“Thank you.”and smile.We don’t have to be modest more than being necessary.

A restaurant and hotel which we can go without wearing the tie have increased so much,but wearing suit and tie is the lowest etiquette at dinner time. Everyone can lend the suit and tie in some restaurants or hotels. If asking to borrow a jacket and tie,they seem to accept,and instead of using the word of…

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【The way of praising a tie may make you a sociable one.】《The keyword is tie.》

…then instead of using the word of suit,they say it's a jacket.

Conversation

A: I’m ready whenever you are.

B: I’ll put on my jacket and I’m ready. How do I look?

A: Perfect,but just let me straight up your tie. It’s crooked.

B: Thank you. It’s my first appearance on TV,you know. I’m quite nervous.

A: Oh,I’m sure you’ll be all right.

【Lay on your card on the table.】《The keyword is card.》

The Western people also know well that when we the Japanese meet someone for the first time we always exchange our cards each other.instead of using a name card,visiting card or business card,lots of them say it’s meishi as it is. They don’t have the business cards so much as we the Japanese. They use the business cards for their business at best.

The most important thing in the first time they meet isn’t exchanging their business cards,but recognizing others’ name clearly and after that using the name in their…

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【Display your skill.】《The keyword is card.》

The most important thing in the first time they meet isn’t exchanging their business cards each other but recognizing others’ name and after that using the name in their conversation,for even if receiving the business card,if being unable to recognize other’s name,it isn’t good.When receiving the business card,we tend to relieve and to neglect to remember other’s name,so we should be careful of it.

Speaking of card,it means a kind of game,and we the Japanese call it trump. The trump is good as a word of foreign origin,but if trying to use as English,it doesn’t make sense a bit,so we should watch it out.

Instead of using the word of card,whenever they play they say playing card,and they usually use the name of the game concretely,like playing poker or playing bridge.

When asking to show others what they thought,they say,“Lay your cards on the table.” Speaking of a cardsharp,it means a sharper いかさま師 in the game in which cards are used.

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【Display your skill.】《The keyword is card.》

They show their name cards in various cases like on birthday,at an inquiry 見舞い,each celebration,on wedding anniversary,and for thanks. Even if belating the card,we don’t have to be worried about it,for the card is ready for the people who are belated.

Conversation

A: Be honest,Mary. Tell me what you are thinking about. Tell me where you are going to get the money from and when you’re coming back.

B: But…

A: Come on. Lay your cards on the desk.

B: All right. I’m going to stay in Paris with Pierre. His father’ll lend me some money and I’m going to study art for a couple of years.

A: You should have told me earlier! Good luck to you.

【An able person in its job can recognize the differnce between the words of job,work,and task.】《The keyword is work,job and task.》

Lots of workers seem to go through the hardship in the rush hour when commuting. If taking two hours to go to its job by train every day,they use the word of commute and say…

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【An able person in its job can recognize difference between the words of job,work,and task.】

《The keyword is job,work,and task》

If taking two hours to go to its job by train every day,they use the word of commute and they say,“I commute two hours every day by train.”,instead of train,they use bus and subway according to its necessity. The person who goes to its job every day is called a commuter.

A commuter pass is called a season ticket,commuter’s ticket,or commutation ticket. When buying a new one,they say,getting it renewed. The rush hour for commuting is in the morning and in the evening. They call it the morning rush hour or the evening rush hour.

The train for going to its job is called commuters’ train,and there are special ones among them like 特別快速or 通勤快速,and if saying them in English,the former is special non stop service only during the rush hours and the latter is special express train available only during the rush hour.

Some situations on the house make lots of …

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【An able person in its job can recognize difference between the words of job,work and task.】

《The keyword is job,work,and task.》

Some situations on houses make lots of people commute long distance naturallly. Some of them commute by bullet train 新幹線.

As to the workplace,there are two kinds of word like office and company. The office means that the place where they work actually. On the other hand,the company means its organization and institution. If saying 会社に遊びに来てください in English,they say,“Come and see me in my office.”

When working there are several words which indicate its situation like work,task,job and business,but unless being able to use the right word in the right time,it’s not useful very much.

The word of work is used generally and when using,its plural form isn’t adopted,so they use like the next,“I have a lot of work to do.” On the other hand,the job and task are sometimes used in its plural forms.

The task means indicating each of work concretely one by one.

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【An able person can recognize differnce between the words of job,work and task.】

《The keyword is job,work,and task.》

The job means its responsibility in a broad sense or when talking on how the one works,the word is adopted.

If saying,“That’s your job.”,it means that it’s your responsibiliity and frequently indicating,“I have nothing to do with it.”implicitly.

If saying,“That’s a big job.”,it means that it’s hard to do,and if saying,“You did a good job.”,it means that you’ve done it well,so it’s a kind of praise. If saying,“That’s a good job.”,it frequently means the business pays,it’s profitable.

Conversation

A: Oh,my commutation ticket is no longer good.

B: It’s good thing you’ve realized it.

A: Yeah. Hold on. I’ll go and get it renewed. I’ll be right back,O.K?

B: Sure.

【There are some ways of calling ヒゲ,and can you distinguish difference between them?】

《The keyword is beard and shave.》

When saying ヒゲ in Japanese,it has nothing to do with its place or the shape,and all…

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【There are some ways of calling ヒゲ in English,and can you distinguish difference between them?】

《The keyword is beard and shave.》

When saying ヒゲ in Japanese,it has nothing to do with its place and shape and it’s just say that we have only to say a single word,ヒゲ,but when speaking English,we can’t do it like that. We need to classify more minutely.

The most tiresome one is an English phrase which equivalent to an situation of unshaven. At first they use a word of beard and stubby. The stubby is the situation in which the beard grows so much,unshaven and it’s not well cared. Even if making use of the two words,it doesn’t fit for the situation of what we called 無精ヒゲ in English,the author said like that.

If the beard is cared well,they usually say, “He wears a beard.”,and especially being combined with the one which is spread and gathered on the center of the chin and its shape is oblong,they call it vandyke beard.

The one which grows between the lip and nose is called mustache and…

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【There are some ways of calling ヒゲ in English,and can you distinguish difference between them?】

《The keyword is beard and shave.》

The ones who grow on the cheek are called whiskers,and whenever being used it’s the plural form.

When removing it with a razor,they call it shave, Instead of thinking over the situation of 無精ヒゲ in English,we should say, “You need shaving.”,for it’ll make sense easily.

When chipping ice,instead of using it,they use the shape,and speaking of real feeling of summer 風物詩,shaved ice is also one of them.

When using the shave as noun,it means passing within a hairbreadth something. If saying, “It was a close shave.”,it means being escaped from something dangerous by the skin of its teeth.

In general,while when growing or shaving the ヒゲ in Japan,others tend to ask its reason,it doesn’t become the talk among the Western people. It’s a matter on a personal preference,and as to the preference,they don’t need its reason.

I’m going to show its conversation later.

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【There are some ways of calling ヒゲ in English and can you distinguish difference between them?】

《The keyword is beard and shave.》

A: You look terrible. What happened?

B: I was almost hit by a car when I came out of the supermarket. It was a close shave.

A: You have to be extra careful.

B: I was so scared. That was really frightening.

A: I bet it was. How about a nice cup of tea?

B: Thank you. I need one.

【Lumbago 腰痛 isn’t in the waist but in the back for the Western People.】

《The keyword is back and disc.》

Speaking of 腰 in English,a waist occurs to us the Japanese,and we are apt to think we can use it In English,but it isn’t an exact English. The waist is English word indeed,but it seem to mean around the waist,if comparing it to other parts like bust or lower back,it’s slim,in general,the slimmer it is the happier almost all of us the males are,I’m wondering.

When having ache in the place,they use the word of back,especially a lower back and saying,“I have a sore back.”

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【Lumbago 腰痛 isn’t in the waist but in the back for the Western people.】《The keyword is back and disc》

If wanting to say ギックリ腰 in English,it’s slip disc,and if suffering from it,they say, “I had a slip disc.”

There seem to be lots of people who have been worried about the lumbago in the Western countries. They have done varied trials as its treatment. A therapeutic system relying on manipulation of bones and muscles 整体術 of which main part is massage called osteopathy is one of their treatment.

The treatment in which needles are stabbed in the body is called acupuncture 鍼治療,and a kind of massage is called shiatsu as it is,or reflexology.

As for the clothes,the Japanese way of saying waist is making sense in English. Whether or not trousers are fit for the waist,they say, “These trousers are tight around waist”,or “loose around waist.”

There is a way of saying below the belt. In boxing attacking the place is forbidden,so if saying, “That’s the below belt”,it means it’s an offense.

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【Lumbago isn’t in the waist but in the back for the Western people.】《The keyword is back and disc.》

Conversation

A: What’s wrong with your back,John?

B: I’ve had a bad back since I slipped a disc in my early twenties.

A: How did you do that?

B: I was helping a friend lift some furniture,then I felt a sharp pain in the back.

A: Then you couldn’t move.

B: You said it.

【If trying to say the color of the eye,black eye,it doesn’t make sense at all in English.】《The keyword is eye.》

An eye is one of two organs of our body that we use to see something. If using it as verb,it means looking hard at something. For instance,the policeman was eyeing that man suspiciously,it means the policeman watched the man as a dubious character.

There is famous phrase in the code of Hammurabi,目には目を,It’s an eye for an eye,and adding the word of teeth,and saying,“An eye for an eye and a teeth for a teeth.”

Except for one of human’s organ,the eye means a place where a thread is through on a needle,or…

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【If trying to say the color of the eye,black eye,it doesn’t make sense a bit in English】《The keyword is eye.》

Except for the one of the human’s organs,the eye means a place where a thread is through on a needle,or black dot on the surface on potato and so on. A riddle was born from the word like the next. “What has an eye,but can’t see ?” The answer is a needle.

If saying being all eyes,it means watching carefully. If saying, “Our children were all eyes at the circus.”,it means our children were looking at the circus eagerly.There is a similar saying,be all ears,it means listening at it carefully.

There is a Japanese proverb,the eye is as eloquent as the mouth,it says eyes talk in English. There is a similar phrase which means that money can solve difficult things. Money’s influence is enormous. It says money talks in English.

When looking at something actually,but pretended not to do,they say turning a blind eye to something. When unable to overlook something no more,then…

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【If trying to say the color of the eye,black eye,it doesn’t,make sense a bit in English.】《The keyword is eye.》

When being unable to overlook something no more,they say“I can’t turn a blind eye to it any longer.”

When trying to say the color of the eye,if saying,“I’ve got black eyes.”,its meaning becomes different altogether,for the black eyes mean being bruise around the eye on account of a fighting and so on. If trying to say the color of the eye,it’s not black but dark brown.

They frequently wink. When saying something humorous or joking,if winking immediately,looking at other’s face,it’ll be effective. It gives them a real lift in their conversation. We should learn the timing with the language,the author said like that.

Conversation

A: You know John and Mary are always late.

B: I’ve noticed. They come to work at 9:10,or even at 9:20 sometimes.

A: But the boss just turns a blind eye.

B: I know. I wonder why he pretends not to notice.

A: Haven’t you heard? John is his…

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『Continuation of the last response.』

A: Haven’t you heard? John is his cousin and Mary is his wife’s niece.

B: That explains it!

【Using the 足 and 脚 in the right place exists in English.】《The keyword is leg and foot.》

There is difference between the 足 and 脚 in Japanese,and the difference is also in English,足 is a foot and 脚 is a leg. As for the ones of animal,the way of calling it changes. The one of a dog or cat is a paw.

The thin hard layer that covers the end of our fingers and toes is called a nail,and hoof of other animal is equivalent to the nail of the human.

The one of a chair and table is a leg,and the leg is also used for animal,for example,a three-legged stool,or four legged animal.

As for the human,the upper part of the ankle is the leg and the lower part of the ankle is the foot. When pronouncing,we should be careful lest we confuse ankle with uncle.

The back part of our foot below our ankle is a heel. A curved structure of bones in the middle of our foot is arch.

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【Using the 足 and 脚 in the right place exists in English.】《The keyword is foot and leg.》

The arch is 土踏まず. The bottom surface of our foot is a sole. I’m going to express the way of calling the lower part of the leg. The back of our leg,between our ankle and knee is a calf.

The place where our leg bends in the middle is an knee. The top part of our leg,above our knee is a thigh,and the hip is above the leg. In general the leg is from the ankle to the thigh.

Speaking of the knee,as to the way of calling,the one when kneeling is an knee,and the one when sitting down is a lap,so there is a riddle for children.

“What disappears when you stand up?” Its answer is the lap.

What is called 弁慶の泣き所 is a shin. For example,they say,“I got kicke on my shin while playing football.”

When faultfinding,they sometime say pull one’s leg. It means teasing.

A: John says he's going to Barcelona.

B: He must be joking.

A: Really. He says he's taking Mary.

B: Now I know he’s pulling your leg. Mary…

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『Continuation of the last response.』
B: Now I Know he is pulling your leg. Mary is going to Okinawa with me.

A: Maybe she’s going to Barcelona after Okinawa.

B: Are you trying to pull my leg now?

【It’s not always for a contraceptive 避妊薬 alone. There is a pill for a sleeping drug.】《The key word is medicine.》

There are sorts of medicines. The general term is the medicine,but if it’s used for treatment,it’s a medication. When using it they say,taking some medications.

Other ones are a tablet which is small amount of medicine in solid form that we swallow,and pill which is small round piece of medicine that we swallow.

Speaking of sleeping pills,it’s the medicine which urges us to feel sleepy. When adding the, the pill,it means a contraceptive. If using it regularly,they say she’s on the pill.

Separation the dispensary from the clinic 医薬分業 has been done thoroughly in America,without prescription from the clinic,anyone can’t buy the medicine at all there.

The prescription is an…

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【There isn’t always a contraceptive alone. There is a pill for the sleeping drugs.】《The keyword is medicine.》

Before starting,there is one thing I have to say. I’ve sometimes adopted English-English dictionary lately,for I find it hard to express with my English ability alone. I’ve tried to say soon,but I couldn’t until now. I’ve tried to refrain from using it as less as possible,though.

The prescription is an official piece of paper on which a doctor has written the name of the medicine that we need. When being unable to buy it,they say “you can only get those pills on prescription”,and if being able to do,they say,“You can buy them over the counter.”

The medicine which lessens the pain is called painkiller,and other one which lower our fever is called aspirin. Cough drop is the one which tries to stop coughing. A tranquilizer is the one which makes us calm. A laxative is the one which makes the body get rid of solid waste material easily.

Without prescription,they can buy those…

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【There isn’t always contraceptive alone. There is a pill for a sleeping drug.】《The keyword is medicine.》

Without the prescription,they can buy the painkiller,aspirin,cough drop,tranquilizer,and laxative.

The way of calling the place where the medicine is sold is different between America and England. Drugstore is in the U.S.A.and there is a pharmacy where medicine is prepared in the drugstore.

Chemist or chemists’ is equivalent to the drugstore in U.K.and dispensary is equal to the drugstore there.

Conversation

A: A friend of mine recommended these pills. His doctor prescribed them. Is it possible to buy them here?

B: I’m afraid not. We’re not allowed to sell those pills over the counter.

A: So I can only get these pills on prescription then?

B: That’s right.

A: Thank you just the same.

【Even if it’s a wonderful doctor,when being used as verb,it’s terrible.】《The keyword is doctor.》

While doctor is one of the highest rank in society,when being used as verb,sarcastically…

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【Even if it’s a wonderful doctor,when being used as verb,it’s terrible.】《The keyword is doctor.》

While doctor is one of the highest ranki in society,when being used as verb,sarcasticallly it doesn’t always mean good. It means evading to say collect the figures or manipulating the figures. If saying,“he knows how to doctor the figures.”,it means that he knows how to evade to say correct the figures.

When using the doctor for something to drink or to eat,it means mixing food or drink with something poisonous,or putting medicine in the food or drink. If using for animal,it means gelding 去勢,or removing the function from having a baby. I find it terrible.

If saying,“Someone must have doctored this drink.”,it means that someone must have added something poisonous to the drink. If saying,“We had those dogs and cats doctored.”,it means those animals are being gelded,but in general,instead the word of fix seems to be used.

If saying family doctor,it means going to see a specific doctor or…

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【Even if it’s a wonderful doctor,when being used as verb,it’s terrible.】《The keyword is docror.》

If saying a family doctor,it means going to a specific doctor or a specific hospital when being sick. If the family doctor is for a hotel,it’s called a house doctor,and they say,“There is a house doctor in this hotel.” If standing by at hotel always,they say,“There’s a doctor on call for twenty-four hours.”

When making a reservation for receiving a check-up over the telephone,they say,“Can I make an appointment to see a doctor sometimes tomorrow?”

If being an emergency,telephoning to a hospital and saying,“Put me through to the emergency desk please.”

Conversation

A: I don’t believe he is in the black.

B: Neither can I. He bought a new car and a mink coat for Mary.

A: I think he’s got a good account.

B: Or perhaps someone who knows how to doctor the figures.

A: What do you mean?

B: Simple. Add a few naughts and charge it to expenses.

By the way,be in the black means having …

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『Supplementation』

Be in the black means having money in its bank account,though I’ve never heard it until now. When making money,it was written in black ink,otherwise being written in red ink,so they say so,I’m wondering. I find it interesting.

【When being something allergic,What’s happened to the nose in the Western？】《The keyword is allergy and allergic.》

When having allergy for something,or being unable to fit something to them,they use an adjective,allergic then. If disliking cold milk,they say,“I’m allergic to cold milk.”

When hating cats,dogs,or someone,they say,“I’m allergic to cats.” ,“I’m allergic to dogs”,or “I’m allergic to him.” Then we can also use allergy. For example,then they say,“I have an allergy to dogs.”

Both of the words are used for both of the situations when hating something and having allergy constitutionally.Hay fever is caused by one of constitutional allergy.

When having a cold and something is the matter with the nose,they call it a sinus trouble.

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【When being something allergic,what happens to the nose in the West?】《The keyword is allergic and allergy.》

When being unable to stop to shedding their tears,they say“My eyes keep watering.”,they use water. On the other hand,when being unable to stop running mucus 鼻水,they say,“My nose keeps running.”

Medical condition that makes breathing difficult is asthma. The asthma is related to allergy. An example in which asthma is used,“My son is asthma.”

Conversation

A: It’s so bad.

B: Have a nice cool glass of milk.

A: Sorry. I’m allergic to cold milk. I really envy people who can drink anything they like.

B: Don’t worry.We’ve got plenty of iced tea in the refrigerator too.

A: That sounds great!

【When trying to offer a topic in which a female is interested,diet…】《The keyword is diet.》

In general,they are very interested in their weight in the West,and dieting has been well done. Restricting a meal is called diet. For example,as to a female who restrict a meal,they say she’s dieting.

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【When trying to offer a topic in which a female is interested,diet…】《The keyword is diet.》

For example,as to a female who restricts a meal,they say,“She’s dieting.”or“She is on a diet.”

Why do they diet? Some people do because of their health and figures. The figure means the shape of the human body. They make much of maintaining their shape of the body.Other people diet so as to cure their illness. It’s serious.

When the feeling that wanting to be thin becomes very strong,some people can’t keep any food and before long they learn to refuse the food abnormally. They call the situation anorexia,or anorexia nervousa 拒食症.

It is said that there are plenty of people who suffer from the anorexia who are from middle class of good family. The opposite one to the anorexia is bulimia.

While showing its weight,kilogram is used in Japan,pound or stone are adopted in the West. The stone is equivalent to 14 pounds,6.35 kilogram. The stone is mainly used in British.

Some stroes which handle…

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【When trying to offer a topic in which a female is interested,diet…】《The keyword is diet.》

Some stores which handle natural food or health food have appeared at a street corner in the West lately,and they also pay attention to the Japanese food.

A person who don’t eat meat or fish called vegetarian. Food of which center is grain and vegetable so as to live long is called macrobiotic food,and the people who practice living long with the macrobiotic food,they say,“He is a macrobiotic.”

Conversation

A: Have you seen Mary recently? I’ve heard she’s gone very thin.

B: That’s what I’ve heard too. Dieting and dieting. It’s no good,you know.

A: Well,dieting itself can be good for you,but Mary has gone to the extreme.

B: Yeah. She is in danger of having anorexia.

【No one can smoke with tobacco alone】《The keyword is tobacco and cigarette.》

Japanese タバコ comes from a Portuguese,tabaco,and tobacco is an English. In fact there are all sorts of tobaccos. For example,cigarette,cigar,the one…

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【No one can smoke with a tobacco alone.】《The keyword is tobacco and cigarette.》

For example,cigarette,cigar,the one for a pipe,chewing tobacco,a snuff 嗅ぎタバコ,and so on. As a result,if wanting to express each of them,there is each way of calling it.

Speaking of tobacco in Japan,it usually means a cigarette. When buying it some people buy a pack of cigarettes,or packet of cigarettes,though both of them mean the same. Others buy with a cartoon.

When pronouncing cigar,we have to be careful of it.for we stress on the second syllable. It has so strong scent that smoking it is forbidden in public transportation like plane. The one for pipe is also handled like the same way.

As for the one for pipe,without using the word of tobacco,they say smoke a pipe,or have a pipe. As to the chewing tobacco, when enjoying it,they put it in the mouth and chew it.

As for the snuff,they put the powder of the tobacco on the back of the hand,and approaching its nose to the snuff. When enjoying it the…

• 共感2

【No one can smoke with a tobacco alone.】《The keyword is tobacco and cigarette.》

As for the snuff,when enjoying it they approach their nose to the snuff and inhale its scent from the nose.

The movement that eradicating damage from smoking has spread out all over the world. The seats are separated into the one who smoke and other who don’t in a restaurant.

Even if in a private house,any people can’t smoke in a party,except for a specific place. As long as asking a permission,“May I smoke?”,everyone used to be able to smoke almost everywhere,but the situation has been different lately.

When asking,“May I smoke?”,others often answer,“I’d rather you didn’t .”,but heavy smokers just go on and on,and some of them go on smoking without stopping. The way of smoking is chain-smoking,and the one who adopts the way is called a chain smoker.

Conversation

A: David’s wife died a year ago today. Tragic,wasn’t it?

B: Mm…poor David. They were so devoted.

A: I know. He hasn’t got over it.…

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『Continuation of the last response.』

A: Every time I see him,he’s smoking.

B: I know. He took up chain-smoking just after the funeral.

A: Isn’t is sad！

【親知らず,Can you say it in English?】《The keyword is tooth.》

One of the white hard things in our mouth that we use for biting is a tooth and its plural form is teeth. The last syllable is th,so when pronouncing,it’s tiresome a little. Pressing the tip of our tongue against the back of the teeth on the upper ward,and breathing out between the tip of the tongue and the teeth and we pronounce. It’s the knack of pronouncing the th.

As is commonly said,we have to bite the tip of the tongue,but we don’t have to do it.

A person whose job is to look after people’s teeth is a dentist. A dentist who straightens the tooth is orthodontics 歯列矯正医. The word is long and hard to learn by heart a little,but it resemble the dentist somehow,so we should remember it.

A clasp which is to put on the tooth so as to straighten the tooth is called brace.

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【親知らず,can you say it in English?】《The keyword is tooth.》

When puttin on the brace,they say,“she wearing brace.” It means that the alignment of her teeth is in the middle of being straightened.

One of the four teeth at the back of our mouth that don’t grow until we are an adult is a wisdom tooth. The description is extracted from English–English dictionary. Without using it I find it hard to express.

When there is the wisdom tooth in the mouth,they say,“I’m having a wisdom tooth breaking through.”

When cutting the teeth,they use the teeth as verb,and they say teethe. When teething,a child tends to be fretful,so speaking of teething troubles,it means the pain in early time,and if using it figuratively,it means undergoing great difficlty because of founding something.

It seems to be important to receive the medical examination in dentist regularly so as to maintain the tooth hygienically,and they call it a dental check–up.

When removing the tartar 歯石,they say,“I had my teeth….”

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【親知らず,can you say it in English?】《The keyword is tooth.》

When removing the tartar,they say,“I had my teeth scaled.”

A small brush with a handle that we use for cleaning our teeth is a toothbruhs. Substance that we put on a brush and use for cleaning our teeth is a toothpaste. Both the toothbrush and toothpaste alone aren’t enough to clean our teeth,A dental floss that a type of thread that is used for cleaning between the teeth is necessary,and if wanting to massage the gum,rubber up is essential.

A false teeth which they can put on or put off with their own way is called a denture.

Conversation

A: You look depressed. What’s the matter?

B: I’m having a wisdom tooth breaking through. It aches.

A: Oh! That’s awful. Have you been to a dentist?

B: Yes,but he said there’s nothing he can do at this moment.

A: Sorry to hear that.

【English shoulder’s expression is as good as the mouth】《The keyword is shoulder.》

The part of our body between our neck and the top of our arm is a…

• 共感2

【English shoulder’s expression is as good as the mouth】《The keyword is shoulder.》

The part of our body between our neck and the top of our arm is shoulder,and we have both of them,so when using,we have to add s at the end of the words.

As for our shoulders,when feeling hard and something uncomfortable,we the Japanese say,“I have stiff shoulders.”

Speaking of head and shoulders,it’s an idiomatic phrase,and threr are various meaning. For example,it means a photograph above the shoulders alone,or a portrait.

The phrase means the head and shoulder sticks out,so it’s better exceptionally in one thing. Speaking of the shoulder,it’s not only the part of the body but of a road,so there is a phrase of a hard shoulder.

The hard shoulder means that a narrow section of road at the side of a motorway where cars are allowed to stop in an emergency.The motorway is a wide road for fast traffic.

When using it as verb,it means carrying a thing on our shoulder. When undertaking works or …

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【English shoulder is good at expressing itself like the mouth.】《The keyword is shoulder.》

When undertaking a work or responsibility,they use the shoulder as verb.

When saying I’ll shoulder all expenses,it means that I’ll accept to pay all the expenses.

There has been a custom of knocking the shoulder lightly so as to massage away the stiffness in the shoulder,we the Japanese call it 肩たたき,and we frequently see it in a barber shop in Japan,but there has never been the custom in the U.S.A. If starting to knock the shoulder lightly at a barbershop suddenly,they will be surprised very much.

There has been other meaning of 肩たたき in the world of Japanese businessmen. If trying to say it in English,knocking the shoulder lightly and feeling him out about whether or not he’ll leave the company.The meaning of the word, 肩たたき is closed meaning to sound someone out.

If saying letting a shoulder come near other shoulder,it means being good friends. They say it shoulder to shoulder. If saying we…

• 共感2

【English shoulder is good at expressing itself like the mouth.】《The keyword is mouth.》

If saying we sat shoulder to shoulder,it means that we sat together and then we let our shoulders come near each other and we are good friends.

When refusing some offer coldly,they use the shoulder,and say,she gave the cold shoulder to him. If spelling cold–shoulder,it’s used as verb and it changes into like this,she cold–shouldered.

Judging from the example,it seems that the idiom is sent from a female to a male,though I’m not sure of it.

A: I feel a little sick.

B: O.K. Let’s pull over along the hard shoulder there.

A: Hard shoulder?

B: Yes,that strip of road at the edge of motorway. We can stop there in emergency.

A: Oh. Look,he’s changing his wheel.

『They can use a part of the body and express themselves like the next.』

1 He’s living from hand to mouth. It means that he’s living from day to day.

2 He’s head over heels in love. It means that he was charmed altogether.

3 We’re busy…

• 共感2

『They use a part of the body and express themselves like the next.』

3 We’re busy keeping our head above water. It means that we’ve led our life with great difficulty.

4 Don’t split hairs any more. It means that saying not do put too much some importance on subtle ditinction.

5 Let your hair down. It means saying to take it easy.

6 I need the hair of the dog （that bit me last night）. It means that a pick–up to cure a hangover.

7 he pulled a long face. It means that he looked sad.

8 Be all ear. It means ordering to listen very carefully.

9 Be all eyes. It means ordering to watch closely

10 That’s an eye for an eye. It means that if being harmed by someone,they think they should revenge the same amount of damage which they received.

11 He turned a blind eye to it. It means that he pretended to look at it.

12 I’m keeping my nose to the grindstone. It means that I’m working hard.

13 Don’t poke your nose into someone else’s business. It meas saying to stop meddling in others…

• 共感2

『They use a part of the body and express themselves like that.』

13 Don’t poke your nose into someone else’s business. It means saying to stop meddling in other’s business.

14 Lend me a hand. It means asking to help me.

15 Keep her at arm’s length. It means keeping other at a distance.

16 I’ve got it off my chest. It means telling other what I’ve thought without hiding.

17 Stop pulling my leg. It means asking to stop to playing a joke on me.

18 That’s a pain in the neck. It means that it’s the source of its distress.

19 He has it at his finger’s tips. It means that he is well informed about something.

20 He has athlete’s foot. Oh! I can’t say it in other words in English. It’s 水虫.

21 Let’s not talk about it behind his back. It means suggesting that we should abstain from saying something bad when a person on the topic isn’t here.

【If being ignorant of it,we’ll be embarrassed. Should we drink or refuse something to drink when parting from an opposite sex?】《The keyword is date.》

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【Without being ignorant of it,we’ll be embarrassed, Should we accept or refuse something to drink when parting from other.】《The keyword is date.》

デート comes from English word,date. It means originally a particular day of month or year,and it becomes a promise to meet someone. The promise that two of sweethearts meet and have a fun.

The date has meaning of a person who meet you. When asking it they say,“Who was your date?”

When asking a date they say like the next,for example,“Would you like to go out on a date next Saturday evening?”

If wanting to dance with her then they say,“I made a date for a dance with her.”

When dancing and having a fun and some people gathered there,they drink,eat,or dance. They enjoy themselves. We the Japanese call the situation a dance party,but they call it dance without adding the party at the end of the dance.

If asking someone to go there,they say,“Let’s go to a dance.”

Without having enough information each other,if going out on a date each other…

• 共感2

【Without being ignorant of it,we’ll be embarrassed it. Should we accept or refuse something to drink when parting form an opposite sex?】《The keyword is date.》

Without having enough information each other,if going out on a date with an opposite sex,they call it a blind date.

In spite of having a sweetheart,there are some people who go around with other opposite sex and betray its sweet hear. They call it two–timing.

If a nasty male said to a female,“Would you like to come upstairs?”,the female should be careful about it so much,for there is usually his bedroom upstairs.

If being said,“Would you like to see my etching?”,it means being invited to his bedroom in a roundabout way.

It is said that in Englihs culture saying almost of everything clearly comparatively,but in the situation,they say vaguely.

Then showing your tact and how about saying like that?“Oh,thank you,but I’d rather have some coffee here.“

After the date,the male frequently accompanies the female to her home,and…

• 共感2

【Without being ignorant of it,we’ll be embarrassed it. Should we accept or refuse something to drink when parting from an opposite sex?】《The keyword is date.》

After the date,the male frequently accompanies the female to her home,and if he uses a car,he says,“Lem me drive you home.”,and if being on foot,“Let me walk you home.”

Then she offers him a coffee sometimes in her room,but he should not stay there for a long time. It’s an etiquette which we the male should obey.

When being at a party,if recommending something to drink before parting from each other,they say,“Would you like one for the road?” It seems to say from something kind,but it also means to urge to go home early in a roundabout way.

Conversation

A: Are you enjoying yourself?

B: Yes,very much so. But I’m afraid I’ve got to go. It’s getting rather late.

A: Come on. Can’t you stay a little longer?

B: No,I’m afraid not. I’ll miss the last bus.

A: I see. Have another drink for the road through?

• 共感2

【If trying to win a female,a male should adopt this way.】《The keyword is beautiful.》

Speaking of being extremely attractive to look at,an English word of beautiful occurs to us at once,but when there is the one who is beautiful,we say she is beautiful. Is it suitable for the situation?

When saying like that,the beautiful means being deeper than the Japanese phrase,美人,and comprehensive beauty,though when hearing the comprehensive beauty,clear image doesn’t occur to me at all.

If adding to the beautiful,the beautiful means that people who are beautiful.

If wanting to say its looks is good,she’s good–looking girl or she’s nice–looking girl.

The meaning of being charming is attractive,and we can say she is attractive,and the attractive is also used for a male as it is,And they say like the next,“John is a young attractive man.”

Pretty or lovely is used for a meaning rather having an attractive face,and those words aren’t made use for a male.

When admiring the female imprudently in …

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【If trying to win a female,a male should adopt this way】《Keyword is beautiful》

When admiring a female inprudently,it causes a misunderstanding in Japan,but when seeing the female.praising is an etiquette in the West. Unexpectedly we can admire her easily in English.

If not being get used to admiring her,not admiring herself,but praising her costume and belongings.

For example,“What a lovely sweater you’re wearing!”,or “You look real cool in that dress.”

The way of saying cool used to be heard once frequently,but it seems out of fashion a little.

Praising her hairstyle is also all right,“I like your hairstyle.” or,“Your hairstyle is beautiful.”,but we should abstain from taking up sexual things as topic.

For example,saying sexy in public isn’t desirable. At best we can say on a third party who isn’t in front of us then,“She looks very sexy in her jeans.”

When praising the female,they often use sweet,“You are sweet.”,or “Oh,how sweet of you. ”

When being well–dressed,or cool,we …

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【If trying to win a female,a male should adopt this way】

《Keyword is beautiful.》

When being well–dressed or cool,we the Japanese call it smart,but in English,it means having a fine brain,though the word of smart is used as the meaning of neat–looking in England.

Just the moment he met her he loved her,in this situation,they say he fell in love with her at first sight.

Conversation

A: I’ve just run into Miss. Smith.

B: Who’s Miss. Smith?

A: My sister’s homeroom teacher. She’s just beautiful.

B: Is she？

A: Yes,I’ve never seen such an attractive lady. I almost fell in love with her at first sight.

B: I’m rather familiar with that reaction of yours to a good–looking girl.

【Natural way of kissing from a friend to a sweetheart.】《The keyword is kiss.》

As we the Japanese nod or put our hand on the shoulder as a greeting,the Westerner embrace each other friendly,bring close to their faces each other,and kiss as you know.

They kiss on the cheek,on the forehead,on the hand.

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【Natural way of kissing from a friend to a sweetheart,】《The keyword is kiss.》

I’ve thought the way of kissing is only one but it isn’t. When kissing on the cheek lightly,they call the situation,have a peck on the cheek.

The peck means that a bird picks at something with its beak,and when it is used as noun,it means a light kiss. The English way of saying is as if a bird picked at the cheek slightly. It’s a heartwarming scene. It has been done among close friends as token of friendly or affectionate feeling.

We the Japanese who aren’t used to the custom tend to be puzzled for a moment. We don’t have to be ready to kiss them,but if being kissed from others,we should accept the situation naturally. We should be adaptable.

If being embarrassed more than it needed and showing sign of running away,others who try to kiss us will be perplexed more than us.

What they usually do every day life is the kiss before going to bed at night. They call it a good–night kiss. When asking to do it,…

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【Natural way of kissing from a friend to a sweetheart】《The keyword is kiss.》

When asking to kiss before going to bed at night,they say,“Now,give me a good–night kiss.” A child kiss its parents on the cheek slightly and go to bed.

When doing it from themselves,they say,“Now.let me give you a good–night kiss.”

There is other idiom on the kiss,the kiss of death,and the kiss of life.

The former means a thing which ruins something violently,and the latter is artificial respiration 人口呼吸,so it's used figuratively,something which revive a person.

A: I wish I were you!

B: Why?

A: Your husband always kiss you on the cheek when he goes out to work. He’s so romantic.

B: But my husband hasn’t bought me a new dress for years!

A: I’d rather have a peck on the cheek than a new dress.

【The word of couple has never been monopolized among sweethearts】《The keyword is couple.》

Speaking of avec which we the Japanese use every day life,it seems to old–fashioned. We’ve used an English word…

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【The word of couple has never been monopolize among sweethearts.】《The keyword is kiss.》

We’ve usually used an English word,a couple with the angular Japanese phonetic syllable カタカナ.

English couple means a set of a man and a woman,needless to say,it also means two people who are married.

Speaking of a phrase of a couple of,it indicates a number,strictly speaking the number is two, but in general,it’s used in a broad sense,a few.

For example,if saying,“I’ve got a couple of things to do this morning.”, it means that there are a few things which I have to do this morning.

As for the way of saying,we should be careful of its pronunciation. It’s not カップルオブ,but カポー.we hear the native speakers say like that. If pronouncing it with the stress on the カ,we’ll be able to say it rhythmically

Whatever doing in the West,they do with a couple. It’s a base. A mother and her child is together,and a father alone behaves by himself. It’s a Japanese style,but it’s not general in the West. A wife …

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【The word of couple has never been monopolized among sweethearts alone.】《The keyword is couple.》

A mother and a child is together and a father is apart from them,and they take action each other. Its Japanese style,but it’s not general in the West.

Two people who are married always take action together,and usually left their child with a baby sitter.

When not only the couples but the two of them get along with each other,they call the situation,“We’re on the same wavelength.”

When trying to do something with a unit of a couple,there is a person who doesn’t fit in a couple,and they call it an odd man out. It is commonly what they called being left without a partner.

There is a way of an idiomatic phrase of in a couple of shake,it means at once. They say,“I’ll be there in a couple of shakes.”


Conversation.

A: How are you getting along with John?

B: Fine. John and I always seem to agree. I seem to know how he feels about things.

A: Lucky you.

B: How about you and Tom?

A: …

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『Continuation of the last response.』

Conversation.

A: On the contrary,we might not be on the same wavelength. Now we quarrel all the time.

B: We used to quarrel,too,but no more.

【A gift and a present. There is subtle difference between them.】《The keyword is gift.》

In general,it is said we the Japanese is give a person a present too much. Without any special intention,if being given a present,some of the Western people are happy and others are confused frequently.

Without any reason,when receiving a present,it doesn’t seem to be comfortable.

If trying to say Japanese custom of the present in English,the one which is sent in summer is called a summer gift,and the one in winter season is a year–end gift.

The money given from a senior to a junior in a new year is called a gift of money. The one in Christmas is a Christmas present,and the one on a birthday is a birthday present.

Each of cases,they seldom seem to use a word of gift.

When being during a trip,we usually buy …

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【Gift and present. There is a subtle difference between them.】《The keyword is gift.》

When being during a trip,we often buy something for someone so as to thank him or her. It’s a gift. The place where the gift is sold is a gift shop.

An object that we buy or keep to remind ourselves of a special occasion or a place we have visited is a souvenir.A thing which causes us to remember a memory is a keepsake.

There is an interesting impression which means finding fault with something which we received. It’s looking a gift horse in the mouth. When looking at the teeth,we can recognize an horse’s age,so it means evaluating the horse which we have received.

The gift has meaning of a talent. If saying,“Children have a gift of imitation.”,it means that children are good at imitating.If saying,“He’s gifted.”,it means that he’s talented by nature.

By the way,when receiving a present in the West,they say,“May I open it now?”,and open it in front of the one who gave you the present,and show…

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【Gift and present. There is subtle difference between them.】《The keyword is gift.》

…and show the person who sent you the present you are happy. It’s an etiquette. When wrapping the present,they usually buy a wrapping paper and a ribbon and wrap the present for themselves.

Conversation.

A: I really don’t like it. It’s too big. Where will I put it? And the color’s awful.

B: Fred. They thought you’d like it. Besides,don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

A: I think I’d rather have a horse.

B: Fred!

【If using the word of flowery in a speech,we should do it moderately.】《The keyword is flower and blossom.》

Speaking 花 in English,there are two kinds,flower and blossom.

The blossom is the one for a fruit like an apple,plum and cherry,and the flower is a natural one which comes out in a field. It’s equivalent to 草花 of the Japanese.

There is a shrub which is a small bush with woody stems and a plant in a park. Things which is decorated at the park in the Western companies is the…

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【If using a word of flowery in a speech,we should do it moderately.】《The keyword is flower and blossom.》

Things with which are decorated at the park in the Western countries is flower,blossom,shrub,plant,tree,and lawn.

While a potted plant or pot plant is ,so to speak,an artificial one,natural one is wild flower. If learning the name of flowers
which we often see by heart,it’ll be useful unexpectedly. For example,dandelion,lily of the valley スズラン,pansy,and thistle アザミ.

As for me,even if I learn them by heart in English,when looking at them actually,I’m afraid I can’t recognize them though.

When the flower becomes an adjective,flowery,there are two kinds of meaning. The one means literally that there are lots of flowers and they are beautiful.

The other means that there are too much flattering compliments in a speech or sentence. If saying,“He’s famous for his flowery speech. ”,it means his speech is well–known for lots of rhetoric.

Conversation

A: His speeches are always far…

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【If using s word of flowery in a speech,we should do it moderately.】《The keyword is flower and blosssom.》

Conversation.

A: His speeches are always far too ornate.

B: I know. Quotations from Shakespeare,reference to Latin Greek poetry.

A: Virgil tonight or a little Homer,perhaps.

B: I hope not. I want to get home early.

A: You know he’s famous for his flowery speeches. It won’t be over before ten.

B: Then,let’s sneak out.

【If being said she always wears heavy makeup…】《The keyword is make-up.》

To put powder, color etc on your or somebody’s face to make it look attractive. We call it make-up. When a female goes out with someone,she seems to say,“Now,let’s put on some make-up and go out.”

If wanting to say,“She always wears heavy make-up.”,they say “She always puts a lot of make-up on.”

The word of make-up is also used as verb. If wanting to say being busy in making-up,they say,“I’m busy makeing up at the moment.”

The make-up also means a layout on the papers.

Orthopedic…

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【If being said she always wears heavy make-up…】《The keyword is make-up.》

Orthopedic surgery 整形手術,especially being done so as to be beautiful by a female is called plastic surgery. The orthopedic which makes the whole face look young and beautiful is called face lift. If wanting to be operated of face lift,they say,“I’d like to have a face lift.”

Speaking of facial,it means various treatments for the face in order to make it look attractive.

The plastic surgery isn’t always being beautiful. A wound on the body or on the face by an accident or burn are cured and covered by the surgery.

For example,they say,“He burned himself very badly,so he needs plastic surgery.”

The place where a care for the hair and the face is called a hairdresser or beauty parlor,especially the one for the toe is called chiropodist,or pedicurist.


Conversation


A: Mary has complained about her wrinkles for years.

B: She looks fine to me.

A: She wanted to have a face lift a couple of years ago. She said…

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【If being said she always wears heavy make-up… 】《The keyword is make-up.》

Conversation

A: She said she wanted to look like thirty again.

B: But she’s over fifty. You can take away the wrinkles,but what about everything else！

【English style,a declaration on love is “you know”?】《The keyword is sweetheart.》

A pair of a male and a female who love each other are called sweetheart. A girlfriend or a boyfriend are also used in the same way. If it’s just a friend,they call it a friend.

Speaking of a friend,a friend of mine or one of my friends seem to be better than my friend,for the phrase of my friend gives a impression that it has no more than one friend.

A lover is a sweetheart of a male,the one of a female is love,but the lover is a partner in a sexual relationship with somebody who they are not married to,according to EnglishーEnglish dictionary.

When calling the female from the male,he says many time,“Hurry up,love.” The sweetheart is usually also used like that from the male…

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【English style,a declaration on love is “you know”?】《The keyword is sweetheart.》

The sweetheart is usually also used from the male to the female,on the other hand,a word of darling,is used from the female to the male. For example,she said to him,“Hold me,darling.”

The author said he had seen a news on a questionnaire that when an English male declared his love for a female,a phrase which he used. Unexpectedly, “you know.”is more than“I love you.”

If it’s done in the U.S.A.it may have been different. In general,it seems that the English frequently say moderately.

Not only the declaration its love but saying on the relation between the male and the female,they usually understatement,or euphemism. The euphemism is speaking in a roundabout way.

For example,if saying,“They’re rather intimate.”,it means the relation between them is deep. If saying,“They’re having an affair.”,it means a forbidden deep relation.

If saying,“He’s been cheating on his wife.”,it means that he is unfaithful…

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【English style,a declaration on love is “you know.”】《The keyword is sweetheart.》

…it means that he is unfaithful to her.

By the way,if saying a Japanese male leads dissipated life 道楽 typically,we say 飲む、打つ、買う。On the other hand,they say it’s wine,women,and song in English.

Conversation

A: Have you heard about Mary?

B: No,what’s happened?

A: She’s got a divorce again.

B: Oh,no! Why?

A: Her husband is a playboy,you know.

B: But she knows that,didn’t she?

A: Yes,but she didn’t know he was such a man for『wine,women,and song.』

【Difference between Japanese playboy and English playboy.】《The keyword is handsome.》

Speaking of handsome in Japan,it means a good looking guy,but it’s also used for a female in English. Then it’s nuance isn’t just good looking but attractive in a strong healthy way.

When using the word of handsome for the money,it means that it’s a substantial sum of money.

In general,speaking of a male who is popular among females in the West,as it were, a handsome man…

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【Difference between Japanese playboy and English playboy.】《The keyword is handsome.》

…as it were,an image of an attractive man is the one who is tall,dark,and handsome,and being handsome is included. Dark means being sunburn and healthy.

A male who is lionized among females is called lady’s man.

When they only say,“He is a playboy.”,or “I don’t like his playboy lifestyle.”,its nuance is different from the one which we the Japanese usually use.

The playboy has the nuance that he leads a luxurious life and without working,he can maintain his life.

Speaking of a lady–killer,a way of saying of lady’s man or a one for the ladies is used. For example,when being a party plenty of females gathered around a male,they speak ill of him behind his back,“He is a one for the ladies.”

A male with a strong builds is called well–built,and even if being fat,they call him stout in a roundabout way.

As to a female who is fat,they call her plump in an indirect way. In general it’s an etiquette…

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【Difference between Japanese playboy and American playboy.】《The keyword is handsome.》

In general,it’s an etiquette that we don’t say on the appearance of others,though if saying he is popular among men or women,it won’t be obstacle to the human relation.

Conversation

A: Tell me more about your boyfriend.

B: About what?

A: Anything. What’s he like?

B: Well,he’s tall,dark and handsome.

A: Oh,is he? I envy you. What’s he doing?

B: He’s still a law student.

A: Is he? Is he going to be a lawyer?

B: Very like,yes.

【Is your marriage a love match or arranged match?】《The keyword is bachelor.》

A ceremony for wedding is called a wedding ceremony. After that there is a party which we call a wedding reception. We have to be careful that a word of marriage isn’t used for two of the phrases.

The wedding ceremony is done in church and the wedding reception is done somewhere else or at the house either the bride or the bridegroom.

When two people get married a woman is called a bride…

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【Is your marriage a love match or arranged match?】《The keyword is bachelor.》

When two people get married the woman is called a bride,and the man is called the bride.

A person who takes a message between the two people who get married is called go–between,or mediator.

A couple who is a newly married one is called a newlyweds,and the trip for the newlyweds is called a honey–moon,and during the honey–moon,they are called a honey–moon couple.

On the other hand the one who is single,a male is called a bachelor,especially the one who chose to be the single is called a confirmed bachelor.

As to a middle aged female who is single,there is a way of old maid,but it’s a slanderous 中傷的 way,so it’s safe for not using.

If there is a chance we have to say,we should express an objective fact,she’s not married,or she is unmarried,or she’s still remains single.

After being in love with each other and get married,others call it a love match. On the other hand,someone else arranged their …

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【Is your marriage a love match or arranged match?】《The keyword is bachelor.》

On the other hand,someone else arranged their encounter and they get married,others call it an arranged match,but they don’t have any custom like that,so if adding an explanation according to the situation,it’s easy to understand.

For example,“Our first date was arranged by my aunt’s friend. Then we hit it off with each other.” The phrase of hit off meaning being like–minded in colloquial phrase.

Conversation

A: May I ask a personal question?

B: You can try.

A: I’m just wondering if you’re married.

B: No,I’m still a bachelor.

A: For many particular reason?

B: No,it’s just that I’ve had no luck.

By the way,this is the end of a book of which title,英単語おもしろ事典,but it doesn’t always mean this thread itself is over,though there are lots of books to read,so I have to refrain from expressing myself in English here soon.

The title is we can’t understand the English like this. See you later,all of you.

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【Preface】

One day a Japanese was invited to an American’s home,and was having a pleasant chat with the Americans in English which the Japanese was good at. They began to talk on a plan to go for an exhibition of kilt.

The Americans asked the Japanese,“Does it suit you?”,the Japanese thought the Americans talked on the clothes which the Japanese wear to the exhibition,but he was unclear on it. He wasn’t sure what they talked then.

There are plenty of simple and short expressions in English like that. Moreover it’s a phrase which native English speakers use many times a day.

Each of the Phrases itself is so easy that even a student in junior high school knows it,so we can use it easily,but if trying to understand the connecting the word one by one is wasting time,for connecting the basic words changes into other phrase which we the Japanese can’t imagine at all.

Beyond any doubt it’s the English without knowing it we can’t understand. Selecting the phrases which the native…

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【Preface.】

Selecting the phrases which the native speakers use everyday life carefully,especially 368 phrases which is high frequency of use,and they are introduced into the book.

If the one who have had experience of interchange with the native speakers,some of them are familiar with him or her. The phrases which the author introduced are limited within five words. Without dictionary,we understand the words.

Those phrases appear everyday life of English conversation,but the frequency is divided more minutely with the number os the face. Its number from one to five. The more the face is the more it’s used.

Even if they have high frequency,some of them are limited to the scene,surrounding,occupation,and status,so we have to pay attention to the conversations and the commentary.

As a general rule slangs which we shouldn’t use are excluded,but other ones which native speakers frequently use and we should know are introduced into the book. Please judge for ourselves the case whe…

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【Preface.】

I’m sure we try to judge for ourselves the case when the slang is used,and whether or not we can use it. The author said at the end of the preface like the next.

He hoped that all the readers enjoyed this book and began to take an interest in English newly,“go for it”,and “keep in there.”

【A little bird told me.】

It means I won’t tell you who told me. One day a bird flew over me and perched on the shoulder and whispered me. In short,it’s the phrase which we can’t say the source of what we’ve talked. I’m wondering who talked to me. The situation is like that.

There are some number of face on the phrase. The number of the face which means its frequency is three. The face is ordinary. When the face is ordinary,it’s an ordinary phrase. When the face is angry one,the phrase includes anger. When the face is happy,the phrase is used in a happy situation.

Conversation.

A: How did you find out about Gary’s girlfriend?

B: A little bird told me.

【Act your age.】It means…

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【Act your age!】

It means ordering to not to so childish. The number of face which shows us its frequency is two,and it’s angry,so when using it,he or she is angry or irritated. Ordering behave yourself with your age. It’s used not only to a child,youth but a grown-up who is selfish and childish,but the phrase criticizes other,so we must not use for a superior.

Conversation

Stop whining like a little kid! Act your age!

【Age before beauty.】

It means older people can go first. When making a way for orders,the phrase is used. It’s a witty expression. Your age should be respected than my youth and beautifulness. We should use for a close relationship. The number of face which shows us its frequency is one and it’s an ordinary face,so it’s an usual phrase.

In general,the phrase of after you is frequently used. It’s a pleasant and polite expression and it's used for everyone.

A: ［Holding the door open］After you,sir.

B: Thank you very much.

【All hands on deck!】

It means that…

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【All hands on deck!】
It means that everyone has to help now. The hand is a crew member on a ship. It’s originally an order for all the members to gather on deck. It means doing the duty by all the members. Its number of face which shows us frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation.

All hands on deck. Someone go tell Maria that we’re going to have a meeting now.

【All systems （are）go.】

It means that all preparations are complete. It's started from a technical term in a space flight in America in 1960s. No sooner had the phrase of an astronaut and scientist was on TV than it becomes popular among them.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is one and ordinary,so it’s an usual phrase.

The system is all the apparatus for launching a rocket,and the go means that it’s ready. Are is all right whether or not there is.

A: Ready to go,Allison?

B: All systems go. Let’s hit the road.

【All the best （to someone）】

It means that my best wishes to you/someone. When saying …

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【All the best（to someone）.】

When parting from others ,we the Japanese say じゃあね ,the phrase is close to the Japanese. After the best,a word of wishes that a feeling for other’s happiness is omitted.

When adding to and a name of a one like “All the best to Bob”,it’s a phrase of greeting to a third party who wasn’t there then. The number of face is three and is ordinary,so it’s an usual phrase.

Conversation

A: It was great seeing youn again,Mr.Jones.

B: Same here,Mr. Carter. All the best.

When asking someone who isn’t there then to tell to give its best regard.

A: I have to get back to the office now.

B: Fine,Alice. All the best to Bob.

【All right,already.】

It means OK! OK! When being said a thing which we’d already recognized,or being made us hurry,they talked back others. Then they were irritated. Even if we are irritated,we must not use it for a superior.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and it’s angry,so when saying they are angry or irritated.

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【All right already.】

Conversation

A: Come on! We are going to be late!

B: All right already! I’m hurrying as fast as I can.

【And how!】

It means yes. It’s emphasized agreement like that’s right,of course. The number of face which shows us its frequency is three and ordinary,so it’s an ordinary phrase.

Conversation

A: Are you looking forward to going to Hawai next month?

B: And how!

When being recommended something,saying it as its answer.

A: Would you like another glass of wine?

B: And how!

【Another day,another dollar.】

It means that’s the end of today’s work. When a work of a day is end,or trying to finish it,they whisper to themselves. It’s also a way of informing the duties on the day was over to the colleagues around them.

The phrase of another dollar doesn’t have special meaning. Its nuance is having worked today and having earned money of the day.

The number of the face which shows us its frequency is one and ordinary one,so it’s an ordinary phrase.

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【Another day,another dollar】

Conversation

A: Well, another day,another dollar.

B: Interested in having a beer on the way home?

【Any port in a storm】

It means that any relief is welcoming during difficulties. When being in difficulties,any kind of help is acceptable. A ship which comes across a heavy storm wants to reach any kind of port if it can survive. It’s similar to a proverb that a drowning man will catch at a straw.

The number of face of which frequency is one and ordinary.

Conversation

A: I really hate to borrow money from my parents.

B: Any port in a storm,you know.

【Anything goes.】

It means that there are no rules or restrictions. There was a musical called Anything goes which was hit in 1930s. A great American composer,Cole Porter ,took charge in music on the musical. The phrase comes from the musical. A song of the same title is in the musical.

A: What’s like in New Orleans during Mardi Gras?

B: Anything goes. They party 24 hours a day.

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【Anything goes.】

The Mardi Gras is a feast of the Christians. It’s the last day in a carnival.

The number of face of which frequency is one and ordinary.

【Anything you say.】

It means that I’ll go along with you. It’s the form of phrase that I’ll accept or do anything you say is omitted. When wanting to say that I’ll agree with what you say in its entirely,or I’ll do anything what you ask,please say it.

The number of face of which frequency is there and ordinary.

Conversation

A: Could you pick up a newspaper at the kiosk for me?

B: Anything you say. Which one do you want?

【Are we square?】

It means asking,is the situation fair to everyone? The square means being fair. When having a meal with some friends in a restaurant,and splitting the cost of the meal,the phrase makes sure whether or not all of them paid fairly. Not only the cost of eating and drinking but all the situation in which the money is related to,we can use the phrase anywhere.

The face of number of which…

• 共感2

【Are we square?】

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation

A: That was a great meal. Are we square,Jim?

B: I believe we are. Let’s come here again sometime.

【（Are you）going my way?】

It means asking,can I go with you? We the Japanese ask when going back home,which direction do you return? It’s the phrase like that.

When returning from a job,meeting,or party or moving to other place,suggesting,if we go to the same direction,shall we go to the place together? If other uses a car,it means asking to the person to be in the car.

There is an expression when asking to be in the same car,it’s “How about a lift?” The lift means giving someone in a car. The phrase proposes that the person gets me on its car.

When we propose the other gets on our car,we say,give you a lift?

Conversation

A: Are you going my way?

B: Sure. Get in.

When asking to be in the car,using the lift.

A: I’m leaving now. See you.

B: How about a lift?

A: Sure. My car’s…

• 共感2

【（Are you ）going my way?】

A: Sure. My car is out front.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary one.

【Back to square one.】

It means that we have to start all over again. In a game in which they use a square board,there is a rule to return to a starting point,and the phrase is from it. The square one is the first corner,the starting point which the game begins.

When a thing becomes complicated too much or they can’t carry it out,they return to the starting point and start from the place again,they use the phrase. They sometimes add it’s at the beginning of the phrase.

There is similar phrase,back to the drawing board. When a designer drawing,it uses the drawing board. First of all the it draws its idea on the drawing board,and if it doesn’t go smoothly,it’s forced to begin from the starting point.

The number of face of which shows us its frequency is three and ordinary.

Conversation.

A: Did the boss like your idea?

B: No. Back to square one.

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【Back to square one.】

Conversation.

When announcing to start again,making use of the phrase of the drawing board.

A: The story I wrote was rejected. Back to the drawing board.

B: Better luck next time.


【Be my guest.】

It means help yourself,or go ahead. If translating literally, it means my guest which I entertain,but when wanting to take priority to other person mainly like as you pleased,or after you,the phrase will be used.

There is a book of which title is Be my guest,which was written by the founder of the Hilton Hotel, Conrad Hilton in 1957. It means proposing to stay the hotel authentically .

The number of face of which shows us its frequency is three and ordinary one.

Conversation

A: Would you mind if I used your telephone?

B: Not at all. Be my guest.


【Bear with me.】

It means have patience. Asking to being lenient against me,please put up with me,stand with me,or wait a just moment.

When making others listen to a long and boring story,or waiting for a while …

• 共感2

【Bear with me.】

…or making others waiting for a while,the phrase will be used.

Conversation

A: Aren’t you finished with that job yet?

B: Bear with me. I’m making progress.

The number of face of which shows us its frequency is one and ordinary.

【Beat it.】

It means ordering to go away. In short,it means get out,leave me alone,or get lost. When using the phrase,without choosing any person to which we use the phrase,they’ll misunderstand how rude and how violent we are. If saying it among others who are intimate as a joke,it’s all right.

The number of face of which shows us its frequency is two and it’s angry,so when being angry with something,it will be used.

Conversation

A: Bob,want to hear a great story?

B: Beat it! I’ve got work to do.

【Beats me.】

It means that I give up or I don’t know. It’s an abbreviation that it beats me. The beat meaning making other be tired,or having someone stumped.

When being unable to find out its answer at all or we don’t know on a thing …

• 共感2

【Beats me.】

…or we don’t know on a thing at all,the phrase will be used. Its accent is put on the me.

The number of face of which shows us its frequency is three and ordinary.

A: How is he going to pay for his new car?

B: Beats me. Maybe his parents give him some money.

【Behind you!】

It means that watch out! Look out behind you!

The phrase of after you is urging others to go ahead,so if being said “Behind you”,we think we can,we’re in the wrong. When someone is coming form behind us,we block the person,or something dangerous approaching others,saying them to be careful of it.

When someone blocks our way,we sometime use the phrase for it,asking us to pass through .

The number of the face of which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation

A: Behind you.

B: Sorry. I didn’t realize I was in your way.

【Big deal!】

It means a kind of question,asking,what’s so impressed?

The Phrase is expressed a spiteful feeling,it doesn’t matter at all. If being translated…

• 共感2

【Big deal!】

If being translated literally,it’s wonderful,but the phrase is used as antonym. Instead of saying others who are talking with us,when talking a rumor on a third party,the phrase will be used.

However if we used it frequently,I’m afraid others doubt our personality.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and angry,so when being angry on something,the phrase will be used.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and angry,so when being angry on something,the phrase will be used.

A: We’re going to Hawaii on vacation.

B: Big deal! Everyone goes there now!

When having a comment on someone,it’s the next one.

They paid me ¥1.000 to wax the car. Big deal! It took me three hours to finish the job.

【Bottoms up!】

It means cheers! The bottom means the bottom of a glass,so if raising up the bottom,it means that let’s gulp down the liquor. It’s a calling for toast.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and …

• 共感2

【Bottoms up.】

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and its face is happy,so it’s used in a happy situation.

Conversation

A: You’re still working on your first beer? Come on,bottoms up.

B: I’m trying to take it easy tonight.

【Break a leg.】

It means good luck. The phrase is used for a person who is going to stand on the stage from now on. On the contrary,a phrase which prays for luck plainly is expected unlucky,so adopting the opposite expression,and hoping its success on the stage.

The phrase is an encouragement for good luck for the people who are going to be in front of others.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is one and ordinary.

Conversation

A: I’m really nervous about my speech tonight.

B: Don’t worry,Alan. It’ll be fine. Break a leg.

【Break it up.】

Stop fighting.（also humorous）

When a third party stops fighting or quarreling…

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【Break it up!】

When a third party stops fighting,or quarreling,the phrase will be used. It’s sometimes used as joke for a couple who necks in public.

The face of number of which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation

A: Break it up. This is a public halfway,you know.

B: I was just straightening Bob’s necktie.

A: Sure,you are!

【Bully for you!】

It means good or big deal. When admiring other’s success or effort,the phrase will be used. According to a situation,or a way of saying,it’s used for ironical expression,it’s big deal.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is one and ordinary.

Conversation,when it’s used as the meaning of good.

A: I finally told Elizabeth to quit being such a nuisance.

B: Well,bully for you. She deserves it.

When it’s used as the meaning of big deal.

A: By looking at prices in different stores,I saved 60 yen on these peaches.

B: Bully for you!

【Butt out.】

It means going away,or mind your own business. The butt means…

• 共感2

【Butt out】

The butt is abbreviation of buttocks 尻. As a phrase of butt in has an imagination that a meddlesome person tries to squeeze its buttocks into others,it means meddling in others who doesn’t have nothing to do with itself. Instead of the in,the out has learned to be used,so it means not to stick your nose into other people’s affairs.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and it’s angry,so when it used,the person who used it is angry about something.

Conversation.

A: I think you and Tom should get married.

B: Butt out,Maria! What we do is none of your business.

【Can do.】

It means it’s possible. It’s an abbreviation of I can do that. It seems to be a phrase which used among the army. It’s the answer that I can do it,I’ll do it,or I understand it.If being unable to do it,they say no can do.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary one.

• 共感2

【Can do.】

Conversation

A: Will you be able to finish this by Friday?

B: Can do.I’ll have it in your hands by Thursday night.

【Can it!】

It means saying,shut up or stop talking about that. When wanting other to hold its tongue or to stop talking,the phrase will be used. It looks like a slang. The can means a metal container in which food or drink is preserved without air,and putting a lid on the can.

Without choosing others who we use the phrase, I’m afraid it’ll turn out to be very rude.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is one and its angry,so the phrase is used when being angry about something or someone.

Conversation

A: Listen to this story I just heard.

B: Can it! Can’t you see I’m busy?

【Can too!】

When someone said that you can’t do a thing,you said back you can,the phrase is used. It seems to appear in bandy words 押し問答 among children frequently.

It seems to be a childish expression,but it doesn’t always mean a grown−up doesn’t use the phrase.

• 共感2

【Can too!】

A grown−up uses the phrase in an aggressive situation,saying like the next. “Yes,I can do it. Please look I can do it myself with your own eye.” The way of saying seems to be polite a little but the person is offended by something or somebody.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary,but I’m sure it depends on. When the grown−up uses,it seems to be indignant.

Conversation

A: But you can’t pick up the rock!

B: Can too!

A: Can not!

B: Can too!

【Can’t beat that!】

It means that nothing is better than that. It’s an abbreviation that you can’t beat that. In short,it says that no one can do better than that.

When hearing other’s satisfactory situation,or delightful thing which has happened recently,wanting to tell,“There’s nothing better than that.”,or “Bully for you!”,the phrase is used. It’s a positive expression which the American like.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is three and happy,so when being happy…

• 共感2

【Can’t beat that!】

…so when being happy,the phrase will be used.

Conversation

A: Another company offered me a better salary and more days off.

B: Can’t beat that? You’re going to take the job,aren’t you?

【Care for another?】

It means asking,do you want another? The care doesn’t always mean minding something alone. When wanting to get something,or wanting to do something,or being interested in something,the phrase will be used.

When wanting to say,“Shall we go for lunch?”,if saying,“Care for some lunch?”,it’s all right. The phrase is mainly used by a waiter,waitress in a restaurant,a bartender in a bar,or a host in a party.

If saying it politely,it’s “Would you care for another （of what you are having now）?” If someone uses the phrase in a fantastic restaurant to us,we don’t have to be at a loss at all as long as we know it.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation

A: Care for another?

B: Yes…

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【Care for another?】

Conversation

B: Yes,I believe I would.

【Care to?】

It means asking,would you like to?

It’s one of the shortest phrase to ask someone to do something together. For example,when you and your friend looked at some people who enjoyed skating,asking your friend whether or not we skate. The phrase is suitable for the situation.

It is clear that inviting your friend,“Would you care to join the others and skate?” It’s so short that it’s easy to understand,but it’s an abbreviation of “Would you care to?”,so it’s more polite than asking,“Want to?”,or “Want to?”

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation

A: I’m ready for a cup of coffee,and this looks like a nice place. Care to?

B: Sure. Let’s go in.

In this case,it’s an abbreviation of care to go in and have coffee.

【Cat got your tongue?】

It means asking,why are you silent?

There are plenty of expressions in which a cat is used not only in the Japanese but in the English.

• 共感2

【Cat got your tongue?】

The phrase is used for the people who can’t speak because of being shy,or for the ones who stammered owing to something awkward,asking them,has the cat got your tongue? Mainly it’s frequently used for younger people and children.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is one and ordinary.

A: What’s the matter–cat got your tongue?

B: No,I just don’t feel like talking.

【Catch you later.】

It means see you later. When parting with others,the phrase is used. The word of catch means stopping someone after you have been chasing and not let it get away,but it’s used as meaning of communicating in the phrase. It means making contact each other with a telephone or an e–mail.

However it doesn’t always mean that they promise of making contact. Instead of saying good–by among intimate friends,the phrase is used.

The face of number which its frequency shows us four and ordinary.

A: I’m got to get back to work. Catch you later.

B: Okay. Take care.

• 共感2

【Check.】

It means Ok,yes,or got it. It’s mainly used frequently when working. For example,let’s suppose that we get together the things we use in an event,the stations where the people were,or some procedures in a check list.

When two people who take charge in the event make sure whether or not there are some omissions in the check list before the event,the one read item on the check list one by one,and the other makes sure them and say,yes,or all right. Then the one who makes sure uses the phrase.

The face of number which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

A: Let’s see if we have everything we need. French bread?

B: Check.

A: Wine?

B: Check.

A: Cheese.

B: Check.

【Cheers!】

It means saying toast. It’s probably the most familiar saying when starting drinking. In a party like congratulating something happy,we can hear the phrase everywhere. It’s not cheer,but cheers. It’s the plural

The number of face which shows us its frequency is five and its face is happy,so…

• 共感2

【Cheers!】

…so when using the phrase,all of them feel happy.

Conversation.

Does everyone have a drink? Good. Cheers!

【Clear the deck.】

It means preparing for action.

Other phrase like all hands on deck,the phrase has been born on the deck of a ship. It’s a technical term of a ship on the ocean,and it’s probably from the navy.

In short,it means saying to put the deck in order and preparing for a fighting. Except for a naval ship,it means that clearing unnecessary things from the deck before tackling a big business.

The phrase has turned into other meaning that clearing all the small things and preparing for everything before starting something important.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation.

A: We’ve got a big job to do today,everybody.

B: Clear the deck!

One more conversation.

A: When do you leave for vacation?

B: Tomorrow,and I’m trying to clear the deck before I take off.

【Clear the way!】

It means asking to get out of the…

• 共感2

【Clear the way!】

It means asking to get out of the way,please. If translating literally,it means getting rid of unnecessary thing in front of us. As an image of the phrase shows,asking to make room for us to pass.

The phrase is frequently used by a waiter,waitress in a restaurant,a bodyguard,a policeman and the one who is engaged in moving as business.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

A: There’s a piano coming through. Clear the way!

B: I’ll just stand over there.

The situation when a bodyguard who protected a Celebrity used the phrase.

A: “Clear the way.please.”,the bodyguard said.

B: “Oh,look! Isn’t that Tom Cruise?”,the one who saw the scene said.

【Close,but no cigar.】

It means that you were almost successful,but the result was a failure.

The phrase is come from a program at a carnival in the U.S.A. The program is a contest of strength by males. Bringing down a hammer on a weight and trying to make the weight reach the bell which is…

• 共感2

【Close,but no cigar.】

Bringing down a hammer on a weight and trying to make the weight reach a bell which is the top on the column. Then the weight rings the bell,they can get a cigar as prize.

The more powerful the males are,the higher they can make the weight reach. When the weight reached the bell,but it didn’t ring the bell,the M.C. said “It’s close,but no cigar.”

The number of face which shows its frequency is one and ordinary.

Conversation

A: DId Alan win the tournament?

B: Close,but no cigar. Karen took first place and Alan took second.

The phrase for the one who guessed the price of a brand–new computer.

A: I’ll bet that the computer costs $ 1200.

B: Close,but no cigar. It was $ 1300.

【Cold enough for you?】

It means asking,“how do you like this cold weather?”

It’s an abbreviation of a question which asks, “Is this cold weather cold enough for you?” It’s a colloquial English.

When it is only natural for being cold,but instead of saying it is cold alone…

• 共感2

【Cold enough for you?】

…but instead of saying it is cold alone,treated themselves to a witty conversation which is a humor of the American. The one who are said answer varied ways.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is three and ordinary.

Conversation

A: Morning,John. Could enough for you?

B: Yeah,I’m ready to move south.

When speaking to the one who is commuting just then.

A: Cold enough for you,Elaine?

B: Brrr. I hope it warms up soon.

【Come again?】

It means asking,“What did you say?”

Without knowing it the phrase is beyond our imagination. We may mistake the phrase for the one which doesn’t have the question mark,asking to come again.

In short,it means that,I didn’t hear or I didn’t understand what you said,so please say it again.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is three and ordinary.

A: I’ll meet you at the south entrance at 11:30.

B: Come again?

A: I said let’s meet at the south entrance at 11:30. Okat?

B: That’s fine,

【Come and get…】

• 共感2

【Come and get it.】

It means that it’s time to eat.

It’s informal phrase among family members or intimate relationship. It means a meal is ready for you,so come here before the meal gets cold.

Without giving themselves in the air,there is the same kind of expression,“Soup on.”,it means that the soup has been completed,and come here before the soup gets cold.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is one and ordinary.

Conversation

A: Come and get it.

B: Boy,am I hungry.

【Come off it.】

It means ordering to quit pretending. It comes from a slang which was born in America around 1900. The slang means that the one who put on airs and wielded the powers is reduced to poverty.

The nuance includes that it has comes down in the world really,but making itself look big and acting big. At present when using it,we reprove others.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is three and it’s angry,so when being angry,the phrase is used.

A: I don’t think that dress is very …

• 共感2

【Come off it.】

Conversation

A: I don’t think that dress is very attractive on her.

B: Come off it,Julie. You’re just jealousy.

When using it a mother calls her child’s attention,the phrase is used.

A: I don’t see why I have to do that job.

B: Come off it,Henly. Everyone takes turn doing it,and now it’s your turn.

【Come on!】

It has several meaning. The first means that you can,good luck,the second means asking not to say no,and the third is calling to hurry and do something as it was told.

As to the short phrase which frequently appears our everyday life conversation ,we can use it in varied scenes. The one is encourages a one who has been make effort on something. For example the phrase is used for cheering its member of a team of sports.

The second one is getting permission and request of asking something and helping,the phrase will be used.

The third one is ordering someone to do something quickly,saying to do something as quickly as possible.

The number of face which…

• 共感2

【Come on!】

The number of face which shows us its frequency is five and ordinary.

Conversation 1

A: I don’t know if I can run 10 km or not.

B: Come on,Pat! You can do it!


Conversation 2

A: I was planning to watch TV tonight.

B: Come on! The party will be fun!


Conversation 3

A: Come on! We’re late.

B: Okay,okay,I’m coming.

【Come right in.】

It means that you are welcome to come in.

The phrase is used by a host to a guest who arrived to the party . Then the host shows the guest his welcoming feeling.
He tries to say,“I’m happy that you come here. Please come in.” The right is emphasizing.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is three and ordinary.

A: Good evening,Mr. and Mrs. Franklin.

B: Good evening. We’re delighted you could come. Come right in.

The next conversation at a workplace where there are some personal offices there.

A: Are you busy,Frank?

B: No,Alice. Come right in.

【Coming through（,please）.】

It means asking,please let me pass.

In a public…

• 共感2

【Coming throug（,please）.】

In a public place like a crowd,or crowed elevator,as pushing its way through the crowd,the phrase is used. In short,trying to say,“I’m coming through,and would appreciate your letting me pass.”

Other phrase,out please is also often used. It asks to make way for it so as to go out.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation.In a narrow aisle of a plane.

A:Coming through,please.

B: Sorry. Let me move out of your way.

【Could I get by（,please）?】

It also means,asking others to let me pass politely.

When wanting others to make way for us in a public scene,the phrase will be used like other phrase of coming through. In short,it wants to say,“Would you please give me enough space to pass by?”

The number of face which shows us its frequency is three and ordinary.

Conversation from the inner part of a crowded elevator.

A: Could I get by,please?

B: Sure,no problem.

【Could you hold?】

It means asking to stay on the…

• 共感2

【Could you hold?】

It means asking to stay on the phone for a moment politely.

The phrase is used when making a phone. The hold means maintaining the situation,and in this phrase,it means holding the line. In short,without hanging up,waiting for a moment.

When telling an operator in a company,it uses the phrase and shows us not to hang up and to wait for a while.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is three and ordinary.

Conversation.

A: I’d like to speak to Mr. Johnson,please.

B: Could you hold,please?

A:Certainly.

【Count me in.】

It means literally asking to count me among participants. When wanting to take part in an event in which some people join like a meeting for a picnic,camp,or club and a contribution for charity,they speak to others with the phrase.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation.

A: Are you interested in joining our wine tasting party?

B: Sure! Count me in.

When being asked to contribute…

• 共感2

【Count me in.】

Conversation

When being asked to contribute for some money,accepting it pleasantly.

A: Bill,we’re taking up a collection to buy a farewell present for Rita. Would you be willing to contribute?

B: Gladly. Count me in.

【Count me out.】

It means asking not to include me in the plan. It’s an antonym expression of count me in. It refuses other‘s invitation,and it has an impression of being blunt a little. It's adopted not only to reject for participation in a party or in an event but avoiding to work on a holiday or dining together someone hard for you to deal with.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation

A: We’re planning a picnic for this Saturday. Want to join us?

B: Count me out. I have to attend a wedding. But thanks for thinking of me.

In a situation in which you are reluctant.

A: A group of us are going to Karaoke tonight. Want to come,too?

B: Count me out. I’m a terrible singer.

【Cut it out!】

It means saying…

• 共感2

【Cut it out!】

It means saying to stop doing that. When being done something unpleasant and wanting to stop it,the phrase will be used even if other doesn’t recognize it or does it on purpose.

We should use it for close ones for us,our inferiors or a child alone. We must not adopt the expression for our superiors including our parents.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is three and it’s angry,so when being angry,the phrase will be used.

Conversation. When using the phrase for a sound which someone other makes.

A: Hey! Cut it out! Can’t you see I’m trying to get some sleep?

When being said something uncomfortable and wanting to stop saying it.

A: I think you’ve got a crush on Sarah.

B: I don’t! Cut it out!

【Dear me!】

It means saying,oh no! The phrase expresses a surprise,impatience,or other feeling of regret,discouragement,confusion,or contempt which isn’t so serious. Mainly a female often uses.

The number of face which shows us its…

• 共感2

【Dear me!】

The number of face which shows us its frequency is one and ordinary.

Conversation.

When expressing its surprise or impatience.

A: Jane,did you realize it’s already ten o’clock?

B: Oh,dear me! I have to get ready.

When expressing regret or disappointment which isn’t so serious.

A: Dear me! Is this all milk we have?

B: No,there’s another carton in the refrigerator.

【Dig in!】

It means urging to eat. The expression is urging to eat something. It’s used for close friends or family member. We must not use if for our guests nor in a formal situation.

The dig means excavating. The expression compares a knife and fork to a tool which we dig the ground.

The number of face which shows us its frequency is two and ordinary.

Conversation

A: Wow! This pizza looks great!

B: Yeah! Dig in,everybody!

When recommending that your friends eat your big pizza of which you’re proud.

A: Dig in!

B: This is great stuff. What’s in it?

【Do I ever!】

It means I certainly do…

• 共感2