Prepositions of Time - at - on - in

Friendship Expressions

Make friends

We make friends when we become friendly with new people.

She made friends easily at her new school.

We became friends after meeting at a party.

Hit it off

When you hit it off with someone you have a good friendly relationship. It is used to describe meeting someone for the first time.

We hit it off straight away.

I went on a date with Frank's brother last night but we didn't hit it off. I don't think we will go out again.

Get along/get on

You have a good relationship when you get along with someone.

Do you get on with her?

I get along with Hannah really well.

He doesn't get on with his sister.

Click

You click with someone you quickly become friendly with.

We just clicked immediately – we have so many things in common.

Booking a Hotel - All You Need to Know!

Here is some useful vocabulary to describe hotel rooms and facilities, and phrases to book a hotel room.

Types of room

double room = room with a double bed (for two people)
twin room = room with two beds
single room = room with one bed (for one person)
suite = more than one room (e.g. bedroom and living room
cot = a bed for a baby

Availability

fully-booked = no rooms available

Other facilities

ensuite bathroom = a bathroom attached to the bedroom
a safe = a box with a key where you put valuables (passport, jewellery, money etc)
a minibar = a small fridge with drinks inside such as coke, water, juice, wine
tea and coffee making facilities = a kettle (to boil water), cups, coffee, tea bags milk, and sugar
(24-hour) room service = meals delivered to your room
laundry / dry cleaning service = your clothes can be washed for you
bar and restaurant = the hotel has a bar and a restaurant for drinks and meals
wifi = internet connection (pronounced wai – fai)
full English breakfast = big breakfast with toast, eggs, bacon, cereal, etc
continental breakfast = small breakfast with croissant, coffee, juice
a wake-up call = when the telephone rings to wake you up

Making the booking
Here are some phrases you can use on the phone to make a booking in English.

I'd like to book a (single / double / twin) room for two nights, please.
I'd like to make a reservation for a (single / double / twin) room for the night of (date), please.
(a reservation = a booking)

Do you have any double rooms left for the weekend?
Do you have any double rooms available this weekend?
(left = available)

How much is… a single room / a double room / a suite?

What time is check-in? (check-in = when you arrive and give your passport information)
What time is check-out? (when you leave and pay)
What time is breakfast?

Are all your rooms ensuite? (= with bathroom)
Is there wifi in the room?
Is there a lift? (life / elevator)

Telephone English

BUSINESS  ENGLISH  VOCABULARY

Telephone

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Useful telephone vocabulary and phrases in English.

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Making contact :	Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon ... This is John Brown speaking Could I speak to ......... please? I'd like to speak to ..... ..... I'm trying to contact ..........
Giving more information:	I'm calling from Tokyo / Paris / New York / Sydney ... I'm calling on behalf of Mr. X ...
Taking a call :	X speaking. Can I help you?
Asking for a name / information :	Who's calling please? Who's speaking? Where are you calling from? Are you sure you have the right number / name?
Asking the caller to wait :	Hold the line please. Could you hold on please? Just a moment please.
Connecting :	Thank you for holding. The line's free now ... I'll put you through. I'll connect you now  / I'm connecting you now.
Giving negative information :	I'm afraid the line's engaged. Could you call back later? I'm afraid he's in a meeting at the moment. I'm sorry. He's out of the office today. / He isn't in at the moment. I'm afraid we don't have a Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss. ... here I'm sorry.  There's nobody here by that name. Sorry.  I think you've dialled the wrong number./ I'm afraid you've got the wrong number.
Telephone problems :	The line is very bad ...  Could you speak up please? Could you repeat that please? I'm afraid I can't hear you. Sorry. I didn't catch that.  Could you say it again please?
Leaving /Taking a message :	Can I leave / take a message? Would you like to leave a message? Could you give him/her a message? Could you ask him/her to call me back? Could you tell him/her that I called? Could you give me your name please? Could you spell that please? What's your number please?

3 Beach Idioms

Summer is arriving! It's time to hit (=go to) the beach! Do you recognise these three beach idioms?

Beach bum/bunny

A young man who is always on the beach is a beach bum. A beach bunny is often used for females.

He's turned into a real beach bum since he moved to California.

Life's a beach

When you are very happy because your life is going well, life's a beach. It has the opposite meaning of the more well-known idiom, life's a bitch which expresses the idea that things are difficult or going badly.

He got engaged and got promoted - life's a beach for him at the moment.

To not be the only pebble on the beach

We use not the only pebble on the beach to state someone is not the most important person in the group. It's often used when someone is sad because a relationship has ended. Plenty of other fish in the sea is also used.

I know you are sad because you miss her, but remember, she's not the only pebble on the beach.

Laura always expects to get her own way. It's time she learned that she's not the only pebble on the beach.

Collocation in English

As you learn English, it's very important to develop an understanding of words that are regularly used together. Words that go together are called collocations. Knowing them will make your English sound more natural.

Here are some collocations with the verb take.

Choose the best collocation in these sentences. If you make a mistake, don't worry. Just remember it and don't repeat it.

1) Who was that ___ man you were talking to?
handsome
pretty

2) Drive carefully, the road gets ___ soon.
thin
narrow

3) There are some ___ mountains outside the town.
low
short

4) I work in a ___ building.
tall
long

5) The company is hoping to ___ a profit this year.
make
take

6) They've ___ their decision.
changed
moved

7) ___ a photo of him.
Make
Take

8) What does he ___ for a living?
make
have
do

9) She got a ___ education in London.
well
good

10) Do I have time to take a ___ shower?
quick
fast

The answers 

1 = handsome, 2 = narrow, 3 = low, 4 = tall, 5 = make

6 = changed, 7 = take, 8 = do, 9 = good, 10 = quick

5 Heat Idioms

It's heating up (the weather is getting warmer) here in Spain.

Did you know that to heat up is also used to describe a situation that is becoming intense, or angry:

"The conversation started to heat up so I decided to leave."

Here are five other heat related expressions.

Take the heat

If you can take the heat you can take criticism and handle stressful situations.

"Don't worry, if the project fails and the boss gets angry, I'll take the heat for us."

A dead heat

A dead heat is when there is no single winner - two or more participants tie for first place.

"The horse race finished in a dead heat."

In the heat of the moment

When you do or say something in the heat of the moment, it is because you are too angry or excited to think properly.

"She was so angry that in the heat of the moment she threw her pen at me! She apologised and we laughed about it later."

The heat is on

When the heat is on, a situation is becoming more difficult and busy.

"There are only 5 more days until the election, so the heat is on."

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

If the pressure is too much for you, stop. It is used when someone is not good at dealing with stressful situations.

"Being President is a hard job and if you can't stand the heat, you should get out of the kitchen."

Expressions with Face

Straight Face

When your face shows no emotion, especially when you are trying not to laugh, you keep a straight face.

Don't laugh, try and keep a straight face or she will know you are joking.

His new hairstyle is so awful that I found it hard to keep a straight face.

Lose Face

When you lose face you feel you have lost the respect of others because of something you have done. You feel embarrassed when you lose face.

He didn't understand the lecture but he said he did because he did not want to lose face in front of his classmates.

He lost face when his much younger brother took the test and did better than him.

Long Face

You have a long face when you look sad.

What's happened to James? He has a long face this morning.

"Why the long face?" "I had some bad news."

Egg on your face

You have egg on your face when you get caught doing something wrong. It's an embarrassing situation.

The President had egg on his face after journalists found out he was lying.

The company has egg on its face after its new product turned out to be faulty.

Face it

You face it when you accept the truth, usually about something unpleasant.

Face it, unless we start making a profit soon we will go bankrupt.

I have to face up to the fact that I'm getting too old for nightclubs.

Today is April 22nd - Earth Day

Today's post celebrates Earth Day. Read the text and then do the short comprehension activity. Let's save the planet!

What do people do?
The April 22 Earth Day is usually celebrated with outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform acts of service to earth. Typical ways of observing Earth Day include planting trees, picking up roadside trash, conducting various programs for recycling and conservation, using recyclable containers for snacks and lunches. Some people are encouraged to sign petitions to governments, calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction.

Public Life
Earth Day is not a public holiday and public life, with regard to transport schedules and opening hours for schools and businesses, is not affected.

Background
The April 22nd Earth Day, founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, was first organized in 1970 to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution.

Symbols
Symbols used by people to describe Earth Day include: an image or drawing of planet earth; a tree, a flower or leaves depicting growth; or the recycling symbol. Colours used for Earth Day include natural colours such as green, brown or blue.

The “Earth Flag”, which was designed by John McConnell, has been described as a “flag for all people”. It features a two-sided dye printed image of the Earth from space on a dark blue field, made from recyclable, weather-resistant polyester.

Activity - Decide whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE

1. A lot of activities take place outside
2. Some people petition their government about ecological problems
3. The celebration of Earth Day began in the 1960s
4. The recycling symbol is not the only image used for Earth Day
5. The "Earth Flag" is made out of blue cotton

The answers

1. True
2. True
3. False. It began in 1970
4. True. 
5. False. It is made of recyclable weather-resistant polyester

Silent Letters in English

In English some words have silent letters. This means that how a word is pronounced and how it is spelt is different. We write the silent letter when we spell the word, but it is not heard when we speak.

Here are some examples. The red letter in each word is silent.

Silent B

The lift is broken, we'll have to climb the stairs.

A baby sheep is called a lamb.

Silent C

There's a strong scent of flowers in the garden.

The final scene in the movie was exciting.

Silent D

My English lesson is on Wednesday.

I had a sandwich for lunch.

Silent G

I've never been to a foreign country.

The dog gnawed on a big bone.

Silent H

You can hear your echo when you shout in the cave.

I can only play a few chords on the guitar.

Silent K

I don't know what to do next.

I hurt my knee playing football.

Silent N

Autumn is my favourite season.

My brother is a journalist, he writes a weekly column in the local newspaper.

Silent P

She's studying psychology in university.

Make sure you get a receipt when you buy your new shoes.

Silent T

Please listen to what I tell you.

We applied for a mortgage so we can buy a new home.

Silent U

Would you like a biscuit with your coffee?

Guess who I saw yesterday?

Silent W

I'll wrap her birthday presents tonight.

We were looking for you in the wrong room.

Feeling happy? Great! Learn some new expressions to tell the world!

How are you feeling today? I hope you are in a good mood. Here are seven idioms we use to show we are happy.

On cloud nine
Extremely happy when something wonderful happens.
She's been on cloud nine since she found out she is pregnant.

Like a dog with two tails
To look and be very happy.
Was he pleased? He was like a dog with two tails.

Full of the joys of spring
When you are energetic, cheerful and happy.
James must have had some good news, he's full of the joys of spring today.

To be happy as Larry
When you are as happy as Larry, you are, of course, very happy. But who is Larry? No one is certain but it is believed that 'Larry' refers to an Australian boxer called Larry Foley (1878 - 1917) who after receiving a large payment after winning a fight was described in a newspaper as being 'happy'. Somehow this description stuck and is now used all these years later.
My daughter was as happy as Larry with her birthday present.

On top of the world
You are on top of the world when you feel wonderful.
I've been feeling on top of the world since I started doing yoga every morning.

Over the moon
This idiom isn't used so much these days because it is considered a cliché (an overused, unoriginal expression), but it means to be delighted.
The team captain said he was over the moon with their win.

In seventh heaven
Bliss; to be so happy it feels like you are in heaven.
I was in seventh heaven when I landed my dream job.

In a dog eat dog world...it's important to speak English!

How many of you know the English expression raining cats and dogs, as in, 'I'm not going outside, it's raining cats and dogs'?

It means, and no one seems to know why, raining very heavily. The other strange thing to notice about this expression is the amount of English learners who know it. Perhaps it's because it's a fun, simple and easy phrase to remember?

As we recently posted some cat expressions, tooday we introduce you to some other expressions featuring the animal that makes up half that idiom - the dog.

Here are some well-known dog expressions.

 Dog-tired

Very tired.

He was dog-tired after working a double-shift.

She's said all nurses are dog-tired by the end of the day. It really is a tough job.

Dog-eat-dog

When a situation is dog-eat-dog, it's very competitive in a cruel and selfish way.

Working on Wall Street is dog-eat-dog.

Banking is a dog-eat-dog industry.

Let sleeping dogs lie

You let sleeping dogs lie when you choose to not talk about things which have caused problems in the past. It's also used to not try to change a situation because it might cause problems.

He never talks about his ex-wife and we never ask about her, it's better to let sleeping dogs lie.

Can we just let sleeping dogs lie? I don't want to discuss the matter any further?

Work like a dog

To work very hard.

She worked like a dog all day to finish the report before the deadline.

I worked like a dog all weekend painting my parents' house.

to be like a dog with a bone

This, mostly British expression, means to refuse to stop talking or thinking about something. To not give up.

When it comes to talking about politics, he's like a dog with a bone.

Don't get into a discussion with her about environmental issues - she's like a dog with a bone.

to be like a dog with two tails

To be very happy.

He was like a dog with two tails when his team won.

She'll be like a dog with two tails when she finds she's been promoted.

Some expressions for all you cool cats who love English!

There are many idiomatic expressions which take cats as their inspiration. Let's study a few today!

Fat cat
• A negative description of a rich and powerful person.
• Those fat cats in government don't care about the poor.

Cat got your tongue?
• Has the cat got your tongue? is an expression we say to people when we want them to speak but they don’t answer us.
• You’re very quiet Jenny. What's the matter, has the cat got your tongue?

Curiosity killed the cat
• Basically, being too curious can get you into trouble. It's used to warm someone they are asking too many questions.
• Simon: Stop asking questions about my private life! Curiosity killed the cat so mind your own business!

Not a cat in hell's chance
• When something or someone has no chance of being successful, it doesn't have a cat in hell's chance.
• We haven't got a cat in hell's chance of getting there before 5:30 with this traffic.

Look like something the cat dragged in
• When someone looks very untidy and messy, they look like something the cat dragged in.
• Go and shower and get changed before your granny gets here. You look like something the cat dragged in!

Let the cat out of the bag
• When you accidentally tell someone a secret, the cat is out of the bag.
• I tried to keep John’s surprise party a secret from him but Susan let the cat out the bag when he asked her what the cake was for!

British Pubs

British people love going to the pub. But what exactly is a pub? Well, a pub is like a bar – people go there to have a drink, to meet their friends or to play darts.

Pubs open at about 9 o’clock in the morning and they usually close at about eleven o’clock at night. You have to remember two very important things about pubs in Britain: you have to order your drinks at the bar because there is no table service (servicio de camareros en las mesas) and you have to pay for (pagar) your drinks when you order them! If you go with friends, everyone usually buys a round of drinks (ronda de bebidas). Of course, you don’t have to drink alcohol; you can also have non-alcoholic drinks.(bebida sin alcohol)

       

Here is a list of some of the things you can order in a pub.

Beer and whisky

There are lots of different kinds of beer; lager, bitter, mild or stout for example. And of course, there are many different kinds of whisky: Ballantines, Glenfiddich, Cardhu or Johnnie Walker, for example. Do you know of any other brands (marcas) of whisky?

Ordering drinks – beer and spirits

When you want a glass of beer, you can order a pint or half a pint.

 “Pint” – 1 pint = 0.568 litres

“Half pint” – 1/2 pint = 0.284 litres

         

In British pubs, when you buy spirits (bebidas alcohólicas) the barman gives you a very small amount of alcohol. He measures (mide) the amount of alcohol (0.0284 litres) that he puts in each glass. In Britain, the law (la ley) says that pubs have to do this. If you want a bigger drink, ask for a double – but remember you have to pay double as well.

Do you like whiskey? Yes? Well, then you probably know that you can drink whisky with or without ice If you want your whisky with ice, you can say “a whisky with ice, please”, or you can ask for “Scotch on the rocks, please” – they always use this expression in films!

You are now ready to survive (sobrevivir) in a British pub!

Food, glorious food...

Are you hungry? No? Good, because the subject in this post is  food!

Bread and butter

British people usually eat sliced bread. There are bakeries but people do not usually buy fresh bread. A sandwich in Britain usually contains butter or margarine.

Restaurant vocabulary

Some words are very specific, so it’s a good idea to learn exactly what they mean. For example, what is a menu? It’s a list of all the food you can order in a restaurant. But if you only want the two dishes and the dessert that the restaurant has prepared for the day, you have to  ask for the set meal. By the way, the two dishes that you eat before the dessert are called the first course and the second course.

And what is a plate? It isn’t part of a meal - it’s where you put your food! Which of these is hot food: crisps or chips?

When you go to a café, there are a number of things you can ask for. If you only want coffee, you ask for a black coffee. If you want coffee with some milk, you can ask for a small white coffee or a white coffee. Remember that white coffee is bigger than small white coffee.

If you want espresso-type coffee, you can also use the Italian names for these coffees. Some of the most popular are cappuccinos, café lattes and mochas.

       

National specialities

Here are some favourite types of British food:

Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding- Delicious for Sunday lunch!

Baked beans on toast- Cheap and easy to make!

Scotch eggs- Mmm! My favourite snack!

Fish and chips- Britain’s most popular takeaway!

Irish stew-Good for winter. Meat, potatoes, carrots and onions cooked in a thick soup.

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Shakespeare and The Tempest

 

Everyone knows who William Shakespeare is, he is England’s most famous playwright (escritor) and he is often called “The Bard”.Perhaps you have visited Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born, or The Globe Theatre in London, where they show Shakespearean plays such as The Tempest. The theatre has no roof and so all the plays are outdoor performances. (representaciones) If you decide to go, watch out: you can never trust the English weather! In the middle of the play, it might suddenly start raining! But don’t worry, the play won’t stop. The actors will continue and everyone will stay in their seats. At the end, everyone will be very wet, but it should be a memorable experience! You’ll be able to say that you have seen The Tempest in the middle of a real tempest.

The Tempest

Prospero is the Duke of Milan. After his brother, Antonio, betrays him (le traiciona), he leaves Milan and goes to live on an island with his young daughter, Miranda. Ariel, a spirit, and Caliban, the son of a witch (bruja) called Sycorax, live on the island too. Prospero is also a magician (mago) and one day, he starts a storm (tormenta) at sea. A ship is caught in the storm and the people on the ship go to the island. Who are these people? Antonio, Prospero’s brother, Alonzo, the King of Naples and his son, Ferdinand. Prospero plans to get revenge on Antonio and his friends. However, Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love and Miranda asks Prospero to let them live. Prospero agrees (está de acuerdo) and he helps them. Finally, they go back to Milan. Miranda marries Ferdinand, and Prospero is restored (es nombrado de nuevo) as the Duke of Milan. It’s a fabulous story, isn’t it?