English Course

2011-2012
CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION

Warming up exercise: Lateral thinking

Euphemisms:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1720_uptodate4/page5.shtml
euphemisms
A euphemism is a polite word or expression that people use when they are talking about
something which they or other people may find unpleasant, upsetting or embarrassing. When
we use euphemisms we are protecting ourselves from the reality of what is said. There are
many euphemisms that refer to sex, bodily functions, war, death, etc. Euphemisms are
often good examples of idiomatic language use:

He passed away (i.e. died) after a long illness (i.e. cancer).

I decided to come out (i.e. admit to being homosexual). I didn't want to be outed
(i.e. allow others to let it be known that I am homosexual).

It's no good. I can't hold it in. I shall have to spend a penny (i.e. urinate).
We keep the adult (i.e pornographic) magazines on the top shelf and the adult videos
under the counter.

You know that we're in the middle of a rightsizing exercise (i.e. compulsory
redundancy programme). We have no alternative but to let you go (i.e. sack you).

Many of the outlying villages suffered collateral damage (i.e. civilian deaths).
Spend a penny derives from the days when there were door locks on the outside of cubicles
in public lavatories which could only be opened by inserting one old penny into the lock. This
was not just the pre-euro era. It was the pre-decimal era. The expression is still in frequent
use today.
Collateral damage is unintended damage and civilian casualities and deaths caused by the
dropping of bombs in the course of a military operation. The term is of US origin and was first
used to describe deaths in the Vietnam War, then in the Gulf War, then in the action
(euphemism!) in Serbia at the end of the 1990s and most recently in Afghanistan.

http://www.ihbristol.com/expressions/example/euphemisms/7
http://www.ihbristol.com/learn-online/useful-expressions/intermediate/euphemisms/94/
Have a look at the following euphemisms and see if you can explain them
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English Course

2011-2012

SENIOR CITIZEN

LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

ECONOMICAL WITH THE TRUTH

TIRED AND EMOTIONAL

PERSON WITH A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

SUBSTANCE ABUSER

The following sentences are very direct. Replace the parts in italics with euphemisms
He's fat and ugly
I'm going to vomit
She's a terrible cook
This work is very careless
Replace the euphemisms in the following sentences with more simple direct words or phrases
a/your representative was not entirely accurate in what he said
b/ the talks were not very fruitful
c/ he doesn't have a very good record of punctuality
d/ the state have an obligation to assist the less privileged members of the community
e/the estate agent says the house needs some attention
f/ your product is not of the highest quality
g/ we look forward to prompt settlement of your account
h/ mr. West has shown insufficient effort in the execution of his duties
i/ I'm afraid Mrs. Wild passed away last night
j/ we had to have our dog put to sleep
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/specials/2011/04/110426_press_freedom_quiz.s
html

Underground English School

C/ Pompeu Fabra 5,2,1 17100 la Bisbal d'Empord

undergroundlabisbal@gmail.com

English Course

2011-2012

Noun pairs and verb pairs

Here are some common idiomatic pairs in English: peace and quiet, body and soul, life and limb,
grin and bear it, bow and scrape, rant and rave
It's impossible to get any peace and quiet in this house with you two arguing all the time.
She puts body and soul into her work with the girl guides. She is an inspired leader.
You'll risk life and limb if you decide to go white-water rafting after such heavy rainfall.
I know this hotel isn't very good, but all the better accommodation is taken, so we'll just
have to grin and bear it.
I've asked him politely already. Surely he doesn't want me to bow and scrape.
He was ranting and raving about the price of everything in Britain. Why doesn't he go and live
abroad, if he's unhappy?
peace and quiet = a period of quiet and calm, often with: have/get/enjoy some
body and soul = physical and mental energy, as in: put body and soul into
life and limb = risk death or serious injury, as in: risk life and limb
grin and bear it = put up with something unpleasant because it cannot be changed
bow and scrape = show too much respect to someone
rant and rave = protest or complain in a loud and excited manner

Adverbial pairs and adjectival pairs

Here are some examples: here and there, now and again, first and foremost, short and sweet,
safe and sound, sick and tired
I could see a number of houses scattered here and there over the hillside.
How often do you see her now? ~ Every now and again. Not as regularly as I used to.
Why don't you get a job that pays more? ~ First and foremost because I really enjoy the job I'm
doing.
I'll try and keep this short and sweet. I know you don't want to stay here longer than you need to.
Oh, I'm so glad to have you back home safe and sound. I was beginning to get worried about you.
I'm sick and tired of hearing your excuses. It's about time you did an honest day's work.
here and there: to or in several places
now and again: occasionally
first and foremost: most importantly
short and sweet: not too complicated, as in a speech, often with keep/make it
safe and sound: not harmed at all
sick and tired: extremely annoyed with someone, often with of hearing/listening

Identical / prepositional pairs

Here are some examples: on and on, again and again, round and round, up and down, little by
Underground English School

C/ Pompeu Fabra 5,2,1 17100 la Bisbal d'Empord

undergroundlabisbal@gmail.com

English Course

2011-2012

little, all in all

You needn't go on and on about needing a holiday. I know we haven't had a break for over a year
now.
I've told you again and again to stop swearing in front of the children, but you take no notice.
We're not making any progress by arguing like this. We're just going round and round in circles.
My head's beginning to go round and round.
How are you getting on now? ~ Oh, up and down, as usual. I have good days and bad days.
Little by little his heath improved and he was able to walk further and further each day.
All in all, it was a successful holiday in spite of some scary moments.
on and on: without pausing or stopping, usually with go
again and again: repeatedly
round and round: moving in circles or spinning, usually with go
little by little: gradually or slowly
all in all: taking everything into consideration
leaps and bounds
Leaps and bounds, Yvette, is really a prepositional idiom as it is always prefaced by the
prepositions by or in. If you do something by leaps and bounds, then you are making rapid or
spectacular progress:
I feel that my English is coming on in leaps and bounds now that I can understand idioms.

Underground English School

C/ Pompeu Fabra 5,2,1 17100 la Bisbal d'Empord

undergroundlabisbal@gmail.com

English Course

2011-2012

Slang
Slang consists of very informal expressions or words which normally feature in speech rather
than writing and are used by people who know each other well or who have the same jobs,
backgrounds or interests. They often relate to sex, drink, drugs, relationships, social groups,
etc. They are often fairly strong in emotive terms and may sometimes be found offensive to
people outside the group. Have a look at some of the slang expressions on our Talk Lingo
pages. Here are some more expressions:

It may be big bucks to you, but it's chickenfeed to me.

So, who came to this knees-up, then?
My ex was absolutely bonkers.

We'll have to get some booze in for tonight.

Big bucks denotes a large amount of money (bucks are dollars), chickenfeed is small change. Knees-up = party,
my ex = former boyfriend or girlfriend. Absolutely bonkers is very crazy or unpredictable. Booze is alcohol, just as
a boozer is a pub or someone who drinks a lot of alcohol.

If you are exposed to slang expressions in your learning of English, it is important for you to
understand their meaning and the emotive force behind them. It may be less appropriate for
you to use them if you are not part of that group. In fact, it may sound strange and
inappropriate if you do so. Also slang changes very quickly.

Replace the slang words with more formal equivalents.

I know there'll be plenty of nosh but do we need to take booze to the party?
Can you lend me some dosh till tomorrow?
I'm dying for cuppa. I haven't had one since breakfast
Someone's pinched my brolly and it's coming down in buckets. Tough luck!
The new secretary's a dead loss. She thinks she's the cat's whiskers but in fact she's a bit dim
I was absolutely gobsmacked when she told me she was leaving

Now do the same with the following dialogues:

-Someone's walked off with my specs!
-Don't be daft!You've got them in your hand.
-Oh yes, I'm going bonkers! (nuts, mental, getting crazy, mad, sick, bananas)

Underground English School

C/ Pompeu Fabra 5,2,1 17100 la Bisbal d'Empord

undergroundlabisbal@gmail.com

English Course

2011-2012

-Lend us a few quid. I'm broke!

-Here's a fiver
-Smashing. Ta.
Match the statements on the left with the responses on the right.
How was the party?

Let's take him home

He's getting legless

It's in a drawer, over there

Where's the dough?

Wicked!

Where's her hubby?

Let's go for a run in the motor

What'll we do tomorrow?

He's in the nick

A common way of making slangs is by using short forms or loosely pronounced forms of ordinary
words. Can you work out the meanings of the following words?
Let's have brekkie

he's a brickie

let's have a barbie

Listening: Cultural Misunderstandings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_N1Cmt_QB0

Underground English School

C/ Pompeu Fabra 5,2,1 17100 la Bisbal d'Empord

undergroundlabisbal@gmail.com

English Course

Underground English School

2011-2012

C/ Pompeu Fabra 5,2,1 17100 la Bisbal d'Empord

undergroundlabisbal@gmail.com

English Course

Underground English School

2011-2012

C/ Pompeu Fabra 5,2,1 17100 la Bisbal d'Empord

undergroundlabisbal@gmail.com