Understanding American English Phrases

Greetings everyone!  It is my pleasure to return to writing mini lessons on understanding American English phrases.

For those of you who have been following my mini-lessons, I want to apologize to you (especially to those who wrote comments) for my mistake in deleting the posts.  If anyone wants a copy of the last 9 mini-lessons, please send me an email with “Request Mini Lessons” on the subject line and I’ll send you a copy.

We left off on the following phrases:

Hand-over-fist / Between a rock and a hard place / Back in the day

Since I’m starting over, this will be Mini Lesson No. 1, so “on with the show!”

1. Hand-over-fist 

This phrase is used primarily when describing someone/something that is earning money in a fast profitable manner.  Please study the following examples:

1. Henry and his brother Jack had an idea to sell flavored bottle water to people on the island, and they were making money “hand over fist” in their  business endeavor!

2.  Money lenders can make money “hand-over-fist” by charging various transaction fees.

3.  You can make money “hand over fist” if you supply goods to a market with strong demand and no competition.

Background of the phrase:  The origin of this phrase appears to be nautical from sailors who would reel in rope by placing a hand on the rope and pulling and then placing and pulling with the other hand, thereby, using a hand-over-hand motion until the rope was completely in. This phrase is commonly used in everyday American English by someone who wants to quickly convey the message of somebody making money fast, there may be some sarcasm in their tone of voice.  The other person may reply, “yes and they were laughing all the way to the bank!” (phrase for another lesson, try to understand the context)

2.  Between a rock and a hard place

 This phrase indicates that a person is in an unfavorable position of having to make a decision which has choices that are undesirable.  In literal terms, it would express the thought of something caught between a rock and something else hard.  Whatever the hard place is, the result is the same, that is, entrapment.  Consider the examples:

1. Sally says to her mother: “Mom, I have 2 important tests to take for my final examination in school and I only have time to study for 1 of them, I’m really stuck “between a rock and a hard place,” help!”

Mom to Sally: Sally, why did you wait so late to study, you should have allowed yourself enough time!”  Sally to Mom: “Mom, that’s water under the bridge!” (another lesson, understand by the context)

2. The company’s policy was never to eliminate personnel due to financial reasons, however, the economy is so bad that they may have to go out of business unless they can reduce the budget.  Therefore, the company is “between a rock and a hard place” not to eliminate employees.

3. My parents are not in good health and need my help, however, I must work to be able to support them.  I am “between a rock and a hard place” to decide what to do?  

You can understand from the examples above that being “between a rock and a hard place” means having to make a difficult decision with either decision not being desirable.

Background of the phrase:  From Greek mythology of Odyssey.  This phrase is used commonly in everyday English.

3. Back in the day

This is a relatively new phrase that is being used to describe something that happened in the past.

1. “Back in the day” before computers, we relied on writing letters or sending telegrams instead of simply sending an email! 

2. “Back in the day” in high school, chess was a very popular game to play!

3. “Back in the day” during the 1950’s and 1960’s, love song lyrics were very romantic!

You can see from the use of this phrase that it is referring to something that happened during a time in the past that the speaker is causing the listener to refer to.

Background of the phrase:  This is a slang phrase that came from American urban life which has made it’s way into mainstream American English.  It’s used in informal conversation by young and old.

Well, it’s good to be back, thanks for all of the emails and friend requests I’ve received.  Some of you are really serious about learning English and I’ll do my best to help you understand authentic American English. 

Here is my suggestion for you to learn English: Read, Write, Speak and think in English!

Until the next time!

Oh its good to read such a lovely story  book from  you, you are really a perfect english teacher as well, infarct in my future i will let you teach my childrens  english and more, but am encouraging people in  USA to forcus on this story  for Mr.englishteacher24/7 so that he  can have  strenth,boldness,encouragement to increas and go ahead of establishing his book, wisshing you good luck Akos 

I will always and everyday read this messages from  englishteacher24/7  because  he have a good talent which can help someof us to prove our english languages, so  i will like to read more  comment about englishteaher24/7

Thanks Pinkbutterfly, Ayyi, Jayyy, and Akos for your feedback. The next lesson is coming; the phrase: "as all get out" is probably the most challenging one for me to explain, but I'm satisfied with the explanation.  Be on the lookout for mini lesson no. 11 coming soon!  

By the way, it has come to my attention from another teacher that some of his students are afraid to write. As I thought about this, it may be a reason why many of the readers of this forum do not write.  Therefore, I'm preparing to write a post in the English Forum of this website on: "The Power of Fear" specifically relating to writing and it's disabling effect on learning another language, but is applicable to life in general.  Look for it there soon!

thank you teacher!

Thank you so much:-)

Hello Sir

It is really nice to read such sweet story book from  you, you are really a perfect english teacher as well, in fact you are a good teacher! I will always and everyday read this messages from  englishteacher24/7  because you have a good talent which can help some of us to prove our English languages, so  i will like to read more  comment about englishteaher24/7.I’m so happy to have a teacher in this English baby,I hope u will never bored to teach me sir,please help me to understand about all tenses,Hope you will do.Thank you so much for making the list of prepositions as well as tense(s) and just grammar period.Also, thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to voluntarily do this! May the good Lord guide you in all your ways.

Thank you

Dear Sir,

Sorry I am always late for your lessons. I'm afraid I have to do some make-up study on the phrases…

It is a good idea to start the blog You Are There! which can help us know more about US.

P.S.  Could I ask you a question? Some proper nouns in English are driving me nuts, such as the names of People and Places. I can't find them in a dictionary. Do you native speakers have the solutions?

Thanks for what you are doing for your students!

as  i  see  here  is  this  page  ,  all  showing  their  love  and  respect  to you  sir  .  it  dose  not  compliment  ,  it  is  true that  you  have  talent  to  learn  all  of  us real  American English .

thank  you  so  much  sir       

Thanks Tashannie, DaeNg, Abdulrahim Sofo, Daisy, and Weah44 for your comments.

In regards to Daisy's concern for Proper Nouns, it could be rendered, Proper Names since it's the specific name of a noun that is being mentioned.  For example, city is a noun (person, place, or thing), Los Angeles is a proper noun because it's the name of a city. A good dictionary would have locations but may not have famous people, an encyclopaedia would have that.

Concerning the blog "You Are There!" that Daisy mentioned, it's something I was considering writing on if there was enough interest, here is the link:

  http://www.englishbaby.com/blog/englishteacher24_7/view_entry/56992

Also, the book wasn't released on December 1, 2010, I hope I can finish it before the end of this month, stay tuned!