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!

Hello Everyone, here’s Mini Lesson No. 11

As all get out / From the get go/ From jump street

A. As all get out = From an imaginary reference point of an extreme, either good or bad.  This phrase comes after making a statement about something you want to place emphasis on. For example, consider these statements:

1. “I have been studying all week long and I’m tired “as all get out!”“

2. “I am frustrated “as all get out” trying to find my lost ring! It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!”

3. “Trying to get accepted to this college is hard “as all get out!”

Origin/background of the phrase:

This phrase doesn’t make any logical sense and I couldn’t determine it’s origin. You’re likely to hear it in conversational English when someone is expressing something to another individual. A native speaker would be surprised to hear a non-native using this phrase.

B. From the get go = This phrase is simply referring to the beginning of something. It’s used as a reference point alerting the other person concerning the subject of the conversation. Here are some examples:

1. “We knew the money should not have been spent “from the get go!”

2. “From the get go,” we had our doubts about the plan being successful.

3. I thought “from the get go” this class was going to be difficult.

Origin/background of the phrase:

This is a slang word that has evolved into more common usage. It makes more sense compared to the previous phrase because it has the word “get” which is to obtain and “go” which is to move towards, combined it could mean “obtain a moving,” stretching the phrase into “from a beginning.”  As is the case with slang and other phrases, it doesn’t have to have a logical meaning, someone could just make it up, start using it, and before you know it, it’s part of the everyday language.

C. From jump street = From the beginning or start of something, slang. It’s very similar to “from the get go, ” here are some examples:

1. I knew you weren’t going to finish the project “from jump street!”

2. ““From jump street” I knew you would have difficulty repaying the loan!”

3. “I had confidence in you “from jump street!””

Origin/background of the phrase:

This is a slang phrase and usually (but not always) used in a negative type of statement. In other words, when someone is referring to the beginning of something, they’re using sarcasm to express their feelings.

The logic of jump means a start from standing still and street probably was just thrown in to make it sound good. No rules, just whatever sounds good at the time.

Slang could be some formal English teacher’s worst nightmare, I’m just explaining what’s up!

Well, there you have it, the phrases for Mini Lesson No. 12 are:

A Catch 22 / In a nutshell / You know what

These next three phrases are very commonly used everyday, you have to know them or you’re lost, lost, lost in the conversation. I’m here to guide you through and break the boredom that can be from learning English.

By the way, while I’m thinking about it, it would be greatly beneficial to you in your study of English if you spend time learning pre-fixes and suffixes. Then, you would not have to be totally dependent on a dictionary, because you would be able to discover the meaning from the pre-fix or suffix which is the beginning or ending of some words. Here is a list of pre-fixes and suffixes and some example words. 

PREFIXES

Prefix
   
Meaning beginning    

Examples

a-, an-
not, without

amoral, anesthetic, apolitical, asocial

ab-
 
away from
   

abduction, abstain, abnormal

ad-
   
to, toward
   
adjoin, adjacent (lying near to)

ambi-
 
both
 
ambidextrous, ambivalent

ana-
   
up, back, again
   
analogy, anatomy, anagram

anti-
   
against
   
antipathy, antiwar, antisocial

apo-
   
from, away from
   
apology, apologize

auto-
   
self
   
autobiography, automobile, autocracy, automaton

bene-
   
good
   
benediction benevolent benefactor

cata-, cat-
   
down, against
   
catastrophe-a turning down

centro, centri
   
around, center
   
concentric, centrifugal

circum-
   
around
   
circumlocution circumference, circumvent

com-
   
with, together
   
communal, community

con-
   
with, together
   
connect, confide conspire

contra-
   
against
   
contradict, contravene

de-
 
down, away
   
descend, deject (cast down)

dia-, di-
   
through, across
 
diameter, division

dis-
   
apart, not
   
disengage, discord, discomfort

dys-
   
ill, difficult, bad
   
dysfunctional, dysentery

e-
   
out of, from
   
elect (choose out of), eject (throw out)

ecto-
   
on the outside
   
ectoderm-outer skin

en, em-
   
in
   
empathy-feeling in

endo
   
within, inside
  
endoscope-instrument for observing inside

epi
   
upon
   
epitaph epidermis, epicenter

eso-
   
inward, within
   
esoteric-more inward, esophagus

eu
   
well, good
   
euthanasia-good death

ex
   
out of, from
   
exhume, exhale, exodus

hetero-
   
other, different
   
heterosexual, heterodoxy, heterodox heterogeneous

homo-
   
same
   
homosexual, homogeneous, homogenized

hyper-
   
over
   
hypertension, hypersensitive, hyperactivity

hypo-
   
under
   
hypotension, hypodermic

il-
   
not
   
illegitimate, illicit, illegal, illegible

im-
   
not
   
imperfect, impolite, impossible

im-
   
into
   
imbibe (drink in, take in)

in-
   
not
   
indiscreet, invisible

in-
   
into
   
incorporate (take into the body)

inter-
   
between
   
intervene (come between), interstate

intra-
   
within
   
intrastate, intramural

ir-
   
not
   
irregular, irrational, irredeemable

macro-
   
large
   
macrocosm, macroeconomics

mal, male-
   
bad, evil
   
malediction malevolent, malnutrition

meta-
   
beyond
   
metaphysical

micro-
   
small
   
microscope, microcosm, microeconomics

mono-
   
one, single
   
monologue, monotheism, monarchy, monogamy

neo-
   
new, recent
   
neologism, neo-liberal, neonatology. neolithic

ob-
   
against
   
object, obstruct (build against)

palin-, pali-
   
back, again
   
palindrome

pan-
   
all, every
   
pantheism, Pan-Hellenic, panorama, pandemic

para-
   
false
   
paramilitary, paralegal, parachute

per-
   
through
   
percolate (flow through) perforate (punch through)

peri-
   
around
   
perimeter, periscope

phil-, philo-
   
like, lover of
   
philosophy, Francophile, bibliophile, philanthropy

poly-
   
many, several
   
polygon, polygamy, polytechnic, polytheism

post-
   
after
   
postgraduate, posthumous postpone

pre-
   
before
   
precede, predict (tell before)

pro-
   
for, forward
   
promote, project

pros-
   
toward, in front
   
prospect—view in front, something coming up

proto-
   
first
   
prototype, protoplasm, protobiology

pseudo
   
false
   
pseudonym, pseudoscience

re-
   
again, back
   
repeat, recede, regress (step back)

retro-
   
back
   
retrogression, retroactive

se-
   
away from
   
seduce (lead away), secede

sub-
   
under
   
submarine, subject, subhuman subterranean

sur-, super-
   
over, above
   
superhuman, superego, superintend, surpass

syn-, sym-, syl-, sys-
   
with, together
   
symphony, synonym, system, syllable

tele-
   
distant, far off
   
telephone, telepathy, television, telegram

trans-
   
across
   
transient, Transatlantic, transport (carry across)

SUFFIXES

Suffix Definition: after    

Example

agog, -agogue
   
leader
   
demagogue, pedagogue

-cide
   
kill(ing)
   
patricide, infanticide, herbicide. suicide

-ectomy
   
cutting
   
appendectomy, splenectomy

-ia, -y
   
act, state
   
amnesia, mania, democracy, anarchy

-ic, -tic, -ical, -ac
   
having to do with
   
anthropomorphic, dramatic, biblical, cardiac

-ics
   
things having to do with
   
optics, physics

-isk, -iscus
   
small
   
asterisk-a little star

-ism
   
the belief in
   
pacifism, terrorism, socialism, communism

-ist
   
one who believes in
   
pacifist, terrorist, socialist, communist

-ite
   
one connected with
   
meteorite, polite, cosmopolite

-logy
   
study field of
   
biology, geology, etymology, cardiology

-oid
   
resembling, like-shaped
   
asteroid, spheroid

-or, -er
   
one who takes part in
   
doctor, actor, teacher, driver

-phobia
   
exaggerated fear
   
photophobia, claustrophobia, agoraphobia

-sis
   
act, state, condition of
   
analysis

Until next time!

hello sir,

  thank you for the lesson..its  really new for me    sir 

Welcome Late-word and Aswathi to the forum, continue with us and you'll take your understanding of authentic American English to a higher level. Thanks for your comments, I'm working on Mini Lesson No. 12 now.

Hello again after a long break :) Here are my sentences:

"I've been checking out as all get out for German courses."

"From the get go,you shouldn't have been  walked in that icy street!"

"From jump street,I knew that you won't be able to take care of the all pets!!"

Here are the sentences for previous phrases:

"She is swimming since her childhood,she's a great swimmer,hands down!"

"The company's reputation was great to buy but after buying,everyone got the real value of it.Because it was just a blowing smoke!"

"I understand that being under expectations of your boss is makes you feel terrible but get over it and do your best!" 

Thanks very much, Sir.

Thanks Meyra and others for your patience, you're welcome Daisy, we always appreciate you!

I'm going to rewrite Meyra's sentences to give everyone an accurate usage of the phrases (by her permission).

1. "I've been looking as all get out for German courses!"

2. "From the get go you shouldn't have walked on that icy street!"

3. "I knew you wouldn't be able to care for all the pets from jump street!"

4. "She's been swimming since her childhood, now she's a great swimmer, hands down!"

5. "The company seemingly had a great reputation, however, after the purchase, we found out they were just blowing smoke!"

6. "I understand you don't meet your boss' expectation, but get over it and do your best!"

Meyra, you put very good effort into constructing these sentences and did a very good job!  

I'll try to get lesson no. 12 done sometime this week. Thanks!

I made so much mistakes with grammar and using phrases..It seems I got a very long way to go in English..Thanks teacher!

Meyra and Others,

This is all part of the learning process, we assess where we are and work to where we want to be.  No one great in anything got there without first making mistakes!  Any professional English teacher who read my writing will find mistakes.  With the proper perspective, anyone will arrive at higher levels, the weak will quit!  Carry on!

Wonderful lesson! I've never seen anywhere else before. Thank you so much indeed.

Fukuda-san I thank you for your feedback from a beginners perspective and will keep this in mind when I'm composing the lessons.  Exposure to unfamiliar material is the first step to learning.

Thanks Ken52 for your comment, if you continue to follow the mini lessons you will take your English to the next level!