Eddie Sensei

Today, we are looking at another new phrase…

It seems to be catching on: is a trend that is slow to pick up, but as more and more interest is generated, more people begin to like the trend and ‘catch on’.

Example 1:

• I didn’t think that Okiraku Official Guide would be very popular, but it seems to be catching on.

Example 2:

• In the world of marketing when people say about a product – “it seems to be catching on” – they mean that the product sales started slowly, but then suddenly the product starts to sell very well.

Homework:

• Tell the world about products in Japan, that seem to be catching on. Please do share your ideas in the comments below.

Important Note: Learning English phrases at The Queen’s English School – it seems to be catching on!

Today, we have an interesting phrase for you…

On a wild goose chase: A purposeless errand, a waste of time, or a pointless exercise.

Example:

• My wife sent me on a wild goose chase to get a newspaper, when we already had one. I think she just wanted me out the house, so she could wrap up my birthday present.

Homework:

• Share with people any time you have been sent on, or sent someone on a wild goose chase.

Note: The Queen’s English School will teach you all of the important English phrases and won’t send you on a wild goose chase.

Today’s phrase is a little surprising…

It was a real eye opener: When you are surprised at some news about something or someone. When you learn new knowledge that surprises you.

Example:

• Two ladies are standing in a street, one turns to the other and says ‘Did you know about that girl at number 20? She burnt all her boyfriend’s clothes.’

• ‘Yes’, replied the other woman ‘well he was cheating on her’.

• ‘I didn’t know that at the time’ replied the other woman ‘it was a real eye opener‘. I just thought they just had a major arguement, or he smelt, or something!’

Homework:

• Look out for things in the books and newspapers you read, where someone finds out something that gives them a bit of a surprise.

• Or perhaps, there is something that has happened in your own life that made you think it was a real eye opener. Please do share your stories in the comments below.

Important Note: The Queen’s English School can teach you many, many English phrases. So many, that you will exclaim it was a real eye opener!

It’s Saturday and tonight we are going to paint the town red!

To paint the town red means to go out on a spree, or a binge. To indulge in excessiveness.

Example:

• I’ve stayed in for the past two weeks. Now I’m going to paint the town red and have a really good time.

Homework:

• Tell us about the times when you have painted the town red. Or what you plan to do to paint the town red.

Note: The Queen’s English School will teach you all of the important English phrases.

Today, we are getting a little bit nostalgic….

It takes me back is when you remember something, like a memory and travel back there in your mind.

Example:

• It takes me back when I remember the time when we were children and we used fly kites. OH, it takes me back .

Homework:

• Take some time to sit down and think about the things that you used to do as a child, that make you think ‘it takes me back‘. This phrase is used to describe happy memorys.

Important Note: The Queen’s English School teaches you what phrases like it takes me back actually mean and how to use them.

Today, we are going to look at how to use the English phrase to hold the fort.

To hold the fort means to take care of, look after something, or to run things for a while.

Example 1:

• My boss had to go to a meeting yesterday, and he asked me to hold the fort for a while. I thought it would be easy, but it was hard work.

Homework:

• Write down the times in your life, when someone has given you the responsibility of holding down the fort. It could be looking after a house, or just looking after someone’s children for 20 minutes. So let us know the times you’ve had to hold the fort.

Note: The Queen’s English School teaches you the English phrases, you need to know.

Today, we are going to look at ‘the bottom line’.

The bottom line means no more chances, that’s it the end, the straw that broke the camels back and the last chance saloon.

Sorry, people you may wonder what those last two phrases are all about, but their exact meanings will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Example:

• My dearest wife, I can do no more, I’ve tried to fix that chair you keep asking me to fix, but this is the bottom line. I’ve had enough, it’s going on the fire.

Homework:

• Try to work out what the additional phrases in the description of the bottom line mean. Pop in to leave a comment and tell us what you think they mean. We will tell you what they are in due course. Oops there’s another phrase or two to learn, I just can’t help it.

Important Note: The Queen’s English School teaches you what phrases like the bottom line actually mean.

Today, we are going to look at what someone means, when they say ‘an advertisement caught my eye’.

An advertisement caught my eye means that you have seen an advertisement that stands out to you and grabs your attention.

Example:

• I was walking down the street the other day and an advertisement caught my eye. It was for a really nice coat, which I just had to have, so I bought it.

Homework:

• Share with other people, in the comments below – an advertisement that caught your eye so much, that you ended up buying what it was advertising.

Important Note: The Queen’s English School teaches you what phrases like an advertisement caught my eye actually mean.

Today, we are going to look at what a blonde moment is…

A blonde moment is when you act a bit stupid, or do something stupid.

Example 1:

• I got up the other day, but instead of putting some bread in the toaster, I put a plate! I had what you would call a blonde moment.

Homework:

• Think of and let us know, in the comments below, about any blonde moments you have had. If you cannot think about a blonde moment of your own – tell us about something one of your friends did, instead.

Note: The Queen’s English School teaches you how to not have a blonde moment, with English phrases.

Today, we are going to look at what it means when we say ‘He’s got his head screwed on’.

He’s got his head screwed on is to be sensible and not make any irrational decisions.

Example:

• Back in 1912, one man did not believe that the Titanic could not sink and refused to buy a ticket. Later, someone said ‘He’s got his head screwed on, I’d listen to him, he was right about that ship’.

Homework:

• Look at some of the recent decisions you have made. Would people say ‘He’s got his head screwed on‘ about you?

Important Note: The Queen’s English School is place to go to learn phrases like this one.