Today we will learn about family phrasal verbs.
Do you know some useful phrasal verbs to talk about family?

Let’s start.

1. Get together.
   Meaning: to meet in order to discuss something or to spend time together.
   E.g. “All the members of the family get together once a year.”
2. Take after.
   Meaning: to look or behave like an older member of your family.
   E.g. “Your daughter doesn’t take after you at all.”
3. Put up with.
   Meaning: tolerate or accept someone with unpleasant behaviour.
   E.g. “His wife must have been a saint to put up with him all those years.”
4. Get along with.
   Meaning: to have a friendly relationship with someone.
   E.g. “I don’t really get along with my sister’s husband.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, May 10, 2010.

Today we will learn about other ways to say ‘tired.’
Do you know some substitutes of ‘tired?

Let’s start.

1. Debilitated.
   Meaning: in a severely weakened state.
   E.g
   “This treatment will debilitate her for several weeks.”
2. Enervated.
   Meaning: feel drained of energy or vitality.
   E.g.
   “Getting locked in the small room for a long time enervated her to the point of collapsing.”
3. Bushed.
   Meaning: extremely tired, exhausted.
   E.g.
   “That project completely bushed him.”
4. Knackered
   Meaning: to be thoroughly exhausted or worn out.
   E.g.
   “I was knackered at the end of the competition.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, March 29, 2020.

Today we will learn about other ways to say ‘dirty.’
Do you know some substitutes of ‘dirty’?

Let’s start.

1. Cruddy.
   Meaning: dirty, unpleasant, or of low quality.
   E.g
   “The seller gave my brother-in-law a really cruddy bag.”
2. Mucky.
   Meaning: dirty and messy; covered with or consisting of dirt or filth.
   E.g.
   “The tables in the restaurant are mucky because fewer employees work in the weekend.”
3. Unkempt.
   Meaning: having an untidy or disheveled appereance.
   E.g.
   “He woke up late so he went to work unkempt.”
4. Scuzzy.
   Meaning: dirty, shabby, or foul in condition or character.
   E.g.
   “We went to his scuzzy room in the apartment.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Today we will learn about job idioms.
Do you know some idioms about job?

Let’s start.

1. Move up in the world.
   Meaning: to become more successful; have more money or better social position.
   E.g. “My boss moved up in the world after that big project.”
2. Off the hook.
   Meaning: no longer in trouble; have escaped from difficult situation.
   E.g. “The servant was so miserable so my aunty let her off the hook.”
3. Burn the candle at both ends.
   Meaning: working long hours without rest; working late into the night and beginning again early in the morning.
   E.g. “You can’t burn the candle at both ends forever. You have to enjoy life.”
4. Learn the ropes.
   Meaning: learn how to do a particular job or task.
   E.g. “They must learn the ropes before they start the community service “

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, April 26, 2020.

Today we will learn about other ways to say ‘stink.’
Do you know the synonyms of ‘stink’?

Let’s start.

1. Stench.
   Meaning: a strong and very unpleasant smell.
   E.g.
   “The stench of the rotten meat rose into the air.”
2. Effluvium.
   Meaning: a smelly gas, vapor, or an exhalation.
   E.g.
   “The effluvium from the experiment made the student cover their nose.”
3. Miasma.
   Meaning: a highly unpleasant or unhealthy vapor rising from the ground or other source.
   E.g.
   “Miasma from the polution hung in the air above the city.”
4. Fetor.
   Meaning: a strong offensive smell.
   E.g.
   “The mixture aromatic herbs burning became a fetor with healthful fragrance.”
5. Mephitis
   Meaning: a noxious or foul-smelling gas or vapour.
   E.g.
   “The mephitis permeated the air and spread to the whole room.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, February 2, 2020.

Today we will learn about other ways to say ‘clumsy.’
Do you know the synonyms of ‘clumsy’?

Let’s start.

1. Gawky.
   Meaning: nervously awkward and ungainly.
   E.g. “Her metamorphosis from a gawky teenager to a mature young woman happened so quickly.”
2. Cloddish.
   Meaning: foolish, awkward, or clumsy.
   E.g. “However fashionable his clothes, he always looks cloddish.”
3. Inept.
   Meaning: having or showing no skill; clumsy.
   E.g. “My brother is quite inept at sports.”
4. Maladroit
   Meaning: awkward in movement or unskilled in behaviour or action.
   E.g. “The maladroit driver almost caused an accident.”
5. Bungling.
   Meaning: to do something wrong by many clumsy mistakes, in a careless or stupid way.
   E.g. “If he keeps bungling, he will lose the job.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, February 20, 2020.

Today we will learn about other ways to say ‘rude.’
Do you know the synonyms of ‘rude’?

Let’s start.

1. Churlish.
   Meaning: rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
   E.g. “It would be churlish to refuse such a generous offer.”
2. Derogatory
   Meaning: showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
   E.g. “I didn’t like the way he made derogatory comments about his classmate.”
3. Curt.
   Meaning: rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner.
   E.g. “His tone was curt and unfriendly.”
4. Crass.
   Meaning: behaving in a stupid and offensive way without considering how other people might feel.
   E.g. “My aunt made crass comments about my worn-out clothes.”
5. Impertinent
   Meaning: rude and not showing respect, especially towards someone older or in a higher position than you
   E.g. “The new employee is an impertinent young woman.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, March 1, 2020.

Today we will learn more about transport idioms.
Do you know other idioms related to transport?

Let’s start.

1. At a fork in the road.
   Meaning: a time when you have to make a difficult decision about something important.
   E.g. “I came at a fork in the road after my graduation.”
2. Backseat driver.
   Meaning: someone who gives unwanted advice, unnecessarily criticizes, or lectures another person who is doing something.
   E.g. ” My aunt is a backsat driver. She needs to stop interfering the family discussion.”
3. Clear the decks.
   Meaning: finish up less important tasks so that a more important project can start.”
   E.g. “I’m trying to clear the decks before Chinese Newyear.”
4. Asleep at the wheel.
   Meaning: not paying attention to important things; failing to attend to one’s responsibilities or duties.
   E.g. “The charity party is cancelled because the event organizer was asleep at the wheel.”
5. All hands on deck.
   Meaning: everyone is needed to help in a particular situation.
   E.g. “We need all hands on deck to make this event possible.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, January 19, 2020.

Today we will learn more about transport idioms.
Do you know other idioms related to transport?

Let’s start.

1. Jump the track.
   Meaning: suddenly switch from one thought or activity to another.
   E.g. “We have to postpone the meeting because our boss jumped the track.”
2. Train wreck.
   Meaning: something that fails completely or goes extremely badly.
   E.g. “Her life hit the train wreck after she dropped out of school.”
3. Fly high.
   Meaning: having a great extent; at high point or high rank in one’s career.
   E.g. “My colleague flew high after getting the promotion.”
4. Fifth wheel.
   Meaning: someone who has no real place or purpose in a situation.
   E.g. “I’m tired of being trated like the fifth wheel.”
5. Sail through.
   Meaning: to move or proceed through in an easy, quick, and smooth way.
   E.g. “My brother sailed through the agreement and got the deal.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, January 6, 2020.

Today we will learn about transport idioms.
Do you know some idioms related to transport?

Let’s start.

1. Hit the road.
   Meaning: to leave a place or begin a journey.
   E.g. “We packed up and hit the road so we will be there before the show.”
2. Run a tight ship.
   Meaning: to be very strict, managing an organization in an orderly and disciplined manner.
   E.g. “She ran a tight ship and won the competition in a perfect score.”
3. Go off the rails.
   Meaning: to start behaving in a way that is not generally acceptable, especially dishonestly or illegally.
   E.g. “My brother went off the rail in middle school so my parents put him in the school dorm.”
4. Bump in the road.
   Meaning: something that delays a process or prevents it from developing, relatively a minor one.
   E.g. “My friend and his divorced parents’ relationship has hit another bump in the road.”
5. Rock the boat.
   Meaning: to say or do something that will upset people or cause problems.
   E.g. “Don’t rock the boat. The negotiation is on process to achieve an agreement.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, December 22, 2019.

Continue reading #IOTW: Idioms about Transport →

Today we will learn about sleep phrasal verbs.
Do you know some phrasal verbs with the word ‘sleep’?

Let’s start.
1. Sleep on it.
Meaning: delay making a decision until the following day, so you can think more about it.
E.g. “I can’t decide. Let me sleep on it, I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
2. Sleep in.
Meaning: remain asleep or in bed until later than usual in the morning.
E.g. “I usually sleep in at the weekends.”
3. Sleep through.
Meaning: to remain sleeping although there is a lot of noise around you.
E.g. “Please wake me up if I sleep through the alarm.”
4. Sleep over.
Meaning: to sleep in someone else’s home for a night.
E.g. “Don’t drive this late. You can sleep over in the big room upstairs.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, December 9, 2019.

Do you know some idioms about skills?
Today we will learn about idioms related to skills.

Some idioms about skills:
1. Lose one’s touch.
Meaning: no longer be able to do or handle something as well as you could before.
E.g. “My boss just got the deal. He’s not losing his touch.”

1. Bag of Tricks.
   Meaning: a set of skills, items of information, or other resources used to help achieve professional or personal goals.
   E.g. “The whole bag of tricks works like a charm. I got the job.”

2. Beat Someone To The Draw.
   Meaning: to accomplish or obtain something quicker than someone else.
   E.g. “The defender beat my brother to the draw and stole the ball away.”

3. Drop the Ball.
   Meaning: to make a mistake or fail, often because of carelessness or inattention.
   E.g. “My manager dropped the ball so we couldn’t get the agreement.”

4. Find One’s Voice.
   Meaning: to manage to say something after being too nervous to talk, often because of fear or surprise or difficult circumstances.
   E.g. “My aunt revealed the thief’s description after she found her voice.”

5. Green as Grass.
   Meaning: completely inexperienced or naive.
   E.g. “When my sister left school and started her first job, she was as green as grass.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, November 24, 2019.

Hello, fellas! How was your weekend?

Today we will learn more idioms about friendship.
Do you know some idioms about friendship?
#IOTW

Let’s start.
1. Like two peas in a pod.
Meaning: very similar.
E.g. “My brother and his best friend were like two peas in a pod.”
#IOTW

1. To bury the hatchet.
   Meaning: to end a conflict and become friendly.
   E.g. “My father and my mother agreed to bury the hatchet after years of arguing.”
   #IOTW

2. To hit it off.
   Meaning: find yourself immidately and naturally friendly with someone.
   E.g. “My cousin met his friend at school and hit it off right away.”
   #IOTW

3. Joined at the hip.
   Meaning: refers to friends who are always seen together.
   E.g. “My sister and her best friend are not joined at the hip. They have their own personal lives and spaces.”
   #IOTW

4. To see eye to eye with someone.
   Meaning: agree with someone.
   E.g. “I don’t always see eye to eye with my mother.”
   #IOTW

5. To build bridges.
   Meaning: to promote friendly relations between people or groups.
   E.g. “The cafe owner should build bridges with next door butcher.”
   #IOTW

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, November 10, 2019.

Today we will learn about other ways to say ‘problem.’
Do you know the synonyms of ‘problem’?

Let’s start.
Some synonyms of ‘problems’:
1. Quandary
Meaning: a state of uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
Example:
“My friend was in a quandary about which job to accept.”
#EngVocab

Some synonyms of ‘problems’:
2. Plight.
Meaning: an unfavourable or unfortunate condition.
Example:
“I had great sympathy for his plight.”
#EngVocab

Some synonyms of ‘problems’:
3. Vexation.
Meaning: something that causes annoyance, frustration, or worry.
Example:
“My brother was facing a vexation at work.”
#EngVocab

Some synonyms of ‘problems’:
4. Muddle.
Meaning: a disordered or confusing state.
Example:
“My company got into an awful muddle with the tax forms.”
#EngVocab

Some synonyms of ‘problems’:
5. Hitch.
Meaning: a temporary interruption or problem.
Example:
“The ceremony went off without a hitch.”
#EngVocab

Some synonyms of ‘problems’:
6. Snag
Meaning: an unexpected or hidden obstacle.
Example:
“I take every snag in my way as a stepping stone.”
#EngVocab

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, October 27, 2019.

Do you know some cat idioms?

Here’s some cat idioms for you.
1. (Like) herding cats.
Meaning: difficult to coordinate.
Example: “She is like herding cats. We can’t cooperate with her.”

1. A cat nap.
   Meaning: a short sleep during the day.
   Example: “It’s good to have a cat nap after the hard work.”

2. Bell the cat.
   Meaning: take on a difficult or impossible task.
   Example: “My brother got a rise after he belled the cat.”

3. Cat on a hot tin roof.
   Meaning: be extremely nervous.
   Example: “The trainee looks like a cat on a hot tin roof while waiting for the result of her internship application.”

4. Cat’s paw.
   Meaning: a person being used by someone else.
   Example: “My friend treats his brother as a cat’s paw to get out of the problem.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, October 13, 2019.

Today we will learn about ‘trouvaille’.
Do you know the meaning of the word ‘trouvaille’?

‘Trouvaille’ is a noun.
‘Trouvaille’ is pronounced as /trüˈvī/.
#WOTD

‘Trouvaille’ means a valuable discovery, or a lucky find.
#WOTD

Some synonims of ‘trouvaille’:
1. Collectible.
2. Valuable.
3. Showpiece.
4. Catch.
5. Godsend.
#WOTD

Examples of ‘trouvaille’ in sentences:
“After searching for a while, we found a trouvaille in the library.”
#WOTD

Examples of ‘trouvaille’ in sentences:
“The vase is a trouvaille, made from unique pattern glass.”
#WOTD

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, September 29, 2019.

Today we will learn about other ways to say ‘angry’.
Do you know some synonyms of ‘angry’?

Let’s start.

• Irate: being extremely angry.

E.g. “We have received some irate phone calls from customers.”

• Vexed: annoyed, frustrated, or worried.

E.g. “It vexed me to think of others gossiping behind my back.”

• Indignant: feeling or showing anger because of something that is wrong or not fair.

E.g. “My aunt was indignant after the false accusations.”

• Aggrieved: unhappy and angry because of unfair treatment.

E.g. “My brother felt aggrievex at not being chosen for the team.”

• Incensed: greatly enraged.

E.g. “The worker was incensed at the company decision to reduce yearly bonus.”

• Waspish: readily expressing anger or irritation.

E.g. “The customer sounded waspish and impatient.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, September 15, 2019.

Today we will learn about phrasal verbs with ‘beat’.
Do you know any phrasal verbs with ‘beat’?

Let’s start.

• Beat to.

Meaning: to do something before someone else.
Example: “My company wants to release the same idea but another company has beat us to it.”

• Beat out.

Meaning: to defeat or finished before the competitor.
Example: “The new leader beat out the rival company leader and won the contract.”

• Beat up.

Meaning: to blame or critisize yourself or someone else.
Example: “Don’t beat up yourself up. You need to let it go.”

• Beat down.

Meaning: to force someone to accept a lower price than what they wanted.
Example: “You need to beat down the seller to the price that suits you.”

• Beat off.

Meaning: to stop someone or something from succeeding.
Example: “The small shop beat off the supermarket in selling the accesories.”

Compiled and written by @sherlydarmali for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, July 21, 2019.