Idioms are very commonly used in the English language but may not be easily understood by non-native English speakers. I created this topic as a place to share and explain idioms.
I'll be posting common, useful and interesting idiom that I feel are relevant and popular. I encourage others to post idioms, as well. If you have questions about an idiom you've heard, this would be a good place to get answers from myself and other mixi members.
-------------------------------------------- Please use the following format for posting idioms:
(1) "The idiom goes here in quotes"
(2) Explanation
(3) ex: Example sentence using the idiom. --------------------------------------------
Thanks for your contribution.
As you know, British and American idioms can be quite different.
The idiom "taking a piss" means something completely different to Americans!
I take your point. What about the following example? Would it be OK? Well, it's taken from The Mirror.
BURNLEY winger Wade Elliott plans to be a party pooper by beating hometown team Southampton and keeping the Clarets in the top six.
- "Burnley v Southampton, 3pm" by The Mirror (London, England)
"carte blanche" (From French, meaning "blank paper")
complete freedom or authority to act
e.g. The singer was given carte blanche to do his own performance on stage.
I've the impression that British people often use French (or Latin) words intact in the conversation. It is of course natural historically and geographically.
We Japanese say "KY" (pronounced as it is) to mean a party pooper.
"KY" is an abbreviation for "Kuki wo Yomenai 空気を読めない” (adjective), i.e. "cannot sense the atmosphere; cannot read the situation," and you can use the expression as a noun like 「○○さんってKYだよね」 (○○ is a KY, isn't s/he?) When you say "KY" to someone directly, it becomes an imperative form to mean "Sense the atmosphere!" which sounds scornful and offensive.
For more information, please visit the following dictionary site: http://kotobank.jp/word/KY
The party pooper example works. I would imagine that at the time it was written Southampton were in a higher position in the league, in which case the, opposing team winning would certainly ruin the party.
Also, although in some cases KY is kind of similar to party pooper, for the most part its really different.
Someone who is KY often puts their foot in their mouth (haha another idiom), makes people uncomfortable by asking too many questions when its inappropriate (or simply inappropriate questions).
My friend is really KY. If a girl recently broke up with her boyfriend and seemed upset, it's probably better not to talk about it anymore or ask why, but he would ask. That's KY, but it's not party pooping.
To understand Party Pooper a bit better, it's probably better to think of another idiom "wet blanket".
If there is a small fire, one way to put it out would be to put a wet blanket on it. Now if you think that someone is the blanket, and the nice time you are having is the fire, that person is the type who can ruin the party.
It's not quite the same as party pooper, but much more similar than KY. Not that KY is even English to begin with..
Wow! Impressed! Many thanks for your detailed explanation. All right. It's clear to me now that a party pooper isn't so close to KY. I'm taking good notes. φ(。。 )
>Brian
Cay we say "a ju-yen a dozen" instead of "a dime a dozen" while in Japan? :-P I think I can find more 10 yen coins than 1 yen coins in my purse.
The expression "cost an arm and a leg" reminds me of a famous scene of "The Merchant of Venice" by Shakespeare. You know, Shylock the moneylender will take a pound of Antonio's flesh if Antonio is unable to repay the loan at the specified date.
The expression "read between the lines" is used quite often when a teacher tries to help students interpret the meaning of a book in the literature class, for example.
[Cay we say "a ju-yen a dozen" instead of "a dime a dozen" while in Japan?]
I think that's a good idea. Let's start that idiom in Japan!
[The expression "cost an arm and a leg" reminds me of...]
I didn't see the movie, but if Antonio doesn't pay back the loan, it brings a whole new meaning to "cost an arm and a leg"...
[The expression "read between the lines" is used quite often...]
This idiom is very common and popular in America. Your comment is very good!
To tell you the truth, I hate that guy! 実際に、彼奴嫌いだ! To tell you the truth is kind of similar to one of the uses of "Actually", that use being the one where it is used to show the difference between what someone thinks and what is actually true. For example: "You guys are best friends, right?" "Actually, I hardly know him".
I suppose the difference is that "To tell you the truth" is more likely to be used when something has been done to make someone think a certain thing (I was very friendly to the guy, so you thought that). "Actually" would be used when there is little or no reason for the assumption (I greeted him normally).