Many students who think that their English is good, when they go abroad (such as the United States), they will find that the English they learned at home is completely bad there. Their habitual expressions, which we have no contact with at home at all; the oral expressions we learn at home, it seems that they do not use, such as:
In the United States, two people say goodbye to each other without saying goodbye and say have a nice day; want to go to the toilet, not say I would like to go to the toilet, but My nature calls.
Today I've put together 10 very common "little words" for you, and you probably don't know how they are used in American colloquialism.
01 thing
The first impression of the word in our minds is: something, thing; but you may not know that in American English, the word can also be used like this:
① I notice he has a thing for you.
I noticed that he seemed to be interested in you.
*The thing here means "the kind of thing that likes a person".
② Being funny is Chandler's thing and Ross's thing is getting divorced.
Chandler's specialty is funny; Rose's specialty is divorce.
*This sentence comes from the American drama "Friends". Here thing can be understood as "someone's most significant trait", that is, to make others think of things that you can relate to.
02 buy
We are familiar with this word, which means "buy".
However, in American, it can also mean "believe (some statement)", such as:
① She said she couldn’t attend my party because she had to prepare for an exam, but I don’t buy it.
She said she couldn't attend my party because she had to prepare for an exam, so I didn't believe it.
② I don’t buy his story.
I didn't believe his lies.
*Both of the above bugs indicate "believing".
03 good
Physiologically, gut represents the intestines in the human body.
But in American colloquialism, the word is used in a variety of ways, at least two ways, one for "intuition" and the other for "courage" or "guts."
① When you lose your head, just follow your gut.
When you're at a loss, follow your instincts.
② -He is such a bastard, and I just want to give him a punch.
-Oh, come on~ You don’t have the gut.
- He's such an asshole and really wants to punch him.
- Forget it, you don't have the guts.
* Chinese "guts" originally grew on the "intestines" of Americans.
04 though
As soon as they saw this word, many students with good grammar had the following reaction:
It is a conjunction that guides the concession clause, meaning "although", equivalent to "although", "even though", and is generally used at the beginning of sentences, such as Though he was very angry, he didn't show it. ）”
But in American English, the word is often used as an adverb, placed at the end of a sentence, to table a kind of inflection relationship, see example:
① -Do you need some water?
-No, I’m OK. Thank you though.
-Want to drink water?
- No, thank you.
*In the context above, though is used at the end of the thank you, meaning "still though".
Two more examples:
② Our team lost. It was a good game though.
Our team lost, but the game was still exciting.
③ The house isn't very nice. I like the garden though.
The house is not too nice, but I still like its yard.
05 good
This should be one of the first few English words we learned.
But it also has a lot of "hidden" features you didn't know about, see:
① -Do you feel like watching the movie?
-I'm good.
-Want to see that movie?
- Still not.
*good can even mean "polite refusal"!
Look again:
② -Would you care for some tea?
-No, I'm good.
-Want to have some tea?
- It's okay, no.
06 use
use means "use"; in American, it means "need".
① I am so tired. I can really use some rest.
I was so tired I really needed some rest.
② I bring you a bottle of wine. I think you may use it sometime.
I bring you a bottle of red wine. I think you might need it sometimes.
07 work
Commonly used to mean "work", in the American language also often means "run, run, work", see:
① I don’t know how the system works.
I don't know how this system works.
② We tried a new method and it worked!
We tried a new method and it worked!
08 shoot
The word shoot, our first reflection is "shooting", but it has a richer usage in the everyday colloquial language of Americans:
① Just shoot me a message on WeChat.
Send me a message on WeChat.
*In this scenario, shoot is more colloquial than send.
② -I have a question for you.
-Shoot.
- Have a question for you.
-Please say.
*In this context, shoot is similar to "go ahead".
③ Shoot for the moon!
This is an idiom in American English, which means "set a lofty goal", from the famous American priest, orator, and writer Norman Vincent Peale, whose original words are: Shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.
09 touch
We are all familiar with the word, which means "touch," but today I'm going to teach you another use of touch, which means "little," especially in this phrase, very authentic: a touch of, which you can translate to: a touch
① Add a touch of greenness to your home, and you will feel good.
Add a touch of green to your home and you'll feel good.
② There is a touch of tension in the air.
There was a hint of tension.
Isn't that a stunning expression??
10 figure
Many people see the word and think of what it means – "person", for example: Churchill is an important historical figure. (Churchill was an important historical figure.) ）
But figure is often used as a verb in American, for "think," "think," "conjecture"; if think has been used by you, then figure is a good alternative.
Consider an example:
I figure she doesn’t want to be bothered, so I might as well leave her alone.
I guess she didn't want to be disturbed, so I might as well leave her alone.