Archive for 'Culture'
The Many Ways to Say, “Let’s Eat!” in English Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 16, 2021
When it’s time to eat, what do you say? Letting family, friends, roommates, and anyone else know that a meal is ready may be one of the most common things we do every day. Granted, many of us eat alone. But, assuming that you want to share a meal with someone, that announcement is pretty…
All About the Penny Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 12, 2021
The penny is the lowest valued unit of U.S. currency, one cent, equaling one one-hundredth of the U.S. dollar. It is also the subject of many idioms and phrases, some memorable songs, and a long-standing debate about its future. Some hate it, many ignore it, but the penny is as much a part of American…
English Words in the News: Infrastructure Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 29, 2021
Money, lots of money, has been approved by lawmakers in the United States to improve the country’s infrastructure. The plan calls for $1 trillion to be spent on many neglected necessities across the country. Yes, that’s trillion, with a T. That’s a 1 followed by twelve zeroes. In Europe, they would call that amount, “One…
The Great American Coupon Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 22, 2021
Few things are as American as the coupon. They are a marketing tool used to promote a product by offering discount savings, and they have existed for over 130 years. The first coupon offered a free Coca-Cola in 1888. By 1913, more than 8.5 million of those coupons had been honored. One hundred years later…
Watching Television in English Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 15, 2021
This morning I tried to watch television, but it wouldn’t turn on. I was using one of several remotes (or, as some people call them, clickers), the one that I use exclusively to start my television. Nothing. I was facing a blank screen. This was not a good start to my day. Fortunately, I eventually…
Other Ways to See Posted by carol on Jun 30, 2021
Hi, there, dear readers! How’s it going? The other day I was with a student in his company’s conference room. When the lesson was over, I noticed he was too busy to walk me to the door. So I decided to say, “Don’t worry about it, I’ll see myself out”. His puzzled look made me…
The Many Problems with Tomatoes Posted by Gary Locke on Jun 24, 2021
There are several problems with tomatoes. I don’t mean that growing them is a problem (although they are susceptible to blights, worms, and pests of all kinds.) Rather, pronouncing, spelling, and even defining tomatoes in English are among the most irksome and debatable issues in our language. Songs have been written about this. The Supreme…