執筆者 Modern English | 2013年05月16日 | Trivia
May Day is a holiday, but “Mayday!” is a distress call. If your boat or plane is in serious trouble and you need help, you can say “Mayday!” on the radio. Why does “Mayday” mean “I need help”? It actually comes from a French phrase meaning “help me”! If you are really...
執筆者 Modern English | 2013年05月15日 | Idioms
“Tama won’t take her medicine!” “Don’t worry. I have an ace up my sleeve.” “Cheese? What will you do with that?” “Hide the pill inside. She loves cheese!” An ace up your sleeve is a last-resort solution that is sure to work. It comes from cheating at card games. An...
執筆者 Modern English | 2013年05月14日 | Words
Aunt: I guess you’re too young to know the Beatles. Niece: Actually, I love the Beatles! “Actually” has a similar meaning to “really” or “in truth”. We often use it to introduce an unexpected fact. It can help correct a wrong assumption. “I don’t suppose you know this...
執筆者 Modern English | 2013年05月13日 | Pictures
Wildflowers are flowers that grow on their own. Nobody plants them or waters them. They are wild. 野花は勝手に咲く花です。誰が植えたわけでもなく、誰も水をやりません。野生の花です。
執筆者 Modern English | 2013年05月11日 | Phrases
“In my opinion, this is the worst movie ever.” “Well, I loved it.” An opinion is what one person thinks. Another person can have a different opinion, and neither one is wrong. A fact is right even if someone doesn’t believe it, but everyone gets to decide their own...
