執筆者 Modern English | 2017年01月20日 | Phrases
“The accident sparked a debate about the current safety measures.” A spark can start a fire. (Perhaps you’ve seen someone start a fire by striking two pieces of flint together to make a spark.) In this phrase, something starts not a fire but a debate. We talk about...
執筆者 Modern English | 2017年01月13日 | Phrases
“I realized I had left my keys inside. Then I felt a raindrop. The sky was gray and cloudy. I said to myself, this is going to get worse before it gets better.” This phrase can be heard when a bad situation appears to be getting worse. However, it also includes hope...
執筆者 Modern English | 2017年01月06日 | Phrases
“I had my vacation planned out, but some problems cropped up at the last minute.” To “crop up” is to appear without warning. This phrase is often used with problems or difficulties, but other things can crop up, too: “Protests against environmentally unfriendly policy...
執筆者 Modern English | 2016年12月17日 | Phrases
“I’ll stop at the store for milk on the way home.” “Can you stop at school on the way to work and get my homework for today?” “The train bound for Osaka stops at Kyoto.” This is a useful phrase when you go somewhere for a short time on the way to somewhere else....
執筆者 Modern English | 2016年12月10日 | Phrases
“Rub the sunscreen into your skin.” “Rub it in” means to rub a liquid onto a surface until it is absorbed. But we often use this phrase to mean drawing attention to someone’s failure. “You failed the math test?” “Yes.” “After you studied all night? Your...
執筆者 Modern English | 2016年12月03日 | Phrases
“After the baby alligators hatch, they must fend for themselves.” Mother alligators watch over their eggs until they hatch, but don’t take care of the baby alligators after that. The babies must fend for themselves. This means to take care of oneself without...
