Phrase of the Week: Make Do

執筆者 | 2016年05月28日 | Phrases

“I can’t afford a new dress for the party, so I’ll make do with the clothes I have.” “I didn’t have all my equipment, so I had to make do.” When we don’t really have everything we need to do something properly, sometimes...

Phrase of the Week: This Won’t Do

執筆者 | 2016年05月21日 | Phrases

“Oh dear, your clothes are all dirty. This won’t do. Come get changed before the party.” “This won’t do. The milk has expired. I can’t cook with this.” When something has gone wrong or isn’t good enough, we say it “won’t do”. 「あら、服が汚れてしまっている。これではダメね。パーティーの前に着替えましょう。」...

Phrase of the Week: At Stake

執筆者 | 2016年05月14日 | Phrases

“You can’t give up. Lives are at stake here!” “She must be very nervous. The outcome of the game is at stake!”   What is at stake, or the stakes, are what will be decided by the outcome of an event. If the stakes are high, the match, battle or other event is...

Phrase of the Week: It’s Too Late

執筆者 | 2016年04月23日 | Phrases

“I left as soon as class ended, but I was too late. They were already sold out.” “Oh no, it’s starting to rain. I had better get the laundry in before it’s too late!” “Too late” usually means that something bad has...

Phrase of the Week: It’s My Pleasure

執筆者 | 2016年04月16日 | Phrases

“Thank you for your help.” “It’s my pleasure.” “It’s my pleasure” or “It was my pleasure” is a different way to say “you’re welcome”. Use it to tell someone you are or were happy to help, so it wasn’t an inconvenience—in fact, it was a pleasure. 「手伝ってくれてありがとう」...

Phrase of the Week: No Problem

執筆者 | 2016年04月09日 | Phrases

“Thanks for lending me a pencil for the test.” “No problem! I brought extra.” Use “no problem” instead of “you’re welcome” in casual conversations to show that helping the other person did not inconvenience you at all. 「試験に鉛筆を貸してくれてありがとう。」 「問題ない。余分持ってきたから。」...