執筆者 Modern English | 2014年01月11日 | Phrases
“Hello. This is Bob Johnson. I’m not in right now, so please leave a message after the beep.” This phrase is a common way to end the recorded message played by an answering machine. Another common phrase is, “Please leave your name and number,” because with that...
執筆者 Modern English | 2013年12月21日 | Phrases
What’s the difference between “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Christmas”? Both are Christmas greetings. “Merry Christmas” is the only way to wish someone a good Christmas in the U.S. “Happy Christmas” is used alongside “Merry Christmas” in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
執筆者 Modern English | 2013年12月14日 | Phrases
Label on a package: “Do not open until Xmas” This label appears on a package containing a Christmas gift. In writing, we often see “Xmas” instead of “Christmas”. X looks like the first letter in the word “Christ” when written in Greek, so it is an old abbreviation of...
執筆者 Modern English | 2013年12月07日 | Phrases
“All I want for Christmas is a pony!” “All I want is for you to be happy.” “All I want” or “the only thing I want” is something I’ll be satisfied if I get, but dissatisfied if I don’t. In other words, it’s the most important thing to me. This phrase appears in the...
執筆者 Modern English | 2013年11月30日 | Phrases
“That movie was terrible.” “You can say that again! It was the worst I’ve ever seen!” We say, “You can say that again!” when we agree strongly with something. It is so true, you could say it twice! There is no need to actually say it again, except as a joke....
執筆者 Modern English | 2013年11月16日 | Phrases
“Don’t take my advice then! See if I care!” “Fine! I won’t!” “Fine!” “Fine” usually has a positive meaning, but it is also used in frustration when arguing. When we say “fine” angrily, we usually are not fine with it at all! 「じゃあ、私のアドバイスなんか無視するんだね!もう知らない!」...