執筆者 Modern English | 2016年06月23日 | Trivia
“Deus ex Machina” isn’t really English; it’s Latin! But we use it in English to describe stories in which a powerful force solves the protagonist’s problems. It means “god from the machine” and comes from Greek plays where a machine was used to allow an actor to play...
執筆者 Modern English | 2016年06月22日 | Idioms
“My daughter said she wants to be President of the USA.” “Oh, my daughter said she wants to be an accountant. She’s always been very down to earth.” Something that’s “down to earth” is practical and not fanciful. It’s often good to have someone with big dreams, and...
執筆者 Modern English | 2016年06月21日 | Words
“Cats lick their front paws and use them to wash their faces.” “The dog’s paws slipped on the ice.” Animals like cats and dogs don’t have hands and feet—they have paws instead. The fleshy lumps on the bottoms of their paws are called paw pads. Some animals,...
執筆者 Modern English | 2016年06月20日 | Pictures
Gargoyles were made to drain rain water from the rooves of buildings. The water flows out of the gargoyle’s mouth. Some gargoyles are just decorations. They look like scary monsters in order to frighten away evil spirits. ...
執筆者 Modern English | 2016年06月18日 | Phrases
“Well, we’re never shopping here again. That’s for sure.” “Are you coming to my party tomorrow?” “For sure!” If something is “for sure”, it means there is no doubt. It’s definitely true! 「もう二度とこの店に来ない！絶対に！」 「明日のパーティーに来る？」 「もちろん！」 「For...
