Tutorials are fast becoming a lucrative way to make a living, especially as online courses become the norm for non-native English speakers who want to learn the language. And a huge part of becoming skilled in English is knowing its various nuances and idioms. Let’s look at some common expressions in the language, why we say them, and when.
Cut me some slack
This expression doesn’t literally mean to give another a new pair of pants. Its origin refers to the opposite of “taut,” meaning to offer more room for movement. The expression simply means to permit someone to do something that is not usually allowed.
A piece of cake
Both native and non-native students of English should know that this term originated in the 1870s, when cakes were common giveaways in competitions. The premise here is that cakes are easy to make. In time, the expression began to connote something easy to accomplish.
A fresh pair of eyes
An idiom that means bringing in another person to examine something. The idea is to gain a new perspective or a less-biased one on something that a person close to the project might overlook or take for granted.
Beat around the bush
This idiom, which means to avoid giving a direct or definite answer or explanation, comes from hunting. During the medieval times, men are hired by hunters to just beat areas surrounding bushes to lure out game that may be hiding in them.
Educator and school administrator Chris Bugbee left public education this year to establish the CT Homeschool Center. For similar reads on homeschooling, visit this blog.
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