Using English Expressions for Real Life: Stepping Stones to Fluency for Advanced ESL Learners

By Thomas Celentano

Now with Audio. English is full of expressions that convey slang meanings, sarcastic meanings, informal meanings, and many other meanings that are not immediately apparent by defining the single words in an expression. This book was written for the advanced ESL learner who wants to explore the next level of English proficiency: understanding how English native speakers communicate daily needs, feelings and desires using expressions.

This book is for all advanced English learners who want to improve their fluency in English: ESL and ESOL students, TOEIC and TOEFL students, Cambridge students, GED students and anyone wanting to improve their English proficiency by expanding their knowledge of how English speakers compile idioms and expressions in real-life conversation.

ATTENTION ALL ENGLISH LEARNERS: we have expanded this edition to include FREE AUDIO to accompany this book. ATTENTION ESL/ESOL INSTRUCTORS AND SCHOOLS: you can download the audio for this book. Contact us via our contact page on our website (foebooks.com).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Celentano
• Release date: Aug 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005637187

Thomas Celentano

Thomas Celentano has published seven books and multiple articles about English grammar for English students worldwide. His 810-page "The Big Book of English Grammar" is a culmination of his work. He is also the novelist behind R. Cameron Bryce's "When Pigs and Horses Fly" ("Under the Giant Mimosa") and "Killing Tony, Excerpts from My Diary." He has taught English as a second language for more than 20 years and has held directorships in various ESL schools over his career. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Hawaii, at Manoa, he holds degrees in foreign language studies and anthropology. An avid surfer, sailor and adventurer, he has spent years crisscrossing the South Pacific Ocean on his 8.3 meter sailboat, Carrie Ann, capturing, on film and in audio recordings, the sights and sounds of island communities there.

Book preview

Introduction

Louise Gibessi is our famous advice and gossip columnist from New York City who writes for our newspaper and our Internet blog called Dear Louise Gibessi.

People write to her from all over the world to ask her about personal problems and sometimes problems that they are having when they are using English in real life situations.

Louise Gibessi is famous because she is very up front* and tells it like it is.** She gives advice about romance, business, the workplace, traveling, education, and entertainment.

(*To be up front means to be completely honest with someone without hiding any facts.)

(** To tell it like it is (slang) means to be completely honest when telling someone something; to describe something to someone by simply telling the facts. Straight talk. Often used to express the reality of something. Often very frank, bordering on impolite.)

In this and following sections you will learn how native English speakers use various idioms and expressions correctly in real life situations.

Chapter 1

Correct usage of some common English expressions and idioms in travel situations

In this first chapter Louise Gibessi’s column deals with traveling.

Directions: Read and / or listen to Louise’s column and try to understand the general meaning. Don’t stress out* about every little thing.** After you have listened to the story, you will have a chance to hear the meanings of the idioms used in the story and some brief examples. After you’ve learned what everything means, then you will hear the story again. This time you will be up to snuff*** on the meanings of all of the idioms and other expressions in the story.

(* stress out = don’t worry)

(** every little thing = about every detail)

(*** up to snuff = you will know about or be up to date on)

Some common English expressions and idioms when talking about travel

Below we have reprinted one of Louise Gibessi’s recent columns about travel.

TRAVEL

Dear Louise Gibbesi,

I’m looking forward to my vacation, which is right around the corner¹. I have been thinking about traveling to an island far away in the South Pacific because I really need to get away from it all².

Therub³ is that my wife wants her mother to go along with us on this vacation and, frankly, I don’t want to open a can of worms⁴ by telling her that her mother is a pain in the butt⁵ and that I really wouldn’t enjoy my vacation with her in tow⁶. I can’t just come out and tell⁷ my wife that I don’t want her mother around because that would go over like a lead balloon⁸.

Louise, I’m chomping at the bit⁹ to fast track¹⁰ my South Pacific vacation plans. My job is really stressful and this kind of vacation would be a great way to chill out¹¹. Having my mother-in-law along would be stressful. How do I put it to¹² my wife that three’s a crowd¹³ on this vacation? Signed: Hogtied¹⁴ in Minnesota

Dear Hogtied¹⁴,

You’re getting all worked up over nothing¹⁵. Contain yourself¹⁶ and simply engage your brain¹⁷. Take a pill¹⁸ and then follow these steps. First, lay it all on the table¹⁹ so that your wife can really understand where you are coming from²⁰. Suggest to her that this vacation should be just for the two of you—a kind of romantic interlude²¹ or second honeymoon²². Second, make a pact²³ with your significant other²⁴ to the effect²⁵ that mother would be welcome on the next vacation, or the next extended family outing.

Now, stop making a mountain out of a molehill²⁶ and start making your vacation plans!

And, by the bye²⁷, try your hand at²⁸ learning how to hula when your down there. It’s a great way to relax!

1. Right around the corner: (idiom) When something is right around the corner that means that it will happen very soon.

Examples:

    My sister’s wedding is right around the corner and I still haven’t bought a dress for the occasion.

    Summer vacation is right around the corner and the students have already made their summer plans.

2. To get away from it all: (idiom) To escape from your normal, everyday life. To go somewhere where life is very different from what you experience in your daily life. To distance yourself from your normal daily life in such a way as to be pleasant and different from what you are normally used to.

Examples:

    My job is terrible, my wife is not happy because she wants a new house, and the kids are complaining because they want new video games. Right now, I just want to get away from it

Reviews for Using English Expressions for Real Life

[koffi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

J'ai adoré ce livre et vraiment appris de nouvelles expressions visant à améliorer mon vocabulaire. Franchement je recommande ce livre. C'est un outil innovant pour impressionner vos interlocuteurs.