ENGLISH SLANG AND COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSIONS FOR ESL LEARNERS

A description of the book:

Learning a language takes time and effort, especially if it is not your first language. Even if it is your mother tongue, you still need time and effort to master it because almost every language has its own slang and colloquial expressions, and the English language is no exception. 

Language is forever changing. What is currently acceptable or popular may be replaced by something else in years to come, and the use of slang is a strong testament to that. 

Slang is just an alternative way of saying something. It is sometimes hard to identify what is slang and what is not. Slang and colloquial expressions are often acceptable in informal writing because they are used in communication in movies, newspapers, radio, television, and other mass media. The more you learn, the more you will know when to use or not to use them in your formal writing. No matter what, knowing these common everyday expressions is a plus for all ESL learners.

A Sample from the Book:

Easy: indifferent.

e.g. "What do you think?" "I'm easy."

 

Easy on the eye: good looking.

e.g. I say, your girlfriend is easy on the eye.

 

Even Stephen: fair shares.

e.g. Now I should get my even Stephen: you owe me $500.

 

Ever so: extremely.

e.g. I had never seen him ever so hungry.

 

Excuse my French: pardon my bad language.

e.g. Ladies, please excuse my French; he really made me mad.

 Have a load on: very drunk.

e.g. He looked as if he had a load on.

 

Have someone by the short hair: have control over; have someone at a disadvantage.

e.g. Not having adequate preparation will let your opponent have you by the short hair.

 

Half-baked: silly.

e.g. Will you stop that half-baked behavior!

 

Half-baked: silly.

e.g. What do you take me for? A fool half-baked!

 

Half-inch: steal.

e.g. Where did you get it from? You didn't half-inch it, did you?

 

Hang out: reveal everything.

e.g. I want the truth, and nothing but the truth. Let it all hang out!

 

Hang out for: insist on.

e.g. I hang out for 100 percent warranty; otherwise, I'm not going to buy.

 

Hard at it: busy.

e.g. "Are you working on the project?" "You bet! I'm hard at it."

 

Hard nut to crack: a difficult person to deal with.

e.g. I tell you what: your brother is a real hard nut to crack, and that's why nobody likes him.

 

Hard stuff: whisky or any liquor.

"Would you like a Coke?" "I'd prefer some hard stuff."

  

ENGLISH SLANG AND COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSIONS FOR ESL LEARNERS