Tag Archives: English expressions

I’ll take a stab at it is another way of saying I’ll give it a go.

You will also hear “I’ll have a stab at it” (British English).

Stab means to thrust a knife into something (or someone). Stabbing your steak won’t send you to jail, but stabbing your neighbor will.

Why do we use the word stab, which has such violent connotations, to mean try?

Some have suggested it might be related to a stab in the dark, which means a complete guess.

Whatever the origin, it’s a useful English expression. Check out the examples below and see if you can incorporate this into your active vocabulary.

I’d never tried water skiing before, but I had a stab at it while I was in Greece.

I’ll take a stab at the answer, but I really don’t know.

I’m terrible at arts and crafts but I’ll take a stab at it if that’s what we’re doing today.

This week’s extraordinary weather is bringing people out in droves: hordes of people have spent the weekend relaxing under the sun in one of Utrecht’s parks. This much sun is a rare occurrence in the Netherlands, so we all take full advantage of it when it’s here.

Since the sun is what everyone will be talking about this week, you’ll have plenty of occasion to use beautiful English expressions with sun, like your place in the sun.

A place in the sun can mean, depending on the context:

1. a moment you can shine or get recognition

That TED talk was incredible! The speaker really deserves her place in the sun.

2. a position that gives you what you’ve always been looking for

Robert has got a new job as a game designer. He loves it! He’s finally found his place in the sun.

3. a good or lucky position

Under him, the rupee could actually find its place in the sun as one of the strongest emerging currencies in the world. (Business Week)

Other collocations with sun:

bask in the sun

soak up the sun / catch some rays

stay out of the sun

artsy-fartsy (arty-farty in British English)

So popular it’s even on a t-shirt–if you aren’t using this expression you’re missing out! Just pronouncing it makes me smile, so naturally I think it’s high time that artsy fartsy makes its way to our little froggy land.

Caution: Don’t use this around your true artist friends if you don’t want to offend them.

Give it a go is a fabulous expression, used to encourage someone to make an effort or attempt something or to say that you are going to try something. It is frequently used in the context of something you have never tried before or are hesitant about trying.

This expression implies that you should try (give) something (it) just once (a go) to find out if you like it or can do it.

You’re not artistic? You should still try making pottery–you may just end up liking it! Go on, give it a go!

Why don’t you give it a go and see if you like it.

-Want to learn Chinese?
-Well, I’ll give it a go!

It’s high time to write about another beautiful expression that you can start using to make your English sound more natural.

I can attest to the fact that you hear “it’s high time…” a lot in the South! It’s a casual expression that you can use to impress the natives with your ability to speak English as they speak it. As you might have guessed, “high time” originally refers to noon (“high noon“–perhaps you recognize this phrase from Western movies?).

Examples:

• It was high time she forgot about men and worked on bolstering her independent spirit with a return to California.
• Then it’s high time we put it away once and for all.
• I can’t see that stuff without thinking it’s high time someone did something.
• We thought it was high time to give you some vital info on this trend among men.

So, what does this expression mean?

It means: “It should have happened a long time ago.”

or

“This thing is long overdue.”

Related articles

• Expert: “High time we took N. Korea more seriously” (voicerussia.com)

Today is my birthday, hoera! How we talk about and celebrate birthdays can differ quite widely it seems.  What do you say to a birthday boy or girl?

Don’t say “Congratulations!” when your English-speaking friend has a birthday, say “Happy Birthday!” Reserve “Congratulations” for when someone gets a promotion or graduates. Congratulations implies achieving some success, and for some strange reason we English speakers don’t consider getting older an achievement. I don’t know why!

In the Netherlands it is traditional to throw your own party/bring your own cake. This goes by the name of “traktatie” which is when you make or buy your own cake and bring it to work/school. “Ik trakteer!” means you treat the rest of the office to your birthday, they don’t treat you because it’s your birthday. Today, I am looking forward to treating my students in true Dutch fashion. I made these and they are delicious!  In the US, however, friends and family usually throw you a party and provide you with cake.

The jury is still out on which I like better! At least when you make the cake yourself, you always get what you want!