Job Discussion Forums

BethMac · Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 79

Recently, I've noticed a lot of 'native speakers of English' totally mucking up English idioms on discussion boards like this one. Here are some that I have seen recently (not here, but on another site):

"But for the grace of God go I." - Should be: "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

"Each to their own". - Should be: "To each his own." or "To each his/her own." (politically correct, ya know Wink

)

"I could care less." - Should be: "I couldn't care less."

"What comes around, goes around." - Should be: "What goes around, comes around."

*I think that people who don't understand the meanings of these idioms shouldn't use them to try to sound intelligent. For me, it has the opposite effect. Then again, I'm a pretentious ESL teacher. Very Happy

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

"Each to their own" sounds ok to me

"I could care less" I think this is North American English, but I could be wrong

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

"Each to their own" sounds ok to me

"I could care less" I think this is North American English, but I could be wrong

BethMac · Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 79

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I agree with you Beth, but language is constantly changing and has many variations. At the moment I have a class(of young Arabs) who are obsessed with LA hip Hop and when I correct their grammar they generally answer me with some quote from a film or a song.
Snoop dog says in ...... I is happy. That is real language. We can't deny it. Snoop doesn't speak any other language. Who are we say what is wrong and right. Does it hinder communication? No. Will it stop them getting a good Toefl score. Yes. My students need English to work on an Oil plant. They need communication skills not perfect grammar.
Where do we draw the line?

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

My problem is not an idiomatic expression, but poor use of prepositions. One of my co-workers CONSTANTLY says "I feel sorry to you"! AURGH! I have then asked (hoping she will correct herself) "Oh, why do you feel sorry FOR me?" Of course, the subtle correction hint goes right over her head.

Each to his own sounds odd, but i have read it in books (mostly published in Britain). Actually, just finished reading "Last Chance Saloon" by Marian Keyes and it was in there.

Capergirl · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2004 1:09 am Post subject:

I know what you mean, foster. When I was teaching in Taiwan, one of the Taiwanese teachers came to me and asked me, "Do you say set an example for someone or set an example to someone?". I said, "Set an example for someone." She looked at me strangely and then said, "Well, in my dictionary it says set an example to someone and I think that is correct." Then why did you even ask me? Rolling Eyes

nomadder · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2004 1:19 am Post subject:

Each to their own sounds PC to me.

British English does have different preps sometimes compared to American.

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

British to North American is strange. In Canada, we say "ON the weekend" but I am noticing in books here and from the others, British people tend to say "AT the weekend". I am constantly correcting it in their compositions and yet, maybe I shouldn't be.

I do however, HAVE TO correct the spelling of color, honor and what not. It just looks WRONG without the U. (colour, honour)

Snoopy · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 185

George Formby: "I'm leaning on a lamppost AT the corner of the street in case a certain little lady comes by". American: Standing ON the corner, watching all the girls go by. How can you be on a corner? Inside, you are in the corner, outside you are at the corner.
And going back to Mr Formby, "just in case" indicates possibility in English, whereas in American it means "only in the circumstances in which . . . "

donfan · Joined: 31 Aug 2003 Posts: 217

********

sprightly · Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 136 Location: England

y'all need to subscribe to the dilbert newsletter, which contains a wealth of mashed up expressions.
like, "we're putting the cart before a dead horse."

like dmb, how much i focus on this depends on how important it will be. my current students are civil servants looking for promotions; they MUST use the correct expressions or risk looking less than skilled.
when i taught kids in korea, who cares? they'll forget those expressions long before they have a chance to be ridiculed by a native speaker kid.
(although they picked up "son of a B" and "f--k you" with great flair and hand motions.)

i'm canuck; i use just in case for possibility. "i have a brolly (just) in case it rains."

and of course you stand on the corner; look under your feet, and there it is! Smile