Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[stevenukd]

Dear Teachers,

1.Germany really gets the sticks on the events of WWII.
-What does �get the sticks� mean here?

2.If you truly love yourself, then you�ll want to be with a partner who loves you equally in return.
-What does �in return� mean here?

3.Being a working Mom with two kids I feel like I want to be swept off my feet.
-What does �to be swept off my feet� mean?

4.�Honey�, �darling�, �sweetie�, and �sweetheart� are used to call husbands, wives, girlfriends, and boyfriends dearly, right?

5.She has given in to temptation.
-What does this mean?

6.I should of played it cool.
-What does this mean? And why do we use �of� here?

Thanks a lot to Teachers,


Stevenukd

[Philo Kevetch]

1 - A stick (switch, cane) can be used for corporal punishment.

A teacher or parent might use a stick to punish (beat) a child.

So... In your example, (NOT a REAL stick) Germany gets a lot of

admonishment, negative criticism, harsh words, verbal punishment,

etc. for their actions during WWII.

2 - Your example might be easier to understand if you change it a bit.

Try..... "If you truly love someone, then you will want them to love

you equally in return". You love them.... they love you back in

the same way.

3 - "Swept off my (her, his, their) feet" is an idiom meaning a very

romantic experience. You meet someone and they bring

flowers, take you to a candle-lit restaurant with violins, etc.

You're carried away in the romance.

4 - Yes, they are "terms of endearment" and can also be used by

adults when addessing children.

5 - When you are tempted and resist, you don't "give in" (you don't

do whatever it is). So... When you "give into" temptation, you

can't resist ( you do whatever it is).

6 - "play it cool" = don't show emotions (excitement, anger, worry,

etc.) As for should "of"..... should "have" is correct. Some

(many?) people use "should of" (common usage) and it will

perhaps be an acceptable form in the future.

[bud]

Nice answers, Philo!

I'd just like to add a point on #6. I think the reason some people think it's "should of" is because most people pronounce that the same way they pronounce "should've" (contraction for "should have"). Since we usually compose our sentences by instinct (as in any language), we forget the logic of the words in our sentences. When it comes time to write it, we think of the sound and trasnlate it to "should of" without even thinking about it. That's my theory, anyway.

[advoca]

Bud is absolutely right Stevenukd. But do not expect anybody to say should of. They say should uv, largely (as Bud said) because of the sound of should've.

So never write should of, Always write should have.