Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[stevenukd]

Dear Teachers,

1. What�s the difference between �hands up!� and �raise your hand�?

2. �floss my teeth� is used in US and Europe, but in Asia they say �pick my teeth�, right?

3. �I�m getting undressed� and �I�m changing my clothing�. Are these 2 sentences the same meaning?

Thanks a lot to Teachers,

Stevenukd

[CP]

1. "Hands up" means, "Put both hands in the air." "Raise your hand" means, "Put one hand in the air." You might say, "Hands up" to a classroom to mean that all students should raise their hands if they know the answer.

2. Picking teeth is done with toothpicks, while flossing is done with floss, a sort of waxed string.

3. "I'm getting undressed" means, "I am taking my clothes off." "I'm changing my clothing" or "I'm changing" means, "I'm taking my clothes off and putting on different clothes."

You can say, "I'm getting dressed" to mean either "I'm changing" or "I'm putting clothes on."
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[iitimone7]

1 - ...or a teacher can say, "Raise your hand if you know the answer."
if "hands up" is said, it may be a plic officer saying it to a criminal, or a teacher telling students to put both hands in the air during their daily exercise routine.

3 - "getting undressed" is not something that you commonly say to someone that you are talking to. it's okay to use the phrase in the privacy of a bedroom or hotel room with a spouse, but not a friend that you are talking on the phone with.

iitimone7