Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

1
Even if you had the chance to live my life, you wouldn't take it.


2
What is the difference between the pair?

illegal= contravening a specific law, especially a criminal law;

illicit= not permitted by the law and considered morally wrong or unacceptable

3
There are a lot of things that money can't buy.
OR
There are a lot of things can't be bought with money.

Which one is more commonly used?

4
Does *radical* mean *extreme* when it comes to point of view?

5
Does *nada* mean nothing because it sounds like nothing?

6
shack up

Definition:

live with lover: to live with a lover without being married Is that the only meaning to the phrasal verb?

7.
a flimsy excuse=a fishy excuse?

8.
Which one sounds more urgent, *on* time or *in* time?

[CP]

1. I might change the last part to say "you wouldn't want to take it," to indicate that it would be an unwise choice.

2. You have the difference right, but "illicit" also means things that are not strictly illegal but are frowned upon in society. "An illicit affair" would describe what a married man has with his mistress. He could not be arrested for it (at least, not in the U.S.), but he is keeping it secret because he knows it is wrong and would be disapproved of by most people

3. "There are a lot of things that money can't buy." OK.

"There are a lot of things can't be bought with money." No, but you could improve it to "A lot of things can't be bought with money" or "There are a lot of things that can't be bought with money."

Most commonly used? "Money doesn't buy everything." Or as the Beatles sang, "Money can't buy me love."

4. It has come to mean that, although I think it originally meant extreme left, politically. Nowadays you can hear people praise a skateboarder's trick as "radical" or "rad," in which case it pretty much means "good."

5. No. "Nada" is the Spanish word for "nothing." Lots of people in the U.S. speak Spanish as a first or second language, and "nada" is just one word that has gained currency.

6. Yes, that's the only way I've heard it used. "She's shacking up with some loser" is how I first heard it, and there was no need for definition. A shack is a humble dwelling, so there is the further connotation of something sordid about it -- more so in the past than today, I suppose. Still, even today, you never hear of anyone "penthousing up" with someone else.

7. Not quite. "Flimsy" means insubstantial, not well-made, ready to fall apart. A flimsy excuse is one that is easy to destroy, one that won't bear much real scrutiny. A fishy excuse is one that smells bad, puts the listener on the alert, but may be very well-constructed and may be unshakable even if suspicious.

8. We would need some sentences to choose which one sounded more urgent. On time means punctual, not late. In time means after some time has passed.

"In time, the train will be here. I just hope it's on time, because I have an urgent appointment."
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb