Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[kerstin]

101
what part of speech is this word,and can you show me how to use this word?


"let the chips fall where the may."
=?


I 've heard people said "big fat liar".so does "big fat user" or something like that exist ?

1-800 beyotch=?


show somebody the "ropes " on something.
=procedures
and also,can you give a me a few examples containing the term?


thanks

[CP]

1. "101":

A basic college course is often given the number 101. If you take introductory psychology, it may be called Psych 101. So adding "101" to something indicates that it is basic or elementary in some way.

"Don't call her the next day, man. That's Dating 101. Wait two days after the first date, then call her."

2. "let the chips fall where the may."

The expression is, "Let the chips fall where they may." It means, "Let whatever is bound to happen, happen." It probably derives from gambling, as in roulette, where once the chips are down, the gambler's fate is up to where the ball lands on the roulette wheel.

3. "big fat liar" / "big fat user":

When you call someone a "big, fat" anything, it means he or she is really that. "He's a big, fat liar" means "He's a compulsive liar."

You can also say "big, fat idiot," "big, fat jerk," etc. Al Franken wrote a book entitled "Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot."

You would never call anyone a "big, fat sweetheart" or "big, fat genius." It's reserved for negative comments.

4. "1-800 beyotch=?"

In the U.S., 800 numbers are telephone numbers that can be dialed from anywhere in the country without charge. Lots of companies have 800 numbers to encourage people to call -- it creates business.

To dial an 800 number, you have to dial 1 first, so it will always be 1-800- and then seven digits.

And to make numbers easy to remember, sometimes they are given as words, because the numbers on the dial have letters, too. So 1-800-CARS-4-US would be the same as 1-800-227-7487. A car dealer or rental agency might advertise with that number.

Now, beyotch or biatch or similar words are exaggerated ways to say the naughty word b i t c h. If you wanted to call someone that, you might say, "You want to talk to Janet? Call 1-800-BEYOTCH."

5. "show somebody the "ropes " on something.
=procedures"

Sailing ships have many ropes on board -- although sailors never call them ropes. They are lines.

When a new sailor comes aboard ship, he needs to learn the ropes in order to do his job. If someone shows him the ropes, that someone is training him for the job.

Whenever you take on a new job, then, you look for someone to show you the ropes.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[kerstin]

The answers you gave me are so detailed .I really appreciate that.Thank you.

[kerstin]

1-800-CARS-4-US would be the same as 1-800-227-7487
Why?

[asterix]

Because each number key on the telephone also has an arrangement of letters, so if you dial Cars 4 us it is the same as dialling 227-7487 .