Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[vsting]

there are a lot of phtases in the Enlglish languge,but their means could not be translated easily.I have some difficulties in these phrases.
1give you the shirt off his back

2 laugh up one's sleeve

3 face lift

4 bear up well

5 square deal

6now you're talking.

7rat race

8wall flower

9fall back on

10before you know it
_________________
ESLbay.com -- Free ESL Resources Online

[Soymilk]

1. Give you the shirt of his back- It means you're taking everything from him, or taking advantage of him.

2. Laugh up one's sleeve- To secretly laugh or laugh to yourself.

3. Face lift- It is a medical procedure. Older people with sagging faces get face lifts to look younger.

4. Bears up well-

5. Square deal- Fair deal, a deal that is good for both sides

6. Now you're talking- It is a phrased used in a conversation. When someone says something that gets your interest, you can use this phrase.

7. Rat race- Its can be used different ways. It can be used to describe one's work place, hectic and competitive.

8. Wall flower- Depends on context

9. Fall back on- It is something you can resort to....

Exp. I am majoring in Business, but minoring in computer science for something to fall back on.
Exp. If I can't finish my work before I have to go, I'm going to have to fall back on you to help me out.

10. Before you know it- It is a phrased used to describe how fast time has passed without the speaker realizing.

Exp. Before I knew it, my daughter turned 16.
Exp. Before you know it, the termites will eat through the framework of your house.

[Bob S.]

1give you the shirt off his back
Generous

2 laugh up one's sleeve
To find secret humor in something

3 face lift
Surgery that pulls up the muscles and skin of the face to make it look younger

4 bear up well
Strong to endure hardship or pressure

5 square deal
Fair

6now you're talking.
That sounds great, I agree with what you are saying

7rat race
The busy business of life

8wall flower
A shy person (in a busy room, stands so close tothe wall, they are like a flower pattern on the wallpaper)

9fall back on
Rely on

10before you know it
Suddenly or soon

[advoca]

Let's not forget another use for facelift.

If you give a place or thing a facelift, you do something that will make it look better or more attractive.
Nothing gives a room a faster facelift than a coat of paint.