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freshair313
Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Posts: 28
Location: China
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 Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:16 am Post subject: get your act together |
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Could you please help me with "get your act together", the context is as follews:
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Blair was forced last week to say he would leave office within a year to quell a rebellion in his party over the leadership that has been eroding his authority.
"My challenge to the government today is simple. You need to get your act together. Voters need to see a new sense of purpose," Trades Union Congress general secretary Brendan Barber told delegates at the TUC's annual conference in Brighton. |
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
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| Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:03 am Post subject: |
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It comes from the theater. Before you go onstage to perform for people, you need to work on your act, practice, and rehearse until you perfect your act. This is true whether you sing, dance, act, tell jokes, interview celebrities, give inspirational speeches, or anything else.
Get your act together = perfect your act.
By extension, if you say that anyone has to get his or her act together, you are saying that he or she needs to work on something and get it right. In this case, the person is saying that the government has to get its act together.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb |
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freshair313
Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Posts: 28
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Anyway, thanks a million! |
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freshair313
Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Posts: 28
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 7:01 pm Post subject: About "sorry" |
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I wonder whether the word "sorry" can use as a noun. Please help me. The question derives from the sentence blow.
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| ...allow me to express my deep sorry for not being able to... |
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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The noun is "sorrow." That would work in place of "sorry" in your sentence.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb |
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freshair313
Joined: 15 Nov 2005
Posts: 28
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Thank you for your so quick reply. |
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