Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hela]

Dear teachers,

1) Could I describe a crusty old stick (talking about a woman) as being surly, churlish, bad-tempered?

2) nonplussed = puzzled, perplex ?

3) Should I understand:

a) "talk at" in a text as having a one-way conversation?

b) "talk past" and "talk through" as talking without being listened to or without touching / interesting the other?

4) What should I say here:

a) Their private life/lives ?

b) They are not concerned with each other�s life/lives.

5) How would you translate "selon lequel / laquelle" in English?

ex: un principe selon lequel une personne ne peut....

6) I found these sentences on the net could please tell me if they are written in correct English?

a) To let on to people about a secret.

b) To stress a heavy emphasis upon an issue.

c) The British are finicky about maintaining social rules and usually think it is undone to shatter the social code of behaviour.

Many thanks,
Hela

[CP]

1) Could I describe a crusty old stick (talking about a woman) as being surly, churlish, bad-tempered?
--Yes, you could, although "crusty old stick" is not a common expression.

2) nonplussed = puzzled, perplex ?
--Yes, puzzled or perplexed, maybe a little flummoxed.

3) Should I understand:

a) "talk at" in a text as having a one-way conversation?
--Yes, as though the person doing the talking is lecturing the other one.

b) "talk past" and "talk through" as talking without being listened to or without touching / interesting the other?
--Yes, right.

4) What should I say here:

a) Their private life/lives ?
--If it is a couple, they have a private life. If not a couple, each has his / her own life, so they have their private lives.

b) They are not concerned with each other�s life/lives.
--Neither is concerned with the other's life; they are not concerned with each other's lives.

5) How would you translate "selon lequel / laquelle" in English?
--Usually it translates as "according to whom / which."

ex: un principe selon lequel une personne ne peut....

"A principle according to which a person cannot ...."

"Selon les journaux" = "According to the newspapers," something that a native speaker would say.

6) I found these sentences on the net could please tell me if they are written in correct English?

a) To let on to people about a secret.
--It means to let someone in on a secret, or to give someone the secret information. Often used the other way: "Don't let on that I have a ring in my pocket, Sam!" = "Don't give anyone any clues that I have a ring in my pocket, Sam. Keep it a secret."

b) To stress a heavy emphasis upon an issue.
--Usually you will say "place heavy emphasis on an issue" or "stress an issue" or "place heavy stress on an issue."

c) The British are finicky about maintaining social rules and usually think it is undone to shatter the social code of behaviour.
--I think you are thinking of "it isn't done" rather than "it is undone."

"White dress with black shoes? That just isn't done! [Sniff.]"
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[hela]

Thank you very much CP for all your comments.

"White dress with black shoes? That just isn't done! [Sniff.]"
If I have well understood what you meant, I'm very sad too about the results.

All the best,
Helal