Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[alper]

Hi friends...

there's an ongoing discussion on some idioms between my colleagues and I want to ask you here that;

For example, in my country, when we see someone working hard, we say 'Kolay Gelsin'... to relax him/her... and, one of my friends said that 'More power to your elbow' for its English equivalent, and another friend of mine said 'May it be easy' is also used... but the former friend said it's not...

I want to discuss that here and I especially wonder that you use such things in your daily life, or what you use!...
_________________
Universal Peace...

[Suzanne]

Hello!

What a good question for discussion! I think you will get some interesting responses from others around the world.

I haven't heard the expression "More power to your elbow," but it sounds like a good phrase to use. If someone said it to me, I would think of sitting down, and resting my head on my elbows. Is that correct? It's not a phrase used here in the US.

Instead of saying "May it be easy," native English speakers would be more likely to say, "Take it easy." When you say that, you are telling someone to slow down and relax.

Some examples of "take it easy" are:

Sue: I want you to move the piano and turn all the mattresses.
Andy: Come on. Take it easy! I'm not made of steel, you know.

Henry: Oh, I'm pooped!
Alice: You've been working hard. You just need a little rest and you'll feel as good as new. Just take it easy.

She said I looked really tired, and told me to take it easy.

I know you're upset, but you just take it easy, I'll make you some tea, and you can tell me all about it.


Other expressions that mean the same as "take it easy" are:
-Chill out!
-Stop stressing about it!
-Give it a rest!

Does that help?

[dragn]

Hi Alper,

I have also heard "Give it a rest" used to tell somebody to stop doing something that is annoying the speaker. For example:

You've been practicing that stupid accordion for over two hours! Give it a rest!

That is, stop playing because I can't stand it anymore.

Along the lines of Take it easy, there's also

Chill. (Just the single word. This can also be like Calm down.)
Take a chill pill. (Can also be like Calm down. Plus I'm probably dating myself now. )
Cool out.
Take a blow. (Blow as a reference to breathing hard.)
Take a breather.
Kick back.

I came across More power to your elbow for the first time in some material here in Taiwan just a few months ago, and was led to believe that it was British. However, Suzanne is right. I've never heard this in the States, so I'm reasonably certain it's not American. Nor have I heard May it be easy. It's grammatically correct, of course, but just has the distinctive aroma of something somebody just made up.

dragn

[alper]

Hi, thanks Suzanne and dragn it's so nice to discuss such things here

in fact I've known as you said about those things and I was surprised when I heard them... I'm sure there are much more things to discuss here

I've asked one thing, but I've got much more, thanks...

So, I wonder... do you say anything to a person while s/he is on work... to ease him/her...
_________________
Universal Peace...

[Bluegum]

I have heard the expression "More power to your elbow" but I've always taken it for encouragement in what you're doing, as in
"That's sterling work you're doing there - more power to your elbow!"

[dragn]