Finger Idioms...

So today, I will go over some idioms using the word finger in them. Here we go!

I'm all fingers and thumbs.

This means that you are not good with your hands, you lack manual dexterity.

Cross your fingers or Keep your fingers crossed

You say this when you hope or wish that something will happen or become true.

A: I hope we have a long vacation this year.

B: Keep your fingers crossed.

Give someone the finger

This is when you lift your middle finger to someone to tell them to F*#K off or F#*K you!

This morning this guy cut me off in traffic so I gave him the finger!

Have sticky fingers

This means that someone often steals things.

Chris has sticky fingers so he's going to jail.

Not lift a finger

This means you do nothing to help someone.

My friend fell down and hurt himself and no one lifted a finger to help him!

Point the finger at someone

This means that you blame someone for something bad that happened

Why are you pointing the finger at me? YOU ARE the one who decided to eat at this bad restaurant!!!

Wear/work your fingers down to the bone

This means you are working very hard for a long time.

I've been working my fingers down to the bone trying to finish this project on time.

Wrap around your little finger

This means that you someone will do anything you want.

Man your girlfriend has you wrapped around her little finger~!

Slip through your fingers

1- This means that something you are trying to do, doesn't work.

I failed my interview, that job just slipped through my fingers.

2- This is also used when you are chasing someone and they escape.

A: Did you catch the prisoners?

B: No, they managed to slip through my fingers...

A: What?!?!? Your in big trouble now!

Hmm, it is getting late. Time for bed, sweet dreams everyone!

Phil

Fingers

Hey everyone, I will be doing a little series about our fingers. Today, I will only tell you the English names for the different fingers. Later, I will be going over idioms that use fingers in them.

There are, of course, 5 fingers which are from out to in:

1- the pinky or little finger, this is the smallest finger on your hand

2- the ring finger, we call it this because when people are married they usually wear a ring here

3- the middle finger because it is umm... in the middle ^_- it is the longest finger

4- the index finger, also forefinger, pointer finger(we use it to point-not so polite) or trigger finger(it is used to pull the trigger to shoot a gun)

5- the thumb, this is the opposable finger which you use to hold things

Please note, with feet we usually just say big toe for the biggest and maybe pinky toe or little toe for the smallest. The rest of the toes have scientific names but people don't talk about them in everyday life.

Next time, we will talk about some idioms!

Phil

For more on fingers check out wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger

What's the magic word?

Today, we will have a quick culture lesson. In English, there are a few words related to magic: abracadabra, hocus pocus, presto, etc. All of these words are used by magicians when they are performing a magic trick. For example:

I will put a rabbit into my hat and...

...ABRACADABRA...

...the rabbit has disappeared!

You can substitute presto, hocus pocus, or any other word for ABRACADABRA.

But in English, there is only one answer for the question:

What's the magic word?

The answer is... Please.

This is a question used by parents to teach their children good manners and how to be polite.

For example:

boy: Mom give me a cookie!

Mom: What's the magic word?

boy: Huh? umm, abracadabra? Give me a cookie!

Mom: What's THE magic word?

boy: Oh! PLEASE give me a cookie Mom.

Mom: Ok, here you go.

boy: Thank you.

Well that's it for now, time for bed. I am off to Tokyo for a few days but will try and continue to post.

Have a nice weekend!

Phil

Numbers...

Hey everyone, here's a quick mini-lesson on how people pronounce numbers in North American English.

First off, there is a difference in word stress between numbers in the teens and regular numbers. In Japan, people often do not stress the correct part of the number or do not have enough stress on the syllable.

So, here is how things should be said:

13 - thir-TEEN

30 - THIR-ty

14 - four-TEEN

40 - FOR-ty

15 - fif-TEEN

50 - FIF-ty

16 - six-TEEN

60 - SIX-ty

That is the basic pattern, with a strong emphasis on the N in TEEN. The word stress between teens and regular numbers are opposite so that people do not get confused.

Now, in North America we also have lots of pronunciation changes so that we can count more quickly. Here is a list of the changes:

20 - twenty - twenny

30 - thirty - thirdy

40 - forty - fordy

50 - fifty - fifty, I don't change it but some change it to fifdy

60 - sixty - sixdy

70 - seventy - sevenny

80 - eighty - eighdy

90 - ninety - ninney

These changes happen so that the numbers become easier to pronounce quickly, fifty is easier to say than fifdy so I don't change it. In, 20, 70 and 90 the T is dropped and we double the N. In the other numbers, the T usually becomes D.

Enjoy counting!

Phil

How long is it? VS How long does it take?

First off, VS means VERSUS and is often used in boxing. For example:

Mike Tyson VS Evander Holyfield

So today I will talk about the differences between these two sentences.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

This is often used to talk about flights, boat trips, train trips, etc. It is short for:

How long does it take (to get there)?

or

How long does it take (to get to ___________ )?

It has no positive or negative connotations or nuances. It is a simple request for information.

HOW LONG IS IT?

When talking about time, this has a NEGATIVE connotation. It means that I have something else to do or I don't really want to do this so I am hoping it will finish quickly.

If you are asking about a tour when traveling and say "How long is it?" the guide will get the feeling you want it to be a short tour.

You can also use this to talk about movies or music albums where it isn't negative just a bit strange. It is not a normal question when talking about movies or CDs...

Be careful!

A: Would you like to see a movie?

B: Sure. Which one?

A: How about Titanic?

B: Uuum, how long is it?

A: ???

In this conversation, person A will get the feeling you don't really want to see Titanic!

Have a good weekend,

Phil

closer...

Hey everyone, today I want to talk a bit about the importance of pronunciation and how changing the sound of a word can change the meaning.

The word I will use as an example is:

CLOSER

1st - closer pronounced "closser"

This is the comparitive form of close, adj.

My house is closer to the station than yours.

I'm closer to finishing the game than you! hahaha

2nd - closer pronounced "clozer"

This is someone who closes things, for example a store or business deal, noun.

He's our company's closer, he will get the contracts signed!

Ah man! I have to be the closer at work tonight!! I won't get home till late...

3rd - closer pronounced "closser"

This is the same pronunciation as the 1st but it is an ADVERB.

Come closer so I can see you better.

We're getting closer to Tokyo.

Have a nice cold day in Kansai!

Phil

Today is a historic day...

Just a quick lesson about the difference between historical and historic. Both are adjectives but the meanings are slightly different.

historic: means that something is important to history or influencing history

Today is a historic day, the U.S. has it's first African-American President.

Okinawa has many historic sites, like Shuri Castle.

historical: means that it is about history, not important to it

Jidai Matsuri shows people in many historical costumes.

I love watching historical dramas.

So be careful!

It's a historic novel.

Means the novel MADE history, for example, The Tale of Genji is the first novel in the world.

It's a historical novel.

Means the novel is ABOUT history, for example, Memoirs of a Geisha which is about the life of a Geisha in Kyoto.

Enjoy your day!

Phil

Fall Vocabulary ^_-

Hey everyone, November is finally here and the weather is getting cooler in Kyoto. Tourists are arriving by the boatload(in great numbers) and the leaves are starting to turn. I thought I would talk a bit about こうよう or もみじ season and fall vocabulary.

foliage: the leaves of trees or in Japanese, このは

The Eastern Townships are a great place to see the fall foliage.

rake: this is a tool like a giant fork used to gather fallen leaves which is the verb, to rake

Marc, go rake the leaves in the backyard!

autumn: the older word for fall or in Japanese, 秋

I am going to USJ this autumn to see the Halloween decorations.

to turn: we use this verb when things change color

That chameleon turned red!

I love seeing the leaves turn.

My maple tree's foliage has turned a beautiful orange.

Oh no! My hair is turning gray!

to see the leaves: this is when we go for a drive or a walk to see the autumn leaves

Are you going to see the leaves this fall?

harvest: to gather a crop or the time of year to gather a crop, in Japanese 穫る (とる)

Thanksgiving is a harvest festival.（Thanksgivingは収穫祭です）

I think it's time to harvest the corn.

I hope that helps you chat a bit about autumn!

Phil