Nautical Idioms, idioms from the sea...

Hey everyone, I haven't posted in awhile. Sorry about that but I am crazy busy and a bit stressed these days as I deal with travel plans for the winter holidays, a planned move and my test on December 5Th! I just have too much on my plate(to do) so I haven't had time to post...

Anyways, this is a short post based on an article from The Art of Manliness about Nautical slang. You can see the whole article here: http://artofmanliness.com/2010/11/09/three-sheets-to-the-wind-nautical-slang-in-common-usage/

Here's a quick look at the idioms they covered:

to turn a blind eye

This means to refuse to see or recognize something.

Too many people turn a blind eye to domestic violence.

as the crow flies

This means the shortest distance between two points. The actual distance in a straight line, not the one following the roads.

A: How far is the drugstore?

B: About 2 miles as the crow flies.

over a barrel

This means in a helpless, weak or awkward position, unable to act.

My boss has me over the barrel.

know the ropes

To understand this details of how a business or something works.

Do you know the ropes yet? No, ok I'll show you the ropes.

to the bitter end

To continue something to the end even if it is unpleasant.

I'm staying in my marriage to the bitter end.

a slush fund

This is Money set aside by a business for corrupt activities or to use for fun or entertainment.

Most political parties have slush funds.

three sheets to the wind

This means to be drunk.

Man that guy is three sheets to the wind~! He can't even stand...

jury rigged

To improvise, to build or make something for temporary or emergency use.

I jury rigged a solution to the problem.

to start over with a clean slate

This means to start over fresh.

We need to start with a clean slate.

first rate

The best, top rank, most important, best quality.

You did a first rate job!

Ok there are a few more on The Art of Manliness and you can read about the history of these idioms there which is pretty interesting. Have a good weekend,

Phil

You did that on purpose~!!!

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't posted yet this month. I was up in Tokyo last week and I've been really busy studying for my test... which is in just 1 month~!! Unfortunately, this means that I won't be able to post so much this month. I will try and post 4-5 times, wish me luck!

Today, I was teaching a lesson and I said that it looks like they did it on purpose... but my student didn't understand. Do you?

On purpose

This means that you do something as a plan, it is NOT an accident. In Japanese, you would say: わざと (態と). A similar expression is to mean to do something.

A: Ouch! Watch where you're going!

B: Sorry.

A: You don't sound sorry... did you do that on purpose?
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Mom, Tim broke my toy on purpose!
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Sorry, I didn't mean to step on your foot. I didn't do it on purpose.

Now the opposite of on purpose is by accident.

Oops! I knocked over the plate by accident and it broke. I'm sorry...

I did it by accident... it wasn't planned... it wasn't intentional...

Hmm, is that clear enough? I hope so, have a nice weekend ^_^

Phil