What are the odds!

When you run into someone by chance people often say:

What are the odds!

or 

What a coincidence!

(walking down the street)

Hal: Is that you Jill?

Jill: What are the odds! I haven't seen you in years.

Hal: Yeah, I'm in town visiting my folks.

Jill: If you have time later, let's grab a drink and catch up.

Hal: That sounds nice, I'll give you a call. Is it still the same number?

Jill: Yeah, it is.

Hal: Cool, see you soon.
 
Meaning I am surprised to see you here, it is a nice surprise. Folks is a casual word meaning parents.

(in a supermarket)

Ben: Hey, Jerry! What a coincidence!

Jerry: Oh, hi Ben. How's it going?

Ben: Pretty good, and you?

Jerry: Not bad, I'm just grocery shopping with my wife.

You might also hear a bit of an older saying when you see someone somewhere you don't expect to see them. It sounds a bit more formal.

Fancy meeting you here!

(at a party)

Greg: Maria, fancy meeting you here! I didn't know you knew Dan.

Maria: Dan? Oh, I don't know him so well. I'm here with my friend Chris. He works with Dan I think.

Greg: Well, it's a nice coincidence running into you here. How have you been?

Maria: Not bad. These days I'm...  

I just thought of a 4th related expression: "What a nice surprise!" you can use all 4 of these interchangeably. They have pretty much the same meaning. Any questions?

Have a nice week,

Phil  

He jumped the gun.

Have you guys ever heard this expression before? It come from track & field, when people start a race they usually fire a starter's pistol. So, if you jumped the gun it means you did something too soon.

I can't believe they've already moved in together. I think they jumped the gun...

It is often used in sports:

Cavileri jumped the gun so he was disqualified.

and in business:

Microsoft jumped the gun by releasing a tablet PC back in 2002. The technology just wasn't ready back then.

Any questions?

Phil 

 

She's got you wrapped around her little finger!

Have you guys ever heard that expression before? It is usually used to describe people dating when one controls the other.

Al: Tom, why did you cut your hair???

Tom: Oh, Lacy likes it better like this.

Al: Did she ask you to cut it?

Tom: No, but she said she'd like to see me with short hair.

Al: And you just cut your hair after growing it long for 6 years?!?! She really has you wrapped around her little finger!

According to thefreedictionary.com it means to manipulate or control someone. It means you are able to make someone do anything you want usually because they like you so much.

 You can find it on weblio here.

We usually use this to talk about other people, often to comment negatively on a relationship. Sometimes you might hear someone use it to talk about themselves but this sounds mean.

Don: Sam, did you go get the papers from the printers?

Sam: Not yet, I'll get Mary to do it.

Don: But you're supposed to do it.

Sam: Yeah, but she'll be happy to help me. She likes me.

Don: But you're not interested in her, you shouldn't lead her on.

Sam: He he he, yeah I've got her wrapped around my little finger.

Don: Seriously, don't be a jerk. You shouldn't manipulate people like that.    

To lead someone on means to make them think you are interested in dating them but you aren't.

After leading him on for a year, she finally told him she would never date him.  

 Hope you had a Happy New Year!

Phil 

I'm glad you like it!

Ok, Christmas is right around the corner (coming soon) and so it is a time to give and receive gifts~!

Often a gift- giving conversation might go like this:

Alice: Here, this is for you.

Betty: Oh, you shouldn't have!

(opens the gift)

Betty: Wow! The purse I wanted! It's great!

Alice: I'm glad you like it.

Betty: Thanks a lot.

I'm glad you like it is a set phrase people use when giving gifts.

Tom: Do you like it?

Bill: Of course!

Tom: Good, I'm glad (you like it can be dropped).

Be careful, when talking about EXPERIENCES or PERISHABLES (things you can use up) you must use the phrase in the PAST TENSE.

Tom: Did you enjoy the movie?

Bill: Yeah, it was great! Thanks for treating me.

Tom: I'm glad you liked it. I thought you would.

---------------------------------

Heather: Those cookies were fantastic! Did you make them yourself?

Helen: Yeah. I'm glad you liked them.

Have  a  Merry Christmas everyone!

Phil

P.S. glad you is pronounced gladju

Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained.

Have you heard this expression before?

It means that if you don't take any risks you won't get any reward. 

Basically, you need to take a chance if you want to win.

Harry: Should I ask Helen out?

Ed: Nothing ventured nothing gained Harry. Go for it!

Harry: Thanks, I'll ask her out tomorrow.

As you can see, it is a common response to someone asking for your advice  about if they should do something. If you think they should take a chance, simply answer:

Nothing ventured nothing gained

You can tell from the phrasing that this is quite an old saying and it actually goes back to the 14th century!

Weblio says that in Japanese it means:

《諺》 危険を冒さなければ何も得られない, 「虎穴(こけつ)に入らずんば虎子(こじ)を得ず」

Have a great week, 

Phil

The flu is going around...

Do you guys know what that means? It is a pretty common expression, it means that it is really common right now and everyone seems to be getting sick on after another. I think in Japanese you would say ぐるぐる or possibly回る(まわる)


Henry: You look pale, are you ok?

Greg: Yeah, I just feel tired.

Henry: Be careful, there seems to be a nasty cold going around.

So whenever many people seem to be getting sick at the same time use the expression:

X is going around

a cold is going around

the flu is going around

a stomach virus seems to be going around

etc.

Please see my earlier lesson about the flu, you can find it here.

Often, if you are a teacher or parent maybe you think a child is faking. This means you don't believe that they are sick, you think they are pretending to be sick so that they don't have to go to school...

Kelly: cough... cough...

Mom: Are you ok?

Kelly: Mom my throat hurts... cough...

Mom: Hmmm.... isn't there a test today? Are you faking?

Kelly: MOM! I wouldn't do that!

Mom: Ok, we'll check your temperature and if you have a fever you can stay home today...

Kelly: cough... cough... ok...

You can use faking whenever you think someone is pretending to have a problem...

Hope you're healthy! Have a nice week,

Phil

Well, I got to go, take care.

Do you know when to use this sentence?

It is most commonly used when you run into someone and have a quick conversation. This is how you politely end the conversation so you can continue going where you were going before bumping into your friend. ^_^

Well

This indicates a change in topic or a conclusion.

I got to (pronounced godda) go or you could say 
I have to (hafta) go or
I need to go (formal)

and if you are in a rush you can switch go with RUN.

Then you finish the sentence with something polite related to your previous conversation:

take care

have a good time

see you

see you around

etc.

So the next time you have to continue on your way because you're in a hurry, please say something like this:

A: Well, it was nice bumping into you but I gotta run. Take care.

B: You too, see you.

Have a nice weekend,

Phil