Hello from England. I'm Home from my home away from home for the summer before heading back to Lviv and to work in August. I always go home for the summer, and of course this means being completely surrounded by the English language. Many moons ago, when I worked in Russia, I did a lesson called 'My Summer' and in this lesson there was a list of words that I frequently heard again and again throughout the summer on the streets, TV, radio, in conversation, and ear-wigging the summer before.
Unfortunately I lost both the lesson and list, but I do remember the list had the words (FOR) AGES(a long time) LOADS OF (many/much) and WELL(very) on which are still extremely frequent today. This summer, I have started to create the list again, and I'd like to share some of the words with you.
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Firstly, I'd like to tell you about an alternative way of greeting someone. I'd say this is the most common greeting I've heard. It's also the one I always use, even in Lviv, but I always forget to explain its meaning. This is the word or . Yeah, you have a conversation that simply goes 'Alright, mate - alright' . You greet someone with Firstly, I'd like to tell you about an alternative way of greeting someone. I'd say this is the most common greeting I've heard. It's also the one I always use, even in Lviv, but I always forget to explain its meaning. This is the word ALRIGHT. You greet someone with ALRIGHT or ALRIGHT, NAME (OR MATE) and the reply is simply ALRIGHT. Yeah, you have a conversation that simply goes 'Alright, mate - alright' and that is the end...
Also, there are two more frequent ways of ways of saying 'Thank you' and these are...
NICE ONE
CHEERS
These two usually come after each other, so when you go and buy something in the shop and the shopkeeper gives you your change, you'd probably say 'nice one, cheers'
OK, here are 9 from my list. The list obviously is bigger than 9, but I've chosen 9 which might be completely new for you while also being useful to know.
ALL SORTS OF – Lots of differences / A lot of choices – My class is full of all sorts of nationalities / The shop sells all sorts of cheese
I'M OFF / I'M GOING TO GET OFF – to announce you're leaving – OK, that's everything done. I'm going to get off. OK, see you tomorrow
NO WORRIES – It's not a problem (used as a reply to when you help someone and they then say thank you) – Thanks for helping me with my homework. No worries.
DODGY- Dangerous / Fake / Not working properly – It's a dodgy area, so be careful / He was selling some dodgy Lacoste for £5 / The tablet is dodgy sometimes it turns on and sometimes it doesn't
SORT OUT – Fix / arrange something – I need to sort out my phone, it's not working properly / We need to sort out a time to meet next week
HEADS UP – To give someone a warning about something – Thanks for the heads up. I really appreciate it. I'll be ready for tomorrow
SMASH IT – To do something very well– You shouldn't be so nervous about your exam. I'm sure you will smash it *note IT can be replaced with a noun or noun phrase
SLAG OFF – To criticise someone or something – It's hard to watch football with him because all he does is slag off the player for the whole game
DOES MY HEAD/NUT IN – to say something/someone annoys you – I'm not watching X Factor, it does my nut in. I hate the judges
Practise
Did you _______ a time to meet Mike and talk about the party next week?
The area boss is coming on Friday, so this is a _______ to make sure the office is clean and you all have your ties on
My son _________ his school exam and now he is going to the university he wanted
Can you look at my phone, it's has gone _______ I can't open the camera
He always _________my choices and it __________ and that is why I don't want him to come to the party
Can you lead me £10 until next week? Yeah, no problem. Nice one, cheers. __________
You have to go to the new supermarket. It has ________ of food from different countries
Answers: Sort out / heads up / smashed / dodgy / slags off - does my head in / no worries/all sorts of
Speaking
What kind of things do your head in?
What was the last thing you had to sort out?
Are there any dodgy areas in your city?
Do you like to slag off politicians? :)
OK, I'm off.....
Cheers
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Home away from home - a place where you spend a lot of time and feel comfortable there
Many moons ago - a long time ago
To earwig - to secretly listen to other people's conversations