tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64591960499364672712024-02-19T21:22:44.827-03:00Extra English ClassesBrush up on your English in 5 minutes!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-9169314558131560842010-10-01T09:59:00.008-03:002010-10-02T12:21:12.033-03:00Elections Glossary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.redebrasilatual.com.br/multimidia/blogs/blog-do-velho-mundo/a-eleicao-vista-de-fora-do-brasil/image_preview" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" px="true" src="http://www.redebrasilatual.com.br/multimidia/blogs/blog-do-velho-mundo/a-eleicao-vista-de-fora-do-brasil/image_preview" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
In the spirit of the elections being held all over Brazil tomorrow, I put together a Portuguese-English glossary dealing with a good scope of terms related to voting and the election campaign. <br />
<br />
It is important to note that because of the peculiarities of the election system of each country, it is not always possible to find equivalent terms and jargon used to describe the process of choosing political leaders in Brazil and in English-speaking countries. <br />
<br />
My glossary is therefore meant to cater to the Brazilian audience discussing their political system in Brazil. <br />
<br />
This is a work in progress and more terms will be added in the future. As usual, questions are always welcome!</div><ul><li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><strong>apartidária (A Veja diz ser isenta e apartidária, mas eu tenho minhas dúvidas) - </strong><em>nonpartisan (Veja claims to be unbiased and <strong>nonpartisan</strong>, but I doubt it)</em></span></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><strong>apuração dos votos -</strong> <em>vote counting</em></span></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">cabine de votação</span></strong> - <em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">voting booth</span>; polling booth</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>campanha de difamação</strong><em> - mudslinging</em> (see 'propaganda suja')</div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">cédula de voto</span></strong> - <em>ballot (AmE); ballot paper (BrE)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>comparecimento às urnas</strong> <em>-</em> <em>voter turnout</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>debate na TV</strong> <em>- TV debate</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>dia de eleição</strong> <em>- election/polling day</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>difamação</strong><em> - mudslinging</em> (see 'propaganda suja')</div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>discurso (num discurso curto, a candidata atacou seu principal adversário)</strong><em> - stump speech (in a shot</em> <em><strong>stump speech</strong>, the candidate attacked her main rival candidate)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>distrito eleitoral</strong> <em>- (electoral) precinct</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>eleições governamentais</strong> <em>- gubernatorial elections //</em> <strong>eleição presidencial</strong> <em>- presidential election</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>eleitor (geral)</strong><em> - voter // </em><strong>eleitor (de um candidato) </strong><em>- constituent</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>eleitorado</strong><em> </em><strong>(com sua ascensão da pobreza à presidência Lula conquistou um enorme eleitorado)</strong> <em>- constituency (with his rise from poverty to presidency, Lula captivated a large <strong>constituency</strong>)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>índice de aprovação</strong> <em>- approval ratings // </em><strong>índice de popularidade</strong> <em>- popularity ratings</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>ir às urnas</strong> <strong>(os brasileiros irão às urnas no dia 3 de outubro para eleger um novo presidente) </strong><em>-</em> <em>to go to the polls (Brazilians will</em> <strong><em>go to the polls</em></strong> <em>on October 3 to elect a new president.)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>local de votação</strong> <em>- polling place (AmE); polling station (BrE)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>margem de erro da pesquisa</strong> <em>- the poll's margin error</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>maioria esmagadora (...foi eleito com uma maioria esmagadora)</strong> <em>- a landslide (...was elected by a <strong>landslide</strong>)</em> </div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>partido político</strong> - <em>political party</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>pesquisa</strong> <strong>(de opinião)</strong> - <em>(opinion)</em> <em>poll</em> // <strong>pesquisa de boca-de-urna</strong> - <em>exit poll</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>pesquisador de opinião</strong> <em>- pollster</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>primeiro turno</strong> <em>- first round //</em> <strong>segundo turno</strong> <em>- second round</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>propaganda (</strong>na TV, no rádio <strong>- Em sua propaganda na TV, Serra mostrou imagens de arquivo em que aparecia com o Presidente Lula)</strong> - <em>ads (Serra ran <strong>ads</strong> showing archive footage of him and Lula together)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>propaganda suja (A campanha girou mais torno de propaganda suja e de acusções retóricas)</strong> - <em>mudslinging (The campaign was more about <strong>mudslinging</strong> and rhetorical accusations)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>realizar uma eleição</strong> <em>- to hold an election</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>segundo turno</strong> <em>- second round // </em><strong>primeiro turno</strong> <em>- first round </em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>urna</strong> - <em>ballot box</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>urna eletrônica</strong> - <em>voting machine</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>votação (o assunto foi decidido por votação) </strong><em>- voting (the issue was decided by <strong>voting</strong>)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>votar</strong><em> - to vote; to cast a vote </em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>votar nulo</strong> <em>- to cast a null vote /</em> <strong>votar em branco</strong> <em>- to cast a blank vote</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>voto eletrônico</strong> <em>- electronic voting</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>voto em branco</strong> <em>- blank vote</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>voto inválido</strong> <em>- invalid vote /</em> <strong>voto válido</strong> <em>- valid vote</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>voto nulo</strong> <em>- null vote; spoiled vote (</em>anulado<em>)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>voto obrigatório</strong> <em>- compulsory voting</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>voto secreto</strong> <strong>(...estão pedindo o fim do voto secreto no Congresso)</strong> - <em>secret ballot; secret vote (...are calling for the end of <strong>secret ballot</strong> in the Congress)</em></div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>zona eleitoral</strong> <em>- (electoral) precinct</em></div></li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-59400763891405948152010-08-27T10:38:00.011-03:002010-08-27T10:48:33.486-03:00Variety is the spice of life - part IIThis is a follow up to my <a href="http://extraenglishclasses.blogspot.com/2010/08/variety-is-spice-of-life.html">previous post</a>.<br />
<br />
As well as nouns and verbs, you can also apply to adjectives the idea of exploring <strong>similar and opposite words</strong>. For example, you can describe an <strong><span style="color: blue;">idea</span></strong> as being new, but you can alternately describe it as <strong>innovative</strong>, <strong>original</strong>, <strong>fresh</strong>, <strong>brand-new</strong> or <strong>cutting-edge</strong>. Conversely, an <strong><span style="color: blue;">idea</span></strong> can be <strong>tired</strong>, <strong>conventional</strong>, <strong>ordinary</strong> or <strong>worn-out</strong>.<br />
<br />
Likewise, you can qualify an <span style="color: blue;"><strong>idea</strong></span> as silly, but the same <span style="color: blue;"><strong>idea</strong></span> can be <strong>ridiculous</strong>, <strong>asinine</strong>, <strong>preposterous</strong>, <strong>absurd</strong> or <strong>lame</strong>. On the other hand, an <span style="color: blue;"><strong>idea</strong></span> can be <strong>sensible</strong>, <strong>reasonable</strong>, or <strong>suitable</strong>. All these adjectives, synonymous and antonymous alike, are close in meaning.<br />
<br />
As far as adjectives, another good idea is to arrange <strong>continuums of intensity</strong> from one extreme to the opposite extreme. Take the adjectives hot/cold. You can insert a number of other adjectives in between, and even beyond, those two extremes and end up with <strong>a wider selection of words</strong>:<br />
<br />
hot > cold<br />
<br />
hot > <strong>warm</strong> > <strong>cool</strong> > cold <br />
<br />
hot > warm > <strong>tepid</strong> > cool > cold <br />
<br />
<strong>boiling</strong> > hot > warm > tepid > cool > cold > <strong>freezing</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
This exercise provides with more nuances of meaning to your target words, and consequently a richer vocabulary. Another example:<br />
<br />
embarrassed > proud <br />
<br />
embarrassed > <strong>pleased</strong> > proud <br />
<br />
<strong>humiliated</strong> > embarrassed > pleased > proud > <strong>boastful</strong> <br />
<br />
<br />
Similarly, you can apply continuums to basically any class of words in English. Take the verb "to talk":<br />
<br />
talk > whisper<br />
<br />
<strong>scream</strong> > talk > whisper<br />
<br />
scream > talk > <strong>murmur</strong> > whisper<br />
<br />
<strong>shriek</strong> > scream > talk > murmur > whisper<br />
<br />
<br />
In the future, I’ll be providing more continuums. It’s up to you now. This can be done <strong>either mentally or in writing</strong>. Start by thinking of <strong>antonyms</strong> and <strong>synonyms</strong> of the words you are learning. Then move on and try to <strong>come up with a continuum</strong> using those words.<br />
<br />
The most important thing is to keep a <strong>curious</strong>, <strong>inquisitive</strong> mind. See? I too am using synonyms! As I pointed out in the previous post, it’s an easy and fun exercise to do. Start now!<br />
<br />
I’ll be writing more about ideas to help you boost your vocabulary. This is goodbye for now!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-63744554242815922422010-08-25T00:48:00.006-03:002010-08-27T10:13:00.496-03:00Variety is the spice of life<div style="text-align: justify;">I am of the opinion that an essential aspect of acquiring a foreign language has to do with how <strong>well you master the vocabulary</strong> of your target language. And by vocabulary I don’t mean separate words only, but <strong>entire phrases</strong>. In the future I will be writing more about word combinations in English. For now, let’s focus on the word level.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is a lot to be said about the importance of <strong>vocabulary</strong> in English language learning. Especially considering the fact that English has <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/arguably">arguably</a> one of the <strong>largest vocabularies</strong> in the world. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In my experience, when compared to Portuguese, English vocabulary does seem to be a <strong>particularly tricky</strong> point for students. And it’s not only about the <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/sheer">sheer</a> number of words that learners have to <a href="http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/cope_1">cope with</a>, but the fact that, more so than Portuguese, English language <a href="http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/allow">allows for</a> a variety of ways to say exactly the same thing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Take the verb ‘to walk’. In English, you can not only <strong>walk</strong>, but you can <strong>stroll</strong> in the park on a sunny day or <strong>step</strong> into your boss’s office for a minute, you can <strong>saunter</strong> out of your house and into the sunlight, or <strong>stride</strong> across the room to open the door, you can <strong>pace</strong> back and forth or <strong>tread</strong> a <a href="http://tommyfox.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/tightrope.jpg">tightrope</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Similarly, you can <strong>run</strong>, but you can also <strong>bolt</strong>, <strong>hurry</strong>, <strong>rush</strong>, <strong>dash</strong>, <strong>jog</strong>, <strong>speed</strong>, <strong>scurry</strong> and <strong>scramble</strong>. It is possible to <strong>look at</strong> something, but also <strong>stare</strong>, <strong>gaze</strong>, <strong>gawk</strong>, <strong>goggle</strong> or <strong>glance at</strong> it, and even <strong>eye</strong> someone. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">These are all common verbs used to describe everyday activities. Their synonyms are equally important and frequent, providing various shades of meaning that are useful and fun!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, here's a <strong>piece of advice</strong> for those looking to enlarge their English vocabulary: pay special attention to the words that have <strong>similar meanings</strong> to the words that you are learning. Conversely, try to <a href="http://dictionaries.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=come.up.with*1+0&dict=P">come up with</a> words with <strong>opposite meanings</strong>. This kind of exercise is interesting and easy to do, and will hopefully help you build what I like to refer to as <strong>vocabulary networks</strong>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I believe that organizing vocabulary items in this fashion (=in this manner) is one sure way to make it easier for you to <strong>pull up words from your memory</strong> when you need them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In English, variety is the spice of life. Keep that in mind!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On this blog, I will be providing more examples of similar/opposite words. In the meantime, I will just leave you with that thought: when working on your English vocabulary, take a minute or two to consider the synonyms and antonyms of the words that you are learning or have learned.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's it. Till next time!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-8448072690789345032010-08-01T12:11:00.013-03:002010-08-30T21:15:03.998-03:00Boring<div style="text-align: justify;">At a certain point at the café (<a href="http://extraenglishclasses.blogspot.com/2010/07/to-tune-out.html">see this post</a>), a server <a href="http://extraenglishclasses.blogspot.com/2010/05/to-step-up.html">stepped up to the plate</a> and shut off the TV show, much to the joy of the customers present, many of whom (myself included) <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/cheer">cheered</a> and thanked the good soul who had saved us all. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A lady sitting next to us then turned and said in English, “They’re so <span style="color: blue;"><strong>boring</strong></span>!” My student/friend and I had been talking in English all along, and that was the lady’s way to let us know that she too was relieved that Chitãozinho & Xororó had finally been shut off.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The only problem was her word choice. I understood that she meant to say that the music was ‘chata’. As it turns out, the adjective ‘chato’ in Portuguese has a multitude of meanings, each calling for a different translation in English.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let’s look at some possibilities:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
1. <strong>chato</strong> = <em>entediante</em>; <em>monótono</em>; <em>desinteressante</em>; <em>sem graça</em>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a <span style="color: blue;"><strong>boring</strong></span> class. I almost fell asleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">[<span style="color: #999999;">Que aula</span> <span style="color: blue;">chata</span>. <span style="color: #999999;">Eu quase dormi.</span>]</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t like the living room. It’s <strong><span style="color: blue;">boring</span></strong>. We need to get some decoration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">[<span style="color: #999999;">Não gostei da sala de estar. Ela está</span> <span style="color: blue;">sem graça</span>. <span style="color: #999999;">A gente precisa arrumar alguns enfeites.</span><span style="color: black;">]</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
2. <strong>chato</strong> = <em>irritante; enervante; incômodo; azucrinante.</em><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have this <strong><span style="color: blue;">annoying</span></strong> pain in my feet.</span> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(to annoy = irritar)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">[<span style="color: #999999;">Estou com uma dorzinha</span> <span style="color: blue;">chata</span> <span style="color: #999999;">nos pés</span>]</span><br />
<br />
<br />
3. <strong>chato</strong> = <em>embaraçoso; desconcertante</em>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn’t remember her name. What an <span style="color: blue;"><strong>awkward</strong></span> / <span style="color: blue;"><strong>embarrassing</strong></span> situation!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">[<span style="color: #999999;">Eu não lembrava o nome dela. Que situação</span> <span style="color: blue;">chata</span>!]</span><br />
<br />
<br />
4. <strong>chato</strong> = <em>exigente; difícil de satisfazer</em>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My daughter is a <strong><span style="color: blue;">picky</span></strong> eater.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">[<span style="color: #999999;">Minha filha é</span> <span style="color: blue;">chata</span> <span style="color: #999999;">para comer.</span>]</span><br />
<br />
<br />
5. <strong>chato</strong> = <em>pessoa inoportuna</em>. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a <strong><span style="color: blue;">pain</span></strong> that guy is. Why does he always have to tell his stupid jokes?</span><br />
[<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Que cara chato! Por que será que ele sempre tem que contar uma piada</span> <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: blue;">sem graça</span><span style="color: #999999;">?</span>]</span><br />
<br />
<br />
As for the lady sitting next to us at the café, what she probably meant to say about Chitãozinho & Xororó was that they were <strong><span style="color: blue;">annoying</span></strong>. A possible phrase she could have used is:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“How <strong><span style="color: blue;">annoying</span></strong> they are!”</span><br />
<br />
<br />
That’s it, folks! Till next time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-89773565242801448902010-07-27T22:26:00.005-03:002010-08-27T08:45:24.135-03:00To Tune Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUWFguW6OjpC2r4HIos8Wfo_HXJfWATkams_9AiCGy_gXFgCKRsM-U-roPpGDMqqZ3oi7ItM1CP4-ABZ09BKPR_Bc6_OnFwhv_eXLpftrgWDxISfOP_sPE2z2wU1oWlTWaKyBn11BebI/s1600/1184961-6126-atm17%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUWFguW6OjpC2r4HIos8Wfo_HXJfWATkams_9AiCGy_gXFgCKRsM-U-roPpGDMqqZ3oi7ItM1CP4-ABZ09BKPR_Bc6_OnFwhv_eXLpftrgWDxISfOP_sPE2z2wU1oWlTWaKyBn11BebI/s320/1184961-6126-atm17%5B1%5D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A couple of days ago, I was teaching a <strong>class over brunch</strong> at a café near my place. The TV was on, showing a variety show where Brazilian country music stars <strong>Chitãozinho & Xororó</strong> were performing apparently in celebration of the duet’s 40th career anniversary. And it was kind of loud, too, to the point where you could hear some customers complaining <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/under_one's_breath">under their breath</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My student/friend (or should I say friend/student – well, you get the point!) joked that she might have trouble concentrating. I told her that maybe we should try to just <span style="color: blue;"><strong>tune out</strong></span> the music.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To<strong><span style="color: blue;"> tune out</span></strong> means to <strong>ignore</strong> or <strong>stop paying attention</strong> <strong>to</strong> what is happening around you. It is an <strong>informal</strong> verb.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We proceeded to have a class, trying as hard as we could to <strong><span style="color: blue;">tune out</span></strong> the music <a href="http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/blare">blaring</a> out from the TV set.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can say that you <strong>tune </strong><em>something/someone</em><strong> out</strong>, <strong>tune out </strong><em>something/someone</em> or that you just <strong>tune out</strong>. Here are more examples:</div><ul><li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Most kids will just <strong>tune out</strong> when their parents start to preach.</div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Many paulistanos <strong>tune out</strong> <em>the city</em> by tuning in to iPods and cellphones.</div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I knew he was <strong>tuning out</strong> because when I asked his opinion he had no idea what I was talking about.</div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Once Mark gets going about cars, I just completely <strong>tune</strong> <em>him</em> <strong>out</strong>.</div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">A bored student will simply <strong>tune out</strong>.</div></li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-5367917087450071492010-07-11T23:20:00.007-03:002010-07-12T13:17:06.346-03:00To Pick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhndx69RoIaI62NnxwJuw4XBygF8jUcNI8U6YL3mZ2PNaQU0Jp1-7mUUFqcRhvMLwmPTSK6-W-uzCsgERJx9dk5alqhDirQAL_G3gK8Iym2Xs0MY0dzqGPAxqIPvrmfOD5r3h1x2ekT2A/s1600/ept_sports_sow_experts-289140584-1278882678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhndx69RoIaI62NnxwJuw4XBygF8jUcNI8U6YL3mZ2PNaQU0Jp1-7mUUFqcRhvMLwmPTSK6-W-uzCsgERJx9dk5alqhDirQAL_G3gK8Iym2Xs0MY0dzqGPAxqIPvrmfOD5r3h1x2ekT2A/s320/ept_sports_sow_experts-289140584-1278882678.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So we have a World Cup winner! Or should I say <strong><em>two</em></strong> winners.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Eight <strong><span style="color: blue;">picks</span></strong>, eight <strong>correct</strong>, eight <strong>tentacles</strong>. <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iCwQ724IzlBcIoCSGI-urRbUTsKg">Paul the Oracle Octopus</a> achieved worldwide <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/stardom">stardom</a> after breaking a prognostic record during the 2010 World Cup. Let's be honest, all Paul really knew or cared about was <a href="http://www.openenglishworld.com/the-weekly-idiom/the-weekly-idiom-to-grab-a-bite-to-eat.html">grabbing a bite to eat</a> when he <span style="color: blue;"><strong>picked</strong></span> his meal from flag-covered boxes. His mark is impressive <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/nonetheless">nonetheless</a>, and it makes Paul a true winner. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let's just hope our new celebrity does not end up on someone's plate in Spain or Italy, two of the countries competing to buy the Oracle Octopus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The verb <span style="color: blue;"><strong>to pick</strong></span> is commonly used to mean the same as <strong>to choose</strong>. In my experience as a teacher of English, I have noticed that Brazilian learners tend not to, well, pick the verb <strong><span style="color: blue;">to pick</span></strong> when they want to say "escolher" in English. I can't quite explain why this is so.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The verbs <strong>to pick</strong> and <strong>to choose</strong> are very close in meaning. Some speakers would argue that <strong>to choose</strong> is <strong>more formal</strong> in tone than <strong>to pick</strong> and that it involves <strong>more careful consideration</strong> than <strong>to pick</strong> does. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For example, a man asking a woman to marry him would probably say, "I have <strong>chosen</strong> you to be my wife, will you marry me?" This sounds <strong>more appropriate</strong> than "I have <em>picked</em> you to be my wife." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Conversely, it would probably sound <strong>more appropriate</strong> to say, "As a kid, I was always the last one <strong>to be picked</strong> to play soccer with my friends."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Again, this is just a <strong>general rule</strong> and <strong>different speakers</strong> are likely to have <strong>different opinions</strong> on this. It is always a good idea to <strong>pay attention to the context</strong> in which this verb is being used. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the example of Paul the Oracle Octopus, there is a tendency to use the verb <strong><span style="color: blue;">to pick</span></strong> when we are talking about who we think will <strong>win a competition</strong>. For example: </div><ul><li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I <strong><span style="color: blue;">picked</span></strong> Carlos to win Big Brother right during the first week of the show because he seemed to be a very diplomatic person.</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;">As with most structures in any language, <strong>context is king</strong> here. All you have to do is observe attentively. It's easy and fun!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>additional information</u>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <strong>noun form</strong> of the verb to pick is <strong><span style="color: blue;">a pick</span></strong>, as in the sentence talking about Paul the Oracle Octopus: </div><ul><li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">"Eight <strong><span style="color: blue;">picks</span></strong>, eight correct, eight tentacles." </div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;">The <strong>noun form</strong> of the verb to choose is <strong><span style="color: blue;">choice</span></strong>, as in:</div><ul><li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">You have to do this now. You don't have a <span style="color: blue;"><strong>choice</strong></span>!</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We can use <strong>both verbs together</strong> and have the expression <strong><span style="color: blue;">to pick and choose</span></strong>, meaning to choose <strong>with great care</strong> or <strong>to be selective</strong>. For example:</div><ul><li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I love to go to the clothes store early in the morning when it's quiet, so I can take my sweet time and <strong><span style="color: blue;">pick and choose</span></strong> what I want to buy. </div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">In this world you have to take what life gives you, you can't <strong><span style="color: blue;">pick and choose</span></strong>.</div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Martha is so beautiful that she can <span style="color: blue;"><strong>pick and choose</strong></span> her boyfriends.</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/pick">Cick here</a> for other meanings ot the verb <strong><span style="color: blue;">to pick</span></strong>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-41225271772769931582010-07-04T23:19:00.004-03:002010-07-11T12:54:44.705-03:00DisgracefulMuch of the <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/blame">blame</a> for Brazil’s <strong>World Cup exit</strong> has been placed on Juventus midfielder, Felipe Melo. During Brazil’s defeat against The Netherlands, Melo was sent off following a <strong><span style="color: blue;">disgraceful</span></strong> stamp on Dutch winger (=ala), Robben. <br />
<br />
The <strong>adjective</strong> <span style="color: blue;"><strong>disgraceful</strong></span> derives from the <strong>noun</strong> <em><span style="color: blue;">a disgrace</span></em>. This is a <a href="http://www.sk.com.br/sk-fals.html">false cognate</a> in English. The word <span style="color: blue;"><strong>disgrace</strong></span> may look like it means “desgraça” in Portuguese, but it translates as “vergonha” instead. <strong>Synonyms</strong> include ‘<em><strong>dishonor’</strong></em>, ‘<em><strong>discredit’</strong></em> and ‘<em><strong>shame’</strong></em>.<br />
<ul><li>Felipe Melo faced public <strong><span style="color: blue;">disgrace</span></strong> after the incident.</li>
</ul><br />
The word <strong><span style="color: blue;">disgrace</span></strong> is also used to refer to something that is <strong>not acceptable</strong> or <strong>right</strong>.<br />
<ul><li>The country’s health care system is a national <strong><span style="color: blue;">disgrace</span></strong>.</li>
</ul><br />
These are <strong>other ways</strong> we can use <strong><span style="color: blue;">disgrace</span></strong> in a phrase:<br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: black;">bring disgrace on</span>…</em></strong> -> He <strong>brought disgrace on</strong> his country.<br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: black;">in disgrace</span></em></strong> -> The team arrived in Brazil <strong>in disgrace</strong> after their World Cup exit.<br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: black;">an absolute disgrace</span></em></strong> -> It is <strong>an absolute disgrace</strong> that the government does nothing about this social problem.<br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: black;">no disgrace</span></em></strong> -> There’s <strong>no disgrace</strong> in not winning the World Cup. // It is <strong>no disgrace</strong> to be poor.<br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: black;">to be a disgrace to</span></em></strong> -> Politicians <strong>are a disgrace to</strong> this country.<br />
<br />
<br />
The adjective <strong><span style="color: blue;">disgraceful</span></strong> therefore translates as “vergonhoso”. These are the <strong>words we normally use</strong> with disgraceful:<br />
<br />
We generally talk about a <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">disgraceful</span><strong> <span style="color: black;">behavior</span></strong></span>, a disgraceful <strong><span style="color: black;">conduct</span></strong>, a disgraceful <strong><span style="color: black;">situation</span></strong>, a disgraceful <strong><span style="color: black;">mistake</span></strong>, a disgraceful <strong><span style="color: black;">act</span></strong>, disgraceful <strong><span style="color: black;">manners</span></strong> – and similar ideas. Synonyms include <strong><em>dishonorable</em></strong>, <strong><em>shameful</em></strong> and <strong><em>infamous</em></strong>.<br />
<br />
Words in English that mean “desgraça” include <strong>misfortune</strong> and <strong>catastrophe</strong>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-64889986968538655262010-06-26T12:01:00.005-03:002010-06-26T12:03:54.299-03:00A Whole New Ball GameThe show must go on, so back to the World Cup! <br />
<br />
From now on, no more playing 90 minutes of a <strong>defensive game</strong>. No more <strong>holding on for a scoreless draw</strong> until fans are <a href="http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/be+bored+to+tears">bored to tears</a>. Or so we expect!<br />
<br />
The <strong>knockout stage</strong> of the tournament has just begun. It’s <strong>all or nothing</strong> now: either teams win the match or they go back home. They'd better show what they’ve got now, because<span style="color: blue;"><strong> </strong><span style="color: black;">it’s </span><strong>a whole new ball game</strong></span>.<br />
<br />
If something is <strong><span style="color: blue;">a whole new ball game</span></strong>, it is completely <strong>different from</strong>, or <strong>much more difficult than</strong>, it was before. Here are more examples:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Setting up you own company is the easy part of the process. Staying in business is <span style="color: blue;"><strong>a whole new ball game</strong></span>.</li>
<li>If you’ve only experienced Montreal in the winter, summer is <span style="color: blue;"><strong>a whole new ball game</strong></span>.</li>
<li>Now it’s <strong><span style="color: blue;">a whole new ball game</span></strong> because of the world crisis that impacts everybody.</li>
<li>When the smoking ban takes effect next year it’ll be <strong><span style="color: blue;">a whole ball game</span></strong> for bar goers.</li>
<li>Our company has been very successful in Europe, but entering Asia is <span style="color: blue;"><strong>a whole new ball game</strong></span>. It is going to be very challenging.</li>
</ul><br />
That’s it. Let’s hope Brazil does well in this whole new ball game that the World Cup has entgered. <br />
<br />
Till next time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-77600572100066551492010-06-25T23:38:00.025-03:002010-06-26T12:08:18.525-03:00This Is It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.outracoisa.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/michael-jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ru="true" src="http://www.outracoisa.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/michael-jackson.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">A year ago today the world lost <a href="http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/arguably">arguably</a> the greatest pop music artist of all time. And this is the way I found to pay a little tribute to Michael Jackson: In Michael Jackson-style I take a short break from the special World Cup series to make way for the king of pop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Michael Jackson died before he got to present his last tour, <a href="http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/aptly">aptly</a> titled “This Is It”. During <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiDNMhETTeU">the announcement he made</a> on March 5, 2009 for the concerts that never happened, he stated:</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">These will be my final show performances </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">in London. </span></em></div><div style="text-align: right;"><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This will be it. This is it. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And when I say this is it, </span></em></div><div style="text-align: right;"><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">it really means </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">this is it. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Because uhm... </span></em></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>I will be performing the songs my fans want to hear. </em></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>This is it. I mean, this is really it. </em></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>This is the final curtain call.</em></span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Michael Jackson was calling it the final moment in his career – <em>the final <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/netdict/curtain%20call">curtain call</a></em>. “<span style="color: blue;"><strong>This is it</strong></span>” he says, in a reference to the name of his upcoming tour.<br />
<br />
The expression <strong><span style="color: blue;">This is it</span></strong>, as you can tell by now, is used to refer to a crucial or climatic event or action. Here are more examples:<br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(A <em>TV sports commentator talking about the World Cup final on July 11</em>): </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"<strong><span style="color: blue;">This is it</span></strong>, folks! This is the historic day when archrivals Brazil and Argentina are face to face for the first time ever at a World Cup final match!"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When the judges told me to get on stage and perform to them I thought, “<span style="color: blue;"><strong>This is it</strong></span>.”</span></li>
</ul><br />
<br />
These are other related meanings of this expression.<br />
<br />
<strong>1.</strong> An important or relevant moment or place has arrived:<br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"<strong><span style="color: blue;">This is it</span></strong>. This is my stop. I have to get off the bus</span>."</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“<strong><span style="color: blue;">This is it</span></strong>,” the guide said, pointing to a house. “This is exactly where Michael Jackson was born.”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>A:</strong> Wow, this place looks so weird. Are you sure <strong><span style="color: blue;">this is it</span></strong>? </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>B:</strong> Yes, they said the restaurant does look weird but that the food is great.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Well, I guess <strong><span style="color: blue;">this is it</span></strong>,” he said. I hugged him and said, “Goodbye, Al. See you one day.” </span></li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<strong>2.</strong> Used to refer to a perfect or final situation, thing or person:<br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"<strong><span style="color: blue;">This is it</span></strong>, man. Take it or leave it!"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If there is a right time and a right place to discuss this issue, <span style="color: blue;"><strong>this is it</strong></span>!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When I finished reading her script, I thought, “<strong><span style="color: blue;">This is it</span></strong>! This is the script I’ve been looking for!”</span></li>
</ul><br />
<br />
This is it for now, folks! See y’all next time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-86901540559266847922010-06-24T01:14:00.004-03:002010-06-25T23:38:15.916-03:00Uncalled-for<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZyFmGq6xQilWgjbSqf5WdfLgedRNivWA4nFr4Nm4b10WxUnvnx3ynEMQx9_e_FlAE_bJ6pnAbVWcvETxyYS9lywEP8CuU2rLeKdb_CMVTB7txG00ei6ZLFkxF_qoNltZQio91oNzofU/s1600/parreiraedomenech-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZyFmGq6xQilWgjbSqf5WdfLgedRNivWA4nFr4Nm4b10WxUnvnx3ynEMQx9_e_FlAE_bJ6pnAbVWcvETxyYS9lywEP8CuU2rLeKdb_CMVTB7txG00ei6ZLFkxF_qoNltZQio91oNzofU/s320/parreiraedomenech-300.jpg" /></a>Never at a World Cup have the coaches attracted so much media attention. And often times for <strong>the wrong reasons</strong>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two cases in point are Brazil’s Dunga and France’s Raymond Domenech, whose <strong>arrogance</strong> and <strong>hostility </strong>toward members of the press and fellow managers, respectively, have been met with <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/harsh">harsh</a> criticism from fans and the media alike. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Their attitude has been considered by many as <strong><span style="color: blue;">uncalled-for</span></strong>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The adjective <strong><span style="color: blue;">uncalled-for</span></strong> is used to refer to <strong>behavior</strong> or <strong>attitude</strong> that we believe is <strong><em>inappropriate</em></strong>, <strong><em>offensive</em></strong> or <strong><em>insulting</em></strong>. A <strong>rude comment</strong>, <strong>unfair treatment</strong> or <strong>an angry attitude</strong> that we believe is <strong>gratuitous</strong> and <strong>unnecessary</strong> are all examples of behavior that is considered <span style="color: blue;"><strong>uncalled-for</strong></span>. </div><br />
Therefore, one can say that Dunga’s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nvIdl_NQ5U">swearing under his breath</a> at a post-match press conference was <strong><span style="color: blue;">uncalled-for</span></strong>. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBSTSKrtz4c">Domenech’s refusal to shake hands</a> with the World Cup champion coach, Parreira, was equally <strong><span style="color: blue;">uncalled-for</span></strong>.<br />
<br />
Watch <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT5hzn4kDQM">this scene</a> from Two And a Half Men and decide whether Charlie’s attitude at <strong>00:35</strong> is <span style="color: blue;"><strong>uncalled-for</strong></span>.<br />
<br />
That’s it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-724701618793544422010-06-22T12:51:00.008-03:002010-06-22T15:51:28.811-03:00Underachieving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0JYNQoA4ANTzX5cnZraxuwfZ4utC-CBhuqKV4JGX1K5Ir1KrVpi46Mq5K1nNPy-2Cla4G3V0SLV6aWDczL2XsPLwYgHB3ab0phWjy8NRrE59d-daHInDISGBLVeMu5Nu03j3sd92Nnk/s1600/539w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0JYNQoA4ANTzX5cnZraxuwfZ4utC-CBhuqKV4JGX1K5Ir1KrVpi46Mq5K1nNPy-2Cla4G3V0SLV6aWDczL2XsPLwYgHB3ab0phWjy8NRrE59d-daHInDISGBLVeMu5Nu03j3sd92Nnk/s320/539w.jpg" width="320" /></a>The country that gave us <strong>football</strong>, home of one of the most exciting soccer leagues in the world, <strong>England</strong> arrived at the World Cup <a href="http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/rank_2">ranked</a> among the <strong>top 5 favorites</strong> to win. The <a href="http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/drab">drab</a> and uninspiring performance they have put in so far however leaves <strong>little hope</strong> that they will even move on to <strong>the next stage</strong>. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">After a <strong>1-1 draw with the U.S</strong>. and a <strong>scoreless draw with Algeria</strong>, the English team went from a sure <a href="http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/bet_2">bet</a> to <a href="http://dictionaries.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=carry.off*1+0&dict=P">carry off</a> the World Cup trophy to one of the most <span style="color: blue;"><strong>underachieving</strong></span> teams in the competition so far. It is very <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/unlikely">unlikely</a> that anyone will ever be able to explain why this should be so. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">The adjective <span style="color: blue;"><strong>underachieving</strong></span> is used to talk about someone, <strong>usually a student or athlete</strong>, who <strong>doesn’t</strong> perform as well or work as hard as they can.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">The <strong>noun form</strong> of that adjective is <strong><span style="color: blue;">underachievement</span></strong>, which is formed by the combination of the preposition ‘<em><strong>under’</strong></em> and the noun ‘<em><strong>achievement’</strong></em>. As you may know, the noun ‘<strong>achievement’</strong> translates in Portuguese as “<strong>realização</strong>”, “<strong>conquista</strong>”, “<strong>êxito</strong>” or “<strong>feito</strong>”.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">This is to say that the <strong>English team</strong> has<strong> the potential</strong> to achieve a <strong>better level of performance</strong>, but when out on the pitch the players so far have proved to form an underachieving <a href="http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/squad">squad</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">The verbal form is ‘<strong>to underachieve’</strong>, and the noun used to refer to <strong>the person that underachieves</strong> is ‘<strong>underachiever’</strong>. I can’t think of a single word in Portuguese that translates that idea, so I’ll leave the example sentences below without a version in Portuguese. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">verb - <strong>to underachieve</strong>: </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">> Socioeconomic differences may help explain why some student groups <strong><span style="color: blue;">underachieve</span></strong> in school.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">noun - <strong>underachievement</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">> The <span style="color: blue;"><strong>underachievement</strong></span> of gifted students is a big mystery.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">adjective - <strong>underachieving</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">> Brazilian singer Jorge Vercílio is considered by many to be an <strong><span style="color: blue;">underachieving</span></strong> copy of singer-songwriter Djavan.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">noun - <strong>underachiever</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">> Some people believe that, at that price, the iPhone is an <span style="color: blue;"><strong>underachiever</strong></span>.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">The <strong>opposite</strong> of the adjective <span style="color: blue;"><strong>underachieving</strong></span> is – yes you guessed it right, <span style="color: blue;"><strong>overachieving</strong></span>. It is used to describe someone or something that does better than expected. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">The noun form <strong><span style="color: blue;">overachiever</span></strong> is used to refer to a <strong>person who performs better than expected</strong>, and sometimes <strong>feels unhappy</strong> if they don’t achieve <strong>everything they want</strong>. In a way, an <strong><span style="color: blue;">overachiever</span></strong> is <strong>excessively and unhealthily</strong> dedicated to achieving success. To say that someone is an <span style="color: blue;"><strong>overachiever</strong></span> may imply that <strong>they desire more than is needed</strong>.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Here are examples using the respective forms of the verb to overachieve:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">verb – <strong>to overachieve</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">> Australia played fairly well and <strong><span style="color: blue;">overachieved</span></strong> at the last World Cup. But they have been a disaster so far at this World Cup.</div><br />
noun – <strong>overachievement</strong>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">> The fact that North Korea conceded only two goals against Brazil is considered by many as an <strong><span style="color: blue;">overachievement</span></strong>.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">adjective – <strong>overachieving</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">> If Brazil wins this World Cup, it’ll have been the least talented and the most <strong><span style="color: blue;">overachieving</span></strong> national team.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">noun – an <strong>overachiever</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">> She was an <strong><span style="color: blue;">overachiever</span></strong> who would not get married until she found the perfect father for her babies. She died alone.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">So England has been quite <strong><span style="color: blue;">underachieving</span></strong> at this World Cup. What teams do you believe are the <strong><span style="color: blue;">overachievers</span></strong> so far? </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-7452225914037776602010-06-21T17:12:00.009-03:002010-06-21T21:00:47.869-03:00The Upper Hand<div style="text-align: justify;">Sports commentators all over the world are calling Luis Fabiano’s second goal yesterday <strong>a beauty</strong> – or a “golaço”, in good Brazilian Portuguese.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yet the cameras never lie: Luis Fabiano <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/handle">handled</a> the ball as he beautifully <strong>worked his way through</strong> his opponents in the goal area and <strong>drove a shot</strong> to the back of the net. The Brazilian striker was not ready to admit to his <strong>handling the ball</strong> either when a smiling and apparently <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/lenient">lenient</a> French referee, Stephane Lannoy, approached him about it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Luis Fabiano’s handling of the ball <strong>seemed a little ironic</strong> considering the circumstances of the game: picking a <strong>French</strong> referee to officiate a match involving the <strong>French-speaking Ivory Coast</strong> clearly gave the Ivoirian players <span style="color: blue;"><strong>the upper hand</strong></span> in terms of communication.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">The upper hand</span></strong> means an <strong>advantage</strong> or <strong>superiority</strong>. This is to say that Ivory Coast’s players had a <strong>linguistic advantage</strong> as they were able to communicate with the referee in their <strong>native language</strong>. In talking to the referee in French, the Ivoirian players may very well have <strong>convinced</strong> him that Brazil’s attacker, Kaká, <strong>hit his opponent</strong> and deserved a <strong>red card</strong>. Well, let’s hope that the Ivoirian players learn to get less <strong>physical</strong> and be more <strong>skilful </strong>instead!<br />
<br />
There have been many suggestions as to the <strong>origin of the phrase</strong> ‘<strong><span style="color: blue;">the upper hand’</span></strong>, but there is no certainty as to where it really originated. We normally talk about <strong>'having</strong> the upper hand’ or ‘<strong>gaining</strong> the upper hand’. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are more examples:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul><li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Our company <strong><span style="color: blue;">has the upper hand</span></strong> because of our long experience in this business.</div></li>
<li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Right now I would <strong><span style="color: blue;">give the upper hand</span></strong> to Brazil due to their long tradition of World Cup success. As they say in Brazil, “a team’s shirt has weight” (a camisa “pesa”).</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We also use the expression ‘<strong><span style="color: blue;">the upper hand’</span></strong> <strong><em>figuratively</em></strong>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul><li><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The infection was <strong><span style="color: blue;">gaining the upper hand</span></strong> [=was becoming worse] and the patient’s condition was deteriorating.</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-76077626333441764862010-06-17T20:30:00.018-03:002010-06-18T12:05:15.370-03:00Shut Up!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1qzW22fcSyXhLm1Blm1dqIh66rigIg9V4GvH9egzZ-VH_4wT7TPX2hUslLeLTfhx6XfTKiaazAb0bqPv4V9KSbxqCqLJ2C1qMnZ80b-ezT9Da1_kI_blKGwnbdwXIasEaytB6yubmxQ/s1600/cala_boca_galvao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1qzW22fcSyXhLm1Blm1dqIh66rigIg9V4GvH9egzZ-VH_4wT7TPX2hUslLeLTfhx6XfTKiaazAb0bqPv4V9KSbxqCqLJ2C1qMnZ80b-ezT9Da1_kI_blKGwnbdwXIasEaytB6yubmxQ/s320/cala_boca_galvao.jpg" /></a>So Hawk Bueno, I mean, Gavião Bueno, I mean Galvão Bueno’s now legendary <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/penchant">penchant</a> for <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/get_on_somebody's_nerves">getting on people’s nerves</a> has <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/nyregion/16about.html">made the New York Times</a>. No less. I guess he has the World Cup to thank for his instant worldwide notoriety. Or <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/hardly">hardly</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<a href="http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/for+what+it's+worth">For what it’s worth</a>, however, he doesn’t seem any more <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/willing">willing</a> now to finally <a href="http://dictionaries.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=give.in*1+0&dict=P">give in</a> to <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/plea">pleas</a> to, well, just <span style="color: blue;"><strong>shut up</strong></span>! </div><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue;">Shut up</span></strong> is probably one of those English verbs that many non-English speakers the world over are familiar with. Maybe because it is an <strong>offensive term</strong> that people like to have <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/under_one's_belt">under their belt</a>, or maybe because <strong>commands</strong> in any foreign language are relatively easier to remember. Whatever the case, here are some more examples using it.<br />
<br />
> Can someone get that dog to <strong><span style="color: blue;">shut up</span></strong>?<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Alguém por favor faz* esse cachorro <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">calar a boca</span></em></strong>?</span><br />
<br />
> Nothing <span style="color: blue;"><strong>shuts her up</strong></span>!<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nada <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">faz ela* calar a boca</span></em></strong>!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
These are other common phrases for telling people to <strong><span style="color: blue;">shut up</span></strong> (remember, they’re all <strong>very offensive</strong>!)<br />
<br />
> “<strong><span style="color: blue;">Shut your piehole</span></strong>. You’re talking too much!” <em>(<strong>piehole</strong> is a slang term meaning ‘mouth’)</em><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">> “Can’t you just <strong><span style="color: blue;">shut your mouth</span></strong>?”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">> “Just <strong><span style="color: blue;">shut your face</span></strong> and sit down.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Additionally, <strong><span style="color: blue;">shut up</span></strong> is used as an <strong><em>expression of</em></strong> <em><strong>incredulity</strong></em>, similar to “I can’t believe it!”, “Really?”, “No way!”. This is very <em><strong>informal in tone</strong></em>, and typically used by <em><strong>young people</strong></em>. For example:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A: I just ran into Madonna in the elevator!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">B: <strong><span style="color: blue;">Shut up</span></strong>!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Or imagine someone tells you that, according to research, <strong>the number 1 vegetable</strong> consumed by <strong>young kids</strong> in the U.S. is -- peas, corn, carrots, broccoli? No... French fries! Not good, right? Check what the woman at <strong>31 seconds</strong> of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmNRykRo61g">this TV commercial</a> says.</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">By extension, <strong><span style="color: blue;">shut up</span></strong> is also used to express <strong><em>satisfaction</em></strong>, <strong><em>pleasure</em></strong>, <strong><em>approval</em></strong>, <strong><em><a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/awe">awe</a></em></strong>, or <strong><em>reverence</em></strong>. This is also very popular <strong>among young people</strong>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For instance: You’re crazy about <em>pastel</em> and <em>caldo de cana</em>, but having lived in Alaska for the last 10 years you haven’t seen any of that <strong>for ages</strong> and therefore miss it <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/sorely">sorely</a>. One day you walk into your regular <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/deli">deli</a> and find out that they’re now selling <em>pastel</em> and <em>caldo de cana</em>! In disbelief, you shout:</div><br />
“<span style="color: blue;"><strong>Shut up!</strong></span>” <br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for now! Till next time!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*Note: I deliberately chose the constructions "Alguém <strong><span style="color: blue;">faz</span> </strong>esse cachorro calar a boca" and "Nada <span style="color: blue;"><strong>faz</strong> <strong>ela</strong></span> calar a boca" over "Alguém <strong><span style="color: blue;">faça</span></strong> esse cachorro calar a boca" and "Nada <strong><span style="color: blue;">a faz</span></strong> calar a boca", respectively.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-7767599297354319252010-06-16T22:45:00.009-03:002010-06-16T22:57:28.033-03:00Lame<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FU_SmEaANiWPubKcwggqT271ECFIcWxBaNGMroRiXWubg6KV65f6tMtGxDMcBM45-giNgl3P-IplYLpkJBaMW3PCBgbhVW2Hz8h84vu1CFCmIH8mXOnbRMzFRBjUqHJeM1MgXblh4hY/s1600/pg-64-dunga-reuters_394397t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FU_SmEaANiWPubKcwggqT271ECFIcWxBaNGMroRiXWubg6KV65f6tMtGxDMcBM45-giNgl3P-IplYLpkJBaMW3PCBgbhVW2Hz8h84vu1CFCmIH8mXOnbRMzFRBjUqHJeM1MgXblh4hY/s320/pg-64-dunga-reuters_394397t.jpg" /></a>So, the big day arrived. Football fans all over the world tuned in to follow Brazil’s opener at the World Cup against a weak North Korea, expecting to watch yet another display of the “jogo bonito” by the five-time champions. Brazil came out victorious. That is cause for celebration, right? Well, <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/hardly">hardly</a>!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brazil did bring home their first 3 points of the group stage, and that would be considered mission accomplished for many teams in the world – but not for Brazil. For the green-and-yellow fans, winning alone is not enough. <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/heck">Heck</a>, winning is <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/likely">likely</a> the least important of reasons why Brazilians follow their team on TV! They expect nothing less than magic and <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/enchantment">enchantment</a> from the national team – the “jogo bonito”, remember?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What they witnessed yesterday, however, was <a href="http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+far+cry+from">a far cry from</a> a beautiful performance. <a href="http://www.yourdictionary.com/idioms/to-be-sure">To be sure</a>, Brazilians were happy that the “seleção” won the game – but it was a <span style="color: blue;"><strong>lame</strong></span> victory, they say.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here’s an interesting word – <strong><span style="color: blue;">lame</span></strong>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The adjective <strong><span style="color: blue;">lame</span></strong> is used to mean ‘”coxo”; “manco”, “aleijado” in English. It is considered <strong>an offensive word</strong> to use when <strong>talking about a person. <span style="color: blue;">Lame</span></strong> eventually came to mean <em><strong>weak</strong></em>, <em><strong>unconvincing</strong></em>, <em><strong>not smart</strong></em> or <strong><em>impressive</em></strong>. As in a <strong><span style="color: blue;">lame</span></strong> victory ("vitória <em><strong><span style="color: blue;">mixuruca</span></strong></em>") above. Here are more examples:<br />
<br />
> What a <strong><span style="color: blue;">lame</span></strong> excuse!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Que desculpa <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">esfarrapada</span></em></strong>!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
> She didn’t accept the <strong><span style="color: blue;">lame</span></strong> apology he offered for cheating on her.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ela não aceitou o pedido de desculpa <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">fajuto</span></em></strong> que ele fez por ter traído ela*.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
> What a <strong><span style="color: blue;">lame</span></strong> joke you made!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Que piada <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">mais sem graça</span></em></strong> a sua!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
>She’s nice but her boyfriend is really <strong><span style="color: blue;">lame</span></strong>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ela é legal, mas o namorado dela* <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">não está com nada</span></em></strong> / <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">é péssimo</span></em></strong></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now let’s hope that Brazil finally plays the beautiful game against the strong Ivory Coast on Sunday!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*Even in written Portuguese, I prefer the constructions "ter traído ela" and "o namorado dela" to "tê-la traído" and "seu namorado", respectively.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-13259600535060157852010-06-15T10:59:00.005-03:002010-06-15T11:31:38.415-03:00AmidSo, one of the complaints about the 2010 World Cup "star", the controversial vuvuzela, is that players cannot concentrate or communicate <span style="color: blue;"><strong>amid</strong></span> the incessant buzzing noise.<br />
<br />
The word <strong><span style="color: blue;">amid</span></strong> indicates that <strong>something that is happening</strong> is accompanied or surrounded by <strong>noisy</strong>, <strong>busy</strong> or <strong>confused events</strong>. <br />
<br />
It is more commonly used in <strong>writing</strong> and <strong>news reports</strong> – but not only. Here are some more examples and their translation in Portuguese:<br />
<br />
> The dollar has fallen in value <span style="color: blue;"><strong>amid</strong></span> rumors of weakness in the US economy.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">O dólar diminuiu de valor <span style="color: blue;">em meio</span> <span style="color: blue;">aos</span> rumores de enfraquecimento da economia americana.</span><br />
<br />
> As Corinthians scored a beauty, I sat there crying tears of joy, <strong><span style="color: blue;">amid</span></strong> the roar from the black&white crowd.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">O Poderoso Timão fez um golaço, e eu fiquei ali sentando chorando lágrimas de alegria, <span style="color: blue;">em meio ao</span> berreiro da torcida alvinegra.</span><br />
<br />
Sorry about the last example, I just couldn’t resist.<br />
<br />
One last thing about the word <span style="color: blue;"><strong>amid</strong></span> maybe is that it has a <strong>secondary sense </strong>of “in the middle of things that are <strong>not necessarily</strong> busy or noisy". It is more of a <strong>literary meaning</strong>, as illustrated below:<br />
<br />
> He sat <span style="color: blue;"><strong>amid</strong></span> the trees.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ele se sentou <span style="color: blue;">entre</span> as árvores.</span><br />
<br />
Well, as someone said once, “As árvores somos nozes!” <br />
<br />
Keep smiling, kids!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-44152034620929343382010-06-15T01:44:00.010-03:002010-06-15T02:13:40.503-03:00When In Rome...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkE_nVhePpOrae0YYkK6swZH8WkB0X3It_0auHyH4PreRjZHYu-gVphWYURrCuOje1uE5tiO1uY5x7qAyvX1uUWtGtv5X086i2XehBpEqBHdfBVDF_nfCPc4i0qZnvP0CZhdaq_vbpl40/s1600/0,,4440973_1,00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkE_nVhePpOrae0YYkK6swZH8WkB0X3It_0auHyH4PreRjZHYu-gVphWYURrCuOje1uE5tiO1uY5x7qAyvX1uUWtGtv5X086i2XehBpEqBHdfBVDF_nfCPc4i0qZnvP0CZhdaq_vbpl40/s320/0,,4440973_1,00.jpg" /></a></div>So, here we are in the early stage of the World Cup, an event most of the world has waited four years. <br />
<br />
And just when you thought the focus would be on the <strong>international stars</strong> playing <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/first-rate">first-rate</a> soccer in the field, a lot of the attention has been divided with the vuvuzelas – plastic, brightly colored <strong>horns</strong> that probably cost no more than a few <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/buck">bucks</a> each. But, boy, what <strong>noisemakers</strong> they are!<br />
<br />
Fans at soccer stadiums blow them nonstop, creating a <strong>continuous buzz</strong> that can be heard on television broadcasts every second of the games.<br />
<br />
Much controversy has been <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/stir">stirred</a> around these trivial instruments. Even FIFA, the soccer’s governing body that had <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/previous">previously</a> allowed vuvuzelas into stadiums at the World Cup, is expected to <strong>hold talks</strong> over the next few days to discuss <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/whether">whether</a> to reverse the policy and implement a ban.<br />
<br />
Those <strong>in favor</strong> of the <strong>vuvuzela ban</strong> argue that they are <strong>killing the color and atmosphere</strong> of a soccer match, as the <strong>wall of sound</strong> that the vuvuzelas create has taken away the <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/chanting">chanting</a> and singing at the stadiums, and even the typical <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/roar">roar</a> from fans after a goal is scored – it is just one incessant noise now! Furthermore, players have complained they are <strong>having trouble concentrating</strong> and communicating in the field.<br />
<br />
Those <strong>against</strong> the ban argue that vuvuzelas have been part of the South African soccer culture for many years now. Banning the vuvuzelas would be <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/ethnocentric">ethnocentric</a>, an action <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/akin">akin to</a> banning the chants from fans at soccer stadiums in Europe – not a good idea! This is South Africa, they say, and the rest of the world should behave as the South African fans do. As the <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/saying">saying</a> goes, <a href="http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/when+in+rome,+do+as+the+romans+do.html">When in Rome...</a><br />
<br />
What’s your <strong>opinion</strong>? Do you think vuvuzelas should be banned, or do you think fans from all over the world and the players alike should just <a href="http://dictionaries.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=put.up.with*1+0&dict=P">put up with</a> them?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-75566921303953299142010-06-14T11:51:00.009-03:002010-06-16T11:44:15.177-03:00To Make<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdh_tmxutUaG9ghTwjhdHspqxUY5dS2VIwtt6tULhfltxksnUZ6c9LuBTyJpLWwXN3emkprAH7f5suc0Fum_SudI2y0Ij_VteIwH8HrVWwC9W3QcRZt_1Gw3R7d9jhNSUeW-_dfoKKms/s1600/camisa-selecao-brasileira.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdh_tmxutUaG9ghTwjhdHspqxUY5dS2VIwtt6tULhfltxksnUZ6c9LuBTyJpLWwXN3emkprAH7f5suc0Fum_SudI2y0Ij_VteIwH8HrVWwC9W3QcRZt_1Gw3R7d9jhNSUeW-_dfoKKms/s200/camisa-selecao-brasileira.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Did you know that a total of 69 players were used during Brazil’s World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign? That number is almost enough to make up 6 teams, each one complete with 7 reserves on the bench! </div><br />
But only 23 of those players <span style="color: blue;"><strong>made</strong></span> the final <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/roster">roster</a>.<br />
<br />
The verb <strong>to make</strong> has multiple senses. A major “umbrella of meaning” of this verb connotes the idea of <strong>creating</strong>, <strong>building</strong>, <strong>producing</strong> and <strong>preparing</strong>. For example:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>to make a <strong>fire</strong> / a <strong>dress</strong> / a <strong>cake</strong> / <strong>cars</strong> / <strong>noise</strong> / a <strong>mistake</strong>, etc.</li>
</ul><br />
Another broad “umbrella of meaning” of the verb <span style="color: blue;"><strong>to make</strong> </span>has to do with the idea of <em><strong>arriving somewhere</strong></em> or <strong><em>being able to reach a place</em></strong> – and, by extension, <em><strong>being successful in something</strong></em>, being <strong><em>accepted into a group</em></strong>. This is the meaning used in the sentence “only 23 players <span style="color: blue;"><strong>made</strong></span> the final roster” above. Here are more examples:<br />
<br />
I don’t know if I’ll be able to <span style="color: blue;"><strong>make</strong></span> that meeting.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[Não sei se vou conseguir <span style="color: blue;">ir</span> à reunião]</span><br />
<br />
We just <strong><span style="color: blue;">made</span></strong> our flight.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[<span style="color: blue;">Chegamos a tempo</span> de pegar nosso voo]</span><br />
<br />
As the gatekeeper closed the gate behind us, Maria looked at me and said, “Dude, we just <strong><span style="color: blue;">made</span></strong> it!” I took that as a sign that we’d do well on the college entrance exam.”<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[Quando o porteiro fechou o portão logo que entramos, a Maria olhou pra mim e disse: “Cara, <span style="color: blue;">entramos</span> <span style="color: blue;">por pouco</span>!” Eu tomei aquilo como sinal de que iríamos fazer uma boa prova de vestibular.]</span><br />
<br />
The team <strong><span style="color: blue;">made</span></strong> the play-offs last year.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[O time <span style="color: blue;">chegou</span> às finais no ano passado]</span><br />
<br />
<br />
The phrase <strong>‘to make it’</strong> is also used to mean:<br />
<br />
1. to reach a place or a goal:<br />
<br />
“Hey, Martha! I’m glad you could <span style="color: blue;"><strong>make it</strong></span> to the party”<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[E aí, Martha! Que bom que você <span style="color: blue;">pôde vir</span> à festa!”]</span><br />
<br />
If we hurry, we can still <strong><span style="color: blue;">make it home</span></strong> before dark.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[Se corrermos, ainda conseguimos <span style="color: blue;">chegar em casa</span> antes de escurecer]</span><br />
<br />
<br />
2. to not fail or die; to survive:<br />
<br />
Many new businesses <span style="color: blue;"><strong>don’t make it</strong></span> through their first year.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[Muitas empresas novas <strong><span style="color: blue;">não conseguem sobreviver</span></strong> o primeiro ano.]</span><br />
<br />
He’s very sick. The doctors don’t think <strong><span style="color: blue;">he’s going to make it</span>.</strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[Ele está muito doente. Os médicos acham que ele <span style="color: blue;">não vai sobreviver</span>.] </span><br />
<br />
<br />
3. to become successful:<br />
<br />
It’s tough to succeed in this business, but if you work hard you’ll <strong><span style="color: blue;">make it</span></strong> eventually.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[É difícil se dar bem neste ramo, mas se você se esforçar, você vai <span style="color: blue;">conseguir vencer</span> mais cedo ou mais tarde]</span><br />
<br />
He <strong><span style="color: blue;">made it big</span></strong> in real estate. <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[Ele <span style="color: blue;">se deu muito bem</span> como corretor de imóvel]</span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Note: Most example sentences used here were taken from <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/">Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary</a>.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-83162085966459897012010-06-09T22:53:00.010-03:002010-06-12T18:29:20.394-03:00To Call Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8DJxrPxcWhvW37rhricSYGtL2ekRiXA0PraoKFjJaI2f5WtLFNL_cn41OIIWVPSOxz9vP3WkGQWn9CWZwo0DU6EgLmLprN1ai5ck-MjIQGK2kpGkuqDqUWecranDJ5_CLDYw7hQcy8E/s1600/adriano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8DJxrPxcWhvW37rhricSYGtL2ekRiXA0PraoKFjJaI2f5WtLFNL_cn41OIIWVPSOxz9vP3WkGQWn9CWZwo0DU6EgLmLprN1ai5ck-MjIQGK2kpGkuqDqUWecranDJ5_CLDYw7hQcy8E/s400/adriano.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The announcement last month of Brazil <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/roster">roster</a> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<em><strong><a href="http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=roster">pronunciation</a></strong></em>*) </span>for the World Cup was <em>nothing shy of</em><span style="font-size: x-small;">**</span> media show. Sports commentators and analysts nationwide placed their bets on what players they thought would be <span style="color: blue;"><strong>called up</strong></span>, and helped fuel an already lively debate that was <a href="http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/be+on+everyone's+lips">on everyone’s lips</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much anticipation was built up that a significant part of the media treated the day of the announcement as the equivalent of a presidential inauguration. It’s official: we live in soccer land! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the end, the absence of Adriano, who had been constantly <span style="color: blue;"><strong>called up</strong></span> by Dunga in recent matches, and Santos' celebrated <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/prodigy">prodigies</a>, Neymar and Ganso, frustrated a considerable portion of both the fans and the media. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>To be called up</strong></span>, as used in the context above, means to be asked to <strong>join a group</strong>, such as the <strong>army</strong> or a <strong>sports team</strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read these examples:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ronaldinho hasn’t been <span style="color: blue;"><strong>called up</strong></span> for Brazil’s national team since April 2009.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">[Ronaldinho não tem sido <span style="color: blue;">convocado</span> para a seleção desde abril de 2009.]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The government <span style="color: blue;"><strong>called up</strong></span> the National Guard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">[O Governo <span style="color: blue;">convocou</span> a Guarda Nacional.]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The noun form of ‘<span style="color: blue;">to call up</span>’ is, well ‘<strong><span style="color: blue;">call-up</span></strong>’. For example:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Felipe Melo was ecstatic over the <strong><span style="color: blue;">call-up</span></strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">[Felipe Melo estava em êxtase por causa de sua <span style="color: blue;">convocação</span>.]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grafite earned his first <span style="color: blue;"><strong>call-up</strong></span> for the World Cup.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">[Grafite ganhou sua primeira <span style="color: blue;">convocação</span> para a Copa do mundo.]</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
PS: <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*to hear the word, <strong>mouse over</strong> the entry <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>in pink</strong></span> listed on the <strong>left-hand column</strong>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">**<strong>nothing shy of</strong> = <em>is the perfect description of</em></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-89234364293438983572010-06-05T12:30:00.018-03:002010-06-07T11:43:00.900-03:00Track RecordBrazil’s coach, Dunga, has been under <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/harsh">harsh</a> criticism for a number of technical reasons, like making a conservative selection that <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/lack">lacks</a> <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/flair">flair</a> and inspiration, and for a few personal reasons as well, including his <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/grumpy">grumpy</a> attitude towards the press, a recent faux-pas involving an <a href="http://blogdomarcelofernandes.blogspot.com/2010/05/o-dunga-com-o-lula-de-mao-no-bolso.html">awkward handshake</a> with President Lula, and even <a href="http://saojoaquimonline.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dunga_sc.jpg">his questionable sense of fashion</a>.<br />
<br />
But the man has proven he deserves credit. For one thing, he has shown consistency in his decisions since taking over as Brazil’s coach in 2006 (<a href="http://extraenglishclasses.blogspot.com/2010/06/stick-to-with.html">see previous post</a>). Moreover, Dunga’s excellent <strong><span style="color: blue;">track record</span></strong>, including a win at last year’s <a href="http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/index.html">Confederations Cup</a> and a top-place finish in the South American World-Cup qualifiers, has <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/earn">earned</a> him the respect he needs to motivate his players to do a good job in South Africa.<br />
<br />
So, based on Dunga’s <span style="color: blue;"><strong>track record</strong></span>, Brazil <a href="http://dictionary.babylon.com/stand_a_chance/">stands a good chance</a> of winning the World Cup.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">As you may have guessed by now</span><span style="color: black;">,</span> <strong>track record</strong></span> means the past performance of a person or organization that can be used to judge what that person or organization is likely to do in the future. <br />
<br />
Here are more examples:<br />
<br />
Brazil has a <strong><span style="color: blue;">track record</span></strong> of underestimating so-called weaker sides and this could be their undoiing if they're not careful.<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">[A seleção tem como <span style="color: blue;"><strong>retrospecto</strong></span> subestimar os times teoricamente mais fracos, e </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">por isso o Brasil pode desmoronar se não tomar cuidado.]</span><br />
<br />
Check out the company’s <strong><span style="color: blue;">track record</span></strong>, past and present clients and references before hiring them.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">[Verifique o <span style="color: blue;"><strong>histórico</strong></span> da empresa, seus clientes antigos e atuais, além de suas referências, antes de contratá-la] </span><br />
<br />
Brazil has a strong <strong><span style="color: blue;">track record</span></strong> on addressing HIV/AIDS. <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">[O Brasil tem forte <strong><span style="color: blue;">tradição</span></strong> no combate ao HIV/AIDS.]</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
The expression <strong><span style="color: blue;">track record</span></strong> is informal in tone. <br />
<br />
É isso aí!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-1765173781406425112010-06-04T23:47:00.030-03:002010-06-12T18:34:35.348-03:00To Stick To / WithThis is the first of a series of FIFA World Cup-themed posts that I will be writing to celebrate the upcoming tournament in South Africa.<br />
<br />
Brazil’s coach, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunga">Dunga</a>, has taken plenty of <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/flak">flak</a> for not having selected many star players for the World Cup. If there is one thing Dunga can’t be criticized for, however, is his consistency with his previous decisions. Indeed, he has <strong><span style="color: blue;">stuck with</span></strong> basically the same group of players since replacing Carlos Alberto Parreira as coach.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5lnCrloKRpurTNO-3O-L-IzbGVHsvt_plPiNIWg_W3SKwaXZ_T45Co9XH6-_DoiWlLOEztNIi_9DNyDZ9OZvqL4q-bxk7iS2h-G4LheTlkAKC4vjfHK3igTd72zb8lRap0MeLZKrCUQ/s1600/nova_era_dunga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5lnCrloKRpurTNO-3O-L-IzbGVHsvt_plPiNIWg_W3SKwaXZ_T45Co9XH6-_DoiWlLOEztNIi_9DNyDZ9OZvqL4q-bxk7iS2h-G4LheTlkAKC4vjfHK3igTd72zb8lRap0MeLZKrCUQ/s200/nova_era_dunga.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>To <span style="color: blue;"><strong>stick with/to</strong></span>, as used in the example above, means <em>to</em> <em>continue doing something</em>, <em>to not change something</em>, such as a <strong>principle</strong>, a <strong>plan</strong>, a <strong>promise</strong> or a <strong>decision</strong>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>Stick to</strong></span> and <strong><span style="color: blue;">stick with</span></strong> have each their own separate meanings in other contexts. <br />
<br />
However, in the context presented here (i.e.: <em><span style="color: black;">to</span> <strong>remain loyal to a principle or a plan</strong></em>) there is almost no significant difference between them. <span style="color: blue;"><strong>Stick to</strong></span> and <strong><span style="color: blue;">stick with</span></strong> convey essentially the same meaning and can be used interchangeably. <br />
<br />
This is the conjugation of the verb <strong><span style="color: blue;">to stick</span></strong>:<br />
<strong>STICK</strong> // <strong>STUCK</strong> // <strong>STUCK</strong><br />
<br />
Here are more examples:<br />
<ul><li>Instead of choosing high-profile players like Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos, Dunga <strong><span style="color: blue;">stuck with</span></strong> <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/lesser">lesser</a>-known players such as Josué and Ramires.</li>
<li>Martha's big problem is not to start a diet, but to <span style="color: blue;"><strong>stick to</strong></span> it.</li>
<li>There are a lot of new brands available, but I usually <strong><span style="color: blue;">stick with</span></strong> my usual brands. </li>
<li>You need to find a job and <span style="color: blue;"><strong>stick with</strong></span> it!</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
Both <strong><span style="color: blue;">stick to</span></strong> and <strong><span style="color: blue;">stick with</span></strong> are <strong>informal</strong> in tone. More <strong>formal alternatives</strong> include <span style="color: blue;"><em>to stay with</em></span> and <span style="color: blue;"><em>to <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/adhere">adhere to</a></em></span>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-59247393033967286242010-05-31T23:53:00.000-03:002010-06-01T17:54:33.991-03:00To Step UpIf you were born in Brazil, chances are you just can’t seem to understand baseball and what makes it so popular in the US. <br />
<br />
However, knowing just <a href="http://www.videojug.com/interview/baseball-field-basics-2">the very basics of baseball</a> might be useful when communicating in English. One such case is the baseball move that originated the phrasal verb <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">to step up</span></em></strong>, in fact a short form of the phrase <em><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">to</span> <span style="color: blue;">step up</span></strong></span><span style="color: blue;"> to the plate</span></em>. <br />
<br />
In baseball, the plate, or <strong>home plate</strong>, is where the <strong>batter</strong> ("rebatedor") receives the ball thrown in his direction. You can see the home plate <strong>at the bottom</strong> of the baseball field below:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT97oRnMXZVxiyKv16V77Gq4s_bghUV-mD2_zI912VPODUmvP2BYIrw07siI-ohiKxSJAy9iYbxCS3_l46wyKlfkiBR61hQlU0S8GwxHUlD6seEDnn5K7PV39lrseSBtyiU1lii52XrcE/s1600/softball_field_elements.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT97oRnMXZVxiyKv16V77Gq4s_bghUV-mD2_zI912VPODUmvP2BYIrw07siI-ohiKxSJAy9iYbxCS3_l46wyKlfkiBR61hQlU0S8GwxHUlD6seEDnn5K7PV39lrseSBtyiU1lii52XrcE/s320/softball_field_elements.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCZEM3ZKYA5mJjndIRHV3z2aY13qbx4JNa4essBHLkiK5pSVWGUKTB17ztuHGeu9WckB3EHwXEcGhn5GrqdJcsDmStTvB-TjKd7B7Dn15dfF8xPuIzpx2UUoDhs7p8ZHBpebWf9VpWAU/s1600/800px-David-ortiz-batters-box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCZEM3ZKYA5mJjndIRHV3z2aY13qbx4JNa4essBHLkiK5pSVWGUKTB17ztuHGeu9WckB3EHwXEcGhn5GrqdJcsDmStTvB-TjKd7B7Dn15dfF8xPuIzpx2UUoDhs7p8ZHBpebWf9VpWAU/s320/800px-David-ortiz-batters-box.jpg" /></a></div>This picture shows a <strong>batter</strong> getting ready to hit the ball. Behind the batter is a <strong>catcher,</strong> and behind the catcher is an <strong>umpire</strong> ("juiz"). <br />
<br />
<br />
See a <strong>white five-sided mat</strong> set at ground level right below the batter? That's the <strong>plate</strong>. It is made of rubber, mind you, and is used to identify the batter's position.<br />
<br />
A batter <strong>stepping up to</strong> (=moving near) the home plate is the equivalent of a <strong>soccer player</strong> stepping up to the <strong>penalty spot</strong> in a shootout ("cobrança de penalty"). <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3_ZqNHLlOk">As the crowd cheers on and the spotlights are all on him</a>, the batter needs to have quite a lot of confidence under the pressure of trying to hit the ball and score points for his team.<br />
<br />
This level of confidence when <strong>stepping up to the plate</strong> in baseball is used in other areas of life to mean "assumir responsabilidade", "não se omitir", "não se furtar da responsabilidade". For example:<br />
<ul><li>Casas Bahia's Customer Service really <strong><span style="color: blue;">stepped up to the plate</span></strong> for me and solved my problem. Their staff was respectful and in two days they shipped me a brand new TV set.</li>
</ul>Often times, people use the short form <span style="color: blue;"><strong>to step up</strong></span>:<br />
<ul><li>He finally <strong><span style="color: blue;">stepped up </span></strong>and asked her to marry him. </li>
<li>If you want this promotion, you're going to have to <strong><span style="color: blue;">step up</span></strong>. [mostrar que é capaz; fazer por onde]</li>
</ul><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJQH5RV1nBQ">In this video</a>, candidates of The Apprentice use the phrase <span style="color: blue;"><strong>to step up</strong></span> to say that they can "tomar iniciativa", "vestir a camisa" or "chamar a responsabilidade para si." <br />
<br />
That's it. Till next time!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-8468989148442978952010-05-30T23:12:00.001-03:002010-06-01T18:28:13.015-03:00Planta OvoWhenever I tell a student that the word for "berinjela" is <strong><em>eggplant</em></strong> in American English, an expression of amused surprise invaribaly comes over their face. I have to explain then that I'm absolutely not kidding.<br />
<br />
It is indeed quite comical to think of a vegetable (or a fruit, <a href="http://vegetablegardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/fruit_or_vegetable_">strictly speaking</a>) as an egg.<br />
<br />
The variety of eggplants that European traders first got in touch with in the Middle Ages were the shape and the size of chicken eggs. The name eggplant is therefore just a prosaic description.<br />
<br />
Eggplants come in a number of different colors, including a yellowish variety and a whitish variety. The egg-like variety of that vegetable can also be found in Brazil, and (surprise surpise!) is referred to as "planta ovo".<br />
<br />
I was inspired to write this post after I came across a "planta ovo" (also called "pé de ovo") at the MASP street market, in São Paulo today. I wish I had a camera (or better still, an iPhone!) handy. Here's a pic I found on the web:<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477255445132343874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGt8bP1YdLITa3BjwgQEPq3oRAEqMKrn2-kk4NutBsvt4rnVffCyOEodO7z07SBkTeIo1r3ELMfLkzAo34zdYkCnEF1Gecpxg7CKYmztCnAZvmxcGOjbAf5fbOq4jrf4dOi-H5OTZk48I/s400/p%C3%A9+de+ovo.bmp" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
I learned from the lady selling those that "planta ovo", though edible, is not normally cooked as it tastes pretty <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/bland">bland</a>. It is more commonly used as ornament.<br />
<br />
By the way, the word for eggplant is <strong><em>aubergine</em></strong> in British English.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459196049936467271.post-27582825786619389812007-09-30T16:38:00.000-03:002008-12-12T06:10:08.399-02:00VIDEO<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZNtCV6x_COgxmvSM1N_NnlcBKGgwE6NxnL0AuKUSYe8KvNMbZeskKB-U98MZrqZyRDkelSER_NNMqiG6Z3LTBZTfaOS3DxQU2S_dm8aY_F2YWRADNY9lkD8XqY7fyGYbQ8pHkKjzgYM/s1600-h/steve+pinker.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116085019977540258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZNtCV6x_COgxmvSM1N_NnlcBKGgwE6NxnL0AuKUSYe8KvNMbZeskKB-U98MZrqZyRDkelSER_NNMqiG6Z3LTBZTfaOS3DxQU2S_dm8aY_F2YWRADNY9lkD8XqY7fyGYbQ8pHkKjzgYM/s320/steve+pinker.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#009900;"><div align="right"><br />LEVEL: UPPER-ADVANCED</div><div align="right"> </div><div align="right"></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:78%;color:#009900;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;color:#009900;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div></div><div>In <a href="http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/164">this video</a> linguist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Pinker">Steve Pinker</a> analizes sentences and words to show us that the way we express our thoughts communicates more than we realize. This video will especially appeal to those who are interested in cognitive science!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1