FULL ENGLISH lesson (28) : Pinch of Salt / Negotiate / Teeth idioms / it or it's? and much more...

Surprise – surprise! It’s me. Were you expecting me, or did you think someone else

would pop up on your screen? Welcome to another Full English lesson. Coming to you from the

birthplace of… Rod Stewart, Frasier’s Dad, Benjamin Britten, Rod Temperton.

What! You don’t know who Rod Temperton was? He only wrote some of the biggest songs in popular

music history, the most successful of which was ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson.

But I digress. So without any more musical chit-chat and song writing shenanigans, let’s get

on with today’s Full English lesson right…

now!

Do you ever take things with ‘a pinch of salt’? This expression is used when you

are doubtful of the truth of something you’ve heard. A much talked about news story or a

piece of local gossip from a neighbour might be taken with a pinch of salt. The story seems

made up, fabricated, and fake. You take what you’ve been told with a pinch of salt.

"I have heard that Misterduncan is getting married, although I’m inclined to take it with a pinch of salt."

This expression is used when you want to show that you disbelieve

something you’ve heard. Don’t’ believe everything you hear. Sometimes you must take

what you hear or read with a pinch of salt. The origins of the phrase are unclear, however

many believe that the expression comes from the similarity between the Latin word for

‘wit’ and the word for ‘salt’. To doubt or distrust what you hear with a pinch

of ‘wit’ (or humour), becomes a pinch of salt.

The English language can be very confusing, especially when it comes to grammar and punctuation.

Here's a good example of that confusion. For what reason do you use an apostrophe in the word 'its'?

This particular confusion occurs with native speakers, as well

as those learning it as a second language. The two types of uses are contraction and

possessive. As a contraction, there is an apostrophe added to the sentence, which shows

that the sentence in question has been shortened. Instead of ‘it is’, you put ‘it’s’.

Without the apostrophe the word becomes possessive.

To clearly show that the thing in question belongs to the subject being discussed, as in...

So there is a definite difference between these two uses. As I already mentioned, it is common

for those who use English natively to make mistakes. So the next time you make a small

error whilst speaking English, you can reassure yourself by remembering this phrase…

Whether you use English every day or if you’re only just starting to learn how to say,

mistakes are common and they happen either way.

Enjoy English!

I love receiving your questions, so today I would like to answer one of them.

This question comes from one of my regular viewers, Bielorrusia, who asks-

This phrase is often used as a way of expressing the action of calming

down after an emotional outburst. To regain your composure is to ‘pull yourself together’.

You collect yourself and calm down. “I cried for a few minutes, but I managed to pull myself

together before they arrived.’’ You calm yourself down by taking deep breaths.

You pull yourself together. You might tell someone who is in an emotional state –

"Oh for goodness sake, pull yourself together!’’ There is a well-known joke about a man who

goes to the doctor, believing that he is a pair of curtains and the doctor replies by

saying ‘pull yourself together’. It is a phrase that is used a lot as a way of calming

a person down. Thanks for your question Bielorrusia, it’s always nice to hear from you with your

questions and comments. You can write to me at this address…

It’s time now to take a look at another buzzword. A buzzword is a word or sentence

that is popular during a certain period of time, or is used often.

Today's buzzword is…

The word negotiate is a verb that means to obtain

or bring something about by discussion. To make something happen by formally discussing

the important points where there is disagreement is to negotiate.

"They had to negotiate a new pay deal for the employees.'' ''Some market traders are willing to negotiate the price with you."

To share disagreements with a view to making compromises and changes is

to negotiate. Sometimes it is necessary to discuss the disagreements that two or more groups have.

so they must be negotiated. To find a way through or over something,

such as an obstacle or a difficult route is to negotiate.

To transfer a cheque or bill with its benefits

to another person is to negotiate. To convert a cheque into cash or notes is to negotiate.

The noun 'negotiation' is the actual discussion where people negotiate a plan or a deal.

The word negotiate originated in Latin and

meant ''done in the course of business''. Synonyms of negotiate include - talk - discuss

- barter - confer - bargain - parley – settle. You negotiate.

There is nothing more pleasing than seeing someone smile. A smile can go a long way.

I love smiling as it gives me a chance to show off my lovely teeth. Isn’t it strange

how we take our teeth for granted? We only really appreciate them after they’ve gone.

There are many idioms relating to ‘teeth’, for example… You can ‘get your teeth into

something’. To do something with enthusiasm and passion is to get your teeth into something.

If something is rare or uncommon,

then we can say that it is like ‘hen’s teeth’. “The honesty of a politician is

as common as ‘hen’s teeth’.” The meaning being that a hen has no teeth. To be annoyed

by something, to the point where you cannot take it anymore. You can be ‘sick to your

back teeth’. “Your constant complaining is making me sick to my back teeth.’’

To start out as a newcomer, or to learn as you go along is to ‘cut your teeth’.

"I spent 5 years in the justice department, cutting my teeth as a lawyer.’’

Teeth can be described as ‘gnashers’ – ‘choppers’ – ‘ivories’ – ‘pearly whites’ - ‘chompers’.

If a person has big teeth, then we might describe them as looking like ‘tombstones’.

Look after your teeth, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Oh! …how can this be? We have come to the end of another Full English lesson, but don’t

worry, do not fear because I will be back again with another video lesson very soon.

Don’t forget to subscribe and activate the notification so you will never miss out on

another lesson, be it live or recorded. This is Misterduncan in the birthplace of English,

that is of course England, saying thanks for watching, stay happy and of course…

ta ta for now.