Merry Languages

I first met with English when I was in a small settlement near the town of Engels, Saratov region in Russia. With the beginning of the Second World war in 1941 we were evacuated from Leningrad and soon we settled in that small industrial settlement, called Myasokombinat. There I went to school in 1942  and with the end of the war we returned to Leningrad. We began to learn foreign languages from the 5-th form, when I was already 12. Our teacher was Dmitry Triphonovich  who taught us in a queer way. He only gave us several English words in a horrible pronunciation, such as “good morning”, “thank you”, “how do you do” and so on, that was, evidently, his very modest stock of words, and during the lessons he usually just was sitting in the teacher’s place and the class had fun and pupils amused themselves in their own way. We had no idea of what we should be taught, and we had no text-books.

Fortunately, in the autumn of 1945 our family already returned to Leningrad, where I went to the 6-th form. As we were late to the beginning of lessons, I came to  English lesson and almost immediately had to write a test-work. I was very much confused when I realized that I knew nothing. Still I tried to write something without understanding what I was doing. I didn’t know that it wasn’t my fault, as children often do. My parents as usual didn’t ask me about school, being very busy with surviving. In our time school was only my own business. Very soon I was already reading, writing and understanding English, here we had a good teacher now. I don’t  know how and why I coped with the subject. In Russian I was also successful, probably, first in the class, especially in dictations, which was rather difficult with half of the pupils, my teacher always asked me to help someone. After finishing the 8-th form I had to begin working and learning at the evening school. Here we had another teacher, also good. English became my favorite subject. By the graduation time I decided to go to Pedagogical Institute on the specialty English. To tell the truth, the two teachers influenced me not a little, partly, as being well-off, having good manners and loving the subject they taught.

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What is an idiom? This is a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions.
Here is Some examples of idioms beginning with ‘A’

A bit much
If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link
This means that processes, organisations, etc, are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage or break them.

A day late and a dollar short
(USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.

A fool and his money are soon parted
This idiom means that people who aren’t careful with their money spend it quickly. ‘A fool and his money are easily parted’ is an alternative form of the idiom.

A fool at 40 is a fool forever
If someone hasn’t matured by the time they reach forty, they never will.

A hitch in your giddy-up
If you have a hitch in your giddy-up, you’re not feeling well. (‘A hitch in your gittie-up’ is also used.)

A lick and a promise
If you give something a lick and a promise, you do it hurriedly, most often incompletely, intending to return to it later.

A little bird told me
If someone doesn’t want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.

A little learning is a dangerous thing
A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.eg. he said he’d done a course on home electrics, but when he tried to mend my table lamp, he fused all the lights! I think a little learning is a dangerous thing

A long row to hoe
Something that is a long row to hoe is a difficult task that takes a long time.

A lost ball in the high weeds
A lost ball in the high weeds is someone who does not know what they are doing, where they are or how to do something.

A penny for your thoughts
This idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about.

Accident waiting to happen
If something is an accident waiting to happen, there’s definitely going to be an accident or it’s bound to go wrong. (‘Disaster waiting to happen’ is also used.)
Ace in the hole
An ace in the hole is something other people are not aware of that can be used to your advantage when the time is right.
Ace up your sleeve
If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something that will give you an advantage that other people don’t know about.

All hat, no cattle
(USA) When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.(‘Big hat, no cattle’ is also used.)
All heart
Someone who is all heart is very kind and generous.
All hell broke loose
When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.
All in a day’s work
If something is all in a day’s work, it is nothing special.

All-singing, all-dancing
If something’s all-singing, all-dancing, it is the latest version with the most up-to-date features.

Alter ego
An alter ego is a very close and intimate friend. It is a Latin phrase that literally means ‘other self’.

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride
If someone is always a bridesmaid, never a bride, they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never manage the recognition, etc, they crave.

Ambulance chaser
A lawyer who encourages people who have been in accidents or become ill to sue for compensation is an ambulance chaser.

Ants in your pants
If someone has ants in their pants, they are agitated or excited about something and can’t keep still.
Any port in a storm
This means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be unacceptable.
Any Tom, Dick or Harry
If something could be done by any Tom, Dick or Harry, it could be done by absolutely anyone.
Apple of your eye
Something or, more often, someone that is very special to you is the ‘apple of your’ eye.
Apple pie order
Everything is in perfect order and tidy if it is in apple pie order.
Apples and oranges
Tis used when people compare or describe two totally different things. (‘Apples to oranges’ is also used.)
Apples for apples
An apples for apples comparison is a comparison between related or simialr things. (‘Apples to apples’ is also used.)
Apron strings
A man who is tied to a woman’s apron strings is excessively dependent on her, especially when it is his mother’s apron strings.
Argue the toss
(UK) If you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision and argue about it.
Arm and a leg
If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.
Armchair critic
An armchair critic is someone who offers advice but never shows that they could actually do any better.
Armed to the teeth
If people are armed to the teeth, they have lots of weapons.
Around the clock
If something is open around the clock, it is open 24 hours a day. For example, an airport is open around the clock.
Arrow in the quiver
An arrow in the quiver is a strategy or option that could be used to achieve your objective.
As a rule
If you do something as a rule, then you usually do it.
As cold as ice
This idiom can be used to describe a person who does not show any emotion.
As cold as stone
If something is as cold as stone, it is very cold. If a person is as cold as stone, they are unemotional.
As cool as a cucumber
If someone is as cool as a cucumber, they don’t get worried by anything.
As good as new
If something has been used but is still in extremely good condition, it is as good as new.
As mad as a hatter
This simile means that someone is crazy or behaves very strangely. In the past many people who made hats went insane because they had a lot of contact with mercury.
As mad as a wrongly shot hog
(USA) If someone is as mad as a wrongly shot hog, they are very angry. (Same as, Angry as a bear or Angry as a bull).
As much use as a chocolate fire-guard
A fire-guard is used in front of a fireplace for safety. A chocolate fire-guard is of no use. An alternative to ‘As much use as a chocolate teapot’.
As much use as a chocolate teapot
Something that is as much use as a chocolate teapot is not useful at all.
As much use as a handbrake on a canoe
This idiom is used to describe someone or something as worthless or pointless.
As neat as a new pin
This idiom means tidy and clean.
As one man
If people do something as one man, then they do it at exactly the same time or in complete agreement.
As the actress said to the bishop
(UK) This idiom is used to highlight a sexual reference, deliberate or accidental.
As the crow flies
This idiom is used to describe the shortest possible distance between two places.
As you sow, so shall you reap
This means that if you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things.
Asleep at the switch
If someone is asleep at the switch, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully. ‘Asleep at the wheel’ is an alternative.
Asleep at the wheel
If someone is asleep at the wheel, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully. ‘Asleep at the switch’ is an alternative.
At a drop of a dime
(USA) If someone will do something at the drop of a dime, they will do it instantly, without hesitation.
At a loose end
(UK) If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don’t know what to do with it.
At a loss
If you are at a loss, you are unable to understand or comply.
At a snail’s pace
If something moves at a snail’s pace, it moves very slowly.
At arm’s length
If something is at arm’s length, it is a safe distance waway from you.
At arm’s length
Keep somebody at arm’s length means not allowing somebody to be become to friendly with you or close to you.
At cross purposes
When people are at cross purposes, they misunderstand each other or have different or opposing objectives.
At daggers drawn
If people are at daggers drawn, they are very angry and close to violence.
At death’s door
If someone looks as if they are at death’s door, they look seriously unwell and might actually be dying.
At each other’s throats
If people are at each other’s throats, they are fighting, arguing or competing ruthlessly.
At full tilt
If something is at full tilt, it is going or happening as fast or as hard as possible.
At large
If a criminal is at large, they have not been found or caught.
At loggerheads
If people are at loggerheads, they are arguing and can’t agree on anything.
At loose ends
(USA) If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don’t know what to do with it.
At odds
If you are at odds with someone, you cannot agree with them and argue.
At sea
If things are at sea, or all at sea, they are disorganized and chaotic.
At the bottom of the totem pole
(USA) If someone is at the bottom of the totem pole, they are unimportant. Opposite is at the top of the totem pole.
At the coalface
If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way.
At the drop of a hat
If you would do something at the drop of a hat, you’d do it immediately.
At the end of the day
This is used to mean ‘in conclusion’ or ‘when all is said and done’.
At the end of your rope
(USA) If you are at the end of your rope, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
At the end of your tether
(UK) If you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
At the fore
In a leading position
At the top of my lungs
If you shout at the top of your lungs, you shout as loudly as you possibly can.
At the top of the list
If something is at the top of the list, it is of highest priority, most important, most urgent, or the next in one’s line of attention.
At the top of your lungs
If you shout at the top of your lungs, you shout as loudly as you possibly can.
At the top of your voice
If you talk, shout or sing at the top of your voice, you do it as loudly as you can.
At your wit’s end
If you’re at your wit’s end, you really don’t know what you should do about something, no matter how hard you think about it.
At your wits’ end
If you are at your wits’ end, you have no idea what to do next and are very frustrated.
Average Joe
An average Joe is an ordinary person without anything exceptional about them.
Avowed intent
If someone makes a solemn or serious promise publicly to attempt to reach a certain goal, this is their avowed intent.
Away with the fairies
If someone is away with the fairies, they don’t face reality and have unrealistic expectations of life.
Awe inspiring
Something or someone that is awe inspiring amazes people in a slightly frightening but positive way.
AWOL
AWOL stands for “Absent Without Leave”, or “Absent Without Official Leave”. Orignially a military term, it is used when someone has gone missing without telling anyone or asking for permission.
Axe to grind
If you have an axe to grind with someone or about something, you have a grievance, a resentment and you want to get revenge or sort it out. In American English, it is ‘ax’.

I usually begin to teach kids from the age of about 4. I had a happy time with my own grandchildren. Two of them, Dany and Ester, were about five and the youngest girl, Rachel was three then. During the first year we played games, learned little rhymes, learned greetings, meals, the day time-table, family and so on. I used books with pictures made for this purpose. Usually I read the text from the books aloud, and children understood it with the help of pictures, and sometimes, my explanations. They all learned rhymes quickly. On the second year we began to learn alphabet and read. I had a book for little children, and it was a success. Only the younger girl had difficulty with reading at first. But the problem was solved, when she once stayed with us for a fortnight, and I made her read every day. This girl was very serious and concentrated at the lessons, and soon she became even almost the best. At this period I gave homeworks, and the children began to write exercizes. The boy, Dany was very good with languages, but not so diligent as Rachel. I can say that all the three of them received initial knowledge of the language and could speak and write fluently. At school they also learned English and aquired new knowledge.

There are many wonderful online resources where you can test yourself with free English language quizzes covering grammar, usage and vocabulary for beginner, intermediate and advanced level English students. One of such online places is UsingEnglish.com. This is resource for all those who love English and want it as a second language. UsingEnglish.com provides a large collection of tools for students, teachers, learners and academics. Right now you can start to browse the grammar glossary and references of irregular verbs, phrasal verbs and idioms, ESL forums, articles, teacher handouts and printables, and find useful links and information on English.