Do you want to express your thoughts in-front of others in few words, but in a more effective way? Then, you probably should use IDIOMS !!!!!

    An IDIOM is an expression consisting of a combination of words that has a figurative meaning The figurative meaning is comprehended in regard to a common use of the expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.

Let’s learn a few IDIOMS and their usage today. 

a) blow one's top: become extremely angry.

Example : Was the coach upset that you came late for practice today? He was more than upset. He blew his top.

b) break a leg! : Good luck!

Example: Tomorrow is your first performance on stage. Break a leg!

c) if I had my druthers : if I could do what I wanted/preferred.

Example : If I had my druthers, I’d watch TV the whole day.

d) keep one's chin up : remain brave and confident in a difficult situation.

Example : The district collector, while addressing people in the tsunami- struck Nagapattinam, urged them to keep their chin up. 

e) clear the air : Discuss something that was causing the people to be upset.

     Example : There seems to have been a great misunderstanding.I'd like to explain what had happened, just to clear the air.

f) scrape the bottom of the barrel : till the very last .

     Example : We really had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find the last few volunteers for doing this work.

If you have any queries related to English grammar and its usage, then you may comment below and ask me your doubts .Your doubts will be entertained before the next post.

   

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Do you think that you make correct usage of common words like between , among , few , less?Then ,check this out and see whether you use them correctly or not.

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1. 'Between' and 'Among' are often used incorrectly. Here, is the
   
   
    correct usage of both these words.
   
   'Between' is used while evaluating two options.

Example: Between the two contestants, she was smarter.

'Among' is used while evaluating more than two options.

Example : Among the ten applications received, his candidature 

stood out.

Note: 'Between' and 'Among' always take ‘and’ and never 'or.'

1. Question : Between 'My class has less intelligent students' and 'My class 
   
   
   has few intelligent students,' which is correct?
   
   Answer : Both are correct. 
   
   Justification : 'My class has less intelligent students' – here I am trying to
   
   
   convey that the intelligence levels of students in my class is less. Here, less 
   
   
   modifies intelligence.
   
   'My class has few intelligent students' – here I am trying to convey that the 
   
   
   number of intelligent students in my class is few. Here, few modifies 
   
   
   students.

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Most people make errors in the usage of 'farther' & 'further'.Here's explanation for the distinction between the two similar words

'Farther' vs 'Further':

Hurleen: “Reshma, I am tired. How farther should we climb?”
Reshma : “Some more distance. Hang in there”

After 20 meters

Hurleen: “How farther?”
Reshma ( clearly irritated): “If you talk any further, I will abandon you here and climb the hill by myself.”

While Farther is used for actual measurable distances, further is used for degree, quantity etc. which cannot be precisely measured.

Note : Remember the ‘far’ in farther. The difference is easy to remember.

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