いつもの生活に世界のスパイスを。

Cafetalk Tutor's Column

Patrick Murphrey 講師のコラム

The Cat Has Your Tongue

2014年2月4日

The cat has your tongue is a proverb that means " you can't speak".  Maybe you are shy or maybe you just don't know what to say.  For some reason like that you just can't speak.  Those are times when we use this proverb.

While you study English you are learning many words.  Vocabulary is very important to help you speak better.  Another important part of vocabulary are idioms.  The cat has your tongue is an idiomIdiom is a general word for phrases that have a specific meaning.  In fact, there are many kinds of idioms. For example, there are phrasal verbs, proverbs, and similes.  Sometimes even the culture creates idioms

An example of a cultural idiom is Japanese gave English the idiom the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.  In Japanese culture,  it is important to be part of the group and not to stand out.  Therefore, it has a phrase to describe that.  A phrasal verb is two or more words that are combined to make a new meaning.  For example, put on which means to wear clothes.  Both words "put" and "on" alone have different meanings.  But together they refer to wearing clothes.  Finally, a simile is a comparison.  As strong as an ox which means to be very strong.  Some comparisons have become so common that we call them similes.

Idioms are important for speaking.  To be a very good speaker you need to learn idioms.  I offer lessons about idioms.  I have two lessons, one that is 25 minutes long and another that is fifty minutes long.  During the lesson you can learn some of those different idioms.  I can teach idioms that are useful for a beginner, an intermediate, or advanced speaker.  You can take this lesson once, but it is better if you take it several times and learn many different idioms.  I can make this idioms' lesson to your needs.  By learning idioms you will be a more fluent speaker.

Do not be a person that the cat has your tongue because you do not have a good vocabulary.  Come learn useful idioms.  I looking forward to teaching you.  Talk with you soon.

本コラムは、講師個人の立場で掲載されたものです。
コラムに記載されている意見は、講師個人のものであり、カフェトークを代表する見解ではありません。

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