Categoria: English

151-200 Useful English Expressions and Phrasal Verbs

Photo by Black ice from Pexels (I added the expression)

151 HE STOOD HER UP
Ele a deixou esperando
152 CAN YOU BREAK A (HUNDRED)?
Você troca cem?
153 GIVE OR TAKE (MORE OR LESS)
Mais ou menos
154 DON’T TRANSLATE TO THE LETTER
Não traduza ao pé da letra
155 BE MY GUEST! MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
Fique à vontade
156 24/7 (READ:TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN) SUPERMARKET
Supermercados que não fecham.
157 I WATCHED THE LORD OF THE RINGS BACK TO BACK
Eu assisti os filmes de O senhor dos anéis consecutivamente
158 FOR YOUR SAKE , FOR GOD’S SAKE.
Para o seu bem, pelo amor de Deus
159 STAY PUT
Não sai daí.
160 IT’S MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN
É dinheiro jogado fora
161 STUDYING 30 MINUTES A DAY, MAKES YOU BECOME FLUENT BIT BY BIT.
Estudar 30 minutos por dia faz com que voce fique fluente pouco a pouco
162 ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY!
Gato escaldado tem medo de água fria
163 SAME OLD STUFF
Mesma coisa de sempre
164 I DON’T QUITE FOLLOW YOU
Não estou te entendendo
165 I’M NOT IN THE MOOD FOR EXCUSES
Não estou afim de ouvir desculpas
166 LET’S KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE
Vamos ver isso de uma outra forma
167 THE WORKS.
Serviço completo
168 LET’S GO FOR A LITTLE STROLL
Vamos dar um passeio
169 I’LL SHOW YOU THE ROPES
Vou te passar o serviço
170 I FIGURED OUT A WAY
Eu descobri/achei um jeito
171 HE MADE CHANGES OVER MY SHOULDER
Ele fez mudanças sem me consultar
172 LET’S START FROM SCRATCH
Vamos começar do zero
173 I WANT TO BRUSH UP ON MY ENGLISH
Eu quero melhorar meu inglês
174 THAT’S OFF THE TABLE
Isto está fora de questão
175 WE HIT IT OFF
Nós nos damos bem
176 NOBODY WILL BE THE WISER
Nobody will find out
177 LITTLE DID I KNOW…
Mal eu sabia…
178 IT’S A SCHOOL NIGHT
Amanhã é dia de trabalho
179 IS ANYTHING THE MATTER?
Algum problema?
180 THAT DOES IT!
Isso já dá! (That completes it)
181 I KNOW THE EXPRESSIONS BY HEART.
Eu sei as expressões decor
182 I HAVE TO MEET THE DEADLINE.
Eu tenho que cumprir o prazo
183 I’LL TAKE A RAIN CHECK.
Vou deixar pra depois
184 LET YOUR HAIR DOWN.
Relaxe
185 SHE WENT POSTAL.
Ela perdeu a cabeça
186 A ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.
Pedra que rola não cria limo
187 WE NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT LIE IN STORE FOR US.
Nunca sabemos o que nos espera
188 IT IS FOR THE GREATER GOOD!
É para um bem maior
189 SHE WORKS (A)ROUND THE CLOCK
Ela trabalha o tempo todo
190 SHE-CAT / TOM-CAT, HE-CAT
Gata / Gato
191 I’LL PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS
I’LL DO MY BEST
192 I NEED TWO JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
Preciso de 2 empregos para conseguir pagar as contas do mês
193 HASTE MAKES WASTE!
A pressa é inimiga da perfeição
194 GIVE HIM AN INCH AND HE’LL TAKE A MILE.
Você da a mão e ele quer o braço
195 BEN IS UP AGAINST THE WALL.
Ben is in serious difficulties
196 I HOPE HE DOESN’T GO TO THE PARTY, HE’S SUCH A WET BLANKET.
…(wet blanket) estraga prazeres
197 EASY COME, EASY GO!
Vem fácil, vai fácil.
198 IGNORANCE IS BLISS
A ignorância é uma benção.
199 I DIDN’T KNOW HIS NAME, LET ALONE HIS ADDRESS
Eu não sabia o nome dele, quantos mais seu endereço
200 ARE YOU GETTING THE HANG OF THINGS ?
Você está pegando o jeito?

F.R.I.E.N.D.S – The one with the East German Laundry Detergent – 1st Season

Friends’  episodes are useful to help us to learn  English because they use everyday conversation, the episodes are short and funny. So, if possible do not forget to:

  1. Watch it with the subtitles and pay attention to the vocabulary you don’t know.
  2. Watch it with the subtitles and see how much you can remember and please check the vocabulary you don’t remember to memorize it.
  3. Watch it without the subtitles.
  4. Have fun learning it.

These are some of the vocabularies from this video:

  • Suds – short for soapsuds – foam (espuma)
  • Spaz – an offensive way of saying “a stupid person”
  • Bra – soutien
  • Judgement call – a decision someone has to make using their own ideas and opinions
  • Jammies – pyjamas
  • 24 inch waist – uma cintura de 24 polegadas
  • Brand new  – nova em folha
  • neat idea – good idea
  • rip apart – to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
  • by the way – a propósito
  • grieve  – to feel sorrow, to lament
  • These are some of the vocabularies from the entire episode:
  • Maneuver – manobra
  • To blow sb’s mind – to make you feel very surprised and excited
  • It’s beyond me – used to say that something seems completely stupid and you can not understand the reason for it.
Continue lendo “F.R.I.E.N.D.S – The one with the East German Laundry Detergent – 1st Season”

51-100 Useful English Expressions and Phrasal Verbs

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Do you know the meaning of: it is raining cats and dogs?

It is really essential to learn idioms when you are learning English not only to speak but also to understand the person that you are talking to. For instance, the expression above, it is something that you say when it is raining heavily (está chovendo muito, pesado).

Check the expression 58th on this list: I’m getting cold feet – if you translate it to the letter it is going to be: estou ficando com os pés frios.

Another one: For good. It means: permanentemente. (you can check Gary Barlow’s song: Back for good.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHZiIxprsrs

If you translate to the letter again, you would have: para o bem.

So, do I have to say anything else?

Try to memorize some sentences a day/a week and keep practicing as much as you can.

51 I GAVE A NOTICE
Eu dei aviso prévio
52 IT’S CRYSTAL CLEAR
Está claríssimo
53 I’M ALL FOR THAT
Dou todo o apoio
54 THAT´S THE BEAUTY OF WORKING WITH YOUR FATHER
(Essa é uma vantagem/o melhor de tudo) de trabalhar com seu pai
55 HE´S BEEN THROUGH A LOT
Ele tem passado por muita coisa
56 HE IS BACK ON HIS FEET
Ele está recuperado
57 HE PULLED THROUGH
Ele superou
58 I’M GETTING COLD FEET
Estou amarelando.
59 MOSQUITO REPELLENT ALWAYS COMES IN HANDY IN ILHA BELA
repelente é sempre útil em Ilha Bela
60 IF YOU BREAK IT YOU PAY FOR IT. ENOUGH SAID.
Se você quebrar, você paga. Falou tudo/Entendi.
61 IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
Não tem nada a ver.
62 THERE IS NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE.
Gosto não se discute
63 THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.
Seja criativo
64 YOU`RE MISSING THE POINT.
Você não está entendendo o espírito da coisa.
65 LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
Por último, mas não em importância
66 NO LITTERING
Não jogue lixo no chão
67 NO LOITERING
Não fique enrolando por aqui
68 A WEEK FROM TODAY
Daqui a uma semana
69 IT’S UP TO YOU.
Depende de você
70 BY THE WAY.
Á propósito.
71 I’M ALMOST THROUGH.
Estou quase terminando
72 DO YOU HAPPEN (TO KNOW)…?
Por acaso você sabe?
73 YOU´RE BLOWING THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION.
Você está fazendo tempestade em copo d água
74 WHEN I LEARNED I WAS PREGNANT…
Quando eu descobri que eu estava grávida…
75 YOU SAID IT.
Eu concordo totalmente.
76 I, FOR ONE, (THINK)
Eu, por exemplo, (penso)
77 AND THAT’S IT!
E é isso!
78 BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.
Melhor prevenir do que remediar
79 HOW SO?/WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Como assim?
80 HE MADE OFF WITH THE MONEY.
Ele sumiu com o dinheiro.
81 I CAN’T PUT UP WITH THIS SITUATION.
Não consigo tolerar essa situação
82 IT’S ALL SET.
Tudo certo, arranjado.
83 TAKE YOUR TIME.
Não tenha pressa.
84 SECOND TO LAST.
Penúltimo (a)
85 NOW AND THEN
De vez em quando
86 WE ARE EVEN
Estamos quites
87 DO YOU MEAN IT?
Você está falando sério?
88 TRY TO SELL THIS TO ME.
Tente me convencer
89 WHAT’S FOR (DESSERT, LUNCH, DINNER)?
O que temos para (sobremesa, almoço, jantar)?
90 I SHOULDN’T BE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Eu não deveria estar lá, para começar
91 HAVE A GOOD ONE!
Tudo de bom!
92 I COULDN’T HELP IT.
Não pude evitar
93 SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE
Às vezes, menos é mais.
94 FOR GOOD.
Permanentemente
95 WE REAP WHAT WE SOW
Colhemos o que plantamos
96 HE FREELOADS ON HIS GIRLFRIEND A LOT
Ele folga muito nela
97 COBBLER’S SON HAS NO SHOES
Casa de ferreiro, espeto é de pau
98 ONE PROBLEM DOWN
Um problema a menos
99 NO PAIN, NO GAIN
Quem não arrisca, não petisca
100 I HAVEN’T MADE UP MY MIND
Eu ainda não me decidi

1-50 Useful English Expressions and Phrasal Verbs

Partial picture of the book cover: Idioms for Everyday use – Milada Broukal.

It is really essential to learn idioms when you are learning English not only to speak but also to understand the person that you are talking to. For instance, check the first expressions on this list: I have bigger fish to fry – if you translate it to the letter it is going to be: eu tenho um peixe maior para fritar.

Another one: You can say that again! It means: I totally agree! (eu concordo totalmente!)

If you translate to the letter again, you would have: você pode dizer isto de novo!

So, do I have to say anything else?

Try to memorize some sentences a day/a week and keep practicing as much as you can.

1 I HAVE BIGGER FISH TO FRY
Tenho coisa mais importante para fazer
2 HANDICAPPED PARKING
Estacionamento para deficientes
3 I HAVE A DEADLINE
Eu tenho um prazo
4 ROUND OFF THE AMOUNT
Arredonda a quantia
5 MY WORD IS MY BOND
Minha palavra é minha garantia
6 BY MY GUESS
Pelas minhas contas
7 I OUTSMARTED
Eu fui muito esperto
8 I’VE GOT A LOT ON MY MIND
Eu tenho muita coisa na minha cabeça
9 AS IT WERE
Até parece
10 DON’T FLATTER YOURSELF
Não se gabe
11 I’M DEAD TIRED
Estou cansado a beça
12 YOU PULLED IT OFF
Você se saiu bem
13 I SMELLED A RAT
Fiquei com a pulga atrás da orelha
14 SORRY, I MISDIALED/SORRY, WRONG NUMBER
Desculpe, foi engano.
15 FIRST AND FOREMOST
Antes de mais nada
16 LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT
Vamos deixar isto claro
17 LIKEWISE
da mesma forma
18 So true!
Exatamente
19 IT STILL APPLIES.
Ainda está valendo
20 WHAT’S FOR THE FACE?
que cara é essa?
21 I STOOD BY
Fiquei de sobre-aviso
22 HE DID THAT OUT OF SPITE
Ele fez por pirraça
23 IT DIDN’T CROSS MY MIND
Não passou pela minha cabeça
24 CAN YOU SPARE A MINUTE?
Pode me dar um minuto?
25 I LOVE BRICK OVEN PIZZA.
Eu adoro pizza no forno a lenha
26 DITTO
Idem
27 TAKE SOME TIME OUT
Tire uma folga
28 I WON’T LET YOU DOWN
Não te desapontarei
29 WE AGREE ON THAT
Nós concordamos nisso
30 RUN THE CARD
Passe o cartão
31 WHATEVER IT TAKES
Custe o que custar
32 A COUPLE WEEKS
Algumas semanas
33 A COUPLE OF WEEKS
Duas semanas
34 KEEP ME POSTED.
Mantenha me informado
35 FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
Quem chega primeiro ganha
36 THIS IS PRETTY MUCH IT.
É isso mesmo.
37 FROM WHERE I’M SITTING…/FROM MY STANDPOINT…
Do meu ponto de vista
38 I HAD TO CANCEL ON HER
Tive que cancelar com ela
39 HE COPED WITH DIFFICULT TIMES
Ele enfrentou momentos dificeis
40 SAY OUT LOUD
Fala em voz alta
41 THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED
O prazo foi prorrogado
42 THE SERVICE HAS BEEN OUTSOURCED
O serviço foi terceirizado
43 I’D LIKE TO SLEEP ON THE SUBJECT
Gostaria de pensar mais um pouco
44 NO SECOND THOUGHTS
Sem hesitações
45 THREE DAYS IN A ROW
Três dias em seguida
46 WE´RE ON DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME – D.S.T.
Estamos no horário de verão.
47 I´LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU.
Eu te recompenso.
48 MAKE YOUR POINT.
defende seu ponto de vista.
49 HE IS ON PROBATION.
Ele está em experiência.
50 IT RINGS A BELL
Lembro vagamente

F.R.I.E.N.D.S – The one where it all began – Pilot – 1st Season

When I finished my English course I knew I had a lot to learn, and watching friends helped me a lot with it. Studying English with a sitcom or a movie is one of the best ways to memorize vocabulary. Here it is how you should do it:

  1. Watch it with the subtitles and pay attention to the vocabulary you don’t know.
  2. Watch it with the subtitles and see how much you can remember and please check the vocabulary you don’t remember to memorize it.
  3. Watch it without the subtitles.
  4. Have fun learning it.

These are some of the vocabularies from the episode:

When finding a word in Portuguese is somewhat hard, you will notice that I use English for the definition, this way helps to start thinking in English. I hope you make the best of it.

Hump – cordunda, corcova

Hairpiece – peruca

Chalk – giz

Murky – dark

To sob – sobbed – sobbing – to cry noisily while breathing in short sudden bursts

Strip joints – a strip club

hammer – martelo/arrasar (coloquial, figurativo)

Decaf – spoken decaffeinated coffee or tea

Gravy – sauce

Continue lendo “F.R.I.E.N.D.S – The one where it all began – Pilot – 1st Season”

Passive Voice

Passive voice is really easy when you understand its rules.

You are going to use passive voice when the focus is not in the agent, but in the action.

Those pyramids were built around 400 AD.

Too many books have been written about the Second World War.

The structure for the passive voice is:

  1. To be + Past Participle of the main verb.
  2. The object of the sentence becomes the subject of it.
  3. To be is going to be in the same tense of the main verb.
  4. If you want to mention the agent of the action you can usually use by to introduce it.
  5. And remember that Portuguese can help you with this subject.

Active Voice = AV Passive Voice = PV

AV: I made a cake. PV: A cake was made (by me).

The main verb (made) is in the past, so to be is going to be in the past.

Past Participle of the main verb: make = made.

AV: She writes books. PV: Books are written (by her).

The main verb (write) is in the present, so to be is going to be in the present.

Past Participle of the main verb: write = written.

and so on…

AV: She is going to write a book. PV: A book is going to be written (by her).

AV: She will write a book. PV: A book will be written (by her).

AV: She would write a book. PV: A book would be written (by her).

AV: She has written a book. PV: A book has been written (by her).

AV: She can write books. PV: Books can be written (by her).

AV: She could write books. PV: Books could be written (by her).

F.R.I.E.N.D.S – The one where Chandler can’t remember which sister – 3rd Season

Art bought in New York City from a street artist.

When I finished my English course I knew I had a lot to learn, and watching friends helped me a lot with it. Studying English with a sitcom or a movie is one of the best ways to memorize vocabulary and it is fun. Here it is how you should do it:

  1. Watch it with the subtitles and pay attention to the vocabulary you don’t know.
  2. Watch it with the subtitles and see how much you can remember and please check the vocabulary you don’t remember to memorize it.
  3. Watch it without the subtitles.
  4. Have fun learning it.

These are some of the vocabularies from the episode:

When finding a word in Portuguese is somewhat hard, you will notice that I use English for the definition, this way helps to start thinking in English. I hope you make the best of it.

  • Noose – laço que aperta conforme se puxa
  • The noose – enforcamento
  • Whip – chicote; chicotear
  • Punch line – fechamento de uma piada ou estória que a faz ficar engraçada ou surpreendente
  • Gassy – cheio de gás
  • ASAP – Assim que possível
  • Stick it out – ir até o final de uma atividade que é difícil, chata ou dolorosa.
  • Demeaning – sem importância
  • I don’t mind paying my dues – eu não me importo de começar por baixo para conseguir o que quero
  • To sort – por em ordem
  • Shots  – bebidas (drinks)
  • Hammered – muito bêbado
  • Grope – passar a mão
  • To tick somebody off – Irritar alguém
  • Bummer – uma situação que é irritante ou decepcionante
  • Be Giddy – estar muito feliz
  • Pushy – excessively or unpleasantly self-assertive or ambitious. – agressivo, intrometido.
  • Collar – gola
  • Baggy pants – calça folgada
  • Top-notch – having the highest quality of standard – é o melhor
  • Squint  – to look at sth with your eyes partly closed in order to see better – olhar de soslaio
  • Jump the gun – to start doing sth too soon, without thinking – agir prematuramente
  • Den – a room in Sb’s house where they can relax, watch TV
  • Paper route, paper round – to delivery newspapers to a group of house (a job)
  • To eavesdrop – escutar secretamente, bisbilhotar
  • Pogo stick – pula-pula

Conditional Sentences with if Clauses

This is a post about the basics of if clauses.

In clauses after if, we usually talk about uncertain events and situations: things which may or may not happen, which may or may not be true, etc.

If you’re free later, we can go for a walk.

If they’re hungry, I’ll make some sandwiches.

First Conditional (it’s a real conditional)

We use the first conditional to talk about a realistic situation in the present or future.

  • If + present + will/may/must/imperative/can + verb

If we play tennis, I’ll win.

If you’re not back by 5pm, give me a ring.

Second Conditional (Unreal, imaginary situations in the present or future)

We use the second conditional to talk about unreal or imaginary situations in the present or future.

  • If + past + would/could + verb

If I had more time, I’d exercise more. (But I don’t have more time so I don’t.)

*If I were rich, I’d spend all my time travelling. (But I’m not rich so I can’t.)

If she saw a snake, she’d be terrified.

If I knew her name, I would tell you.

* if I were

After if we often use were. This is common in both and formal styles

If I were taller, I’d be happier.

Third Conditional (Unreal, imaginary situations in the past)

We use the third conditional to talk about unreal or imaginary situations in the past.

  • If + past perfect + would have/could have + Past Participle

If you had asked me, I would have told you.

If you hadn’t forgotten her birthday, she wouldn’t have been upset.

 Zero Conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about permanent truths, such as scientific facts, and general habits. The structure is simple:

Here are some examples:

If you heat water to 100°, it boils.

If you eat a lot, you put on weight.

If it doesn’t rain for a long time, the earth gets very dry.

If we go out with friends, we normally go to a restaurant.

If I’m tired, I go to bed early.

Sources:

Book: Practical English Usage – Michael Swan e www.wallstreetenglish.com

Used to x to be used to

MEMORIES - USED TO
FONTE: https://meditatiienglezaploiesti.files.wordpress.
com/2014/07/i-used-to-exercise-but-im-fine-now_25291.jpg

Trecho do livro: Como Não aprender inglês – Michael A. Jacobs

Este livro é muito didático, aprendi muito com ele quando comecei a estudar inglês. Quando coloco DB é porque eu fiz a tradução.

Used to

Used to é uma expressão, uma forma e um phrasal verb. Cuidado para não confundi-la com o verbo to use (usar). Veja os seguintes exemplos com o verbo to use:

  • Brazilians usually use a knife and fork to eat pizza. (Brazileiros normalmente usam garfo e faca para comer pizza)
  • Americans usually eat pizza using their fingers. (Os americano normalmente comem pizza com as mãos) . Chamamos os pratos assim consumidos de finger food.
  • Mr. Jones sometimes uses a three-piece suit for work in the cold weather. (O Sr. Jones às vezes usa um terno de três peças quando o tempo está frio)

O verbo to use no passado é used.

  • I used a sweater because it was so cold. (Eu usei um suéter, pois estava tão frio).

Agora, caro leitor, esqueça o verbo to use, pois ele nada tem a ver com a expressão used to.

Used to tem dois sentidos totalmente diferentes. Eis aqui o primeiro.

Used to (I)

Coloca uma ação no passado. Descreve algo que você, alguém ou algo fazia no passado regularmente, durante algum tempo, mas já não faz mais.

  • I used to live in England (eu morava na Inglaterra, não moro mais)

DB: Eu costumava morar na Inglaterra

I + used to + verb

Nesse caso, used to pode ser:

  • Um hábito – Mary used to bite her nails. Thank God she’s stopped that disgusting habit. (Mary roía as unhas. Graças a Deus ela deixou esse hábito nojento).
  • Uma atividade – Guilherme used to play a lot of tennis: now that he is older he plays golf.
  • Uma situação – Dinosaurs used to exist 60 million years ago

Então  used to + o verbo descreve uma atividade que não acontece mais.

Used to (II)

To be used to – quando utilizamos essa forma de used to (com o vebo to be), afirmamos que agora estamos acostumados com uma nova situação.

  • Michael is now used to living in Brazil (Michael agora está acostumado a viver no Brazil).
  • Mary is now used to having beautiful nails (Mary agora costuma ter unhas lindas).
  • Guilherme is used to playing golf with his friends (Guiherme está acostumado a jogar golfe com seus amigos).
  • I was used to living in France, but I had to move (eu estava acostumado a morar na França, mas tive de me mudar) .
  • He has been used to cooking for his friends for many years (ele está acostumado a cozinhar para seus amigos há muitos anos).

Você percebeu que used to + verbo é exclusivo para o passado, to be used to  pode variar de tempo verbal.

Agora, mais exemplos para reforçar as diferenças:

USED TO

  • Larry used to study very hard at college (DB: Larry costumava estudar muito na faculdade)
  • Jane used to eat lots of red meat (Jane comia  muita carne vermelha)

TO BE USED TO

  • Now he is used to working very hard at his company (Agora ele está acostumado a trabalhar muito na sua empresa)
  • Today she is used to eating only vegetables (Hoje ela está acostumada a comer apenas legumes).

As diferentes formas do used to parecem mais difíceis para o estudante brasileiro porque em português os verbos “costumar/acostumar” são empregados com flexibilidade para descrever situações passadas. A frase “Jane comia muita carne vermelha”, por exemplo, pode ser substituída por “Jane costumava comer muita carne vermelha”. Em inglês, qualquer alteração pode mudar completamente o significado ou o tempo em que a ação ocorre. O melhor é parar com as traduções mentais.