Today's idiom #19

"sink or swim"

To succeed by your own efforts without help from anyone.

ex: When Lisa moved out of her parents house, she knew it was time to sink or swim.

* Comments are welcome!

Today's idiom #18

"stiff upper lip"

Strict control over your feelings although you are very upset.
ex: I had to keep a stiff upper lip at my father’s funeral.

* Comments are welcome!

Today’s idiom #17

"back seat driver"

Someone who always gives the driver of a car unwanted advice about how drive.

ex: My wife doesn't like to drive when I'm in the car because she says I'm a back seat driver.

* Comments are welcome!

Grandpa is Very High

This is a cute video from my 53rd birthday in February 2009. At that time, I was trying to teach my 4 year old Japanese grandson, Yuhi (pronounced like you-he), how to say “Grandpa is 35”.

Then Yuhi stole the show…

Please feel free to share your comments!

Today's idiom #16

"do time"

To spend time in prison.

ex: If you do the crime, you must do the time.

* Comments are welcome!

Today's idiom #15

"get off to a flying start"

To be very successful as soon as you start something.
ex: They got off to a flying start with a 3 goal lead after 20 minutes.

* Comments are welcome!

Eikaiwa Afternoon in Aobadai

Today, (Sunday June 20th, 2010), we will hold our second “Free-style Conversation” event outside of AEL. It will be at Madre Cafe in Aobadai and starts at 2pm this afternoon. All the details and map can be found on our AEL (American Eikaiwa Lounge) website.

http://americaneikaiwalounge.com

Our event last Wednesday evening in Azamino was the first time to try our ‘Free-style Conversation On the Road”. It was very successful and really fun!

We have other events scheduled this month, so please check the website.

We hope to see you soon!

Today's idiom #14

"my heart skipped a beat"

You were very excited, surprised or frightened.
ex: My heart skipped a beat when he smiled at me!

* Comments are welcome!

Today's idiom #13

"get the picture?"

To understand a situation someone is describing or explaining.
ex: Politicians make all kinds of promises to get elected, but seldom fulfill them. Get the picture?

* Comments are welcome!

Today's idiom #12

"an old flame"

A person that someone had a romantic relationship with.

ex: She didn’t know what to say when she ran into her old flame at the party.

* Comments are welcome!

Today's idiom #11

"tighten your belt"

To spend less money.

ex: During the recession, we had to tighten our belt.

* Comments are welcome!

Today's idiom #10

"one of those days"

A day when everything seems to be going wrong.

ex: I just missed the train! It’s going to be one of those days.

* Comments are welcome!

Today's idiom #9

"Murphy’s law"

If something can go wrong, it will.

ex: “Why is the traffic always heavy when I’m already late for work?” “Murphy’s law!”

* Comments are welcome!

I wonder...

Since I started posting "Today's Idiom", I haven't received any comments. I wonder if anyone is reading them. I wonder if they're helpful or useful to anyone?

Today's idiom #8

"fair and square"

To do, achieve or win something in a fair and honest way.

ex: Ken wanted to win his school’s writing competition fair and square, so he didn’t ask his parents to help him.

Today's idiom #7

"as the crow flies"

If you travel in a straight line from point A to point B.

ex: It’s only 15 kilometers from here to Tokyo station as the crow flies, but it takes over an hour if you travel there by car.

* Comments are welcome!

Today's Idiom #6

"a red herring"

Information which is mentioned in order to deliberately turn people’s attention from the real problem.

ex: The new TV commercials by BP (British Petroleum) about taking responsibility for the Gulf clean up are a red herring designed to make BP look like they are more concerned about the environment than they are about making huge profits.

* Comments are welcome!

Today's Idiom #5

"if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it"

Don’t try to change the way something works or is done, when it works well the way it is.

ex: "Why change our customer service policy when it’s been working just fine the way it is? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!"

* Comments are welcome!

Today's Idiom #4

"play the devil's advocate"

To pretend to disagree about something so that there will be a discussion about it.

ex: "I'll play the devil's advocate and argue that large oil companies deserve huge profits."

* Nihongo translation and comments are always welcome!

Today's Idiom #3

"clean up your act"

To start behaving in a more acceptable way after you have been behaving badly.

ex: "Quit whining and clean up your act!"

* Nihongo translation and comments are always welcome!

Today's Idiom #2

"a balancing act"

A situation in which someone is trying to do many different things at the same time which are difficult.

ex: "Being a single working mother is always a balancing act."

* Nihongo translation and comments are always welcome!

Today's Idiom #1

"a gentleman's agreement"

An agreement that's not written down, but is made between two people who trust each other.

ex: "Bill and Thomas made a gentleman's agreement not to argue about politics."

* Nihongo translation and comments are always welcome!

AEL "On the Road"

For the last 2.5 years, I've been conducting my "Free-style Conversation" exclusively at AEL. Starting this month, I'm offering "Free-style Conversation" sessions "on the road". The schedule and details are available on my website (see the American Eikaiwa Lounge link on the upper right side).
This month I'll be in Aobadai, Azamino, Chuo Rinkan, as well as our lounge here in Tsukimino. Please join us if you have a chance. It's always a fun and comfortable event for everyone at any level.