For the summer months I thought I would like to share with you some of the great articles written by my Alliance Members.  Please enjoy the following article submitted by Heather Chetwynd:

Similar Expressions Different Meanings

Many of us mix up English expressions. For example, we may blend two idioms, mix up the preposition in a phrasal verb, incorrectly hear the words in an expression or simply not understand that the intended meaning is the opposite of the words. For non-native speakers, the meaning may be completely lost.  Here are some examples.

COME OUT vs. COME OUT WITH: Confusing phrasal verbs

These two-word verbs contain a preposition (also called a particle) which changes the meaning. For example, the word RUN is different in meaning from both RUN AWAY (escape) and RUN AROUND (going from place to place or hanging out with someone a lot.) These little prepositions can completely change the intended meaning. Here are a few examples:

• COME UP means come upstairs or up north (such as to a cottage) while COME UP WITH means to invent or create something.
• COME OUT means to go outside or to publicly disclose something private, often used with regards to admitting one’s homosexuality, while COME OUT WITH means to express or publish something.
• COME INTO is often used to refer to inheriting money, but COME ON TO means to make sexual advances.
• WORK SOMETHING OFF means to get rid of negative feelings or excess food or weight via physical exercise, or to work to pay for something. WORK SOMETHING OUT refers to solving a problem.

I COULD/COULDN’T CARE LESS: Which expression is correct?

Here’s an example of two opposite structures meaning the same thing. The common expression, I COULDN’T CARE LESS is also expressed as I COULD CARE LESS. Which is right? Well, both are used these days with the second being more common in the US. The true meaning is “I don’t care at all” so, logically, the first structure is more correct. But logic is not always the determining factor in language.

ALONG THE SAME VEIN: Creating hybrid expressions

Sometimes people have heard two idioms and combine them. For example, ALONG THE SAME LINE and IN THE SAME VEIN both mean “on the same subject or similar in type.” So you may hear the expression ALONG THE SAME VEIN which is a hybrid expression – technically not the correct expression.

TELL ME ABOUT IT: Opposite meanings

Irony — the deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning — is common in spoken English. Depending upon the tone of voice and intonation used, THANKS may mean “why did you do that — that was awful!” THAT’S SICK can mean “that’s disgusting,” (the older meaning) or “that’s amazing” (a commonly-used meaning among young people.) Here are a few other examples.

If you are complaining about a situation and someone says TELL ME ABOUT IT, the intended meaning is “I know all about that; I’ve gone through it myself,” implying the opposite of the words, i.e. don’t tell me about it.

Another common expression coming from Yiddish is I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY, which implies “I have no hope of being so lucky.”

NIP IT IN THE BUTT: Hearing Expressions Incorrectly

In English, linking and blending sounds can transform what we think the individual words are. Some examples are:

PLAY IT BY YEAR vs the correct phrase, PLAY IT BY EAR (meaning play music by imitating rather than reading.)

FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES vs the correct phrase FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES (meaning in every practical sense.)

And my favourite, NIP IT IN THE BUTT (which sounds to me like someone needs to be spanked) vs the correct phrase NIP IT IN THE BUD (literally cut the bud off, referring to stopping a problem when it is new rather than leaving it until it grows.)

We all make these mistakes. All of us need to pay attention to these little words, intended meanings and ironic expressions. It’s a good practice to look up the expression in the dictionary to make sure you have the right words. If you are a native speaker, be aware of the expressions and vocabulary you are using when conversing with someone who comes from another culture. And if your first language is not English, don’t be afraid to ask questions; clarify so you don’t miss the meaning.

Vocabulary: the real meaning of “of course”

I was on the phone recently getting some tech support. As is often the case, I was talking with someone from India. I wanted to know whether I was doing something correctly and, after explaining it to the technician, I asked if I was doing it in the right way. “Of course!” he responded.

To me that sounded like “Obviously,” which is what it would mean if I used it in that context. My immediate response was, “Don’t talk to me like that. It’s not obvious to me!”

Later I thought about it and realized a few things about the expression. Commonly, there are two meanings for “of course.”

One meaning is: “It’s obvious.” This could also be interpreted as: “You are an idiot for not realizing that.” If someone asks you how to do something and you are irritated with them, say “of course” if you want them to feel like it is totally obvious and they are probably a little slow to not realize it. This isn’t so polite when someone is asking about themselves. But if someone asks something about you, for example if you are really going to do something — as in: “Are you really going to try sky diving?” – you can say “of course” to mean they shouldn’t doubt it. This sounds polite.

The other meaning is the one my tech support person really meant. If I am visiting you and want to take something from the fridge — for example: “Can I get some milk from the fridge for my coffee?” – if you answer “of course,” it would be interpreted as “please, you are welcome to take what you want.” In this case, it has a similar meaning to the first but it really means “of course you can take what you want.” It sounds generous and friendly.

The main thing to watch out for is when someone is unsure about their own knowledge and/or ability. Then you should probably just say “Yes.”
Phrasal verbs are verbs that are used with prepositions or adverbs, thus creating a different meaning from the original verb. For example, TURN is different than TURN ON (meaning to flick the switch to on, or the more sexual meaning of to excite) or TURN INTO (which means to become or convert into something different.)

One thing to remember is that, with phrasal verbs, we put emphasis on the preposition (technically called a particle for grammatical reasons.) So we say, “WATCH OUT,” making the word OUT louder and higher and longer than we would normally pronounce a preposition. This increased stress is one thing that indicates a phrasal verb.

Here’s an example of how confusing a phrasal verb can be. “Mary RAN INTO her old friend Hassan, who is visiting from Pakistan.” A non-native speaker could be forgiven for wondering whether Mary physically collided with her visiting friend – the use of the verb “to run” is misleading, if read literally. But, in day-to-day meaning, this phrasal verb could be used to describe an unexpected, chance meeting.

Here’s another phrasal verb that can connote something unexpected: “I thought that Mary would still be out of town last weekend, but she SHOWED UP at the party.” For non-native speakers who are familiar with the common use of the verb “to show,” the use of a phrasal verb like this might sound confusing.

One more example: “Mary wanted to come to the concert last night, but she CAME DOWN with the same cold virus that Hassan caught on the weekend.” Obviously, in context, the use of “to come” or “to come down” does not depict the arrival of someone or something, nor does it illustrate a descent. Rather, “come down” is used to describe the act of contracting, catching or developing something, like an illness or a case of nerves. Naturally, for non-native English-speakers, this phrasal verb lays a potential trap for confusion or misunderstanding.

Despite the endless variations of phrasal verbs, paying attention to the stressed preposition or particle will help you to identify its presence. Then you can ask or look it up to see what it means.

By Heather Chetwynd