Language
is forever changing. What is currently acceptable or popular may be replaced by
something else in years to come, and the use of slang is a strong testament to
that. Slang is just an alternative way of saying something. It is sometimes
hard to identify what is slang and what is not. Slang and colloquial
expressions are often acceptable in informal writing because they are used in
communication in movies, newspapers, radio, television, and other mass media
The more you learn, the more you will know when to use or not to use them in
your formal writing. No matter what, knowing these common everyday expressions
is a plus for all ESL learners.
By a
long chalk: by a great amount.
e.g. He
lost his re-election by a long chalk.
Get
wise to: discover; realize.
e.g.
Soon you’ll get wise to what is really happening under the
roof.
Killer: a
very funny joke.
e.g. That last one was really a
killer; everybody laughed.
Kick back:
relax and enjoy.
e.g I really want to kick
back and enjoy the music.
Go
the whole hog: go through thoroughly.
e.g.
The prosecutor went the whole hog when he inspected the murder
weapon.
Alive
and kicking: in good health.
"How is your grandmother doing?" "Very much alive
and kicking."
For a
song: very cheaply.
e.g.
I got that piece of antique for a
song.
Head
above water: out of debt.
e.g. Nowadays, it is not easy to keep your head
above water.
Mean-green: money.
e.g. Can I borrow a little mean-green from you?
All
that jazz: all that sort of
thing; etcetera.
e.g. He was telling everyone about his success in real
estate investment and all
that jazz. Well, we all heard
that before.
In a
jiffy: soon.
e.g.
The manager will see you in a
jiffy.
Head
above water: out of debt.
e.g. Nowadays, it is not easy to keep your head
above water.
Next to
nothing: hardly anything.
e.g.
“Did she leave you anything at all?” “Well, next to nothing.”
Stephen
Lau
Copyright©
by Stephen Lau
