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Professor Mike Davis' practical English column
Are you in the mood for English?
Are you feeling on top of the world and full of joy or depressed and down in the dumps? Here is a list of popular expressions you can use to tell people how you feel.
Bent out of shape. If you got bent out of shape over something, would it hurt? Well, not physically! This expression only means that a person is feeling very annoyed or angry: "She got bent out of shape over the new dress code at work."
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On cloud nine. When someone is on cloud nine, it means that he or she is feeling extremely happy. For example, "When he finally proposed to her, she was on cloud nine."
Totally spaced out. Your friends have been trying to get your attention for over ten minutes, and you didn't even notice. What's your excuse? Tell them you were totally spaced out and daydreaming.
Shaken up. After people receive shocking news or experience something unexpected, they may feel shaken up. For example, "After the accident she was completely shaken up."
On pins and needles. When people say they're on pins and needles, they aren't talking about acupuncture. It really means that they are feeling anxious or nervous. For example, "The movie was so suspenseful, I was on pins and needles the whole time!"
Beat/Bushed. The next time someone asks you how you're feeling after a long and tiring day, you can tell them that you're beat or bushed. This is another way to say that you're exhausted. A perfect excuse not to wash the dishes!
Head over heels. Everyone keeps asking you why you're so happy these days. You can tell them that you're head over heels in love! This is a popular expression to describe that feeling of being completely in love with someone. You can also say you are madly in love.
Fed up. Whenever you feel really frustrated about something and no longer want to deal with it, you can tell people that you are completely fed up! If you receive terrible service at a restaurant, for example, you might say, "I am completely fed up with your service!"
Chill out. If your friends think you're overreacting to a small problem, they might tell you to chill out. This is a popular way to tell someone to relax or calm down: "Stop worrying about it and just chill out."
Under the weather. If you're sick or just not feeling so well, just say you're under the weather. For example, "John's feeling a bit under the weather tonight, so he won't be joining us for dinner."
By Rachelle Pia
More practical English tips from Mike!
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Ask Mike Mike answers all of your practical English worries!
Q:Dear Mike,
What does it mean when Paris Hilton says, "That's hot" all the time? Julio, San Paolo, Brazil A:Dear Julio, "That's hot!" is basically another way of saying "that's cool", "that's great!" or "that's awesome!" In other words, it's Paris's way of expressing her approval for something. Here is an example of how you can use the expression. Say your friend says, "Julio, I heard that Paris Hilton is going to be on TV tonight!" If you think that this is a good thing, you can then say, "that's hot!" Best, Mike
Q:Dear Mike,
I always wonder why American ladies say they have to go to "bathroom" or "washroom" rather than the toilet. Isn't it all the same thing? Calon, Shanghai, China A:Dear Calon, You're right! They are all the same thing. The answer is that Americans in general, have a more conservative or prudish attitude when it comes to bathroom or toilet affairs. "Bathroom" and "washroom" are essentially euphemisms. A euphemism is an expression intended by the speaker to be less offensive, disturbing, or troubling to the listener than the word or phrase it replaces. In other words: Americans don't want people to picture them in the toilet! Best, Mike
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