How to use "full of oneself"

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What does full of oneself mean? 

"Thinking that you are very important in a way that

annoys other people. " (Cambridge Dictionaries online)

"I couldn’t stand him, he was so full of himself." 

(Macmillan Dictionary)

How to be creative!

Prepositions #3 - In X On

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This is not a problem anymore :)  

kind of x somewhat

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kind of  (informal) : "used when you are talking about someone or something in a general way without being very exact or definite" (Macmillan Dictionary).

"I felt kind of sorry for him. "

somewhat (formal) : "to some degree but not to a large degree" (Macmillan Dictionary). 

"We are somewhat worried."

What's "how'd" ?

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HOW'D is a contraction of "how did" or "how would" 

How'd [how did] you like your meal?

How'd [how would] you like to go to the beach?

(source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

10 ways to say I don´t know #2

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For those days when you are teaching or making a presentation and people ask questions you can't answer, either because you don´t remember or because you don't know.

I'll get back to you on that one.

Let me find out for you.

I'll double check and let you know.

I'm not 100% sure on that.

Let me look that up for you.

I don't have that information here right now.

I haven't a clue. 

I'm not sure.

Your guess is as good as mine.

Beats me. 

source: 
http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/question/other-ways-to-say-i-dont-know/

Go + for + noun

Go + to + place

Expressions with "matter"

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What’s the matter?	What’s wrong? What´s the problem?
As a matter of fact	To tell the truth/ in reality.
That’s another matter	Something is completely different.
It is a matter of time	This consequence is inevitable though it may not happen immediately.
To make matters worse	To make a situation even more difficult.
No matter who/what/where	It’s not a problem who/what/where something happens.

source: https://www.facebook.com/a.learnenglish/posts/579670542055190

How to use "good thinking"

This expression is "used for telling someone that they have had a good idea". (Macmillan Dictionary)

Thus, instead of saying "good idea", you might use "good thinking", as well as Robin used to do in the 60s. 

"Good thinking, Batman!!"

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iTranslate TipTuesday#9

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There are a lot of different online translators and dictionaries on the internet. So, it´s not easy to pick just one, right?

The only way to figure this out is trying. :) 

I've been doing this for the last few weeks by using iTranslate (the most popular translator app). It's an award winning translation tool and it's been good, for now. 

"80+ languages in your pocket" - not bad, huh? :) 

Instapaper - TipTuesday#8

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How about an app that you can save web content and read it later, wherever you are, even when there is no WiFi, like on a plane?

You can also use Instapaper to highlight and share text from any article. Useful, isn't?

Describing People #1 - "He's a real character"

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When you need to describe someone who is unusual, interesting or an amusing individual, say this:

"He (she) is a real character."

"You'd like Joe, he's a real character."

You can also use it to define a place:

"The modern hotels here have no real character."

source: Oxford Learners Dictionaries and Oxford Dictionaries - Language matters /

Macmillan Dictionary  / Urban Dictionary

How to use "for good"

Do you know that there is another way to say "forever"?

Macmillan Dictionary - permanently, without the possibility of change in the future. It looks like Jamie has left for good this time.

Merriam Webster - "for good" also "for good and all":  forever, permanently

The Free Dictionary - forever; permanently. I finally left home for good. // Now she says she's leaving him for good.

But... is there any difference between "for good" and "forever"? 

I found a good explanation for this question here : 

'Forever' is much more dramatic - it means eternally, till the end of all time.

'For good' is usually used in the sense of everyday happenings in life. It would mean permanently, for the rest of my life.

This leads us to conclude that, when it comes to Portuguese, "for good" is the best translation for " definitivamente" : He left his job for good. (Ele largou o trabalho definitivamente.)

I hope it was helpful. 

Now, how about learning how to use it singing with Boyce Avenue "Back for Good"?
lyrics here 

Until the next time !! :) 

How to use "be dying for/to do something"

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Do you know those days when you want to do or have something so much?

Use "dying for"  

Macmillan Dictionary: wanting to have/do something so much that you do not want to wait (I'm dying for a cup of coffee. / We're dying to meet your new boyfriend.)

English club: If you're dying for something, you really feel like it or you want it very much. (I'm dying for a cup of tea. Let's have a break and I'll make one.)

Cambridge Dictionaries Online : to be extremely eager to have or do something (I'm dying to hear your news.)

JDA English TipTuesday#7

Jack is the owner of JDA English and an expert in IELTS preparation. He is giving a helpful book and you can download it for free : 5 ways to become fluent in English.

I already have my own. 

What about you? :) 

Is it worth your effort?

by Patrick Hill (my guest) 

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Learning a second language such as English is rewarding in several ways: you gain a cultural understanding through language study, broadening your awareness of people of the world and their unique historical  backgrounds. 

While studying another language, you are relearning and hence acquiring an appreciation for your native language as you deduce the distinct differences and similarities of how another society communicates.  

Lastly, you garner the practical advantage that comes with being able to communicate with a foreign culture for business or social purposes.  Studying takes time and patience, but keeping in mind the inherent rewards will make it easier along the way. 

Patrick Hill grew up in Detroit, Michigan before moving to Tennessee where he began studying the Japanese language for over ten years and then traveled to Japan for work.  He earned his master’s degree in business while working within the Japanese automotive industry and afterward became a financial consultant for Charles Schwab and Company.    
Patrick currently teaches online English classes in his spare time.

How to use "come off it" !

Come off it is an informal expression used when you want to ask someone to stop saying or doing something because you don´t believe them or you consider that as  something stupid. 

Cambridge Dictionaries online : Ask Simon to cook the meal? Come off it, he can hardly boil an egg!

The Free Dictionary: Come off it, Pete, there's no reason to be scared of asking her for a date.

Macmillan Dictionary : Come off it now – she was only trying to help. / Come off it, I know lots of men who do housework.

Urban Dictionary:

Oh my god I'm like sooooooooo fat.

Oh, come off it.

How to use "at first glance"

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When you first see someone or think about something without having more details, you may say "at first glance" . It's your first impression. Let´s look at some examples?

At first glance the deal looked wonderful, 

but after reading the fine print he wasn’t so sure. 

At first glance, the problem appeared quite simple. 

Later we learned just how complex it really was. 

At first glance, the theory seems to make a lot of sense.

Let´s pronounce the word "beach" correctly!

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Don´t be afraid anymore! 

In this five-minute video, Rachel's English says the main problem is the tongue position inside the mouth (as well as in many other words which are difficult to pronounce) . She teaches exactly where we need to put our tongue to say the word "beach" perfectly.