Binomials

Binomials are expressions (often idiomatic) where two words are joined by a conjunction (usually'and'). The order of the words is usually fixed, usually used in informal situations, with one or two exception.

odds and ends (small, unimportant things. e.g. Let's get the main things packed, we can do the odds and ends later)

give and take: a spirit of compromise, e.g. Every relationship needs a bit of give and take to be succesful.

1. We can oftern tell something is a binomial because of the sound pattern.

- Tears are part and parcel of growing up (part of/ belong to)

- The manager was ranting and raving at us (shouting/ very angry)

- The old church has gone to rack and ruin (ruined/ decayed)

- He's so prim and proper at work (rather formal and fussy)

- The apartment was a bit rough and ready (poor standard)

- She has to wine and dine dimportant clients (entertain)

2. Other times, the clue is that the words are near-synonims

* You can pick and choose; it's up to you (have a wide choice)

* My english is progressing in leaps and bounds (big jumps)

* It's nice to have some peace and quiet (peace calm)

* The doctor recommended some rest and recreation (relaxation)

* First and foremost, you must work hard (first / most importantly)

3. Many grammar words combine to form binomials

- There are restaurants here and there (scattered round)

- We've had meetings on and off (occasionally)

- I've been running back and forth all day (to and from somewhere)

- To and fro can be used just like back and forth

- She is unemployed and down and out (without a home or money)

- He's better now, and out and about again (going out)

- She ran up and down the street (in both directions)

4. Four very neutral binomials (black and white, ladies and gentleman, back and forth, hot and cold)

5. Binomials linked by words other than and.

* You've got your sweater on back to front (the wrong way)

* He won't help her; she'll have to sink or swim (survive or fail)

* Slowly but surely, I realised the boat was sinking (gradually)

* Sooner or later, you'll learn your lesson (some time/ day)

* She didn't want to be just friends; it had to be all or nothing

* Well I'm sorry, that's all I can offer you; take it or leave it

* It's about the same distances as from here to our house, give or take a few miles (perhaps a mile or two more, or a mile or two less)

Time

There are prepositions about time that we can use to make us  'looks like' fluent in english ^^.

Here the preps and the used.

1. One thing before another

Before I went to work I fed the cat (or, more commonly in written English: Before going to work, I fed the cat)

I had written to her prior to meeting the committee (formal/written style)

It was nice to be in Seoul. Previously I'd only been to Busan (fairly formal, more informal would be before that, I ..)

I was in the office from 2.30 pm. I was out earlier on. (before then, fairly informal)

The city is now called Jakarta. Formerly it was Jayakarta (used when something has changed its name, state, etc)

2. Things happening at the same time

While I waited, I read the magazine (or, more formal: While waiting, I read magazine)

As I was driving to work, I saw an accident ( As describes the background when something happens in the foreground)

I saw her just as she was turning the corner (at the precise moment)

During the war, She lived in Rotterdam (during here, doesn;t specify how long)

Throughout the war, food was rationed (from beginning to end)

She was entering at the very time/the very moment I was leaving ( these two are stronger and more precise than as or just as)

3. One thing after another

After I'd locked, I went up to bed (or, more formal: after locking up.. WE don't usually say "After having locked up..)

We went to the beach. Then we caught a bus to go home.

First we went to the cinema. After that, we had a romantic unforgettable dinner

He fell ill and was admitted to hospital. He died soon afterwards (it can be changed with after that)

Following my visitor to New Delhi, I bought lots of books about India (fairly formal)

4. Time when

When I'm rich and famous, I'' buy a yacht (NOT ' when I will be rich)

As soon as we've packed we can leave (immediately after)

Once we've finished we can go home and have a coffee (less specific)

The moment/the minute I saw his face I knew I'd met him before.

I stayed in that hospital the time (that) I broke my leg.

I met him at my friends/ wedding. On that ocassion he was with a different girl.

5. Connecting two periods or events

The meeting will take about an hour. In the meantime, wait and have a snack (between now and the finishing meeting).

The new CD player are arriving soon. Till then, we'll have to use the old ones.

I last met him in 1985. Since then I haven't set eyes on him.

By the time I retire, I will have worked here 20 years.

Words from other languages

Some English words and expressions borrowed from some other European languages, such as Norway, Spain, Russia, and Greece.

 Words come from Norway:

fjord  -- Fyord (berasal dari bahasa Norwegia; fjord) merupakan semacam teluk yang berasal dari lelehan gletsjer atau glaciar yaitu tumpukan es yang sangat tebal dan berat.

      

Sognefjord merupakan sebuah fyord terbesar kedua di dunia.

   

                             a lemming

floe -- floating mass of ice (especialy in the sea) gumpalan es terapung

ski -- you know what ski is

slalom -- to slalom means to zig-zag between obstacles (usually used in skiing)

lemming --  is small rodents, usually found in or near the Arctic, in tundra biomes.

from Finland:

sauna -- hot steam bath

from Sweden:

ombudsman -- public official who investigates citizens' complaints against the government 

tungsten -- wolfram (W) bright-gray rare metallic element having a high melting point and 

                     used in alloys of metal(Chemistry); element found in electric lamp filaments and

                     high-speed cutting tools 

from Spain:

embargo -- ban, officialy restricted commerce (larangan berdagang dengan negara lain)

junta -- council, committee

siesta -- afternoon rest or nap (tidur siang)

guerrilla -- soldier who engages in irregular warfare (usually a member of a loosely organized band of soldiers         

                  which utilizes hit-and-run methods to fight the enemy) (gerilya)

macho -- assertive, strong masculine, masculine chauvinism

mosquito -- you know what kind of animal it is, don't you?

bonanza -- something which brings rich rewards; rich mass of ore in a mine (sumber keberuntungan)

lasso -- rope with a noose at one end which is used to capture cattle

patio -- back garden or backyard (emper belakang)

from France:

cuisine -- culinary art, kitchen

gateau -- cake, pastry

chauffeur -- driver of a private motor car (sopir)

boutique -- a small shpping outlet (butik)

creche -- day care center for small children (tempat pentiipan bayi)

duvet -- feather comforter (selimut, biasanya dari bulu angsa)

coup -- revolution, take over, overthrow

elite -- upper-class, aristrocrat, choice (pilihan)

saute -- lightly fried in butter or fat (menggoreng sebentar)

avant garde -- front guard, advance guard, vanguard- unconventional, novel, artistic and new

cul de sac -- dead end, blind alley (jalan buntu)

aubergine -- eggplant, brinjal (terong)

bidet -- basin-like bath which is used for washing the genital area (basin)

from Germany:

kindergarten -- nursery school, frobel

dachshund -- type of a dog breeder with short-legged

 

rottweiler -- a hardy and very intelligent herding dog, usually called 'rottie'

poodle -- the most intelligent breed dog (also called puddle/old English) 

 

       a dacshund

   

    a rottie                       a poodle

hamburger-- you know hat kind of food it is

frankfurter -- a hot dog, a sausage (sosis)

delicatessen -- conveniece food store (toko penjual makanan)

blitz -- lightning (kilat)

waltz -- ballroom and folk dance with closed position (dansa wals)

snorkel -- swimming with a breathing tube (snorkel)

Wanderlust -- a strong desire to travel

seminar -- educational meeting 

from Italy:

ghetto -- portion of city in which members of minority group live

piano 

soprano -- woman highest singing voice

ballerina -- a female ballet dancer (for male is a danseur)

confetti -- small bits of colored papers thwon at celebration, ex. wedding/ sing.

               confetto)

fiasco -- total failure

spaghetti -- a long thin form of pasta

bandit -- ganster, scoundrel

casino -- a facility that ccomodate gambling activity (kasino)

vendetta -- blood feud especially of two families (dendam keluarga)

from Greece:

dogma -- a creed, religious doctrine

drama -- play for the theater, television etc

psychology -- scientific study of the mind and how it influences behaviour

hippopotamus -- large African river animal with thick skin

theory -- formal set of ideas intended to explain why something happens or

              exists

pseudonym -- fictitious/pen/assumed name (nama samaran)

synonym -- different words with identical meaning

from Russia:

bistro -- a small restaurant

sputnik -- a Russian satellite

cosmonaut -- astronout

perestroika -- restructuring

steppe -- broad grassy plain similar to prairie (padang rumput)

tundra -- vast and treeless arctic region

tsar -- csar, emperor (kaisar)

balalaika -- triangular with 3 strings Russian guitar

mammoth -- extinct hairy elephantlike mammal, huge, enormous, gigantic