Thanks for taking the time to read my posts this year.
Have a great Christmas and see you next year for more tips on how to improve your English.
Louise
Make or do? (19)
Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing. Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.
I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘make’ and ‘do’. Often (but not always) it is because the German word ‘machen’ is mistranslated.
There are many phrases and expressions that exist in English where there is no real rule to help you remember the difference between ‘make’ and ‘do’. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below. Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.
Do well.
E.g. A business needs good management and good staff to do well.
Make a difference.
E.g. Planning and careful preparation will make a big difference to the outcome. If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail!
Make sure.
E.g. Please make sure all the lights are turned off before you leave the building.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Like … (9)
There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
Like a red rag to a bull.
If you describe something as being like a red rag to a bull, you mean that it is certain to result in an angry (or possibly even violent) reaction from another person or a group of people.
E.g. Just mentioning her ex-husband’s name was like a red rag to a bull.
Like looking for a needle in a haystack.
If you describe something as like looking for a needle in a haystack, it means the thing you are looking for is extremely difficult, or even impossible to find.
E.g. He tried to find his lost contact lens on the beach, but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Like … (8)
There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
To stand out like a sore thumb.
If something or someone stands out like a sore thumb, they are very noticeable to other people because they are very different from the people or things around them.
E.g. I was the only one who didn’t wear a costume at the carnival party in Cologne. I stood out like a sore thumb.
Like herding cats.
This is used to refer to an impossible situation or task. It’s often used when describing the difficulty of organising people.
E.g. They are impossible to manage. The just don’t listen! They go off and all do their own thing. It’s like herding cats!
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Make or do? (18)
Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing. Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.
I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘make’ and ‘do’. Often (but not always) it is because the German word ‘machen’ is mistranslated.
There are many phrases and expressions that exist in English where there is no real rule to help you remember the difference between ‘make’ and ‘do’. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below. Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.
Do the gardening.
E.g. My father spends Saturday and Sunday afternoons doing the gardening.
Make an exception.
E.g. The rules are very clear. We cannot make an exception for you. If you don’t follow the rules, you will have to leave.
Make a fire.
E.g. They tried to make a fire by rubbing two pieces of wood together.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
As … as (16)
There are many expressions commonly used in English with the comparison form ‘as … as’.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
As clear as mud.
If something is as clear as mud it’s very difficult (or impossible) to see or understand.
E.g. I have no idea what I’m doing. The instructions in the user manual are as clear as mud!
As easy as shooting fish in a barrel.
If something is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel it is exceptionally easy to accomplish or achieve.
E.g. He does this every day. It’s as easy as shooting fish in a barrel for him.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Like … (7)
There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
To sleep like a log.
If you sleep like a log, you sleep very soundly (deeply) and cannot be woken up easily.
E.g. There was some turbulence on the flight so I couldn’t sleep very well but it didn’t bother my colleague. She slept like a log for the whole flight.
To fit like a glove.
If something fits like a glove, it is the perfect size and shape for someone.
E.g. This is my favourite suit. It fits like a glove and is so comfortable to wear.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Make or do? (17)
Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing. Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.
I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘make’ and ‘do’. Often (but not always) it is because the German word ‘machen’ is mistranslated.
There are many phrases and expressions that exist in English where there is no real rule to help you remember the difference between ‘make’ and ‘do’. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below. Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.
Do your hair.
E.g. She spends ages every morning doing her hair.
Make a fool of yourself.
E.g. The presentation was a disaster. He hadn’t prepared at all and made a total fool of himself in front of the client. He couldn’t answer any of the questions.
Make a sound.
E.g. Don’t make a sound! The children are asleep. We need to be quiet.
Have fun learning English!
Louise
As … as (15)
There are many expressions commonly used in English with the comparison form ‘as … as’.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
As bright as a button.
If someone is as bright as a button they are intelligent, a quick-thinker, lively and alert.
E.g. Don’t worry, he’ll find a solution to your problem. He’s as bright as a button.
As common as muck.
If you describe someone as being as common as muck, you believe they come from a low social class or have low social status. It is most often heard in the U.K. It’s informal language and potentially offensive.
E.g. Look at what she’s wearing! It’s totally inappropriate for this setting. She’s as common as muck!
Have fun learning English!
Louise
Like … (6)
There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
Like watching paint dry.
If something is like watching paint dry it means it is extremely dull or boring.
E.g. Don’t bother going to watch that play. It’s like watching paint dry. I walked out halfway through.
To go down like a lead balloon.
If something goes down like a lead balloon, it means people don’t like it at all. It’s very unpopular or a failure.
E.g. The new proposals went down like a lead balloon. Nobody thought they were a good idea.
Have fun learning English!
Louise