Atualizado em 03.07.2009 por Elia
There is something a little complicated to me, in English. Actually, there are lots of them! But, I’m not supposed to know everything, am I? 🙂 No, everybody isn’t.
Consists of very informal expressions or words which normally feature in speech rather than writing and are used by people who know each other well or who have the same jobs, backgrounds or interests. They often relate to sex, drink, drugs, relationships, social groups, etc. They are often fairly strong in emotive terms and may sometimes be found offensive to people outside the group.
So, who came to this knees-up, then?
My ex was absolutely bonkers.
We’ll have to get some booze in for tonight.
Big bucks denotes a large amount of money (bucks are dollars), chickenfeed is small change. Knees-up = party, my ex = former boyfriend or girlfriend. Absolutely bonkers is very crazy or unpredictable. Booze is alcohol, just as a boozer is a pub or someone who drinks a lot of alcohol.
If you are exposed to slang expressions in your learning of English, it is important for you to understand their meaning and the emotive force behind them. It may be less appropriate for you to use them if you are not part of that group. In fact, it may sound strange and inappropriate if you do so. Also slang changes very quickly.
Idiomatic expressions are combinations or collocations of words which cannot be translated word for word. Thus:
I could eat a horse.
It is an idiomatic way of saying:
I’m very hungry.
