Lahkotno in brezskrbno poletje je navdih za številne angleške idiome: make a splash, travel on a shoestring, make hay while the sun shines … Z njihovo uporabo bo vaša angleščina zvenela bolj naravno in samozavestno.
Prav idiomi pa so pogosto eden zahtevnejših delov učenja angleščine. Njihovega pomena namreč ne moremo vedno razbrati iz posameznih besed, zato jih je pomembno spoznati v pravem kontekstu.
Preverite svoje znanje v kratkem kvizu.
1. Make a splash / drop in the ocean?
She hadn’t had a lot of success in the first years of her political career. But in 2017 she _______ in Washington, D.C. as a political consultant.
- make a splash
- drop in the ocean
Pravilno: She hadn’t had a lot of success in the first years of her political career. But in 2017 she made a splash in Washington, D.C. as a political consultant.
Razlaga: Idiom to make a splash pomeni, da pritegnemo veliko pozornosti (attention) v javnosti.
Primeri: Jodie Foster made quite a splash in the film "Taxi Driver".
2. Travelling on a shoestring / in a shoestring?
If you're ______ budget and planning to camp and hitchhike in Iceland, you will need longer travel time to make sure you aren't rushed, as sometimes you will be waiting awhile for a lift.
- travelling on a shoestring
- travelling in a shoestring
Pravilno: If you're travelling on a shoestring budget and planning to camp and hitchhike in Iceland, you will need longer travel time to make sure you aren't rushed, as sometimes you will be waiting awhile for a lift.
Razlaga: Ko potujemo on a shoestring, potujemo z zelo omejenim proračunom oziroma poskušamo porabiti čim manj denarja.
Primeri: I really learned how to travel on a shoestring when I studied abroad.
3. Make hay while the sun shines / make a splash
The weather conditions won't be this good for another several months, so let's _______.
- make hay while the sun shines
- make a splash
Pravilno: The weather conditions won't be this good for another several months, so let's make hay while the sun shines.
Razlaga: Idiom pomeni, da izkoristimo ugodno priložnost, dokler traja.
Primeri: We finally have the full group assembled, so let's make hay while the sun shines and get this thing done.
4. To take a shine to someone / of someone?
I didn't like Tom when I first met him, but recently he and I have been getting on quite well. I think I'm starting ________.
- to take a shine to someone
- to take a shine of someone
Pravilno: I didn't like Tom when I first met him, but recently he and I have been getting on quite well. I think I'm starting to take a shine to him.
Razlaga: To take a shine to someone pomeni, da vam nekdo postopoma postane všeč oziroma ga začnete imeti radi.
Primer:
- My younger brother has really taken a shine to you.
5. Like water off a duck’s back / of a duck’s back?
My aunt told me my T-shirt was stupid, but her comments on fashion are ________ – she has no idea about what’s cool and what’s not.
- like water off a duck’s back
- like water of a duck’s back
Pravilno: My aunt told me my T-shirt was stupid, but her comments on fashion are like water off a duck’s back – she has no idea about what’s cool and what’s not.
Razlaga: Idiom pomeni, da nas kritika ali žaljive besede ne prizadenejo oziroma na nas nimajo nobenega učinka.
Primer: Tom always criticizes Larry, but he ignores it and the criticism is like water off a duck’s back.
6. A place in the sun / a drop in the ocean?
After years of struggling as an unknown actor, he has finally found ___________.
- a place in the sun
- a drop in the ocean
Pravilno: After years of struggling as an unknown actor, he has finally found a place in the sun.
Razlaga: Idiom a place in the sun Pomeni najti uspeh, priznanje ali svoje mesto v svetu, slovenska ustreznica idioma pa je prostor pod soncem.
Primer: After years of hard work, Tim has finally found his place in the sun after being promoted to senior manager.
7. Like a fish out of water / in water?
Martin had never been to a supermarket before, so he looked ________ when his mother asked him to buy a few groceries.
- like a fish out of water
- like a fish in water
Pravilno: Martin had never been to a supermarket before, so he was looking like a fish out of water when his mother asked him to bring some stuff to cook.
Razlaga: Idiom like a fish out of water označuje situacije, ko nam je neprijetno ali nismo popolnoma seznanjeni z dogajanjem okoli nas. Slovenska ustreznica je biti kot riba na suhem.
Primer: I went to an office party last night, and I really felt like a fish out of water.
8. Swim against the tide / test the waters?
Why can't you cooperate? Do you always have ________?
- swim against the tide
- test the waters
Pravilno: Why can't you cooperate? Do you always have to swim against the tide?
Razlaga: Plavati proti toku (to swimm against the tide) ni lahko, je pa odraz naše vztrajnosti (perseverance) in predvsem pripravljenosti, da bomo k stvarem pristopili drugače kot večina (majority).
Primer: The designer always swims against the tide, which helps him produce unique pieces.
9. A drop in the ocean / a place in the sun?
Thirty thousand dollars is a ______________when you think about the millions that will be spent on this film.
- a drop in the ocean
- a place in the sun
Pravilno: Thirty thousand dollars is a drop in the ocean when you think about the millions that will be spent on this film.
Razlaga: Idiom a drop in the ocean ima enak pomen kot slovenska ustreznica kaplja v morje. Pomeni zelo majhen delež v primerjavi s celoto.
Primer: We just had a brief shower but it was a drop in the ocean of the rain needed to put out the wildfires.
10. Doesn't hold water / is water under the bridge?
Sebastian's story ______. It sounds too unlikely.
- doesn't hold water
- is water under the bridge
Pravilno: Sebastian's story doesn't hold water. It sounds too unlikely.
Razlaga: Idiom pomeni, da razlaga ali zgodba ni prepričljiva oziroma ne zdrži kritične presoje.
Primer: Dan told Claire he missed her concert because didn’t know what time it was, but that doesn’t hold water. We all saw him put it in his calendar!
Učenje angleščine z Lingulo
Čeprav so zgornji idiomi vezani na poletje, pa si vedno lahko vzamemo čas za učenje angleščine. Tečaj angleščine po govorni metodi je odlična priložnost, da postanemo samozavesten govorec tudi v angleščini in poleg novega besedišča spoznamo še zanimivosti o angleški kulturi.
