COMMON JOURNALISM LANGUAGE | |
to cover a story to report on an event or development in-depth coverage of a thorough analysis of to verify to check that something is correct eyewitness reports descriptions of what happened by people who actually saw an event take place breaking news news which is just coming in
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MEDIA BUSINESS | |
circulation how many copies of a newspaper are sold each day or each week advertising revenue the money a firm makes by selling space to other firms to advertise their products | |
broadcast journalism
print journalism
online journalism
citizen journalism
independent media
broadsheets
tabloids
rolling news
to breathe in: inhale formal
to breathe out: exhale formal
to breathe noisily: sniff, snore when sleepingsnort, sigh
to breathe with difficulty: gasp, pant, wheeze, be short of breath, be out of breath
to be unable to breathe: choke, suffocatebreathe
You can say that something smells good, bad, strange etc.
Use an adjective, never an adverb • You smell wonderful (NOT wonderfully) - what perfume is that? In British English, you can use smell with of to say what something smells like • Her jacket smelled of smoke NOT smelled smoke. If you say that something or someone smells, you mean they have a bad smell • Your socks smell. If you can smell something or you smell something, you notice its smell • I can smell coffee. • We smelled smoke.!! You do not say 'feel a smell'.
| interjection | meaning | example |
| ah | expressing pleasure | "Ah, that feels good." |
| expressing realization | "Ah, now I understand" | |
| expressing resignation | "Ah well, it can't be heped." | |
| expressing surprise | "Ah! I've won | |
| alas | expressing grief or pity | "Alas, she's dead now" |
| dear | expressing pity | "Oh dear! Does it hurt" |
| expressing surprise | "Dear me! That's a surprise" | |
| eh | asking for repetition | "It's hot today." "Eh?" "I said it's hot today" |
| expressing enquiry | "What do you think of that, eh" | |
| expressing surprise | "Eh! Really" | |
| inviting agreement | "Let's go, eh" | |
| er | expressing hesitation | "Lima is the capital of...er...Peru" |
| hello, hullo | expressing greeting | "Hello John. How are you today |
| expressing surprise | "Hello! My car's gone" | |
| hey | calling attention | "Hey! look at that |
| expressing surprise, joy etc | "Hey! What a good idea" | |
| hi | expressing greeting | "Hi! What's new" |
| hmm | expressing hesitation, doubt or disagreement | "Hmm. I'm not so sure." |
| oh, o | expressing surprise | "Oh! You're here" |
| expressing pain | "Oh! I've got a toothache" | |
| expressing pleading | "Oh, please say 'yes' | |
| ouch | expressing pain | "Ouch! That hurts |
| uh | expressing hesitation | "Uh...I don't know the answer to that." |
| uh-huh | expressing agreement | "Shall we go?" "Uh-huh." |
| um, umm | expressing hesitation | "85 divided by 5 is...um...17" |
| well | expressing surprise | "Well I never" |
| introducing a remark | "Well, what did he say" |
blab (verb): talk too much about unimportant things, some of which might be private matters
- She blabbed to her friends all about the accident and how it was all my fault. How embarrassing.
"crash course" = a course in which you learn the material in a very short time period
"She took a driving crash course before she went on vacation."
"black ice" = a coating of ice on the road that is nearly invisible to drivers
"Be careful as you drive home tonight because there are sure to be patches of black ice on the highways"
Back up - to make a copy of computer information so you do not lose it.
Log off - to finish using a computer system
Boot up - to start a computer so it is ready to use.
Hack into - to get into someone else’s computer system without permission
Beat up - to hurt someone badly by hitting or kicking them again and again
Bump off - to kill someone
Inform on - to give information about someone who has done something wrong to a person in authority
Get away with - to succeed in not being criticized or punished for something wrong that you have done
Hold up - to steal money from a building, a person or a vehicle, by using violence or by threatening to use violence.
Break into - to get into a building or car by using force, usually to steal something
Let off - to not punish someone who has committed a crime or done something wrong, or to not punish severely
Cheer up - to start feeling happier
Wind up - to annoy someone
Snap out of - to force yourself to stop feeling sad or upset
Calm down - to stop feeling upset, angry or excited, or to make someone stop feeling this way
Tear apart - to make someone feel very unhappy
Whip up - to make food for a meal very quickly and easily
Pig out - to eat a lot of food
Pick at - to eat only a small amount of a meal because you are not hungry or because you are feeling ill
Knock back - to quickly drink a lot of alcohol
Eat up - to eat all of the food you have been given
Bolt down - to eat food very quickly
Get over - to feel better after having an illness
Come round - to become conscious again
Keep down - to be able to eat or drink something without vomiting
Pass away - to die
Look after - to take care of someone
Pick up - to get an infectious disease from someone or something
Fight off - to try hard to get rid of an illness
Dip into - to spend part of a supply of money that you have been keeping or saving
Cough up - to provide money for something, especially when you are not very willing to do this
Get by - to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need, but nothing more
Pay back - to give someone the money that you owe them
Tide over - to help someone, usually by giving them money for a period of time when they have no money
Splash out - to spend a lot of money on something, which is very pleasant but which you do not need
Take off - (aircraft) to move from the ground and begin to fly
Touch down - (aircraft) to land on the ground
Set off - to start a journey
Check in - to show your ticket at an airport so you can be told where you are sitting and so that your bags can be put on the aircraft
See off - to go to the place that someone is leaving from in order to say goodbye
Butt in - to rudely add a remark to someone else’s conversation
Reel off - to say a long list of things quickly and without stopping (S)
Blurt out - to say something suddenly and without thinking, especially because you are nervous or excited (S)
Shut up - to stop talking or to make someone else do this
Go on - to talk in a very annoying way about something for a long time
Clam up - to become quiet or refuse to talk about something, usually because you are shy or afraid
No man or woman is worth your tearsThe only one who is, will never make you cry
If you love someone, put their name in a circle, instead of a heart
Hearts can break, but circles go on forever
Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you sayBest friends listen to what you don't
If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them. I'd be at the bottom to catch them
Don't frown, because you never know who's falling in love with your smile
It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone---but it takes a lifetime to forget someone
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."- Mother Teresa
he person who serves you in a restaurant: waiter, waitress, server American English, waitperson American English
the person who cooks your food: chef
the person who welcomes the guests
maitre d', host/hostess American English
a list of the food: menu also bill of fare formal
a list of wines and alcoholic drinks: wine list also drink list American English
a piece of paper that shows the amount you have to pay for your meal: bill British English/check American English
extra money you leave for the waiter or waitress: tip/gratuity formal
money that the restaurant charges for service: service charge, cover charge, corkagerestaurant
turn your head
shake your head =move it from side to side, especially to show disagreement
nod your head =move it up and down, especially to show agreement
raise/lift your head =look up
bow/bend/lower your head =look downwards
hang your head =look downwards, especially because you are ashamed
cock your head =hold your head at an angle
scratch your head somebody's head aches
somebody's head throbs =it aches badly
from head to foot/toe =over your whole body
bald head =one with no hair on it
the crown of your head =the top of the back of your head
head injury
"get back on one's feet" = recover physically, emotionally, or financially
"He lost everything in the accident, but he's slowly getting back on his feet."
"hit the ceiling" = get very angry
"My dad hit the ceiling when he found out I wrecked the car."
Many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount
Meaning
The English dictum that a man's home is his refuge
Meaning
To avoid committing oneself; to leave a means of retreat open
someone's favor or good opinion |
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Example : She was always in the good graces of whoever happened to be in charge |
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Run over - Knock down, pass over |
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Example : The car ran over our dog. |
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Wake-up call - a sign or warning |
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Example : The rise in unemployment has given a wake-up call to state governments |
Eat someone alive - to criticize someone very angrily | |||||||||||||||||||
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Example : If we get our facts wrong we'll be eaten alive by the press
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Example : She was always in the good graces of whoever happened to be in charge.
tight/firm hold on something
tighten your hold on something
loosen/release your hold on something
have/keep hold of something =be holding something
get/take hold of something =start holding something catch/grab/seize hold of something =take hold of something quickly and firmly
lose your hold on something =accidentally let go of something
Proud is a fairly general word used to say that someone is pleased with themselves, pleased with what they have achieved, or pleased with something or someone connected with them such as their school or their family • His proud parents watched the presentation. • I'm very proud of my students. • She was proud to be in the team.
Proud is usually neither approving nor disapproving, although you can say someone is too proud, meaning that they will not admit they are wrong or need help.
Arrogant is a disapproving word meaning that someone thinks they are better than other people • He was so arrogant he thought he could not possibly lose. • the arrogant way she dismisses my opinions
Conceited and big-headed are disapproving words meaning that someone thinks they or their achievements are better than they really are
Conceited is fairly formal and big-headed is informal.
Vain is a disapproving word meaning that someone thinks they are very special, especially because they are very proud of the way they look.
single not married
divorced if you are divorced, you have officially ended your marriage to someone
engaged if you are engaged to be married, you have formally agreed to marry someone in the future
widowed if you are widowed, your husband or wife has died
be living together to be living as a couple in the same house without being married
spouse formal the person you are married to
partner your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend
marital status whether you are single or married - used on official formson
happy/unhappy marriage
mixed marriage =between people of different races or religions
arranged marriage =your parents choose the person who you marry
loveless marriage
a marriage breaks down =it ends because of disagreements
the breakdown/break-up of your marriage =the end of your marriage
sex before marriage/outside marriage be born outside marriage =be born when your parents are not married
propose marriage formal =ask someone to marry you
consummate a marriage =make your marriage complete by having sex
annul a marriage formal =a court or church leader officially ends a marriage
very good: excellent, fantastic, wonderful, great, terrific, neat American English,
superb, amazing, outstanding, brilliant, impressive, fine, first-class, out of this world
of good quality: high quality, top quality, superior, deluxe, classy
morally good: decent, virtuous, respectable, honourable British English/honorable American English, upright, beyond reproach
There are a number of phrases and idioms that are only used when telephoning. Let's first take a look at an example dialogue: Here are the most common