akstylish  +  820993 Wed, 15 Jul 09 04:16 PM How am I supposed to tell whether an expression in the book is used in conversations or obsolete? akstylish Joined on Thu, Jun 26 2008 New Member 36 Friendships, Speaking, Chat, Conversational, Expressions

	Clive  +  821005 Wed, 15 Jul 09 04:30 PM Hi, Perhaps you could google it to see if it is used a lot.   Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,600 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	akstylish  +  821044 Wed, 15 Jul 09 05:05 PM Yeah but there are too many even in one book just to google. akstylish

	Clive  +  821164 Wed, 15 Jul 09 07:05 PM Hi, Well, then just wait and see if you ever encounter the expression again.   Clive Clive Expressions

	Grammar Geek  +  821173 Wed, 15 Jul 09 07:17 PM Also the date the book was published will help. Anything written in the past few years is probably safe, though if there is a lot of slang, it may not be. Anything written before 1920 is probably not. As for the middle ground... Google is a good suggestion.     Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,659 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Dates

	khoff  +  826815 Sun, 19 Jul 09 07:26 PM You could post the expression here, and ask. khoff Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005 Senior Member 3,266 Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert) Expressions

	bataspur  +  829297 Wed, 22 Jul 09 02:52 AM Hard call - there is no obvious way but to figure out the reality around you (for example, ask in this forum). That does not guarantee perfection, but only increases your chances of getting it right. -- Mark bataspur Joined on Mon, Jul 20 2009 New Member 02