for no ads

What are the five most useful phrases in English?

This is a discussion thread · 6 replies
:
Which five phrases or words have you found the most useful to learn?
Veteran Member11,782
Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.Retired Moderator: A moderator who has retired.Trusted Users: Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
Guest:
1. You cut your nose to spite your face.
2. Don't count your chickens before they've hatched.
3. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
4. Cross your bridges when you get to them.
5. Getting the short end of the stick.
:
1. Shut up
2. Go away
3. The steelers have won the super bowl
4. May the force be with you
5. I felt like it
Junior Member74
:
1. Your Mother
2. Damn
3. Put it on my tab
4. I didn't do it
5. The Eagles didn't win the super bowl
New Member44
:
I'm sorry, but I cannot guess what these proverbs are about. Could you explain them? I would really like to know, because I like proverbs and when I read them I'm trying to find the analogue in my native language.

1. You cut your nose to spite your face.

3. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

5. Getting the short end of the stick.
New Member48
:
1. Cut off your nose to spite your face. This means that you have caused yourself harm in an attempt to hurt another or demonstrate your discontent - this does not refer to real physical damage though. Often connected to sulking! Example: Jane age 13 is taken shopping by dad and want a new very short skirt. He says no but she can choose a longer one. 'Huh! Yuk! Don't bother!' says Jane and stomps off. So she ends up not getting a skirt at all just because she isn't allowed a short one.

3. Too many cooks spoil the broth. This is the punchline to a whole moral story. A collection of cooks are making soup and they all keep adding ingredients and salting it because they don't trust the others - result is disgusting soup. The moral is that if you have too many people interfering in something and trying to be in charge then it will often go wrong.

5. I don't know how this phrase came about but it means getting the poor option of what is available.
Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.Retired Moderator: A moderator who has retired.Trusted Users: Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
:
Thank you very much, nona the brit . I get it. )
Interesting stuff
Live chat
Registered users can join here

Related forum topics:

Useful resources for teachersI found it useful, wanna share with you!The most common LiesPhrases?The most useful slangs in StatesWhat is the most difficult in Englisth grammar?Some medical phrases?Basic knowledge of English phrases?Help with phrases?What is the most obstacle to your spoken english?What is the most annoying phrase in the English...useful phrases at the museum?ENGLISH PHRASES?Twelve five...?"Useful to" or "Useful for"?Adjective Prepositional Phrases vs. Adverb...Test,CAE, Phrases' completingUseful and not useful concept?What is most common?What are the most difficult English words to...

Places to start

 

Community Sites

Browse Englishforums


Help