http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3614.32638)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/2/bkjcb/Post.htm#135993Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135993pieanne0http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/2/bkjcb/Post.htm#135993http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135993.xmlSome far-fetched rhymes: lie/might - strand, sand/can - bare (legs in the sun)/dare ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135896Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135896MrPedantic1http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135896http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135896.xmlSorry to hear about the soucis, Hela. I'm not sure modal verbs can compensate for the beach (or lack of it), but we'll do our best... MrPhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135811Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135811Hela2http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135811http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135811.xmlThank you all for your help. Dear Mr Pedantic, thank you for your greetings. I'm glad to be back and work with you all again. I didn't do any translation exercises this summer, unfortunately, for I had so many problems to tackle. I had an awful time and haven't been to the beach once! Some of my worries (mes soucis ?) are not resolved yet, but I intend to forget about them a little by getting back to work. I'm glad that I wouldn't have to use those complicated codes to highlight, underline, italicize... words! Thank you moderators. All the best, Helahttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135758Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135758MrPedantic3http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135758http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135758.xmlHello Hela, "Fra/tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare." Maybe "actions speak louder than words" comes close. MrP PS: Welcome back!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135754Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135754MrPedantic4http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135754http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135754.xmlBrewer has this explanation: Ancaeos Helmsman of the ship Argo , after the death of Tiphys. He was told by a slave that he would never live to taste the wine of his vineyards. When a bottle made from his own grapes was set before him, he sent for the slave to laugh at his prognostications; but the slave made answer, "There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip." At this instant a messenger came in, and told Ancæos that a wild boar was laying his vineyard waste, whereupon he set down his cup, went out against the boar, and was killed in the encounter. MrPhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135694Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135694Clive5http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135694http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135694.xmlHi, "twixt cup and lip there's many a slip'. 'twixt' means 'between'. My understanding is this. To pick up your cup and drink from it seems a simple and easy thing to do. However, even in this simple act, there can be small or large problems. Perhaps you spill your tea. Or perhaps there is an earthquake. You never know, so be careful. I wouldn't say it applies in the case above. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135583Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135583Philip6http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135583http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135583.xmlThis thread has reminded me of an expression I haven't heard for a long time: "twixt cup and lip there's many a slip'. I'm not sure what it means....does it apply here in #1? Some places now print a 'best by date' or in the case of meat, 'use or freeze by date'.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135394Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135394CalifJim7http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135394http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135394.xml1 I don't really know when you put it that way, but you can say "There's a world of difference between what politicians say and what they do". 2 It's the date that the (perishable) product should be sold by and still be fairly edible for a reasonable length of time after you buy it. "You'd better throw out that milk. It's way past the sell-by date. It may not smell bad, but I wouldn't trust it." 3 Here's hoping that this exercise stimulates your curiosity about phrasal verbs! Maybe the following exercise will get you curious about phrasal verbs! Get to work on this exercise and you'll find yourself more and more curious about phrasal verbs! Here's an exercise that should get you curious about phrasal verbs! ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135392Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135392Clive8http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htm#135392http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135392.xmlHi Hela, 1) How could I finish this sentence? “What politicians say and what they do … are two different things (this is a very comon and natural expression here, but it isn't idiomatic) Is there an idiomatic expression for this special case ? It reminds me of an Italian proverb which says “Fra il dire et il fare, c’e il mare” i.e. there’s a huge gap / difference between what one says and what one does. Is there an equivalent in English ? Maybe, can't think of one right now 2) Would you please give me a sentence with the expression « sell-by date ». I don’t see what it means exactly. More common, at least where I live, would be 'the best-by date'. On a milk carton, for example, this really means 'do not use this...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htmSun, 24 May 2009 01:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135287Anonymous9http://www.englishforums.com/English/Idioms/bkjcb/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135287.xmlDear teachers, 1) How could I finish this sentence? “What politicians say and what they do …” Is there an idiomatic expression for this special case ? It reminds me of an Italian proverb which says “Fra il dire et il fare, c’e il mare” i.e. there’s a huge gap / difference between what one says and what one does. Is there an equivalent in English ? 2) Would you please give me a sentence with the expression « sell-by date ». I don’t see what it means exactly. 3) If ever somebody understands French, would you please tell me how can I translate this sentence ? Puisse cet exercice éveiller votre curiosité à l'égard des verbes à particules ! May this exercise … (something idiomatic ?) Thank you very much, Hela