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As all that
Phrase: As all that You may look at this picture and think it resembles a scary scene from a suspense movie. It’s not as frightening as all that. Perhaps you think the thick fog has a romantic feel. It’s not as romantic as you may think. Maybe you think that the weather looks cold and…
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Amenity
Word of the Day: Amenity What would life be like without amenities? I dread to think about it. What a joy it is to live in this modern world! What to check the weather? There’s an app for that. Want to have a cold drink? There’s ice in the fridge. Want to sit down for a…
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Eager to please
English Phrase: Eager to please Many people in the world are eager to please others and will do anything they can to help others or somehow make their lives better. Have you ever contacted a call centre and had an enjoyable experience with all of your questions answered and problems solved? You probably had that…
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No-frills
Word of the Day: No-frills The apartment in the accompanying picture today is a no-frills apartment. What you see is what you get; there’s nothing extra. There is no fancy furniture, curtains or floor coverings. When something is as basic as it can be, it is described as no-frills. In North America, there is a…
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Off the shelf
English Phrase: Off the shelf A lot of software today can be used off the shelf. This means that the software does not need to be specially made to order. When you purchase a computer, it is ready to go immediately. You don’t need to ask for the operating system to be specially created just…
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Rampant
Word of the Day: Rampant If you read American news or participate in social media, then you know that fake news is rampant. Yes, fake news is everywhere today, and there seems to be no way to avoid it. President Trump is continuously talking about fake news, and so is Facebook and every media organization…
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Knock yourself out
English Idiom: Knock yourself out December is just around the corner. If you are in the Boston area or Japan, you have been enjoying some unseasonably warm weather this week and dreaming of a mild winter. Go ahead, knock yourself out. Keep on dreaming because that is what you are doing – dreaming. Everyone knows…
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Turn-off
Word of the Day: Turn-off A turn-off is something that makes you uninterested in something or someone. They say a good picture is worth a thousand words, so I included this picture to explain what today’s word means. Rotten food could be a real turn-off for some people. Once they see it, they are not…
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Fly off the handle
English Idiom: Fly off the handle It’s the quiet ones that you have to look out for. You may have the loveliest kind of person sitting next to you at the office, and then one day, they fly off the handle. If you fly off the handle, you lose your temper, shout, and yell four-letter…
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For good
Word of the Day: For good Tattoos are one of those things that, when you get them, you get them for good. Tattoos are like a good marriage – made to last. Yes, I know that tattoos can be removed with lasers, and married people can get a divorce. For good means forever or that…
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