{"id":769,"date":"2010-07-31T10:00:13","date_gmt":"2010-07-31T08:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/elanguage.net\/blogs\/booknotices\/?p=769"},"modified":"2010-06-14T13:25:38","modified_gmt":"2010-06-14T11:25:38","slug":"american-english-idiomatic-expressions-in-52-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/?p=769","title":{"rendered":"American English idiomatic expressions in 52 weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"
American English idiomatic expressions in 52 weeks: <\/strong>An easy way to understand English expressions and improve speaking. By John Holleman<\/strong>. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press, 2006. Pp. 500. ISBN 9789629962814<\/a>. $29.<\/div>\n

Reviewed by Omaima M. Ayoub<\/strong><\/a>, Richard J. Daley College<\/em><\/p>\n

This book provides English as a second language (ESL) students a week-by-week calendar to study English idiomatic expressions and improve conversational proficiency. Consisting of 3,243 different English idioms, this book presents an accessible plan that will enable ESL students to systematically understand and use English in a variety of settings such as classroom discussions, business meetings, and casual conversations with native English speakers.<\/p>\n

Each week includes sixty to sixty-five idioms divided into functional categories that include: bad<\/em>\/negative<\/em>, consequence<\/em>, disagree<\/em>, end<\/em>, error<\/em>, failure<\/em>, health<\/em>, importance<\/em>, money<\/em>, movement<\/em>, ownership<\/em>, personal<\/em> description<\/em>, quantity<\/em>, relationship<\/em>, satisfaction<\/em>, similar<\/em>, superior<\/em>, time<\/em>, and work<\/em>. Each idiom is supported with a concise definition and an example to facilitate usage. In addition to the massive number of idiomatic expressions illustrated in the book, there is also a thorough index for easy reference.<\/p>\n

\u2018Week one\u2019 includes the functional category of achievement<\/em>, which contains expressions such as at the top of his\/her game<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018performing at the highest level. [With the usage] As one of the top athletes in the city, he is at the top of his game<\/em>\u2019 (1). Under communication<\/em>, there are idioms such as all<\/em> eyes<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018watching very closely. [With the usage] Horace was all<\/em> eyes<\/em> when the beautiful lady walked into the room with her drink\u2019 (2); add fuel to the fire<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018increasing the tension of a problem situation. [With the usage] When John argued he didn\u2019t believe in punishing the children and he didn\u2019t support his wife, he realized he was adding fuel to the fire<\/em>\u2019 (2); and actions speak louder than words<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018a person\u2019s behavior communicates more than words spoken. [With the usage] The father\u2019s care shown to the child demonstrated his actions spoke more than words<\/em>\u2019 (2).<\/p>\n

In \u2018Week twenty-five\u2019, the category of agree\/approval<\/em> includes the idiomatic expression live up to<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018act according to. [With the usage] Peter is trying very hard to live up to<\/em> his reputation as a smart businessman\u2019 (185). The category of plan<\/em>\/prepare<\/em> includes inside<\/em> out<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018knowing something very well. [With the usage] As an expert in the dynasties of China, William knew the history of the Henan Province inside<\/em> out<\/em>\u2019 (190); jam<\/em> on<\/em> the<\/em> brakes<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018quickly put brakes on to stop car. [With the usage] John jammed<\/em> on<\/em> the<\/em> brakes<\/em> to avoid an accident on the crowded city street\u2019 (190); and just<\/em> so<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018with great care and preparation. [With the usage] Caroline worked on styling her hair so that it looked just<\/em> so<\/em> for the evening reception. She looked fabulous!\u2019 (190).<\/p>\n

\u2018Week fifty-one\u2019 includes the category of emotion<\/em>, which encompasses idiomatic expressions such as walk<\/em> on<\/em> air<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018feel happy and excited. [With the usage] Since Kelly found out she performed well on her examination, she\u2019s been walking<\/em> on<\/em> air<\/em>\u2019 (399); warm one\u2019s blood\/heart<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018make one feel warm or excited. [With the usage] The sight of the sister hugging her little brother after he was rescued warmed the heart <\/em>of all the people\u2019 (399); and watered<\/em>\u2014defined as \u2018to feel sad; hurt; low. [With the usage] He\u2019s pretty much watered<\/em> right now because of the news of his uncle\u2019s death\u2019 (399).<\/p>\n

This book will prove invaluable to ESL learners when used on a self-study basis or as part of a college-level course.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

American English idiomatic expressions in 52 weeks: An easy way to understand English expressions and improve speaking. By John Holleman. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press, 2006. Pp. 500. ISBN 9789629962814. $29. Reviewed by Omaima M. Ayoub, Richard J. Daley College This book provides English as a second language (ESL) students a week-by-week calendar to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/769"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=769"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":770,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/769\/revisions\/770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}