I must apologize for not “keeping up” on my tutor’s column… and this expression brings me to the very subject I wish to discuss this month.  In American English, the expression “keeping up” is an example of a phrasal verb (a type of idiom).  “Keeping up” is one of the least confusing of such expressions, meaning to “adhere to a fixed schedule or pace.”

However, there are several English phrasal verbs that sound absolutely crazy!  Here are a few of my favorites, along with an explanation of each one and an example of its use in a sentence:

1.       “To make a killing”

No, this does not mean to go out and shoot someone!  This expression simply means “to make a lot of money,” as in the sentence “He made a killing by investing in the stock market.”

2.       “to paint the town red”

DO NOT buy a can of red paint, get a paintbrush, and attempt to literally paint all of your neighbors’ houses red!  Rather, this phrasal verb means to go out for an evening and have a lot of fun (perhaps by going dancing or visiting several bars with friends).

“My wife and I had been quarantined by the virus, but now we can go out and paint the town red!”

3.       “got it straight from the horse’s mouth”

This one seems to be among the most confusing for my students.  In the old days before the automobile was invented, many people depended on horses for transportation.  Consequently, horses were very frequently purchased.  One of the ways by which a horse buyer could determine if the horse was healthy was to open its mouth and examine the animal’s teeth.  In this way, the buyer could get “true” information about the horse’s condition.  Today, we use this expression to mean “going to a direct source or qualified authority to seek information."

“I wanted to know more about how Covid-19 affects the body, so I went straight to the horse’s mouth and called my friend who had suffered from the virus."

4.       “kick the can down the road”

This is a relatively new expression in American English and has only been in common use for the last 50 years.  It means to delay making an important decision or taking action.  The source of this expression is not certain, but it is believed to originate during the worldwide financial crisis of the 1930s.  At this time, families had little money, and children amused themselves by kicking empty tin cans about the street, delaying actually throwing them away.

“Kicking the can down the road is not a solution to any problem.”

There are THOUSANDS of these expressions in English, and it is nearly impossible to memorize all of them.  So what can you do to improve your comprehension?  First, consider the context of the expression within the sentence.  Number #3 above is a good example.

Second, the “Oxford Phrasal Verbs Dictionary” is designed as a resource for non-native speakers of English.  This is an excellent reference that can be purchased on Amazon at a very reasonable price.

So don't be perplexed by phrasal verbs!

See You Next Month!

 Art