KC's American English

Rise of Chinglish

2009-10-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

Chinglish is basically "odd English" esp. when used as part of Chinese sign. It is a funny curiosity to English speakers, but it's actually even funnier to bilingual speakers, who can actually understand where did the "lost in translation" happen.

There are several reasons why Chinglish occur.

* over-reliance on machine translation
* lack of true mastery of both English and Chinese
* lack of importance on accurate translation (not enough foreigners to see them!)
* lack of English spell-check
* lack of understanding the English connotations of the words
* trying to translate Chinese transliterations of European / English terms back to English
* the pride of Chinese people, and inability to admit failure/ignorance
* some rhymes and expressions that do not survive translation

On the other hand, Chinglish has that feel of true direct wording that is often lost on the more politically correct English, and has a feel of that... "innocence" to it. It's almost like a child learning English, and manage to put words together that DOES manage to convey the meaning, yet you'd never expect that combination before.

In fact, here's a couple questions for you... Can you guess what are the following actually says?

Q: "Cripple's Lane"
A: Handicapped Person's Ramp

Q: "Be careful Don't be crowded!"
A: Be safe, don't push

Q: "Inhibition astraddle transgress"
A: Do not trespass.

Q: "Resist Bacteria Hotel"
A: [Certified] Sanitary Hotel

Q: "Exportation"
A: Exit

Q: "Exit of Importance"
A: Emergency Exit

Q: "Coffee with Iron" (tough one!)
A: Cafe Latte

This one requires a little explanation. Chinese often insists on transliterating European/English terms in Chinese, and "latte", in this case, was written as "na-tieh", or literally, "take iron". Thus, "coffee with iron".

Q: "Genitl Emen" (tough one too)
A: Restroom

It's actually supposed to say "Gentlemen and Ladie's Rooms", but they seem to have left out a few words, and can't spell check.

Q: "if you are stolen, call the police at once."
A: Call the police if you were pick-pocketed.

Actually, the Chinese side says "If you were pickpocketed, call police. Don't embolden the criminal with inaction!"

Q: "This plot declines the interview photograph."
A: "Cameras prohibited [at this location]."

Q: "Please take the initiative for bringing invalidity pregnant parks"
A: Please volunteer to give up your seats for seniors, young children, handicapped, or pregnant women.

Q: "No entry on Peacetime" (tough!)
A: "Emergency exit only"

Actually, the Chinese says "if not emergency situation, stop step [do not enter]"

Q: Russian type afraid of someone with a whistle gravy (VERY tough!)
A: Russian style steak with pannini and gravy

Another case of transliteration gone wrong. Pannini was transliterated as "pah-ni-ni", or "afraid ni-ni", and somehow "ni-ni" was translated as "someone with a whistle".

Q: "Male do not" (tough!)
A: Ladies' room

This one is a bit of Chinese culture. The full expression is actually "[Ladies Territory] Gentlemen stop [step]."

Q: "STELIOT"
A: Restroom

Someone forgot that English only goes left to right (and Chinese can go either way). STELIOT is TOILETS spelled backwards.

Practice, practice, practice!

2009-04-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

You cannot learn a language from a book or a tape alone

A language is what I call a three-sense entity: you need to engage your eyes, your ears, and your mouth to learn a language, because you need to speak it, listen to it, and read it (writing it comes later).

A book is one-sense medium: you read it. You can't tell how those words are pronounced, and you can't pronounce it. You can guess, but your guesses may be wrong.

Audiobooks are slightly better. You don't read it, but you listen to it, and in turn you can try to repeat the words, thus learning proper pronunciation.

Combine the two, and you'll get a much better learning experience.

But don't overlook practice. Find some friends who will help you correct your English. Best way is to barter a language... you teach him/her your language (probably Mandarin Chinese, while he or she teaches you English).

Part of the time should just be listening to you read a random passage from a book or newspaper or magazine. Why? It builds your confidence, vocabulary, and reading skills. Any of the corrections s/he gives on the spot will help you learn from your mistakes (like that "rap music" mistake above... unless you have heard it said before, how would you know you're doing it right?)

You pretty much have to IMMERSE yourself in the language for weeks and months. Don't bother with shortcuts like Rosetta Stone (tm) and such. There are no shortcuts to learning a language, except hard work.

Some new updates for 2009

2009-04-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

Cover of Rush Hour 2 (Infinifilm Edition)

I know, I know, didn't update this thing for over a year. The BBS/Newsgroup in Taiwan I usually visit was overran by spam, making it not worth re-visiting.

Then the other day I saw an article in Chinese newspaper about the big Chinese movie stars with lousy English (like Zhang Ziyi, Jackie Chan, and so on) and how they learned, which reminded me that I have this blog I should be updating.

Did you know how Zhang Ziyi improved her English? She got an Israeli millionaire as a boyfriend. As you guessed, they speak English.

And did you know that Jackie Chan's English is quite horrible? He speaks BRITISH English just fine, as that's what's taught in Hong Kong. However, while filming Rush Hour 2 with Chris Tucker, he reputedly failed to learn the expression "Freeze!" (in case you don't know, that's American-speak for 'Do not move!') He kept saying "Cheese!", which, of course, got the American co-star busting out in laughter, since "Cheese!" is something you say when you want to take a picture, like "smile!"

And here's a pronunciation lesson from the same article...

The word "rap" in "rap music" is pronounced like "tap", not "tape". PLEASE do NOT pronounce it the other way. You can look up what the other word is (add an "e" at the end). You'll be VERY embarrassed if you make that sort of mistake.

Even American Court Clerks are not immune

2008-02-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

Study this letter closely. Click on it to open a larger version. Did you spot the problem yet?

Disclaimer: this is a real letter, the only parts manipulated are any portions that deals with private information, such as names and case numbers.

Technically speaking, this is NOT a grammatical mistake, believe it or not. According to m-w.com (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary), you CAN use "notice" as a verb that way, which actually does mean "serve notice to". However, it is considered to be "jargon / legalese" (i.e. lawyer language).

Thus, it should be an example of how NOT to speak and write English (unless, of course, you are a lawyer!

Here's a warning to pilots: study English

2008-01-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

Or you'll end up like this Air China pilot talking to JFK ground control...

Never rely on machine translations

2007-09-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

There is a tendency in China to "claim" English proficiency, but instead heavily rely on machine translations. However, machines do NOT translate actual meaning, and thus, it can lead to some serious misunderstandings. Take this example...

A manager is hiring in China, and received a whole bunch of resumes, which comes in both English and original Chinese. One of the candidates, a female, wrote under skills:

* had a relationship with all of my customers

On the English resume, of course.

No, she did NOT try to sleep with all of her customers. In Chinese, guanxi, or 關係, is translated as "relationship", but this is professional and cordial business type relationship, not the male-female relationship.

Another victim of machine translation!

Note on multiple choice questions

2007-07-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

There is a trick in answering multiple choices questions, esp. those written by professionals, such as SAT and similar American exams.

If you are given four choices, a), b), c), and d), you can be sure that two of them are outright WRONG. That leaves two for you to consider. However, one of those is actually wrong, leaving you with one final choice as your answer.

Here's an example:

> How many _________ did your mother buy this morning?
> A) fish B) meat C) tomatos D) glass

We can eliminate C) and D) because they don't match "many". Tomatoes is the correct plural form of tomato, and plural of glass is glasses.

That leaves A) and B). If you try the expression "how many meat" and "how many fish", you'll realize that "meat" is used with "much", not "many", leaving A) as the correct answer.

If you have five answers to choose from, A), B), C), D) and E), then the process is similar. At least two are completely wrong. One may appear correct, but is actually wrong upon re-examination. Then you must choose between the final two.

Many, much, and more

2007-07-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a question that popped up on tw.bbs

> 以下這句為何不能選 B, C, 或D呢?

> How many _________ did your mother buy this morning?
> A) fish B) meat C) tomatos D) glass

> 答案是A, why?

meat -> much, not many
tomatoes, not tomatos
glasses, not glass

fish is correct because the plural of fish is still fish.

A couple hilarious Chinese translations

2006-08-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

The following is from a very recent movie with some Chinese fansub. I'll post the pictures, and the English transcription. You can read the Chinese fansub yourself. While fansubs may be of lower quality, the mistakes are true howlers.

Click on the picture to get a full size view.

Sean: Nice ride.

(trans: Car's not bad.)

Dom: I won it from my friend Han a few years ago.

(trans: few years back, I was Han's friend.)

Sean: I didn't know he was into American muscle.

(trans: I didn't know Han was sexually interested in American hunk)

Dom: He was when he was rolling with me.

(trans: He was when he was "rolling [in bed]" with me)

Sean: You know this ain't no 10-second race.

(trans: You know this is not a kid's game)

Dom: I got nothing but time.

(trans: I am so busy I only have time left.)

外送跟外帶

2006-06-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

外送: delivery
外帶: to go, take-out

Example 1: I need a large pepperroni pizza delivered.

Example 2: I want a Big Mac meal with diet Coke to go please.

Watch out for odd terms

2006-06-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

Could any one guess how did "drive-thru", where you drive to a window, pay, then get your food, at a fast food place, somehow became "得來速" in Chinese? Whoever translated that is... inspired.

Do NOT translate literally (1)

2006-06-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

If you need to translate

一個人的身上"散發出獨特的氣質"

You should NOT mention smell at all. The proper term you need here is an "aura", and the translation becomes

"So-and-so has this unique aura about him/her".

Right under my nose

2006-04-22T00:12:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted April 18th, 2006)

Meaning: right in front of me, (and I didn't see it!)

Example: I was searching for my keys all this time, and it was actually right under my nose!

Chinese version: 近在眼前

Get a leg up

2006-04-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

(originally posted April 16, 2006)

Definition: to gain advantage, to get a boost

Example: In order to get a leg up on the competition, I must work harder and faster than they do.

Origin: came from trying to mount a horse. Most people can't do it without help. So the rider needed someone to give him or her a bit of help to get his/her leg over the horseback, and onto the saddle. Thus, "get a leg up".

Walk your talk

2006-04-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted April 15th, 2006)

The whole expression is "You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?", but later the expression was a bit shortened and took on slightly different meaning.

The original expression "You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" means "Can you do what you say?" or "Talk is cheap. Can you perform?"

Another version of this same idea is "Your mouth is writing a check your body can't cash!" Or if you remember Top Gun, Hondo told Maverick, "Your ego is writng a check your body can't cash!"

"Walk your talk", on the other hand, means "do what you say you can/would do".

Backseat driver

2006-04-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted April 13th, 2006)

Definition: a backseat driver is commonly defined as someone who offers a LOT of advice that you don't need nor ask for

Example: I don't want any backseat drivers in my car. When I drive, I don't want any advice on the route, which lane is better, and so on and so forth. Is that clear to everybody?

Origin: It came from driving, as you can guess. A backseat driver originally means someone sitting in the back that constantly criticize your driving or offers what s/he thought were helpful suggestions. "Signal earlier next time." "Keep it under 55 MPH." "Let that guy pass you." blah blah blah blah. Later it came to mean any one who comments too much.

Stew in (his) own juices

2006-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

(originally posted April 12th, 2006)

Definition: to worry with self-doubt, to think it over, usually after some sort of a mind game or interrogation

Example: We've explained quite well what the suspect's options are... Cooperate, or go to jail. We've left him alone to let him stew in his own juices for a while. We expect he will talk to us about the theft very soon.

Origin: In cooking, making a stew involves a LONG simmer over very little heat. At the end, you would turn off the heat and let the residual heat within the stew cook the meat inside.

This interrogation technique requires creation of self-doubt in the individual being questioned. With a few dropped hints, the suspect will convince himself to confess.

Till the cows come home

2006-04-21T23:56:00.000-07:00

(originally posted April 12, 2006)

Definition: a VERY long period, probably never

Example: Are you waiting for Rick to return your money? You'll be waiting till the
cows come home.

Origin/Explanation: Well, if you have a farm with a corral of cows, and you left the gate open. The cows will eventually wander out. Are they ever going to wander back
into the corral? Any chance of that? Unlikely.

The expression was popularized by the humorist and comedian Groucho Marx, in his movie "Duck Soup" (1933!) : "I could dance with you till the cows come home. Better still, I'll dance with the cows and you come home."

Wolf in sheep's clothing

2006-04-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

(originally posted April 9th, 2006)

Definition: someone that looks friendly, but has a hidden agenda that will be bad for you

Example: Beware of any e-mail you receive that promise things too good to be true, even if it came from people you recognize. Those e-mails may be wolves in sheep's clothing.

Origin: Another Bible-derived saying... Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

Chinese Version: 笑裡藏刀﹖

Go the extra mile

2006-04-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted April 9, 2006)

Definition: Go above and beyond what is needed/required

Example: "To get more customers, we must go the extra mile, do the things beyond what is expected of us. If we don't, we won't stand out, and customers can go anywhere else."

Origin: This one came from the Bible, specifically, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, when He said, "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." (Matthew 5:41) Thus, you went the extra mile.

Why buy the cow when the milk is free?

2006-04-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

(originally posted April 8, 2006)

Meaning: Why tie yourself down with a contract when you can get the benefits without such a contract?

WARNING: Only used by males, the meaning BEHIND the words
如果她現在情願和你上床,幹嗎結婚呢﹖

Pick (your) brain

2006-04-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

Originally posted April 7th, 2006

Definition: Need (your) thoughts/opinions (on something)

Example 1: John? Can you stay a moment? I need to pick your brain on this upcoming project.

Example 2: You're busy? I'll go pick Valerie's brain then. Thanks.

Close, but no cigar

2006-04-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

(originally posted April 6th, 2006)

Definition: close to the goal, but not quite.

Example:
A: (Panting) "I ... almost ... beat you!"
B: (Panting, shaking head) "Close, ... but ... no cigar."

Origin: One explanation was that travelling carnival shows have those "strength contests" where the player picks up a jackhammer and hits a lever as hard as he could. The other end of the lever is under a weight. If the player can hit the lever hard enough, the weight will be popped all the way up to hit a bell, thus causing a loud "ding". If he can "ring" the bell, he'll get a cigar as a reward. Thus, if he came close, it's "close, but no cigar."

Take a leak; take a dump

2006-04-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

(originally posted April 5th, 2006)

Take a leak = 上二號，go peepee. :)
Take a dump = 上一號

Example: "Can you hold my spot in the line? I need to take a leak."

NOTE: Should only be used by male speakers, as this is crude language. Do NOT use in formal settings, as this is extremely colloquial, and can be considered slang.

Nuke it from orbit

2006-04-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

(bonus entry for April 4th, 2006)

Definition: actually a shortened version of "Nuke it from orbit; it's the only way to be sure." It means to wipe it all out and start over, often due to some sort of infection / pandemic / contagion

Example: "When you are dealing with rootkits and some advanced spyware programs, the only solution is to rebuild from scratch. In some cases, there really is no way to recover without nuking the systems from orbit,"
--Mike Danseglio, program manager in the Security Solutions group at
Microsoft, as cited in eWeek

Explanation / Origin: 從衛星軌道﹐釋放核子彈,把行星地面炸平,所有的生物都殺了,從頭開始

Probably came from a science fiction book, not sure which one

Jump down (one's) throat

2006-04-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted April 4th, 2006)

Definition: Being extremely angry or impatient at someone, vigorous verbal attack on someone, often unexpected on the part of the victim

Example 1: John and I were just talking. However, I must have touched a sore topic, because he immediately started to jump down my throat.

Example 2: When the man came home a third time smelling of gin, his wife jumped down his throat.

Go easy (on someone/something)

2006-04-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

(originally posted April 3, 2006)

Definition 1: "go easy" on someone is to o be lenient, to be gentle, to punish less

Definition 2: "go easy" on something is to take less, use less, etc.

Example 1: From the movie Equilibrium

[They = the government]
Preston: "I'll make sure they go easy on you."
Partridge: "We both know they never go easy."
Preston: "Then I am sorry."

Example 2: "Go easy on the champagne. It has a kick to it that sneaks up on you."
(Don't drink too much champagne. You don't feel its effects until much later.)

Biting the hand that feeds you

2006-04-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

(originally posted April 2, 2006)

Definition: 1) Turning on your master/superior who has never mistreated you; 2) Turning on your benefactor ; 3)Hurting someone who was/has been helping you

Example 1: "Rufus deserved what he got. He bit the hand that fed him, in a manner of
speaking."

Example 2: "Never bite that hand that feeds you. You may need it later."

Origin: Unclear, probably came from a dog owner. Supposed Greek poet Sopho first used this expression back in 600 B.C., but first recorded English use is 1711. Unfortunately neither reference had any examples.

Chinese Equivalent: 狗咬魯洞賓﹐不識好歹 (?)

Takes one to know one

2006-04-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted March 1, 2006)

Definition: The person talking about it knows what he's talking about, because he had
done it before, or was in similar situations before, or knows the person being discussed.

Example: The "good" hackers, known as "white-hat" hackers, are quite effective in
catching malicious hackers. After all, it takes one to know one.

(In this case, it means it takes a hacker to understand another hacker.)

Up (one's) sleeve

2006-04-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

(originally posted March 31st, 2006)

Definition: hidden, secretive, concealed

Example: "I was told you are organizing the surprise party for Jim. What do you have up your sleeve?"

Origin: This is actually a short form of "an ace up one's sleeve", which refers to
playing cards, and cheating. As an Ace is the biggest card in most card games (poker, etc.) if you can hide an Ace and can produce it at the right time, you will win! And one of the easiest places to hide an Ace is up in one's sleeve. For that reason, most card magicians now wear short-sleeve shirts, or roll up their sleeves before performing their card tricks.

Play it by ear

2006-04-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted March 30, 2006)

Definition: adapt to the circumstances, extemporize

Example:
A: "Do you have any idea what to do next?"
B: "No, I'll just have to play it by ear."

Similar Sayings/Idioms:
We'll "make it up as we go (along)"
We'll "fly by the seat of our pants"

Origin: This expression is from music. Some musicians are so gifted, they can play a song just by listening to it once. Thus, they are "playing it by ear".

Chinese equivalent: 看著辦﹖ (any one got suggestions?)

Raining cats and dogs

2006-04-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

(originally posted March 29, 2006)

Definition: It's raining very hard. It's a huge downpour.

Example: Can you believe this weather? One moment it's sunny, and next moment it's raining cats and dogs!

Origin: There are several stories of how this phrase got started. Some say it's related to tornadoes, how it can carry away anything and drop them, but why just cats and dogs?

Another tale says that the expression was originally "cats and ducks", but later was corrupted to "cats and dogs". Cats are mentioned for relation to witchcraft, and ducks for relation to water.

Yet another tale says that in old English houses, the roof is low enough that cats and dogs can jump on there, but in a heavy downpour they'd be washed off, and if you're inside it'd look like it's raining cats and dogs.

Warning: Do NOT be cute and try to subsitute other animals, or even specific breeds.
It's NOT funny when you say "it's raining calicos and dobermans." (Well, maybe it is sort of funny that way...)

Take/Get a raincheck

2006-04-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted March 28, 2006)

Definition: A promise by the merchant to sell you an item for the sale price even when he doesn't have any in stock, and he may not have any until the sale is over.

Alternate meaning: to postpone something

Example 1: We apologize that our shipment of the TV that was supposed to be on sale has not arrived yet. Would you take a rain check? You can come back when we do have it in, and you will still pay the lower price.

Or from the other side...

Example 2: You were supposed to have the TV's that are on sale, but you don't. Does that mean I get a rain check?

Example 3: I am afraid something just came up, and I won't be able to go to the movie with you guys. Can you guys take a rain check?

Origin : American baseball organizers started issuing "rain checks" in 19th century for games that were delayed/cancelled due to rain to spectators who have purchased tickets. The rain checks are good for a game in the future.

Cat is out of the bag

2006-04-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted March 27, 2006)

Definition: The truth has been exposed, there is no purpose to the deception any more.

Usage Example: "Well, the cat's out of the bag. I may as well tell you the whole story."

Origin: The origin of this is rather debatable. Supposedly, it was to describe some unscrupulous butcher's deception. You order a piglet, and he gives you this sack, which he said contains a piglet. You didn't think much of it. You take it and walk home. On the way, the bag start to wiggle. You open the bag to take a look, and a cat leaps out of the bag and disappears before you blink. No piglet. Just a cat out of the bag.

On the other hand, how did the unscrupulous butcher got the cat into the bag in the first place? :)

Chinese Equivalent: 紙包不住火﹖

Cat got your tongue?

2006-04-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted March 28, 2006)

NOTE: Always used as a question, do NOT use as a statement.

It's easier to show you how to use it, than to describe it.

A: "How's the rollercoaster ride?"
B: "..."
A: "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
B: "...I'm trying to remember. It's so scary, I don't remember anything!"

Someone made a short film about this cat that can take body parts from a human... Guess what's the last part the cat needed...

You can't make a silk purse out of sow's ear

2006-04-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

(originally posted March 27, 2006)

You can probably guess what that means, if you know what a "sow" is... A sow is a female pig, usually nursing a bunch of piglets.

Guessed what the meaning is yet?

Definition: If you used the wrong material, no matter what you do, you can't make it work.

Closest Chinese Equivalent Saying: 腐木不成材﹐perhaps?

Origin: Jonathan Swift first coined the phrase, but it was unsure where it was first publicized. And there are earlier variations that were documented by Alexander Barclay and Stephen Gosson. But Swift was generally acknowledge as the person who started using the modern form.

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts

2006-04-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

(originally posted March 26, 2006)

"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."

Definition: Can be best described as never let your guard down.

Origin: Those of you who have seen "Troy" the movie should remember the story of the Trojan Horse... Which is indeed a gift from the Greeks. So... beware of Greeks giving you a gift! It may not be good for you!

Variations : With the computer age, this saying is sometimes transformed into "beware of geeks bearing gifts", usually used by anti-virus companies.

Two heads are better than one

2006-04-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

(originally posted March 25, 2006)

"Two heads are better than one"

As you can probably guess, this expression is pretty self-explanatory. Basically, have two people working on the problem, having more than one viewpoint, is better than working alone.

The closest Chinese equivalent would probably be:

三個臭皮匠﹐ 勝過一個諸葛亮

Mushroom treatment

2006-04-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

(originally posted March 24, 2006)

"The mushroom treatment"

This one is better illustrated by example.

"We've determined that John is a spy. Instead of revealing him, we decided to give him the mushroom treatment."

Well, how do you grow mushrooms? (蘑菇﹐ not 冬菇)

"You keep them in the dark and you feed them shit."

Though don't take this one literally. :) In this case, it means to deliberately NOT inform someone, to deceive someone (i.e. "keep him in the dark"). And continue to feed him false information ("feed him shit").

It ain't over till the fat lady sings

2006-04-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

(originally posted March 23, 2006)

"It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings."

Definition: "it ain't over 'til it's over". :D Depending on the context, it can mean two things. If you are losing, it means "don't give up until the game is actually lost". If you are winning, it means "don't let up or they may yet turn things around."

(By the way, "it ain't over till it's over" is coined by baseball great, Yogi Berra, who has a LOT of these pithy sayings.)

Example: "It looks like our school basketball team is having another dismal year. However, it ain't over till the fat lady sings."

Origin: Those of you who have watched Italian opera before knows that this expression probably referred to opera. Indeed, the full phrase was "the opera ain't over until the fat lady sings."

The expression was coined by Dan Cook, a sportswriter for the San Antonian News-Express (newspaper), who also works for the local TV station KENS-TV. The original context was about the NBA team San Antonio Spurs in 1976 to describe their losing season, Cook warned not to count them out just yet. He used it again in 1978, this time on TV when San Antonio Spurs was down three games to one in the Playoffs. Spurs eventually lost the series, but Dick Motta, coach of the opposing team, Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards), used the expression to caution his team not to get overconfident against their next opponent. Motta was widely quoted, and the expression became popular enough that everybody started using it.

All hell breaks loose

2006-04-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted March 21, 2006)

"All hell breaks loose"

Defintion: a situation that is suddenly rapidly deteriorating, could be suddenly violent, suddenly chaotic, or both!

Example 1: "At the sound of gunfire in the lobby, all hell breaks loose."
NOTE: People could be running away, not necessarily fighting.

Example 2: "When John punched Sam sitting at the bar, all hell broke loose."
NOTE: People here could be both fighting or fleeing

Origin: First shown up in John Milton's "Paradise Lost", describing the Hell's minions breaking loose.

Writing is on the wall

2006-04-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted March 22, 2006)

"writing is on the wall"

Definition: the signs are all there, an impending calamity can
be seen by everybody

EX: "Well, the writing is on the wall, I don't think our project will be funded much longer."

Origin: This is a Bible story, Daniel 5:1 I think. When King Belshazzar, last king of Babylon, held a great feast where wines was drunk from vessels taken from Jerusalem (by the King's father, King Nebuchadnezzer), a hand (of God?) appeared and wrote on a wall, but nobody could understand the writing. Daniel, who had previously interpreted the dream for King Belshazzar, was summoned. Daniel understood the message as foretelling the overthrow of Belshazzar for his opposition of God of Hebrews and his desecration of the temple vessels. That very night, King Belshazzar was killed and his Kingdom split apart.

Idiom, saying, proverb, etc. what are they?

2006-04-16T22:10:00.000-07:00

It seems like there is a bit of confusion on what constitues a saying, an idiom, vs. slang, proverb, and so on.

phrase = 片語﹐ part of a sentence, no particular meaning behind it.

EX: "part of a sentence" is a phrase

saying = 俗語﹐ usally old bits of wisdom, often from elders or books

EX: "A stitch in time saves nine" is a saying.
俗語說﹐現在縫一針﹐省以後縫九針。

proverb = 諺語, VERY ancient saying, often racially specific. (A lot of proverbs are attributed to a specific race, like "Spanish proverb", or "Chinese proverb", and so on.)

”Do good, reap good; do evil, reap evil.“ -- Chinese proverb
"種瓜得瓜,﹐種豆得豆。”-- 中國諺語

idiom = 成語, a group of words, when used together, has a completely different meaning. Idioms are usually regional.

EX: 中國成語﹕“暗送秋波” "dark send autumn waves"?
It means stealthily making gestures of approval/seduction.

EX: American idiom: "It ain't over till the fat lady sings."
“胖女士不歌唱,這就沒完” ? (see link [to be posted])

slang = no direct Chinese equivalent, usually used in modern speech, attributed to specific groups or cultures, similar to idiom, but far more informal.

American slang: "I feel like I am going to puke."
puke = slang for "throw up, vomit"

American slang: "I gotta hit the rack by ten, man."
Translation: "I have to go to bed before ten o'clock."

And finally...

cliche = no directly Chinese equivalent term, it means something's been used so many times, it's extremely boring and old-fashioned, and stupid.

Most of the sayings and proverbs by now are considered cliches.

Introduction

2006-04-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome to KC's American English blog.

I am Kasey Chang, or in Chinese, 張國聖, or in short, 小張.

I started posting a bunch of American idioms and expressions on a Taiwanese newsgroup, and someone suggested that I archive them somewhere, perhaps for eventual publication.

As I am mostly self-taught (my main area of study is Electrical Engineering), I didn't think about that very far, but I agree that a blog would be a great way to archive this so everybody can access it.

This is primarily aimed at Taiwanese or Chinese trying to learn American English, mostly idioms, but lots of funny English mistakes, interesting words, and other related subjects.

This is NOT a general grammar website. There are enough of those on the web already.

Comments are welcome.