Know Your Idioms

REMEMBER HSE

What do you do to ensure regulations are followed? See health and safety, page 182.

Know your idioms

KNOW WHEN TO USE JARGON

Do you understand all the details in the doctor’s message? How do you avoid situations like these with your future clients and customers? You are at the doctor’s office and this is what you are told: “Certain medications can cause or worsen nasal symptoms (especially congestion). These include the following: birth control pills, some drugs for high blood pressure (e.g., alpha blockers and beta blockers), antidepressants. If rhinitis symptoms are bothersome and one of these medications is used, ask the prescriber if the medication could be aggravating the condition.”

Idioms are an important part of any language. An idiom is a set expression that has a specific meaning. Often, the words themselves are of little help, so you have to know the actual meaning of the expression. In French, to “avoir un coup de A foreign colleague has just foudre” – literally, “to be struck by lightning” – means to fall in started to work at the place you love at first sight. In Norwegian, “to have a long nose” means to do your work placement. You be tricked. Would you have guessed that without knowing the have to communicate with him expression? in English. One day he starts a Hang in there, don’t beat around the bush, and try to use an idiom once in a blue moon. BE POLITE Find the polite expression to use in these situations. job without the usual health and safety routine, placing you both in danger. Vurderingseksemplar

What do the following idioms mean? Try to explain in English and translate into Norwegian before looking them up in an online dictionary. A lot on your plate A poor workman blames his tools A work in progress Bring home the bacon Bury yourself in work Business as usual Business before pleasure Do not mix business with pleasure Duvet day Monkey business Think outside the box

Translate the following idioms into Norwegian. What are the benefits of using idioms when speaking? What challenges might you face when using idioms? Make a list of positive and negative effects of using idioms. Hello on the toilet you old shoe Morning time has gold in mouth Don’t be so apple handsome Don’t be so high on the pear Don’t walk around the porridge There are owls in the moss, to say it mild Do you wanna hear a joke?

Cat with a tie Out on a trip, never angry! Now you have hit on the big drum You just have to bite in the sour apple Bye at the bathroom, you old piece of chocolate

ACTION WRITING 1 Choose at least five idioms and make a sentence with each of them. 2 Search online to expand the idiom list on your left. SPEAKING 3 Discuss in pairs. a What does your boss want you to do when she says, “It is important to wear many hats at work.” b What should you do if a coworker says, “You were born with two ears and one mouth for a reason.” c Why do you not want your boss to say, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”? d What is your colleague’s advice on a work problem if you are told to “take the bull by the horns”? e You are nervous about giving an important speech at work and your body language shows it. What is your friend telling you to do by saying, “Strike a pose”? f Can you think of an idiom which is suitable in your future work? REVERSE WRITING 4 In pairs, make up answers to the questions by including at least five of these words or phrases: a full-time job, a part-time job, flexitime, pay slip, salary, to get a raise, to work in shifts, to work overtime, wage cut, wage demand, cultural diversity, letter of resignation, boss, communication, misunderstanding, typing error, body language, customer service. a What was Mrs Johnson’s job? b What was she going to do that day? Vurderingseksemplar c Who was the first person she met that morning? d What did she experience? e What was the misunderstanding about? f Why did she leave work in anger? g What was the surprise ending? 5 Write a full story based on your answers. 6 Swap stories with another pair and answer the questions again based on their story. Discuss and compare answers to those in task 4. How much has changed, and why?