For more grammar guides, click here. How to Teach Single and Plural Nouns In English, we often alter the form of nouns to show whether we are referring to one or more than one instance of the noun. For example, one cat refers to a single instance of a cat, Read more…
To have an axe to grind What does it mean? If someone has an axe to grind, it could either mean that they have strong personal reasons for doing something, or that they want to have a discussion or argument over something. Where does it come from? Although it is Read more…
For more grammar guides, click here. How to Teach This That These Those Demonstrative determiners (or demonstrative adjectives) refer to the words this, that, these and those. As determiners they modify a noun and are therefore different to demonstrative pronouns which stand in place of a noun. Despite this difference, Read more…
Like father, like son What does it mean? When someone says someone is like father, like son they mean that the son takes after the father in terms of behaviour, character or appearance. An adapted version is sometimes used to say that a daughter takes after her mother: like mother, Read more…
Red tape What does it mean? Red tape refers to rules or procedures which seem to be unnecessary and prevent taking faster action. This phrase is often used when talking about businesses or organisations who can’t achieve something that they want to. For example, a company trying to open a Read more…
To look the other way What does it mean? If you look the other way, you ignore something that someone else is doing which you should stop or report. For example, a manager in a clothes shop could look the other way while one of the employees lets a friend Read more…
To look the other way What does it mean? If you look the other way, you ignore something that someone else is doing which you should stop or report. For example, a manager in a clothes shop could look the other way while one of the employees lets a friend Read more…
To look the other way What does it mean? If you look the other way, you ignore something that someone else is doing which you should stop or report. For example, a manager in a clothes shop could look the other way while one of the employees lets a friend Read more…
To look the other way What does it mean? If you look the other way, you ignore something that someone else is doing which you should stop or report. For example, a manager in a clothes shop could look the other way while one of the employees lets a friend Read more…
To not be cut out for something What does it mean? If you are not cut out for something, it means that you are not the right person for that thing. For example, someone might say “I’m not cut out for this job.” In this case they mean that they Read more…
