(Another) Mini Lesson No. 32 – Preaching to the choir / Go to town / Frankly speaking
Please Note: This mini lesson have the same title (Understanding American English Phrases) name but is located in the Teacher Talk Forum. There are more lessons here than in the other forum with the same name.
American English is full of various phrases, idioms and expressions to communicate certain thought(s). Usually they do not follow logical reasoning and cannot be determined by defining each individual word.
The key to learning phrases is to expose you to them through media such as TV, interviews, English teachers, English websites, commentaries, movies, songs, radio, newspaper/magazine articles, personal contact and any other means of English exposure.
The following phrases are commonly used in everyday American English. Add them to your phrase vocabulary list and you will increase your understanding when you encounter them. Let’s get started:
A. Preaching to the choir This phrase is used when a speaker is talking to someone who is already in agreement with the speaker. In other words, the speaker is talking to a “captive audience” who is already “believers” in the message.
Background: The scenario of this phrase is one where a preacher in a church is speaking a message to the congregation with the choir seated behind him/her who already is converts and believers in the message.
The point of using this phrase is to indicate that a speaker is speaking a message that is redundant, that is, he/she is speaking to the wrong audience by trying to convince someone who is already convinced. Therefore, they are wasting their time speaking the message. Here is an example:
A politician while campaigning in a rural section of the country was speaking to a group of farmers about the value of hard work relating to their income from farming.
One of the farmers said to another farmer, “what is he talking about? Don’t he know he is “Preaching to the choir!” We already work hard from sun up to sun down, he needs to tell us how he will work to have the government help us financially during this draught that has reduced our crops and resulted in financial hardship to us farmers!”
B. Go to town To do something eagerly or having excitement about doing it or doing something enthusiastically.
Background: In rural areas of the US (especially in the past) people usually did not live close to a town. The stores, bank, post office, town hall and other places were located in town.
Therefore, it was a special event to “Go to town” because it meant being able to buy the items your family needed or pick up/mail a package at the post office or take care of some other business.
The phrase took on the meaning to describe doing something enthusiastically. For example:
1. A manager told his work crew: “I want you to “Go to town” in doing your jobs this week, visitors are coming!”
2. Jan advised her international friend to “Go to town” and use the English she learned.
3. Steve “went to town” in giving his speech and received a standing ovation.
In the above sentence, “went” is used instead of “go” because the statement is in the past tense.
C. Frankly speaking= Being honest to reveal your true feelings or being forth right (direct)
Background: Previously I wrote a lesson on “Reading Between the Lines” explaining when a speaker hides the truth using verbal gymnastics such as words with double meanings but careful listeners will understand the true meaning.
Well, the phrase “Frankly speaking” is the opposite of reading between the lines and the speaker is speaking or giving a response that is from their heart and genuinely honest.
The honest answer is not with the intent of hurting someone’s feelings but to give a basis for them to consider in making their decision.
Sometimes the “speaking” part of the phrase is omitted and just ”Frankly” will be used; however, the meaning is basically the same depending on the construction of the sentence.
1. “Frankly speaking,” I think we made a mistake by not paying for a tutor for our child, he’s not getting it!”
2. ”Frankly speaking” dear, I think you should hire an accountant to handle your restaurant finances and you concentrate on your restaurant business!”
3. ”Frankly speaking,” the design was flawed from the get-go (beginning), so it should not be a surprise for all of the returned merchandise!”
Usually “Frankly speaking” is used at the beginning of a sentence because it is preparing the listener for the fact that an honest answer is about to be given.
However, in some sentences you could add the phrase at the end; in this case, it will soften the impact of using this phrase.
Conclusion:
Don’t let phrases stress you out, write down any unknown phrase and look it up on the internet to build your phrase vocabulary list.
In an everyday English conversation, a speaker may speak using regular English words and then throw in a phrase and continue speaking. At this point, don’t worry about the meaning of the phrase, just try to remember it and find out later. Don’t miss what you do understand on the part that you don’t understand.
If possible, make friends with a native speaker or someone who speaks good English. You must have someone you can ask questions or you will not advance as fast. If you can afford it, pay for an English tutor on a regular basis. https://buddyschool.com/
If you cannot afford to pay for a tutor, use a language exchange partner
http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Default.asp
The main thing is to read, write, speak, and think in English as much as possible.
Mini Lesson No. 33 phrases are: Caved in (caved) / Thrown under the bus / Left high and dry
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