A stitch in time saves nine
Hello, everyone!
Naheed, it was very interesting to read about your superstitions. The one about pregnant women having to be careful around sharp objects was a new one on me. I’ve been trying to think of any superstitions we have to do with pregnant women but I’ve drawn a blank.
However, people do sometimes say that you shouldn’t let a cat near a sleeping baby or it will steal the baby’s breath. That sounds quite evil, doesn’t it? A lot of people seem to have it in for cats. As you guessed correctly, Naheed, a black cat crossing your path is also considered bad luck in the UK. In fact, you got all the answers right. Here they are again:
1) A horseshoe – A horseshoe is lucky as long as it is up ‘the right way’, i.e. with the two ends pointing upwards. If it falls downwards, all your luck will run away
2) Opening an umbrella whilst indoors -- unlucky
3) A new pair of shoes on the table -- unlucky
4) A black cat crossing your path -- unlucky
5) Breaking a mirror – This is so unlucky that you are said to have seven years’ bad luck if you break a mirror
Naheed, just a small point I noticed in a couple of your last blogs. In your blog about superstition, you wrote:
When I was quite younger, my grandmothers both from my mother and father’s side used to advise us that if someone is leaving home never to ask where s/he is going.
And in your blog when you were talking about the landmark Moen Do Jaro, you wrote:
He was quite younger then and often used to cycle there as it was at a mile’s distance from his home.
I just wanted to mention that ‘young’ is the adjective and ‘younger’ is the comparative adjective. Of course you know this already! When you use a simple or comparative adjective with the word ‘quite’, you can do it like this:
I was quite young then.
I am quite lucky.
Or:
I was quite a bit younger then.
I am quite a lot luckier.
However, you can’t say:
I was quite younger then.
I am quite luckier.
I hope that's clear. Otherwise, your writing is looking brilliant. Well done!
Naheed, I’ve been mulling over your superstition about milk. I don’t think we have any superstitions about milk like you, but we do have a special saying about milk, which goes:
There’s no point crying over spilled milk.
This basically means that it’s not worth getting upset about small things. Even though I don’t spill milk very often, I think it’s a wise little saying. And this brings me on to another language point: proverbs. Proverbs are little sayings or phrases. They’re a bit like idioms. The difference is that proverbs always contain some message of wisdom. For example:
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
This means that if you have too many people working on the same job, it can make life more difficult.
However, this is somewhat contradicted by the following proverb:
Many hands make light work.
Which means that if you have lots of people working on the same job, it’ll be easier.
Which one is wiser? I dunno! I suppose you can pick the most suitable proverb depending on the situation. Naheed, we’re approaching the end of your time as student blogger (sniff! sob!) so I think it would be nice to give you some words of wisdom. Of course when I say ‘give’, I mean I wonder whether you can tell me what these proverbs mean:
1 The grass is always greener on the other side
2 People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
3 A rolling stone gathers no moss
4 Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
5 Empty vessels make most noise
Yours, still searching for wisdom,
Jo
Answers to your comments
:-( I’m hoping there’s something wrong with the BBC’s system – I miss reading your comments!
Vocabulary
A stitch in time saves nine – this proverb means that if you catch a problem when it’s small, you’ll save yourself a lot of work.
a new one on me – you use this phrase to say you haven’t heard about something before.
If you draw a blank you don’t find what you’re looking for.
People who have it in for cats are hostile towards cats.
to mull over – to think about
I dunno! – slang for 'I don’t know'.
Comments
Hi Jo!! I thought it was a problem only in my computer, but as I could read in your blog today, you can´t see the comments too. Hmmm... What could be happened? By the way, what´s the meaning of those 'Â'? Could you tell please? Oh... what interesting homework you gave us! I really like proverbs, so let´s go :-) : 1-The grass is always greener on the other side: when you think that other people are in better situation than you, and maybe they aren´t; 2-People in glass houses shouldn´t throw stones: you shouldn´t criticize people for their faults, when you also make the same ones; 3-A rolling stone gathers no moss: when you don´t settle down in order to avoid responsibilities and cares; 4-Don´t look a gift horse in the mouth: don´t criticize something good that is offered to you; 5-Empty vassels make most noise!: when you talk a lot and all the time, whithout thinking, looking like a fool. I´m looking forward for the answers in your next entry. Good night, Ana Paula.
Hello, Jo. I know there's something wrong with the BBC's system, because I posted my comments but they aren't published and I even thought of being the one to let them know via the page 'Contact us' that they should pay attention to what they are doing, thinking of myself as very important person who is in charge of everything. But then, I changed my mind, because I didn't want to be the first one on the move to introduce and maintain the law and order. What do we call this kind of person? What is the English word for the person who thinks of him/herself to be the most important one and likes to take care of everything and pokes his/her nose into everything? Is it a nosy parker? But I think of someone who also likes to be in command and likes to give orders and be obeyed?
Jo, I have a question on the meaning of the word “have it in”. Consider this usage. I know I have it in me, I can defeat him. Does “have it in” mean hostile here? Or is it that the meaning varies with context? 1 The grass is always greener on the other side : I think this is apt to describe people who are never happy with what they have. It can also mean they are greedy. There is a funny extension to it, don’t know whether it is correct, still. Don’t rush; the greener grass on the other side could be Astroturf. 2 People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. This is to say/warn “you are more vulnerable of the action”. 3 A rolling stone gathers no moss This is slightly confusing, I can think of two contradicting meanings. First one is, if you keep moving (eg. Switching jobs), you will not reach anywhere. The second one is “never get tied up, keep moving”. 4 Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Aha, in one of your posts you said “there is no such thing as a free lunch” and you are talking about free horse. Well, the meaning is if you are getting something free, don’t complain about it. 5 Empty vessels make most noise In other way wise men don’t talk much. Did I? Thank you, Paul
Hello, Jo. For sure there’s something wrong with the BBC, here is the homework you gave us: 1 The grass is always greener on the other side=this proverb referes to the way we tend to look at other people’s lifes and things seeing them better looking, in fact we’re just ignoring anything negative about them and minimizing everything positive about our own; 2 People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones=those who are vulnerable should not attack others; 3 A rolling stone gathers no moss=a person who never stays long in one place never be encumbered by responsabilities; 4 Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth = don’t be ungrateful when you receive a gift; 5 Empty vessels make most noise= people who talk a lot and frequently express their opinions are often stupid. Hopefully this one, will go through..
Hi Jo! I'm thankful to you for explaining me the usage of Apostrophe+s. Please clarify me about the usage of word "that", while converting a sentence from direct to in-direct narration. For example: DIRECT:He said, "My mother is ill." IN-DIRECT 1: He said that his mother was ill. IN-DIRECT 2: He said his mother was ill. Which one is correct and why? Secondly, where should we make use of word "that" and where not? Thanks!
Dear Jo, As for the meaning of the proverbs,1)people always think others'situation is better.2)Those who are weak shouldn't attack others.3)One who is always changing minds can't have anything done.4)you can't check the value of a free gift.5)Those who have little knowledge love to show off themselves.(thanks saj for the answers).Looking forward to our last lesson in June.Good Luck!!
Hi teacher Kent , Good luck or bad luck leaning on the individual belief , I could not dominate the thinking of them. Everybody has a unique concept in their mind. It is wonderful diversity of belief,isn't it ? Don't panic!! I am not a psychology and it is related to the psychological topic as I think. Bye for now.
Dear Sir,Madam, Because I am crazy about the British people and English, could you please tell me the meaning of the following proverbs: -After frontal damage, the patient may just paraphrase the proverb. -He grinned and then uttered a Swahili proverb. -Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will never hurt us. I am looking forward to hearing your good news.
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