Free Flow - Please!!!
Thanks everyone for your responses to my questions about metaphors in your language and metaphors about water in English! Welcome to Rosa Maria from El Salvador! Adrianna, I totally agree with you, I think business should also be done by associations and partnerships!! I especially would like to thank Thienloifrom Vietnam for sharing the metaphor from that “Mother's love is water of river”. Did you know that my daughter is called Nehir which means River? ☺
I was interested to learn the expression “spends money like water”! Do you know, I have never heard this before. You see, I am learning just as much as I hope you guys are!
So anyway, I was thinking about this expression and then with help from Marisela from Venezuela, I realized that lots and lots of metaphors and phrases you came up with (from the depths of your rich language knowledge) connect money and water and many more sprang to my mind, so much so that I am now sure that even the word “bank” (the place that people used to put money in!) comes from the word river bank!!
Look: in English we talk about cash flow and how funds are drained! Money also flows and many notes around the world have watermarks. The different types of money are called currencies and in the current financial climate it’s sink or swim! People try to keep their heads above water, companies go into liquidation, they liquidate their assets or freeze them! Illegal money is laundered. People dive headlong into projects, and sometimes end up in deep water, companies go under with too much dept and banks may need to throw them a life line (from the safety of the river bank??!).
So it seems that as long as you understand that business is war and time is money and money is water, then you should understand quite a lot of English. Wow, is that depressing or what?
Right, I think I need to listen to some music!
Comments
Hey up Simon! Wow! So many accounting terms:-) for a while I thought as I was doing my accounting lessons. Just like people freeze or liquidate their assets, the business world bear normal and abnormal losses, another example about losses. Today is your radio show so let's see what's in the music box. Best wishes, Naheed
Hi Simon! I think I´ll follow your example. After a turbulent week in the financial market and all the communication means had constantly bombarded people here in São Paulo with news about a kidnapping that lasted for four days and had a tragic end, listen to music would be a good way to quieten my mind down. Enjoy your weekend, Ana Paula.
Hi Simon, According to you ,I have my defination : Businessman is soldier , save time to save money and you will be thirstty when you lack of money .
That's right; we all have many different meanings about the word water; it depends on the language you are using; for example in Spanish we say: el dinero se va como el agua it means: Money leaves as if it were water, It means: very quickly. Another example about water: Agua que no has de beber déjala correr; It means Don't put you in problems because they don't bother you... I don't know if it is cear my explanation; please tell me if you understand it. Enjoy yourself
Hi, Simon, thank u for doing great job. Concerning water, but not money: my nationality (Adygh) have this nice saying, if u do a good deed and throw it in the water, it'll be back to u , which means that if u treat smb. kindly at some point of your life you'll be treated kindly back!Good luck with that, guys))))
Simon you promised a free flow, well here it comes. Metaphors’ are interesting as we all have just witnessed. I was also pleased to notice that you Simon and also others have been talking about the business. It has been said (or rather sang) that the money makes the world go round. But I do not agree that business is a battle field or that it can be described as war. Business is business; it is people who make it evil. But I do agree that water in money; it is totally mad how we people waste the natural resources without thinking about consequences. I have been working in or close to business life since 1970 and I can say, that the fundamental business idea has change only a little, it is the people that have chanced. Most of us want to make a fast buck, most of us are not prepared to work for it at all, some of us expect the government or someone else look after us, many of us do not have any respect for others, many of us are prepared to swindle even double-cross, a very few are trustworthy any more and being honest and upright no longer is a desired quality. Most of us are so very selfish, we do not listen what others have to say, it is only me who matters... Now why is so? The joy of life is after all also important, caring for others is rewarding and being humble is not a weakness. Best...
Hi Simon, this post was really interesting. I'd never thought there were so many expressions that connected water and money. It's really interesting. I'm so glad to learn all this new language you're teaching us. And what is great is that you're not only teaching us English, but you're also teaching us how to study English, which is as important as learning the language itself. Thank you very much. See you soon. Bye.
Dear Simon I am very happy to learn new words which you tell in this blog this not only improves our vocab but also the confidence to express ou views in a proper way. Regards B.Manish
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