Cool phrases, expressions and words of the English language

2024 Author: Angel Austin | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:14

Cool words and phrases of a foreign language is one of the most difficult sections to learn. Any language (except dead ones) is a living, mobile system of sign and sound designations for the phenomena of the surrounding world. Native speakers are creators who create and develop this field of knowledge every minute. Cool phrases that are considered the epitome of wit today may sound old-fashioned tomorrow. It is optimal to learn juicy expressions in live communication, or create them yourself - for this it is enough to have a sense of humor and understand the structure of the English language.

Proverbs and sayings

Slang connoisseurs rarely classify proverbs and sayings as "cool phrases". They are often already so worn out, repeated many times, that they do not make the desired impression. However, among them there are expressions that in the right situation will sound spectacular. You can’t get into a stupid situation with them, turn out to be strange or incomprehensible. Here are examples of the most colloquial:

1. "Add insult to injury" - rub s alt in the wound, add fuel to the fire, make the situation worse. Literally can be translatedhow to offend the offended. Example: “Don’t add me insult to injury…”
2. "Bird has flown". Literally translated as "the bird has flown away." Similar to the Russian expression "the train has left."
3. "Far cry from…" - very unlike anything. Example: "A far cry from my own birthday!" - "Not like my birthday!"
4. "Beat about the bush" - the phrase comes from the words of a children's game in which children walk in a round dance, singing "Here we go around the thorny bush." Translation: beat around the bush, talk in vain, do not speak directly. Example: “Stop beating around the bush” - “Finish wagging, speak straight.”
5. "Chew the fat" - to chat, gossip, talk about something unimportant, just for the sake of talking. The Cambridge Dictionary gives the meaning: to talk to someone in an informal and friendly manner. Literally: "to chew fat." "Let's sit here and chew the fat." “Let’s sit here and just chat.”

Although you should not expect to impress a youth company with the juiciness of expressions with their help - these cool phrases have long been book classics.

Seven interesting idiomatic expressions

The expressions below are more recent examples of speech creativity that have already become firmly established in the language:

1. Be a catch Also, a variant can be translated as "to be a good match, to be attractive." "I am s catch for you." - "I'm the best match for you."
2. "By the skin of someone's teeth" - meaning enoughunexpected: “barely”, “barely”, “with great difficulty”. The Cambridge Dictionary gives the following interpretation: if you need to make something "the skin of your teeth", you must definitely do it. Other dictionaries indicate that this expression is used in complex, catastrophic situations, from which the way out is very difficult. Similar to Russian: "blood from the nose." Close to the following Russian expressions: “by all means”, “I give a tooth”, “at least die”, “at least crack”, “iron”, “how to give to drink”. Not the most common and bookish expression, has a biblical origin. Rare in spoken language.
3. "Crack a joke" - soak, chip, make a joke. Example: “Despite of ill he was cracking jokes all the time” - “Despite his illness, he joked all the time.”
4. "Go to the extra mile" - make special efforts, give your best, overcome difficulties. "Extra mile" is "extra mile". I must go the extra mile. – “I have to give it my all.”
5. "Let you freak flag flym" - soft translation: let yourself go free, throw off the mask. In a broader sense, to be unconventional, to demonstrate rebellious views that go against the mainstream. This is especially relevant when it comes to behavior in front of a group of strangers, when you want to unleash your alternative, socially unacceptable, repressed self. "Freak flag" - literally translated "false flag". "I'm gonna fly my freak flag!" - “I will do it (something unusual, impressive)!”. "Dude, your freak flag flies really high." "Dude, that's strong." Which literally means: "Dude, yourthe false flag flies really high.”
6. “Let the chips fall where they may” - rely on fate, let things take their course, come what may, how the chips will fall. A brighter version of the translation: you can’t break a butt with a whip.” Literally: "let the chips fall where they can." "I think let the chips fall where they may." “I think let things take their course.” “Ace, just the chips fall where they may. I am sure - all will be good. “Dude, just leave it to fate. I'm sure everything will work out.”
7. "You rock" - you're cool. The word "rock" in direct translation means "rock, stone." Use this phrase to express admiration in a casual way. Dude, you rock! "Dude, you're a rock!" "You rock!" - there may be such translation options depending on the situation: “You really did a great job!”, “Wow!”, “Class!”, “You rule!”.

For dialogues

Each of these expressions is actively used in live dialogues. These are cool phrases for direct communication, where short and succinct expressions are appreciated. Examples:

1. "Get it?" - Got it? / Do you understand? Literally: Grabbed?
2. "Are you nuts?" - Are you crazy? / Are you crazy (crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy)? Yes, the word nut is familiar to many in the meaning of a nut, but its other meaning is: a fool, a psycho, a nutcase, an eccentric. Nuts is an adjective.
3. "How's that?" – How is it?
4. "No fooling?" – No fools?/Seriously?/You're not kidding?
5. "What is it to you?" - What about you?/What do you care?
6. "Backoff" – Back off/Leave me alone/Shut up.
7. "Betcha" - I bet / I bet / I'm willing to bet / I'm sure / I bet. "I betcha I could." "I'm sure I can." "I betcha they will get married." “I bet they will get married.”
8. "Hundo p" - "100% sure / One hundred pounds / Tochnyak / Vernyak." Hundo p its gonna rain. “I’m 100% sure it will rain.”

Suitcase Words

Of particular interest are the words-suitcases, which in English are called portmanteau word. A famous poem from Lewis Carroll's Alice Through the Looking-Glass: “Warped. Flimsy shhorki poked around the nave, and zelyuks grunted like mumziks in the language” - contains the first examples of such words. Zelyuk is a green turkey, and the word "thick" is from the English slithy, consisting of two words: lithe and slimy, that is, "flexible and slimy." Such neologisms (new words) are often used by journalists and writers. Cool words-suitcases with an explanation of the meaning:

1. Perhaps the most famous is blog, derived from the words web and log - an online magazine, diary.
2. Affluenza is a disease state that indicates a lack of motivation in people who have earned or inherited large sums of money. Derived from the words affluence, which means "influx, we alth, abundance" and influenza (flu, influenza).
3. Chococholic (chocolate + alcoholic) - someone who loves chocolate abnormally strongly is addicted. The ending - holic can be safely used with other words, describing a manic craving for something.either.
4. Chillax - calm down, rest. Derived from "chill out" "relax", the words are very close in meaning. The first is “relax, cool down”, if closer to the literal translation – “cool down”, the second – “relax”.
5. Chinglish - comes from the names of two languages, Chinese - Chinese, and English - English. The Russian language uses the word "Chinglish", and it has almost received the status of a loanword, although it has a very narrow meaning. "Chinglish" is a variant of English influenced by Chinese. The word has a disapproving connotation.
6. Crunk - out of control due to the effects of alcohol. Comes from the words crazy - crazy and drunk - drunk.
7. Frenemy - from the words friend and enemy. This is a person who pretends to be a friend, but in fact is an enemy.
8. Ginormous - abnormally huge, too big, excessive. It comes from the words giant - gigantic, and enormous - huge, monstrous, terrible. That was a ginormous house. – It was a huge house.
9. Glamping. It comes from the words glamor - spectacular, charm, and camping. Glamping is a campsite with amenities, i.e. bath, soft mattresses, internet access.
10. Hunty - comes from honey (dear, darling) and cunt (obscene word for female genitals). This is an address to a person, has a hint of a light “joke”, is used between close friends, can be offensive and humiliating - it all depends on the context. Suitable translation options: bitch, dude, rubbish (with an affectionate touch), as well as obscene expressions suitablemeaning.
11. Ridonkulous - when something goes beyond the funny, that is, ridiculous, extremely absurd, ridiculous, out of the ordinary. Comes from the words: ridiculous (funny) and donkey (donkey).
12. Shemale (she/male/female) - a transsexual, a person who looks like a woman, but with male sexual characteristics. The word has already passed into the category of borrowed ones, although "shimail" is used very rarely in Russian. This word is spinning in narrow circles, and has a somewhat contemptuous connotation.

Not really a word-suitcase, rather a "doubled" word: bestest (the best of the best) - the best of the best. We present it because it is unique and interesting from the point of view of word formation. Nothing prevents you from trying to play with suffixes as well, creating your own words.

Emotional words

How to express disappointment, anger, disappointment, amazement or delight? Here are some juicy, cool phrases and expressions to express your emotions:

1. "By golly!" - Damn me! By God!
2. "Bullshit" - literally "dog shit". It translates as: bullshit, bullshit, hang noodles on your ears. "Don't bullshit!" - "Don't flood!" A similar expression is "Bananas oil". Translated literally as "banana oil", used in the meaning of "noodles on the ears", "nonsense", "nonsense".
3. "Dammit (Damn it)" is a famous phrase from Homer Simpson. Translated as "Damn it".
4. "Pissed" is one of those words that can put you inan awkward situation if it is used inappropriately. In England, it means: "to get drunk on the insole", and in the USA its meaning is more innocent: to get angry, get angry.

For online communication

Slang is difficult to learn, because cool words and phrases in any social environment (youth, criminals, representatives of a certain profession) are the product of direct creativity. Wits are invented and adopted on the go, right on the spot. The basis of creativity is often a subculture. Movies, music, computer games. The wit of a phrase will often be understood only by a person with similar interests. Recently, many specific expressions have appeared that will not be understood by those whose social life takes place exclusively offline. Below are some modern expressions from youth English language forums, these are cool words for those who communicate a lot on the Internet, and we do not mean business letters:

1. "Deets" - details, details. I want to know all the deets about that girl. – I want to know all the details about this girl.
2. "Dafuq or WTF - that's how you can shortly and quickly write the famous expression "what the fuck" (what the fuck). The expression is suitable to express annoyance, bewilderment, surprise.
3. HMU - an acronym for "Hit me up" - contact me, get in touch, call. It sounds interesting, because "hit" in its most common meaning is translated as "hit".
4. FR is an acronym for "for real". It translates simply: "really", "really". "Im so tired, FR" - "I'm really tired."
5. "Sis" is cutethe abbreviation is derived from "sister" - sister, little sister. It is used similarly to the well-known abbreviation "bro" (from "brother" - brother), which turned out to be so successful that it even entered Russian slang. But only in relation to female representatives.

If there is a need to learn cool phrases in English related specifically to the youth slang group, then you should look for them: in films for the appropriate audience, on forums, in social networking groups. The best thing is to learn cool expressions live, in context. Too often such words have nuances of meaning and relevance, they will sound beautiful in one circle, funny and ridiculous in another, rude in a third. On the other hand, familiarity with such words will not be superfluous: it will allow you to better understand interlocutors from various groups, and also - why not - can awaken your own creative abilities.