Word of the Day: wreck

If something is badly damaged, it might be a wreck. This word is usually used as a noun or as a verb.

• My car is a wreck, but it still runs.
• Tony drives a wreck to work.

A wreck can also be a person who is physically or emotionally in bad condition:

• What happened to you? You look like a wreck.
• Tanya was a nervous wreck as she waited to see her test results.

In the next set of sentences, the word "wreck" is a verb:

• Tigist wrecked her car. She has to get it fixed.
• Jorge wrecked his back playing football. He has to see a doctor.
• The girl is wrecking her reputation by hanging out with drug addicts.

The words "wrecked" and "wrecking" can be used as adjectives:

• Wrecked buildings are scattered throughout the city of Detroit.
• A wrecking ball knocked down the house so that a new one could be built.

Word of the Day: wreck

If something is badly damaged, it might be a wreck. This word is usually used as a noun or as a verb.

• My car is a wreck, but it still runs.
• Tony drives a wreck to work.

A wreck can also be a person who is physically or emotionally in bad condition:

• What happened to you? You look like a wreck.
• Tanya was a nervous wreck as she waited to see her test results.

In the next set of sentences, the word "wreck" is a verb:

• Tigist wrecked her car. She has to get it fixed.
• Jorge wrecked his back playing football. He has to see a doctor.
• The girl is wrecking her reputation by hanging out with drug addicts.

The words "wrecked" and "wrecking" can be used as adjectives:

• Wrecked buildings are scattered throughout the city of Detroit.
• A wrecking ball knocked down the house so that a new one could be built.

Talking About Fear in English

There are many words and expressions in English for talking about fear.

Words

afraid: "Are you afraid of the dark?"
frightened: "I'm frightened of spiders."
scared: "He's scared of making mistakes."
feel uneasy: "I felt a bit uneasy when I walked home in the dark."
spooked: "My cats are easily spooked before a thunderstorm."
terrified: "She was absolutely terrified when she heard the noise."
petrified: "The building began to shake and we were all petrified."

Expressions

a terrifying ordeal
send shivers down my spine
give me goosebumps (goosebumps are when you skin has little bumps on it= poner la carne de gallina)
make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up (dogs also do this when they are scared)
scare the hell out of me: dar pavor, aterrorizar,  Ex: Moreover, if you happen to be suffering from dental phobia, where the idea of visiting a dentist's surgery scares the hell out of you, you will be glad to learn that 'do it yourself' dental veneer kits exist.
 be scared shitless / shit scared (British slang – vulgar): extremely frightened; "he was scared shitless"
be bricking it (British slang – vulgar)
frighten the life out of me
shake with fear
jump out of my skin

Examples of how to talk about fear in English

One of the best horror films I have seen is "The Blair Witch Project". It tells the story of a terrifying ordeal in the woods of northern USA. Some of the scenes in the film sent shivers down my spine, especially the one when the students run out of the tent in the middle of the night. When they go back, one of the guy's rucksack has been emptied. When that same guy goes missing the next day, it gives you goosebumps.

There are some fabulous sound effects, especially the ones of the wind blowing and howling. When you hear the crying voices at the end of the film, it will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Perhaps the scariest part of the film is at the end, when you see one of the surviving students literally shake with fear in the corner of the basement. It certainly frightened the life out of the girl when she saw him, and I jumped out of my skin at the end when the camera stopped filming. The film scared the hell out of me for weeks afterwards, and I'm ashamed to say that I wouldn't go into an empty room in the house unless there was someone there with me.

Talking About Fear in English

There are many words and expressions in English for talking about fear.

Words

afraid: "Are you afraid of the dark?"
frightened: "I'm frightened of spiders."
scared: "He's scared of making mistakes."
feel uneasy: "I felt a bit uneasy when I walked home in the dark."
spooked: "My cats are easily spooked before a thunderstorm."
terrified: "She was absolutely terrified when she heard the noise."
petrified: "The building began to shake and we were all petrified."

Expressions

a terrifying ordeal
send shivers down my spine
give me goosebumps (goosebumps are when you skin has little bumps on it= poner la carne de gallina)
make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up (dogs also do this when they are scared)
scare the hell out of me: dar pavor, aterrorizar,  Ex: Moreover, if you happen to be suffering from dental phobia, where the idea of visiting a dentist's surgery scares the hell out of you, you will be glad to learn that 'do it yourself' dental veneer kits exist.
 be scared shitless / shit scared (British slang – vulgar): extremely frightened; "he was scared shitless"
be bricking it (British slang – vulgar)
frighten the life out of me
shake with fear
jump out of my skin

Examples of how to talk about fear in English

One of the best horror films I have seen is "The Blair Witch Project". It tells the story of a terrifying ordeal in the woods of northern USA. Some of the scenes in the film sent shivers down my spine, especially the one when the students run out of the tent in the middle of the night. When they go back, one of the guy's rucksack has been emptied. When that same guy goes missing the next day, it gives you goosebumps.

There are some fabulous sound effects, especially the ones of the wind blowing and howling. When you hear the crying voices at the end of the film, it will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Perhaps the scariest part of the film is at the end, when you see one of the surviving students literally shake with fear in the corner of the basement. It certainly frightened the life out of the girl when she saw him, and I jumped out of my skin at the end when the camera stopped filming. The film scared the hell out of me for weeks afterwards, and I'm ashamed to say that I wouldn't go into an empty room in the house unless there was someone there with me.

Love idioms

Falling in love
to have a crush on someone = to only be able to think about one person: (= encapricharse con, volverse loco por)
 "When I was at school, I had a crush on a film star.
to fall head over heels for someone = to completely fall in love:
 "He fell head over heels for her."
to fall head over heels for someone = to completely fall in love:
 "He fell head over heels for her."

to have eyes only for = to be attracted to one person only: 

"He's dropped all his old friends, now that he has eyes only for Susie."

to be the apple of someone's eye = to be loved by someone, normally an older relative:

 "She's the apple of her father's eye."

to fall for someone = to fall in love: 

"He always falls for the wrong types!"
puppy love = love between teenagers:
"It's just puppy love – you'll grow out of it!"

Getting married

to get hitched: "They're getting hitched next Saturday."
to tie the knot: "So when are you two tying the knot?"

If it goes wrong…

to go through a bit of a rough patch = when things are not going well:
 "Since the argument, they've been going through a bit of a rough patch."
to have blazing rows = to have big arguments:
"We had a blazing row last night."
can't stand the sight of someone = to not like someone:
 "She can't stand the sight of him any more!"
to call it a day = to agree that the relationship has ended
: "We decided to call it a day."
to be on the rocks = a relationship that is in difficulty:
 "Once she moved out, it was clear their marriage was on the rocks."
to have a stormy relationship = a relationship with many arguments:
 "I'm glad we don't have a stormy relationship."
a love-rat = a man who betrays his girlfriend / wife:
"He's had affairs with three different women – he's a complete love-rat."

Love idioms

Falling in love
to have a crush on someone = to only be able to think about one person: (= encapricharse con, volverse loco por)
 "When I was at school, I had a crush on a film star.
to fall head over heels for someone = to completely fall in love:
 "He fell head over heels for her."
to fall head over heels for someone = to completely fall in love:
 "He fell head over heels for her."

to have eyes only for = to be attracted to one person only: 

"He's dropped all his old friends, now that he has eyes only for Susie."

to be the apple of someone's eye = to be loved by someone, normally an older relative:

 "She's the apple of her father's eye."

to fall for someone = to fall in love: 

"He always falls for the wrong types!"
puppy love = love between teenagers:
"It's just puppy love – you'll grow out of it!"

Getting married

to get hitched: "They're getting hitched next Saturday."
to tie the knot: "So when are you two tying the knot?"

If it goes wrong…

to go through a bit of a rough patch = when things are not going well:
 "Since the argument, they've been going through a bit of a rough patch."
to have blazing rows = to have big arguments:
"We had a blazing row last night."
can't stand the sight of someone = to not like someone:
 "She can't stand the sight of him any more!"
to call it a day = to agree that the relationship has ended
: "We decided to call it a day."
to be on the rocks = a relationship that is in difficulty:
 "Once she moved out, it was clear their marriage was on the rocks."
to have a stormy relationship = a relationship with many arguments:
 "I'm glad we don't have a stormy relationship."
a love-rat = a man who betrays his girlfriend / wife:
"He's had affairs with three different women – he's a complete love-rat."

Today´s expressions

1. I’m counting on you (Cuento contigo)
2. I don’t hold a grudge (no guardo rancor)
3. You’re a jinx (eres un gafe)
4. My car keeps stalling (Seguir calándose)
5. That’s easier said than done (del Dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho)
6. Don’t give in (no dar el brazo a torcer)
7. Don’t let your guard down (No bajes la guardia)
8. I’m all mixed up (Estar hecho un lio)
9. They had it all figured out (Tenerlo calculado)
10. Put it the other way round (Poner al reves)
11. It’s difficult to make ends meet (Subsistir a duras penas)
12. Your suit’s totally creased (arrugado)
13. I’ve called a meeting on Saturday (convocar una reunión)
14. I was gobsmacked (Quedarse flipado, estupefacto, sin habla)
15. What a drag ! (Que rollo)
16. Stand up for yourself (Defenderse solo)
17. Stand up to him (Hazle frente)