2,072,993
We tend to call those "idioms" or "colloquialisms", as opposed to slang. Phrases in the language that might require some further definition... and don't really mean what they say.. like:
'Break a leg'... which on its surface sounds bad, but is really wishing someone luck.
or 'having cold feet' which has little to do with the temperature of your toes.
or "that dog won't hunt"... a decidedly southern expression that has little to do with your hound dog.
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Inna Ivchenko
Encino, CA
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Realtyna Inc
Newark, DE
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Joyce Marsh
Daytona Beach, FL
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
511,064
No, it's just not my cup of tea.
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Inna Ivchenko
Encino, CA
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Joyce Marsh
Daytona Beach, FL
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
564,494
Only when I want to 'lighten up' the mood, then it's a 'piece of cake' - or I could just 'plead the fifth' and 'crash' like a 'couch potato' ...
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
74,695
Not much, but I have an Australian client that makes a point to quizz me every time we meet
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Bruce Walter
West Lafayette, IN
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
2,684,769
I let sleeping dogs lie.
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Joyce Marsh
Daytona Beach, FL
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
5,257,583
- You don't have time to 'sleep on it.'
- 'If you snooze, you'll love this one!'
- Buyers need to 'get off of the fence' - NOW!
Oh, I admit to using them daily, Richie!
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Bruce Walter
West Lafayette, IN
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
941,428
Richie, only when I'm feeling lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut in Death Valley!
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
3,350,439
From time to time I may.
It is what it is ... that's my main thought.
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Bruce Walter
West Lafayette, IN
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Joyce Marsh
Daytona Beach, FL
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
-
Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
4,583,784
Words are powerful and some are downright confusing especially some slang. It's important to communicate effectively.
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Bruce Walter
West Lafayette, IN
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
554,600
Slang, idioms, cliches - I use them all! No wonder why my clients are confused.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bruce Walter
West Lafayette, IN
2,402,139
On occasion Richie Alan Naggar when appropriate.
-
Bruce Walter
West Lafayette, IN
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
4,905,762
Years ago I was visiting some American friends living and working in Ethiopia. They were going to have a big dinner for me and their young son asked if he could invite a friend. I looked at the little guy and said "I sure hope your are hungry". He had a puzzled look on his face and said "this is Ethiopia we are always hungry".
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
2,189,772
Just don't make me go out when it's raining cats and dogs.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
-
Bruce Walter
West Lafayette, IN
-
Joyce Marsh
Daytona Beach, FL
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
1,506,773
I use slang and local sayings all the time.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
4,434,177
I use them sometimes .
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
155,337
I tend to use analogies more than idioms.
I do find that we have some odd sayings; the two that always get me are:
1. "There is more than one way to skin a cat" (who is skinning cats???)
2. "Kill two birds with one stone" (why are we throwing stones at bird in an attempt to kill them?)
My wife says I take things a bit too literal and she is probably right.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
1,242,204
Use proper English something people of all ages can understand.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
5,583,328
yes...one liners....I love 'em....
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
921,504
Lost in Space.
I've heard several times the past month a phrase for with I have no clue of the origin or even if it means something like "You owe me one."
The phrase is, 'Bob's your uncle."
I would use it to make a point...and may already have...but my point and the interpreted point my be terminally misaligned.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ricardo Mello
Manhattan, NY
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
3,140,848
Why yes I have Richie. Unless you do the work, don't expect a harvest! - for those who want to put very little effort toward anything, expecting a huge return. And Not my circus, not my monkeys! - as in, it does not apply to me and none of my business.
There are more but these come to mind.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Joyce Marsh
Daytona Beach, FL
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
7,869,880
"That's the way it goes."
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
5,772,693
Richie,
Yes, and I am more likely to translate sayings from French and Russian., or even Italian. Here is one for you in Italian (a polite way to say someone is lying) se non è vero, è ben trovato. or in English, even if it is not true, it is well conceived. LOL A
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
6,423,260
Often.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
5,115,873
Can't think of one, just now, but I know I use those kinds of expressions all the time. They paint a picture. Then again, I'm often muttering something to myself in Russian so people don't know what I'm saying!
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Bruce Walter
West Lafayette, IN
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
902,238
As appropriate, but one needs to be mindful of the audience so as to be understood properly.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Joyce Marsh
Daytona Beach, FL
4,800,132
I probably do more than I should.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
3,416,038
Like ham on cheese depending on my client, i can lighten things up. Some are all business where i stick to all business. While others need a less formal trip through buying or selling a home
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
472,377
These are more idioms than slang words, but I use both all the time! I think every native speaker uses them more than they realize. Spend some time in another country or teach English for some time and then you will come to realize :D
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
5,244,229
Not consciously, but yes from time to time!
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
556,536
The best one i heard recently is "tougher than boiled owl".
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
2,071,025
Yes, in both languages. :)
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
3,168,134
I use them a lot. I'm southern. It's what we do. Some can't be shared here.
Today I said "it's colder than a well digger's butt" "skin your hide and tan your tail" are ones' my kids heard a lot.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
1,325,249
Many of our clients claim foreign origin and may not fully appreciate our slang.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
3,986,308
Not usually in business
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
1,598,452
Sometimes. For sure.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
913,818
Only if the shoe fits.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
1,389,105
Yes I do use quite a few. With all the ultra sensitivity out there these days, one must choose their words very carefully...
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
1,712,876
Sometimes, when you have something or someone that just won't work then my Dad would say, That's a horse that can't be rode.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
381,387
yes, a lot I learned in the Army
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
1,728,656
I try to blend with my clients, so I pick-up on their traits. If they use slang then I parrot them
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
5,879,125
I cannot think of one now, but sure I do.
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
4,966,025
I guess I do but can't think of any now.
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
1,625,153
One of my fav.: Let's cross that bridge when we come to it;)
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Richie Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA