The English language is, quite possibly, one of the strangest languages out there.
Contradicting rules, incredibly unique words, and confusing idioms are just a few reasons why.
Below, I have highlighted 20 of the strangest English expressions and how to use them properly.
1. Airy-fairy
[informal] [adjective]
Meaning
unrealistic or impractical.
Example
I get bored of listening to his airy-fairy ideas about getting famous in the future.
2. Argy-bargy
[informal] [noun]
Meaning
a loud argument or heated discussion.
Example
There was a lot of argy-bargy outside the local nightclub on Saturday.
3. Dilly-dally
[informal] [verb]
Meaning
to waste time.
Example
You can’t be late for your interview today, so don’t dilly-dally and get ready now!”
4. Fuddy-duddy
[informal] [noun]
Meaning
a person with old-fashioned ideas and opinions.
Example
Don’t listen to that old fuddy-duddy. He’s ideas about education are so out-of-date.
5. Funny money
[informal] [noun]
Meaning
illegal or counterfeit money.
Example
Some shops don’t accept €500 banknotes in case it’s funny money.
6. Higgledy-piggledy
[informal] [adjective, adverb]
Meaning
untidy, disorganized or unplanned.
Example
She keeps her office in such a higgledy-piggledy fashion that I’m surprised
she can work properly.
7. Hunky-dory
[informal] [adjective]
Meaning
fine, very satisfactory, going well.
Example
Thankfully, everything was hunky-dory with the trains on the way to work today.
8. Hurly-burly
[informal] [noun]
Meaning
an activity that is busy and noisy.
Example
I now avoid the hurly-burly of Christmas shopping downtown by ordering everything online.
9. Holy moley
[informal] [exclamation]
Meaning
used to express surprise or astonishment.
Example
Holy moley! There’s torrential rain and a massive flood in my best mate’s hometown.
10. Itsy-bitsy
[informal] [adjective]
Meaning
very small or tiny.
Example
They live in an itsy-bitsy house in the countryside.
11. Lovey-dovey
[informal] [adjective]
Meaning
to show affection in public in an open or embarrassing way.
Example
We were sitting next to this lovey-dovey couple on the bus. It was really distracting!
12. Namby-pamby
[informal] [adjective]
Meaning
weak, indecisive or very sensitive.
Example
I hate speaking to namby-pamby politicians about their failure to deliver on
earlier promises.
13. Nitty-gritty
[informal] [noun]
Meaning
the main facts or aspects of a situation.
Example
We need to get down to the nitty-gritty so that we finish this meeting before 6 o’clock.
14. Okey-dokey
[informal] [interjection]
Meaning
to show that you agree or accept something.
Example
Okey-dokey. We’ll meet at 7 o’clock tonight outside the restaurant.
15. Silly-billy
[informal] [noun]
Meaning
a person who is acting in a way that is not careful or without thinking (used with children).
Example
Don’t be a silly-billy. You’ll hurt yourself if you’re not careful.
16. Teeny-weeny
[informal] [adjective]
Meaning
very small or tiny.
Example
We weren’t impressed with our teeny-weeny room that the hotel gave us
for our summer holiday.
17. Shilly-shally
[informal] [verb]
Meaning
to hesitate to make a decision or take to long to do something.
Example
You need to shop shilly-shallying and decide if you want to accept that job offer.
18. Topsy-turvy
[informal] [adjective]
Meaning
confused or disorganized.
Example
It has been a topsy-turvy start to the season for my local football club.
19. Willy-nilly
[informal] [adverb]
Meaning 1
something happens without choice.
Example
His wife was drawn willy-nilly into a family argument when they were visiting his parents.
Meaning 2
to do something without planning or in a careless way.
Example
Our grandmother decides willy-nilly what to buy us for Christmas.
20. Wishy-washy
[informal] [adjective]
Meaning
not clear or lacking substance.
Example
He didn’t get the job because he only gave a wishy-washy description about why he would be suitable for the position.
Comments
Post a Comment