Category Archives: Blog

eTalkEnglish is pleased to announce our newest partner and alliance, Master IELTS.  Master IELTS is a professional service provider specializing in IELTS preparation.  The offer face-to-face IELTS tutoring and workshops in Mississauga, ON; Canada.  For more information about their  services, contact our partner at www.masterielts.ca   

acquaintance  (n) Meaning: 1 [count] : someone who is known but who is not a close friend • Is he an acquaintance of yours? [=have you met him?] • She ran into an old acquaintance at the grocery store. • My wife and I met through a mutual acquaintance. [=a friend introduced us to each other] • a casual acquaintance 2 [noncount] formal : the state of knowing someone […]

We are enjoying fine weather in our beautiful city of Toronto this spring.  However, we have been experiencing quite a bit of rain recently.  Below is a weather idiom referring to rain. It is used to express the idea of heavy rain. Example sentence: “Do not forget your umbrella before you go outside. It is raining […]

In Canada, friends usually greet each other with less formal language.  Below are some ways we greet our family, friends and even colleagues using friendly and casual phrases. Casual, Informal and Slang Greetings “Hey.” “Hey. What’s up?” “How’s it goin’?” “Whatsup?” “Hey, man.” “Hey, you.” “Hi there.”   Sample Informal Conversation “Hey man. How’s it […]

Canadians tend to be more casual than countries with older cultures. This means that Canadians will most likely not kiss or hug a person they are meeting for the first time or even after. Party or Work = more formal If you are going to meet a Canadian for the first time at a party or in a work […]

English speakers like to use idioms to make their language more colorful. Here are some common animal idioms. Try using these idioms in your own conversations and have fun with them.

frisk /ˈfrɪsk/ verb [with object] Meaning: to pass your hands over (someone) to search for something that may be hidden in clothing • All visitors to the prison are frisked (for weapons) before they’re allowed to enter.

tres·pass /ˈtrɛˌspæs, Brit ˈtrɛspəs/ verb tres·pass·es; tres·passed; tres·pass·ing [no obj] 1 : to go on someone’s land without permission ▪ He told me I was trespassing. ▪ The sign said “No Trespassing.” — often + on ▪ The hunters trespassed on the farmer’s land. 2 old-fashioned : to do something that hurts or offends someone […]

scan·dal /ˈskændl̟/ noun plural scan·dals 1 : an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong [count] ▪ There was a major scandal involving the mayor’s ties with the Mob. ▪ Government officials were caught in an embezzlement scandal. ▪ Her behavior caused a scandal at […]