idiom
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MikeNewYork
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Peedeebee
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beef as an idiom
re the question about beef- the meaning of it as an idiom has been covered- problems. In British English I think that is quite a recent re-usage. The one other metaphor with beef in common use is " beef it up" meaning apply plenty of strength to the situation/enhance what you're doing....
the interesting thing with idioms is that in Britain some manuals for teachers to teach pupils focus wholely on idioms which are metaphors. Idioms are frequently manners of speech or common usage, perhaps with a metaphorical background.
The Cow question is really one of those- so for anyone who wants to find out how things are actually said in the language: in Britain many people would say cow to mean generically males or females, but in the plural would possibly use the word cattle. And as above there is no singular word that matches cattle. Case in point- what's a Highland Cow - if it's a bull? We see lots of those in Britain but don't easily say Highland bull. (interestingly many British children assume that because the Highlands all have their horns, they're bulls)
Our common usage doesn't get too hung up on the biology.... ( next post; Hung Up)
Wasn't there an American usage of beeves- see Mark Twain & loading livestock onto a cargo boat...?
Beef means problems here Ohh that is cool
re the question about beef- the meaning of it as an idiom has been covered- problems. In British English I think that is quite a recent re-usage. The one other metaphor with beef in common use is " beef it up" meaning apply plenty of strength to the situation/enhance what you're doing....
the interesting thing with idioms is that in Britain some manuals for teachers to teach pupils focus wholely on idioms which are metaphors. Idioms are frequently manners of speech or common usage, perhaps with a metaphorical background.
The Cow question is really one of those- so for anyone who wants to find out how things are actually said in the language: in Britain many people would say cow to mean generically males or females, but in the plural would possibly use the word cattle. And as above there is no singular word that matches cattle. Case in point- what's a Highland Cow - if it's a bull? We see lots of those in Britain but don't easily say Highland bull. (interestingly many British children assume that because the Highlands all have their horns, they're bulls)
Our common usage doesn't get too hung up on the biology.... ( next post; Hung Up)
Wasn't there an American usage of beeves- see Mark Twain & loading livestock onto a cargo boat...?
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