Spotlight - 01.2020

LANGUAGE 1/2020 Spotlight 43

dim [dIm] ifml.

, schwer von Begriff

gadget [(gÄdZIt]

, Gerät, technische

Spielerei

mock [mQk]

, verspotten

sake: for ...’s ~ [seIk]

, um ... willen

tease [ti:z]

, hänseln, necken

Jack

A “jack of all trades” is someone who can do many different things,

but does none of them very well. The full expression is “a jack of all

trades and master of none”.

Johnny

“Johnny”, or “little Johnny”, is the name used in jokes about little

boys — like Fritz or Fritzchen in German. Here’s one, just for fun:

Teacher: This is the fourth time you’ve been late for school this

week, Johnny. Do you know what that means?

Johnny: Yes, Miss. It means it’s Thursday.

José

Do you want to say “no” very firmly? Then use the rhyming phrase

“No way, José!”

Larry

We don’t know who Larry was, but he must have had a good life,

because he gave us the expression “as happy as Larry”.

Mick, Mickey

In informal British English, to “take the mick” or “take the mickey

out of” someone means to “tease or mock a person”. It’s a polite ver-

sion of to “take the piss out of” someone.

Pete

“For Pete’s sake!” is a polite way to avoid saying “For God’s sake!”

or something worse.

Peter, Paul

If you are having money problems and there just isn’t enough cash

to pay all your debts, you might find that you have to “rob Peter to

pay Paul”.

Sam

“Uncle Sam” — with the initial letters “US” — represents the Amer-

ican government or the US in general. With his red, white and blue

costume, Uncle Sam is a popular symbol of American patriotism.

Tim

“Tim, Nice-But-Dim” — a good friend of “Hooray Henry” — is a

posh young Englishman who is very stupid. He was originally a

TV comedy character.

Tom

Sorry, but it’s bad news for Toms. A “peeping Tom” is a voyeur —

someone who spies on women. The original peeping Tom was the

boy who looked at the naked Lady Godiva as she rode through the

streets of Coventry in the English legend.

Tom, Dick, Harry

“Every Tom, Dick and Harry” means “ordinary people” or “every-

one”. If every Tom, Dick and Harry has the latest gadget, then it’s

not exclusive any more.