English



body English

An often involuntary or unconscious movement of the body to try and manipulate or influence the course of an object that is already in motion. I always find bowlers' body English humorous, as they contort their bodies to try to will the ball toward the pins.
See also: body, English

full English

Short for "full English breakfast," a traditional breakfast meal in England typically consisting of fried eggs, tomato, mushrooms, bacon, sausage, and fried bread or hash browns. Primarily heard in UK. After a long night out at the pubs, there's nothing like a full English the next morning to get you back into shape.
See also: English, full

in plain English

In clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English. Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction. In plain English, you've suffered a heart attack. I wish these software agreements would be written in plain English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, plain

in simple English

In clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English terminology. Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction. In simple English, you've suffered a heart attack. I wish these software agreements would be written in simple English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, simple

BBC English

Formal, proper English, as would be spoken on the BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation). Just so you know, the professor talks in that BBC English, so you might have a hard time understanding him. And he might not get your slang either.
See also: English

simple English

Clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English terminology. Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction. In simple English, you've suffered a heart attack. I wish these software agreements would be written in simple English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, simple

the King's English

The standard form of English, as spoken by educated people in England. We're friends now, so quit being so formal and speaking the King's English. As a professor, you really should speak the King's English.
See also: English

*in plain language

 and *in plain English
Fig. in simple, clear, and straightforward language. (*Typically: be ~; put something [into] ~; say something ~; write something ~.) That's too confusing. Please say it again in plain English. Tell me again in plain language.
See also: language, plain

(The) Queen's English

"Official" British English. He can't even speak The Queen's English! Despicable!
See also: English

body English

Movements of the body that express a person's feelings, as in His body English tells us just how tired he is. This expression originated about 1900 in such sports as bowling and ice hockey, where a player tries to influence the path of a ball or puck by moving his body in a particular direction. (It was based on the earlier use of English to mean "spin imparted to a ball.")
See also: body, English

in plain English

In clear, straightforward language, as in The doctor's diagnosis was too technical; please tell us what he meant in plain English. [c. 1500] Also see in so many words.
See also: English, plain

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Ithel-Welsh
GertrÚD-Hungarian
Petras-Lithuanian
Gulnaz-Kazakh, Georgian, Urdu
Aliyyah-Arabic
LexLEKS (English)English, Dutch