Can you guess the phrasal verb?

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Easter Traditions in the UK

Eggs and Hot Cross Buns! 

Eggs form a major part of Easter celebrations in Scotland. Egg hunts and decorating contests are held throughout the nation. Boiled eggs are given to the participants for painting and on Easter Sunday, egg-rolling contests are held!  You must roll your painted egg down a hill. The one, whose egg reaches the bottom of the hill first, wins the game.  It is believed that rolling off the eggs symbolize the waving away stone from the tomb of Christ.

The Easter festival not only brings along with it all the extreme festivities, but also yummy treats like the hot cross buns! Hot cross buns are an extremely delicious treat – leavened spiced buns made with ingredients like raisins and sugarcoated citrus fruits. They also have a cross-pastry icing to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Make it a point to share the buns with family and friends, as it is believed that the sharing ensures cordial relations and friendliness throughout the year. 

During the time of sharing, “Half for you and half for me, Between us two shall goodwill be” is usually said to spread harmony and cheer. The origin of the hot cross buns lies in the pagan traditions of ancient culture wherein the cross of the bun is said to represent the four quarters of the moon. 

Hot Cross Bun Facts: 

• They are generally prepared on Good Friday to symbolize the ruthless death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• The pastry that is placed on top of the buns symbolizes and reminds people of the Cross, on which Lord Jesus was crucified.
• Hot cross buns are also considered to be one of ancient Pagan cakes which were eaten eaten by Anglo-Saxons in honor of their goddess “Eastore”.
• Hot Cross Buns are also related to a number of superstitions like people believed by hanging the buns, they can protect themselves and their house from all sorts of evil spirits. They also thought that the buns are gifted with a magical power of curing.

Happy Easter everyone!

Every girl needs a hubby like this!

How the Italian elections are being viewed in the UK

Have a look at The Guardian's interpretation of the election results in Italy.
Click here for full article

Here we have the highlights for you:

Neither right nor left had an outright majority in the upper house, where the balance will be held by Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement (M5S). Grillo has ruled out supporting either side in his drive to sweep away Italy's existing political parties and the cronyistic culture they support – a sentiment he appeared to reiterate after the countby insisting the M5S was not planning on "any stitch-ups, big or small" and lambasting Berlusconi's voters for committing "a crime against the galaxy".


In an audio message broadcast live online, Grillo said that, after his movement's "exceptional" results, the mainstream parties were "finished, and they know it". "We've started a war of generations … They've been there for 25 to 30 years and they've led this country to catastrophe," he said. "We will be an extraordinary force … We will be 110 inside [the parliament] and several million outside."


The result indicated that fresh elections were a strong possibility and, at best, foreshadowed a weak government unable to pass the tough reforms Italy needs to enhance its grim economic prospects.


European leaders have been desperate to see a stable government in Italy, and are likely to be horrified at the triumph of populism in the eurozone's third biggest economy.

Grillo, and to a lesser extent Berlusconi – both showmen politicians – were the victors. The understated Bersani saw an initially substantial lead in the polls slip away. Angelino Alfano, named by Berlusconi as the right's prime minister in case of victory, said the result was "very positive – I would say extraordinary, even – and we are very satisfied".

Turnout in the election was about 75% – the lowest since the Italian republic was founded after the second world war...... But it was rooted in widespread disillusionment over the corruption and stagnation in Italian politics.

Now that risk is fast taking shape again. Berlusconi is deeply mistrusted in the markets and Grillo wants a referendum on whether Italy should quit the euro. Mired in recession, Italy has had a decade of economic near-stagnation followed by a year of punishing austerity that has made the pledges of both men – though lambasted by their opponents as unfeasible – highly attractive.

It's a piece of cake!

There are a lot of idioms and expressions in English that involve food. But most of their meanings don't actually have anything to do with food! 

Listen to this lesson from Jon Teaches English where he teaches you food expressions. (American accent)


After the lesson, take the quiz at http://www.engvid.com/food-idioms/ .

Keep Calm and Carry On

We are constantly being bombarded with different versions of the iconic Keep Calm and Carry On image, but have you ever wondered where the original poster came from? 

Watch this short video which explains why the poster was designed in the first place and why such a heart-warming phrase from a bygone decade still has so much appeal and resonance today. 

10 modi per chiedere di ripetere una cosa in inglese

 
La verita' e che anche gli English native speakers (madrelingua) spesso non si capiscono nelle conversazioni. E’ quindi necessario nella vita di tutti i giorni sapere come chiedere di ripetere una frase o un concetto al nostro interlocutore in inglese.

In particolar modo nella vita lavorativa o quando si viaggia,  si viene in contatto con tanti accenti diversi inglese, scozzese, americano, australiano, neozelandese, solo per citarne alcuni. Tutti questi accenti accenti sono tra loro molto differenti e richiedono un tempo di adattamento dell’orecchio prima di poter comprenderli.

Non sono solo gli accenti dei madrelingua a cui dobbiamo fare l’abitudine e l’orecchio, immaginate di parlare in inglese con un cinese, uno spagnolo o un tedesco. Pensate di riuscire a capire tutto al primo colpo? Magari durante una conversazione telefonica?

Ecco quindi 10 modi di chiedere di ripetere che ho imparato vivendo due anni a Londra

1) Say it again, please? Pronuciato con tono tra l’interrogativo e l’esclamativo.
2) Sorry, could you repeat that?
3) I didn’t understand the last sentence
4) I didn’t catch that, could you repeat please?
5) I didn’t catch that, can you say it again?
6) What was the last thing you said?
7) Could you please clarify the last point?
8) You are speaking too fast for me, could you speak more slowly please?
9) (on the phone) I can’t hear you very well - could you please speak louder?
10) (on the phone) It's a bit noisy here, could you repeat it please?