<B>The British Council?s language clinic with ?Dr Danny? </B>

Hello and welcome to the English Language Clinic. Following last week?s article, in which we looked at expressions used to talk about the ?end? of something (?in the end?, ?at the end?, etc.) I received a question about several idioms, which include the word ?end?. Let?s imagine a conversation between two old friends; my translations of the idioms appear in brackets.

Dave: I?m ?at the end of my tether?! (I doubt that I can deal with the situation any longer because I am upset and annoyed.) Sooner or later I?m going to ?go off the deep end?! (I?m going to become very angry.) I really have ?got the short end of the stick? this time. (I feel that I have been unfairly treated.)

Chaz: Come on Dave, ?it?s not the end of the world.? (Although you may feel that your problems are extreme, actually they are not that serious and I?m sure that you will find a solution.) I know that you feel like you are ?at your wits? end,? (I recognise that you feel that you have tried everything you can think of) but don?t forget what you always tell me: ?There is always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!? (Don?t lose faith in the possibility that you will ultimately find reward for all the hard work that you have done.)

As you can see, idioms allow us to express thoughts and feelings in a lot fewer words. Here are two more; ?the thin end of the wedge? and ?to be at a loose end?, can you guess their meaning?

Please send your comments, queries and questions to ?Dr Danny? by emailing the following address [email protected]

To find out more about the British Council?s English Language Courses or any of the services we provide, please call on 403 0200.