The English Idiom

 

There’s Music in Our Speech

SING THE BLUES to be disappointed or disillusioned. Jim is singing the blues since he broke up with Elizabeth.

PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO SOMEONE to be subordinate to someone. Carol resigned from the company because she was tired of playing second fiddle to George.

PLAY BY EAR To play a piece of music without looking at the notes. I can play all the popular songs by ear.

To perform without prior preparation. We haven’t had time to prepare for the meeting. We’ll have to play it by ear.

MUSIC TO MY EARS Good news; information that makes someone happy. When my boss told me about my promotion, it was music to my ears.

TOOT ONE’S OWN HORN. BLOW ONE’S OWN HORN To praise oneself; to brag. Mary is always tooting (blowing) her own horn. She forgets that other people have a role in our company’s success.

JAZZ SOMETHING UP To make something more interesting. Tom jazzed up his gray suit with
a red tie.

SOAP OPERA An overly dramatic and emotional story-broadcast regularly on the radio or television. Mary’s day was not complete unless she saw her favorite soap opera.

IT’S NOT OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS To not speculate about something until it is completed. Though her polices were criticized, and her election in doubt, the candidate reminded the news correspondents that it’s not over till the fat lady sings.

CHANGE ONE’S TUNE To change one’s opinion or manner. John was critical of Anne’s judgment until she was made his supervisor. Now he has changed his tune and agrees with everything she does.

OUT OF TUNE Not in agreement. His suggestions were out of tune with reality.

CALL THE TUNE Make decisions; decide what is to be done. A lot of people don’t get along with Carol. She always wants to call the tune.

The person who is in charge is the one who makes the final decision. She who plays the piper calls the tune.

MARCH TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER To follow one’s own ideas rather than being influenced by the group. Dick isn’t going to support us; he always marches to a different drummer.

DRUM UP BUSINESS Influence people to buy something. The big advertisement in today’s newspaper should drum up business.

OFF-BEAT Unusual, not typical. He dressed in an off-beat manner.

TUNE OUT Ignore someone or something. I turned out when the speaker started quoting statistics.

TUNE IN Set the television control to receive a program. I tune in to the news every evening.

TUNE UP Adjust an engine so that it runs correctly. I needed a mechanic to tune up my car.

To adjust instruments in an orchestra so that each musician is in harmony with one another. The orchestra turned up before the concert began.

TO BEAT THE BAND Very much; fast. The police car was speeding down the highway to beat the band.

JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON Take a popular position; The politicians jumped on the bandwagon when they saw the governor was so popular.

FACE THE MUSIC Accept the unpleasant consequences for one’s actions. Jimmy broke his neighbour’s window with his baseball. Now he’s got to face the music.

ALL THAT JAZZ Et cetera; and so forth. The movie was filled with kissing and hugging and all that jazz.

JAZZY Lively; active. Phil and Mary throw jazzy parties. Hours pass like minutes at their house.

CONVERSATIONS

I “Could you play this melody on the guitar?”

“I wonder if it is good on a string instrument.”

“Do try it.”

“But I haven’t got the notes.”

“Never mind, you will able to play the tune by ear.”

II “Do you play the piano?”

“Well, a little. I took music lessons, but is was long ago.”

“Here is a little poem, I wrote it myself. Can you set it to music?”

“It’s not so easy but I’ll try. I’ll see if it suits some of the melodies I know.”

III “What do you usually do on Sundays, Mary?”

“That depends. Sometimes I stay at home and read the book or play the piano. “Sometimes I go to a concert.”

“I know you’re very musical. Does your younger sister like music, too?”

“I wouldn’t say so. She prefers the cinema.”

IV “They are giving a new opera at the Opera House.”

“What is it?”

“It’s Tosca. ”

“Have they got a good tenor for Cavaradoci?”

“Of course, there is a new singer with a charming voice.”

V “What’s on the programme at the Philharmonic next Saturday?”

“There are three participants: a pianist and two violinists.”

“Yes but what is their programme?”

“Oh, the pianist will do a piece of Beethoven and the violinists will play two or three pieces of Tchaikovsky.”

“Well you aren’t very exact. I think I’ll have to see the bill myself.”

VI “You’re singing out of tune.”

“That can’t be, here are the notes.”

“Well, let me accompany you on the piano and you’ll see.”

“Yes, that was the note do and I took mi. ”

VII “That boy has a marvelous ear for music.”

“Isn’t it surprising how he sings anything the first time he heard it?”

“And the voice is good too.”

“A little hoarse maybe but very pleasant to the ear.”

VIII “Have you ever heard Robert sing? They say he’s very musical.”

“Oh, yes. I once heard him sing. A number of people couldn’t resist the power of his voice.”

“I only hope he won’t do his songs at the party on Saturday.”

“No, he won’t, he has a sore throat.”

IX “This is a very tuneful melody.”

‘It is a Cuban folk-song.”

“I love folk-songs, they are so original unlike anything else.”

“That’s right, there is nothing like folk-songs – they are so natural and tuneful.”

X “You must have a special liking to jazz music. All your records are in this line.”

“Well, it is not exactly so. Mine are not all jazz music records – there are pieces of symphonic music, too.”

“Not very many of them…”

“Well, jazz music is essentially folk music, I can’t understand this dislike of yours.”

XI “Is it a big ensemble?”

“There are six of them – a banjo, an accordion, a flute, a harmonica and what else…”

“They can’t do without a guitar?”

“Well, yes there are two guitars.”

XII “How wonderfully she dances!”

“No wonder, she’s a dance stylist.”

“You don’t say so! She’s a chemist.”

“That’s right. Ball dances is her hobby.”

CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION MAN AND MUSIC TOPICAL VOCABULARY

1. Musical genres (styles): classical music (instrumental, vocal, chamber, symphony), opera, operetta, musical, ballet, blues, ragtime, jazz, pop, rock, folk (country) music, electronique music, background music, incidental music.

2. Musical forms: piece, movement, sonata, area, fantasy, suite, rhapsody, concerto, solo, duet, quartet, quintet, sixtet (etc.), chorus.

3. Musical rhythms: polka, waltz, march, blues, ragtime, jazz, swing, bassanova, sambo, disco, rock.

4. Musical instruments: (string group): violin, viola, cello, bass, harp; (wind group): flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon; (brass group): trumpet, French horn, tuba; percussion, piano, accordion, guitar, saxophone, synthesizer, acoustic, electronique, electric instruments.

5. Music makers:composer, conductor, musician, soloist, virtuoso, minstreller group, team, band, orchestra.

6. Music making: to write authentically Russian, Afro-American, etc. music, to compose, to arrange, to transcribe, to make music, to perform, to improvise, to interpret, to accompany, to complete.

7. Musical equipment: tape-recorder, video cassette-recorder, tuner, amplifier, player, equalizer, (loud) speaker, turn-table.

8. Musical events: (made up) concert, recital, jam session, festival, competition.

9. Miscellany:major, flat, baton, bow, drum sticks, under the baton, single, album, track, record jacket (sleeve), score, spiritual, beat, video-clip, syncopation, harmony.