Expressions Using “J”

The letter "j" is used in several simple but important expressions in English. Let’s review a few of them for today’s column. When someone or something is "just off the boat" this means it or they are new at it, or that things are taking place for the first time.

Just for grins I bought ice cream | foto: Profimedia.cz

Angličtina na iDNES.cz
VŠECHNY LEKCE ZDE

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Examples: "John just got off the boat, let’s give him a few weeks before we hit him with that new budget for the year" or "I just got off the boat, let me get situated and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can."

Unless a person is literally getting off of a boat, again, this expression means that they are doing things for essentially for the first time.

Johnny-come-lately
A johnny-come-lately is someone who does something that is already very popular, others have already done so.

Example: "Author Kevin Randle is a johnny-come-lately addition to the Roswell UFO crash investigation. He decided to study it some 12 years after others had already been doing so."

Jury’s out
When the "jury is out" on or over something, this means that they have not yet made up their decision, or that it is too early to decide an issue with any certainty.

Examples: "Although the critics liked his new book, the jury is still out as to whether it will actually make any money for his publisher" or "The jury is still out whether science will ever be able to cure old age."

Jack-of-all-trades
A person who is a "jack of all trades" is someone who knows how to do many things very well. Example:

"His father is a jack-of-all-trades" which is why he doesn’t need much help around the house."

Just for Grins
When something is done "just for grins" this means it is being done just for the heck of it.

Example: "Just for grins I bought ice cream."

Practical Jokes for Fast Food Places - 1

In America, because everyone lives just 10 minutes away from a McDonald’s, there are a lot of tricks Americans pull on fast food restaurants, as well as restaurants in general like pizza places which will deliver food and take orders over the telephone. Here are some of the more common tricks Americans play on fast food places.

1. After placing your order, when the person repeats it, tell them “no,” and repeat your order again, but do it in a different order. No matter what the person says back to you, disagree!

2. Ask them if they serve Chinese food, and if not, complain to the manager.

3. If you’re using the drive thru, get into a “argument” with the person sitting next to you over who pays, even if you are by yourself.

Key Article Words in English

Just off the boat - být vhozen do vody/začátečník
Johnny-come-lately - poslední v řadě
Jury’s out - nebýt si něčím jistý
Jack-of-all-trades - všeuměl
Just for Grins - pro zábavu
tricks (pl.) - triky
take orders over the telephone -  brát objednávky přes telefon
fast food places -  rychlé občerstvení
drive thru -  obsluha/jídlo do auta
sitting next to you - sedící vedle vás

Angličtina vychází od pondělí do pátku.

Najdete ji také v bezplatném deníku Metropolitní expres.

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