Definition:
1) To cause a plane to crash by shooting it
2) Put an end to an idea / Reject something
Rules:
Transitive, Separable
Examples:
"The investors shot my business idea down without even thinking about it!"
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"My boss always shoots me down before I get a chance to speak." :(
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"I shoot down any idea that I think won't make our company money"
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"I asked her to go out with me but she shot me down"
Examples:
"I'm moving out this Saturday, I found a really good flat in Camden!"
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"I want to move out"
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"I moved out of my parents house when I was 19!"
Examples:
"Where are you guys going?"
"Just to get some lunch"
"Is it ok if I tag along?"
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"We're gonna show the new guy around the offices, do you want to tag along?"
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"John's coming with us today"
"I don't like that idea, I don't want him tagging along, he's annoying"
Examples: Definition 1:
"You're too far forward, you'll have to back up a bit"
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<--- The man is trying to kiss the dog, but the dog keeps backing up.
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"If you back the bed up against the wall more, there'll be more space in this room."
_______________________________________ Definition 2:
"Why don't you ever back me up in conversations?! You never support me"
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A common belief held by non-native English teachers is that the English language hasn't changed - at least in the last hundred years and will continue to not do so. Today I was hit with this belief from a supervisor of a group of English teachers (non-native). The first example I could think of was with stative verbs, and how "I'm loving this burger right now", or "I'm understanding a little more in classes this week than I was last week" have become not only acceptable, but preferable in common everyday English.
The point of today's post? English teachers need to be kept up to date with everyday English, not just business, not just formal ways of speaking, whether you like it or not, English is like a teenager, (and is actually mostly shaped by teenagers) forever changing its mind about which words are, let's say, "the popular kids in school" these days. So keep with the times, grandpa! The English language is so heavily influenced by technology and pop culture, that more or less every 5 years or so (Actually probably more frequently), not only slang expressions, but our entire way of using English changes, not massively, but enough to be given attention in classes. For example, watch this video and tell yourself THIS isn't already happening...
