GRAMMAR AND PHRASEOLOGY

 

I am always harping on the importance of phraseology in language learning. We may master grammar well, its rules and idiosyncrasies, but when we encounter idioms, sayings, and proverbs we will encounter linguistic riddles tough to solve. It takes time and a lot of reading to understand phraseology well. Proverbs are the easiest to conquer and the best tool to convince others and put an end to an argument. For example, to a workaholic, we might try to convince him to take some time off by saying that all work and no play make Jack a dull boy, to which he might reply: if you won´t work you shan´t eat. And to someone who is in a brown study, we can say, to cheer him up, while there´s life, there´s hope. And what to say to those who have a streak of bad luck? Try saying that misfortunes never come singly, as a way of consolation, because hope springs eternal in the human heart. Further, to someone who has blundered: it´s never too late to mend might urge them to rectify their ways and set things aright. May I urge you to expand and enlarge your knowledge of phraseology?