Is it CONFUSING? “Answer the Door”

@Shavkat (137238)

Philippines

July 5, 2018 8:22am CST

Before I log-off here in myLot, let me share a funny experience happened tonight. I was having a class with my regular student and talking about some new expressions. She is so attentive and particular to details. It is quite toxic if a student asks a lot of questions. They don’t even bother to read their lessons ahead of time. A particular idiomatic expression: ‘answer the door’ made her think in the literal meaning. My world turned upside down when she said that it is crazy to talk to a door. Whoops! LOL This is a laughter that I cannot conceal myself. Don’t get into a rush conclusion. I did explain the reason why it shouldn’t take it literally. “When was the last time you laughed hard?” “Do you think idiomatic expressions are confusing?” Image Credit: wikihow.com

15 people like this

17 responses

@amitkokiladitya (171936)

• Agra, India

5 Jul 18

That is why they say that English is a funny language

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

It could also be said to other languages.

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@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

@amitkokiladitya

I can speal five languages.

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@amitkokiladitya (171936)

• Agra, India

6 Jul 18

@Shavkat I know only English and Hindi

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@Hannihar (129576)

• Israel

5 Jul 18

@Shavkat That was funny.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

It is indeed funny, my friend.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

@Hannihar She did laugh with me and understood it.

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@Hannihar (129576)

• Israel

6 Jul 18

@Shavkat Did she also laugh? Or did she not undersand?

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ultraman cosmos

@id_peace (14005)

• Singapore

6 Jul 18

She took it too literally.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

8 Jul 18

It is, my friend. I gave her list of idioms to read on.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

8 Jul 18

@id_peace I think I am.

1 person likes this

ultraman cosmos

@id_peace (14005)

• Singapore

8 Jul 18

Are you feeling proud of the result achieved?

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@akalinus (40640)

• United States

5 Jul 18

I talk to lizards but never had a conversation with a door.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

Hahaha Now we're talking.

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

8 Jul 18

@akalinus If I am alone, I can talk with it.lol

@akalinus (40640)

• United States

6 Jul 18

@Shavkat Sometimes a lizard is on the door. So am I crazy for talking to the lizard or talking to the door?

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@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

5 Jul 18

They are sometimes confusing. Lol.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

I agree. Every country has their own idiomatic expressions. It can be also confusing if they are all mixed up.lol

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@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

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@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

6 Jul 18

@Shavkat Yeah. I agree with you.

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@Jessabuma (31700)

• Baguio, Philippines

5 Jul 18

Hahaha!!! That's really funny experience. Yes, sometimes idiomatic expressions are confusing.

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@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

That's the reason why we need to familiarize ourselves with the usage of these idioms.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

1 person likes this

@Jessabuma (31700)

• Baguio, Philippines

6 Jul 18

@Shavkat yes that's right

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@nonersays (3329)

• United States

5 Jul 18

For me a phrase like, "Answer the door" is something I hear so often I never really think about it. But if you DO stop to think about it I can see how some phrases could be very confusing when you take them literally.

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@nonersays (3329)

• United States

6 Jul 18

@Shavkat I have so much respect for people who can speak multiple languages. I barely have a grasp on my own. lol

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

I had noticed that some non-native speakers that they perceived it word per word. Most idioms are in two or more words. With this, I need to explain that it is considered one word. It would be confusing if they don't consider knowing the meaning of these idioms.

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@neelia_lyn (2003)

• Philippines

5 Jul 18

Haha! The door doesn't answer, at least the phone does.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

I agree. That's what she thought at first.

1 person likes this

@Jlyn10 (11966)

• Malaysia

13 Jul 18

It's just the same as "answer the phone", isn't it?

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

13 Jul 18

It is also the same thing.

1 person likes this

@rebelann (111286)

• El Paso, Texas

5 Jul 18

I know that idioms are hard to translate but otherwise am not familiar with what you are saying.

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@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

I agree. It should be learned but not in one sitting only.

@rakski (112925)

• Philippines

5 Jul 18

Oh biy, yes, sometimes they are very literal.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

Sometimes some people took it literally. If we do, it will have other meanings.

@mom210 (9041)

• United States

5 Jul 18

I am glad you got a good chuckle from it, we all need to laugh at least once a day

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

I agree. It has been a long time that I haven't had a hard laugh. This particular moment, I had a good time with the student.

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@ridingbet (66857)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

students like those really give us teachers the moment to be kids again. we should not take these comments as fooling us, because some students cannot fathom the meaning of these expressions.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

It is a good thing this student is quite submissive in terms of learning. Unlike the other students refused their weaknesses in learning the language.

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@aureliah (24321)

• Kenya

8 Jul 18

You reminded be that I have not laughed hard in the past few days. Probably I will do so now

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

9 Jul 18

It is nice that you were able to laugh about this.

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@SIMPLYD (90722)

• Philippines

11 Jul 18

Of course, if that someone who read it or heard it for the first time, it would be confusing because idioms have inner meanings that you should try to think of.

@Icydoll (36717)

• India

5 Jul 18

Lol that's funny indeed

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

6 Jul 18

I really cannot control myself during the class. It is a good thing that student is not an onion skin. Thus, we both laughed hard.

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@arunima25 (85691)

• Bangalore, India

9 Aug 18

Yes idiomatic expressions are confusing. Thanks for sharing this funny incident.