OFFERING HELP
There are a number of formulas used when offering help in English. Here are some of the most common:
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND WORK
There are lots of useful English idioms.
I. FAMILY
1. be the spitting image of: look very much like someone else
Ex: She's the spitting image of her mother. You'd think they were sisters!
2. run in the family: recur through successive generations
Ex: All three daughters are very musical. So was their mother and her mother too. It runs in the family.
3. go through a bad patch: experience a period of difficulty
Ex: Our marriage is going through a bad patch at the moment, but we're still together.
4. split up: end a marriage or relationship
Ex: They've been married for twenty-five years, but I now hear that they're splitting up.
II. FRIENDS
1. an old flame: someone you had a romantic relationship with in the past
Ex: I bumped into Linda the other day in the High Street. She's an old flame from my student days in
2. be in high spirits: be in a cheerful mood
EX: You're in high spirits! You must have had some good news.
3. hit it off with someone: enjoy someone's company
EX: I'm sharing a flat with six other students but we all hit it off together.
4. It's a small world!: expression of surprise when you meet an old acquaintance, usually in an unexpected place
EX: Just imagine! I met my old violin teacher on the top of a mountain in
III. WORK
1. get on in the world: be successful in one's job
EX: Geraldine is now a senior executive in one of the world's largest oil companies. She's certainly got on in the world.
2. go flat out: do something with all your energy
EX: I've been going flat out today. I'm trying to get this finished by five o'clock.
3. rake it in: make a lot of money quickly
EX: He's raking it in. That's the third shoe shop he's opened in this area.
4. make ends meet: just about manage financially
EX: By giving private lessons on Thursday and Friday afternoons, I can just about make ends meet.
EXPRESSING VIEWS AND OPINIONS
I think we would normally drop point of and simply say in his view (in my view / in their opinion / etc):
If we want to use point of view, I think we would more often say from my point of view rather than according to my point of view. Both these expressions emphasise the position or angle you are judging the situation from:
II. to my mind
In my view, from my point of view, in my opinion are all fairly formal ways of expressing your opinion characteristic of written English. Less formal equivalents more characteristic of spoken English, include the following:
1. to my mind: to emphasise that this is your opinion
2. reckon: usually to express an opinion about what Is likely to happen
3. feel: to express a strong personal opinion
4. if you ask me: to express an opinion that may be critical
5. to be honest (with you): to express a critical opinion without seeming rude
6. as far as I'm concerned: to express an opinion that may be different from others'
· To my mind, the quality of their football is just not good enough.
· I reckon it'll rain later today. Let's go tomorrow.
· I feel she shouldn't be getting married so young.
· If you ask me, it's unreasonable to pay for something which should be free.
· To be honest (with you), I'm surprised you got into university with such low grades.
· As far as I'm concerned, the matter is over and done with and we can now move forward.
