Similes with Like - Spread Like Wildfire

Meaning – to travel with great speed (for news or rumours)

Ø      News of the CEOs death spread like wildfire through the company. In fact, everyone was talking about it over lunch.

Ø      Rumours of more lay-offs within the company spread like wildfire. It’s no wonder everyone looked so nervous and worried.

Verbal Idioms - (To) Break Even

Meaning – to make neither a profit nor a loss in a business.

Ø     After paying rent, the company barely broke even.

Ø     I hope our company can break even by the time we enter our third year of operation.

Homonyms - Cost (As a Noun and Verb)

1.   (noun) – money spent

Ø     Most families in the cities require two salaries to cover the cost of (= pay for) raising a family.

Ø     Many people are struggling with the rising cost of  (= increasing price of) healthcare.

2.   (verb) – money

Ø     It costs a lot to own a property in Melbourne.

Ø     This trip will cost me at least $2000.

3.   (verb) – destroy

Ø     His affair cost him his marriage and children.

Ø     Drinking and driving nearly cost Alex his life.

Idiomatic Pairs of Adjectives - Through Thick and Thin

Meaning – through good times and bad times

Ø     William is one of my closest and oldest friends. He’s stuck by me through thick and thin.

Ø     Despite having only known each other for a few years, Kent and Randy have stuck by each other through thick and thin. In fact, they have become almost inseparable. 

Details of September 2016 Mini Writing Workshop

Dear readers, 

I'm delighted and excited to announce that I'll be conducting my very first mini writing workshop this month! Details are as follows:

Date: 25^th Sept 2016 (Sunday)

Time: 9.30am – 1pm

Venue: Switch Flipper

            50-3A, Block E, Jln PJU 1/3B,

                Sunway Mas Commercial Centre,

                47301

                PJ

           

What is covered:

1.     Present Simple.

2.     Present Continuous.

3.     Adjectives of Comparison.

4.     Adjectives with ‘ed’ and ‘-ing’ Endings.

Bonus:

1. Catch digital marketing trainer and the guest speaker of the day, Fabian Khaw, on How to Succeed at Social Media Marketing in 2016.
2. 1 complimentary consultation session on email writing.

Normal Rate: RM 118/pax.

Early Bird Rate: RM 98/pax.

Group Rate: RM 168 for 2 pax.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

• Maximum 15 students per session. First come, first serve basis.
• Register by 16^th September 2016 for early bird rate.
• Closing date for registration: 19^th September 2016.
• Seats will be reserved for paid participants only.

PAYMENT ACCOUNT DETAILS:

Name: Naik Siang May

Account No: 7015 903411

Bank: CIMB

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAID PARTICIPANTS:

Kindly email the following to maynaik23@gmail.com:

1. a copy of the payment slip.
2. participant(s) full name(s).
3. participant(s) contact number.

For further inquiries, please contact May at:

Tel: 018 3867939.

Email: maynaik23@gmail.com.  

Hope to see you there!

May

Homonyms - Spoil (As a Verb and Noun)

1.   (verb) – destroy

Ø      Sam has decided not to let the bad news spoil his morning and went for a jog in the park instead.

Ø      You’ll spoil your appetite for dinner if you have a snack now.

2.   (verb) – to treat someone too well, especially by being generous

Ø     I sometimes spoil myself by having ice-cream for dessert.

Ø     Brenda spoils herself by shopping for bags when she feels  miserable.

3.   (verb) – to allow a child to do or have anything that it wants to.

Ø      Despite being in his 30s, Frank still sulks like a spoilt child when he doesn’t get what he wants.

4.   (noun) – profits

Ø      In the past, the spoils of victory/war included mounds of treasure and land.

Words From The Same Family - Ability v Able

Ability (noun) – the physical or mental skill required to do something.

Ø     The coach had no doubts about his team’s ability to win the football match.

Ø     Sally is a woman of considerable abilities. It’s no wonder her boss has  so much confidence in her.

Able (adj) - to be able to do something.

Ø      I’ve never been able to wake up at the crack of dawn.

Ø      William won’t be able to make it for the party on Saturday.

Ø      Do you think Raymond will be able to cope with the stress at his new  workplace?