English

Related to English: English vocabulary, English speaking, English Premier league

BBC English

Formal, proper English, as would be spoken on the BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation). Just so you know, the professor talks in that BBC English, so you might have a hard time understanding him. And he might not get your slang either.
See also: English

be in plain English

To be in clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English. A:" Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction." B: "Doctor, come on, I need that to be in plain English." I wish these software agreements would be in plain English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, plain

body English

An often involuntary or unconscious movement of the body to try and manipulate or influence the course of an object that is already in motion. I always find bowlers' body English humorous, as they contort their bodies to try to will the ball toward the pins.
See also: body, English

full English

Short for "full English breakfast," a traditional breakfast meal in England typically consisting of fried eggs, tomato, mushrooms, bacon, sausage, and fried bread or hash browns. Primarily heard in UK. After a long night out at the pubs, there's nothing like a full English the next morning to get you back into shape.
See also: English, full

in plain English

In clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English. Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction. In plain English, you've suffered a heart attack. I wish these software agreements would be written in plain English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, plain

in plain language

In clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English. Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction. In plain language, you've suffered a heart attack. I wish these software agreements would be written in plain language, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: language, plain

in simple English

In clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English terminology. Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction. In simple English, you've suffered a heart attack. I wish these software agreements would be written in simple English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, simple

put (something) into plain English

To express something in clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English. A:" Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction." B: "Doctor, I need you to put all that into plain English." I wish these software developers would put their agreements into plain English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, plain, put

put some English on it

To strike or throw a ball in a manner that causes it to spin. You'll never get the ball into the pocket that way! Put some English on it!
See also: English, on, put

put some reverse English on it

1. To strike or throw a ball with a spin that will keep it from moving in particular direction. You'll never get the ball into the pocket that way! Put some reverse English on it!
2. To speak in a manner, often related to syntax, that confuses the listener. No wonder he got so confused, with you putting some reverse English on it like that.
See also: English, on, put, reverse

say (something) in plain English

To say something in clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English. A: "Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction." B: "Doctor, I need you to say all that in plain English."
See also: English, plain, say

simple English

Clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English terminology. Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction. In simple English, you've suffered a heart attack. I wish these software agreements would be written in simple English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, simple

the King's English

The standard form of English, as spoken by educated people in England. (When the ruling monarch in the United Kingdom is a queen, it is called "the Queen's English.") We're friends now, so quit being so formal and speaking the King's English. As a professor, you really should speak the King's English.
See also: English

the Queen's English

The standard, "correct" form of English, as spoken by educated people in Britain. (When the ruling monarch in the United Kingdom is a king, it is called "the King's English.") We're friends now, so quit being so formal and speaking the Queen's English. As a professor, you really should speak the Queen's English.
See also: English

write (something) in plain English

To write something in clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English. I wish these software developers would write their agreements in plain English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, plain, write
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*in plain language

 and *in plain English
Fig. in simple, clear, and straightforward language. (*Typically: be ~; put something [into] ~; say something ~; write something ~.) That's too confusing. Please say it again in plain English. Tell me again in plain language.
See also: language, plain

(The) Queen's English

"Official" British English. He can't even speak The Queen's English! Despicable!
See also: English
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

body English

Movements of the body that express a person's feelings, as in His body English tells us just how tired he is. This expression originated about 1900 in such sports as bowling and ice hockey, where a player tries to influence the path of a ball or puck by moving his body in a particular direction. (It was based on the earlier use of English to mean "spin imparted to a ball.")
See also: body, English

in plain English

In clear, straightforward language, as in The doctor's diagnosis was too technical; please tell us what he meant in plain English. [c. 1500] Also see in so many words.
See also: English, plain
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

the ˌKing’s/ˌQueen’s ˈEnglish

(old-fashioned or humorous) (in Britain) correct standard English: I can’t understand a word you’re saying. Can’t you speak the Queen’s English?
See also: English

in plain ˈEnglish

simply and clearly expressed, without using technical language: I don’t understand these documents at all. Why can’t they write them in plain English?
See also: English, plain
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • BBC English
  • the King's English
  • the King's/Queen's English
  • FOBlish
  • put some English on it
  • John Bull
  • write (something) in plain English
  • as it were
  • (one) catch no ball
  • (one's) ABCs
References in periodicals archive
The Power of English Hegemony and Identity Politics
The targeted concept of "English hegemony" in this article is informed by Antonio Gramsci (1971).
The Manifestation of English Hegemony in Taiwan: Critical Examinations of Identity Hierarchy, Identity Politics, and Linguistic Politics
600pm - (English mass) 8.00pm - (Arabic mass) 11.30pm - Christmas Carols 12.00 midnight - Vigil Mass
5.30am Malayalam Mass 8.00am English Mass 12 noon Tagalog Mass 1pm Urdu Mass 6.00pm English mass 7.30pm English Mass
Christmas in the UAE: Mass and service timings
Hsu said that the MOE is proposing the revision of elementary school syllabuses to increase the number of English classes taught per week to three, starting in elementary school and continuing on into high school.
In addition, more classes in elementary and middle school are to be taught completely in English, while bilingual classes and bilingual schools are to be increased.
Taiwan to increase hours of English taught in schools, 4,600 new foreign teachers needed
The curriculum of the textbooks is also not explicit in its objectives as it does not aim to initiate teaching English at the primary level.
The study aims to answer the issues faced by the students, teachers and the administrators in teaching and learning English at the secondary schools of Quetta.
FACTORS EFFECTING ENGLISH LEARNING AT SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL: A CASE OF QUETTA
Furthermore, English language is the first language of developed countries and Pakistan includes in the developing countries.
English in Pakistan
National Education Policy of Pakistan (2009) has also clearly acknowledged the huge international influence of English and considers competence in it essential for 'competition in a globalised world order' (Education, 2009, p.
The Symbolic Capital and Expanding Roles of English: A Study of L2 attitudes in a Pakistani EFL Context
There are so many times that I have realized that I needed English. I had studied some English in North Korea, but it seems that I learned everything the wrong way and that my teachers weren't good.
Why do North Korean defectors learn English? (2)
English enjoys a special position amongst the world languages today.
Students' Difficulties in Learning English at Primary Level: A Teachers' Perspective
are English learners--about 9% of all public school students.
English learner guidance
As a family-run business, this husband and wife team devote all the time they can on raising their English bulldog pups as if they were the couple's children.
Our Bulldogs Now Offering Healthy and Happy English Bulldogs for Sale
It is clear that more philosophy is published in English than any other language at the moment, that this has been so for several decades now, and that the trend is likely to continue.
The language of publication of "analytic" philosophy