'Not half bad' According to my dictionary, this means ‘very good, masterly’. How come? I don’t quite get it. Is there any sensible explanation? ‘Not bad’ – that’s simple, I can understand that. That means ‘good, acceptable, but not perfect’. But ‘half bad’?? Why ‘HALF’? Where it comes from? I haven’t the slightest idea. And you?

No money - no honey Bill took in the whole gang and grunted. His huge fists clenched and unclenched as he was thinking of this bunch of losers. - Listen here, pals. It’s like this. – said he. You let him in – you pay for the grub yourself. I’m off. But why don’t we just accept his existence? And nothing more! – said Froggy. - No. He doesn’t exist. I don’t like him so he is absolutely nobody. Now you choose. Want my money? Do as I said! And they did. Because nobody was stupid.

Mr. Wentworth has just left Lisa has finished her supper and now is wanting to know where Mr. Wentworth is. -Mr. Wentworth! – calls Lisa – Where are you, naughty puss? I want to play with my castle! I need a noble knight badly! Mr. Wentwooooorth ! -He’s not here at the moment – says Nan in the bedroom.- He’s just left! Lisa goes to the living-room. Mr. Wentworth! Are you here? I’ve just decided to make you a noble knight! Come right now! There’s no Mr. Wentworth in this room, darling – smiles mum. – He has just left. Sorry. Lisa goes to the lesser bedroom. - Hey Mr. Wentworth! I'm trying to be kind. If you are here, please show yourself and we’ll say no more about it. Is it not beautiful – to play with your loving Lisa? Come on, I’m waiting! No reply. There’s nobody in here, apparently. - Well, I reckon You’ve just left this room, am I right? Silence. Lisa proceeds to the kitchen. There’s a great big shining Moon on the kitchen floor. - A-ha! – cries Lisa. Got ya! Where are you hiding now, Mr. Wentworth? Princess Barbie is missing her brave knight in the castle! - Sorry, miss – says Igor, the cook. He’s been here for some minutes, it’s true. But I’m afraid He’s not in the kitchen any more. - But where is He? – wails Lisa. -I suppose, He’s just left. Terribly sorry, miss. Lisa is furious. Naughty, naughty Mr. Wentworth! The girl goes to the fridge. - Open it, Igor - demands she. Igor does so. Lisa takes a jar of cream and goes to the wash basin. She begins to pour cream down the sink. - It’s his favorite, miss – moans Igor. – 25 per cent! - Yes I know. – replies Lisa. It’ll serve him right! She empties the jar and put it in the sink. – If you'll see him, igor, tell him I am very, very disappointed! – She goes out of the kitchen. For two minutes Igor stands still. Then he says: - O'k m-r Wentworth, you can come now. She has just left. M-r Wentworth appears from under the fridge. He's rather dusty and dishevelled but happy, He sits down in the middle of the kitchen and begins to lick himself.

Bright prospects On Monday, I'll make my first million. On Tuesday, I'll strike a bargain of a lifetime. On Wednesday I'll start working on my second child. On Thursday I'll finish my book. On Friday, I'll make the last payment on the mortgage. On Saturday I'll take my family to Phi Phi. On Sunday, I'll sign the will. The day after that, I'll go to the dentist.

Can someone translate it from colloquial into literary? Tnx) Finally, she said, in a voice like pearls, ‘ ’ad your bleedin’ eyeful? You got a nerve, largin’ it in here wiv that rag round your neck! Everyone knows Dimwell are well pants.’

Listening to Bach I am looking at the puppy. It is trying to steal my slipper. Little puppy is growling and pulling and drooling. The slipper is trying to be polite. I'm being dispassionate. I'm thinking. Tomorrow I'm heading to Seoul. What am I waiting for? I'm getting up and taking a leash. The leash is going to be used.

Mr. Wentworth and a pair of scissors Mr. Wentworth likes an appliqué. When he sits near the kitchen table and stares at the spots of sunlight spilt across the floor, a quiet tinkling becomes distinctly audible in a little while. Later the bright pattern on the parquet begins to change. Little pieces of light crawl to one another, superimpose, devide and exchange places. Eventually you can almost see a sparkling circle... or a face... or a moon. But be careful not to cough loudly nor scream nor bang a sauce pan accidentally. And in no case don't you pass between the appliqué and the Stare. It hurts...

Ted Strong :( R.I.P. I wonder does anybody here know the meaning of an abbreviation "B.S.B.D."

'ain't' in formal speech My boss likes to use it instead of "are not/am not". I'm not sure but is it not sleng which we should avoid in the formal speech?