Monday Morning English with Mai

Week

68

 
Travel News wire...

Sample

While much of the media concentrates on stories of anti-Western terrorism, Japan announced that more than 27,000 of its citizens killed themselves in 2012. It was the first time in 15 years that the number fell below 30,000. Statistics also showed that two thirds of the dead were male. The figures for 2012 were released this month by the Japanese National Police Agency. The Japanese government has funded hotlines and victim support programs with 10billion yen. The number of people who die from suicide in Japan every year is roughly 10 times the number of people killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S.

 

This week's Natural Phrase

safe bet

SampleRobert: Do you think that Hiroko will come to Nick's birthday party?

Neil: Yeah, she's pretty good friends with Nick, and also with Nick's sister, so yes, it's a safe bet that she'll be there.

Explanation: If we say that something is a "safe bet" it means that it is very likely to happen. We are almost sure that it will happen.


This week's Medical Phrase

superbug

SamplePatient: I took the antibiotics that you gave me, but I still feel very sick.

Doctor: You may have a superbug that is hard to cure. We'll have to give you stronger medicine, and you should stay at home through next week.

Explanation: A "superbug" is a slang phrase that means a very strong bacterial infection that is hard to cure.


This week's Email phrase

fiscal year

SampleDear Alex:

We are approaching February, and since it's the end of our fiscal year, we need you to send the accounting figures for the past 12 months.

Explanation: The fiscal year means the official accounting year for a corporation. It often goes from March to February. Other companies follow the normal calendar year from January.


 

 

 

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