Author Archives: Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Shakespeare’s Theater versus Shakespeare’s Theatre

Posted on Tuesday - April 23, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Today is the birthday of the English language’s greatest playwright, William Shakespeare. So it is a good time to talk a bit more about British versus American English. Spelling can be a major problem for people learning English, and it … Continue reading →

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To Paris, With Love

Posted on Tuesday - April 16, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

By now you have heard the news of the huge (large) fire in Notre-Dame, the Catholic cathedral (main church) of Paris, and one of the finest (best) pieces of architecture in the world. Like millions around the world, I watched … Continue reading →

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Pushback

Posted on Tuesday - April 9, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

If you read American newspapers, you might see the word “pushback.” Here’s a recent headline (title of newspaper story) from the website Politico: Trump cranks up (increases) his pushback against Dems (Democrats) demanding his tax returns The noun pushback refers … Continue reading →

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3 Business Buzzwords for 2019

Posted on Tuesday - April 2, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

A buzzword is a word or phrase that has become very popular in a certain field or area. There are buzzwords in science, politics, business, and just about every type of work. Some buzzwords replace more common (and often simpler) … Continue reading →

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“It’s Not My First Rodeo”

Posted on Tuesday - March 26, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

One of the stranger idioms in modern American English is the expression, “It’s not my first rodeo.” What does it mean, and why do we say it? The expression means that you have experience doing something, that you know what … Continue reading →

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Green is Not Just for the Irish

Posted on Tuesday - March 19, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Last Sunday (March 17th) was Saint Patrick’s Day, which millions of Irish and those of Irish descent (came originally from Ireland) celebrated. The color most often associated with (linked to; connected to) Ireland is green. It is customary (common) for … Continue reading →

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Los Angeles is #1, Baby!

Posted on Tuesday - March 12, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

So this happened:* Los Angeles has recently been found to have the MOST “aggressive” drivers in the United States. I always knew my city was #1 in something. We’re number one in idiot drivers! To be aggressive means to act … Continue reading →

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The Elephant in the Room

Posted on Tuesday - March 5, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

What does it mean when we talk about the “elephant in the room”? Find out in this English With Your Coffee episode: ~Jeff P.S. A small error in the captioning at the end of the video: It should say “my … Continue reading →

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This is the Army, Mr. (and Ms.?) Jones

Posted on Tuesday - February 26, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

My father served in (was a member of) the U.S. Army during World War II, fighting in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. Like millions of other young men his age (he was 18 in 1941, when the U.S. entered … Continue reading →

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Saying “I Do”

Posted on Tuesday - February 19, 2019 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

George Carlin (1937-2008) was an American comedian, a person whose job is to tell jokes or funny stories. He was a stand-up comic, someone who told jokes in front of an audience, and he was very successful. Carlin was often … Continue reading →

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