Kate´s Speech

Hello followers!

The Baftas (British Academy of Film and Television Awards) were given last Sunday in London. All of those readers who are a bit keen on cinema will probably know that the Baftas are the most important awards held just before the Oscars and that many of the successful films at the Baftas will also achieve the same result at the event celebrated at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. However, I am not going to write about the winners of the night but about one of most spontaneous sincere speeches given by the Bafta winner to best supporting actress: Kate Winslet. Not only she is one of my two favourite actresses (Hillary Swank holds the honor of sharing the title with her), but she is also a humble generous woman as you can work out by her words to the press that night. Kate in her purest style... Enjoy! 

Let´s now have a look at some of Kate´s sentences and their meaning:

If I was happy to settle for the fat girl parts. To settle for (v): To be satisfied with.
Every young woman who has ever been put down by a teacher or a friend or even a parent. Put down (v): To humiliate or embarrass. Make someone feel insulted or ridiculous.

And I kept on going and I overcame all of my fears. Keep on going (v): Continue uninterrupted Overcome (v): To defeat
That´s what I felt that I had to really dig deep and do. Dig deep (idiom): Summon strength

And The Goya goes to... Tim Robbins

It´s almost been five days and I have finally come to terms with what happened last Saturday at the Goyas. Penelope Cruz looked beautiful and all guests were smartly dressed. The show was long and not brilliant but everything was going apparently well at the time.  However, Mr Rovira who was hosting the show, did not play so smart that night. In the middle of the ceremony and when everyone seemed to be enjoying the ceremony, he decided to have a little chat with one of the two international guests in the room: Mr Tim Robbins. I can not tell if the speech had been prepared beforehand or not but in either case, Dani Rovira´s English was appaling. He did not start it right by greeting Mr Robbins with a 'Good Night' , as if he were leaving the show to go to bed. Then, he continued by constructing some half complete sentences, leaving words untranslated and translating others that did not need translation. Finally, as if all that had not been enough, Mr Rovira ended his speech by comitting one of the most common and striking mistakes that many Spanish learners of English do when speaking in English: 'Are you agree?'.  Seriously, Mr Rovira? Was it that difficult to end the speech by asking Mr Robbins: 'Do you agree?'. He would probably haven't but at least you would have ended your English Speech with dignity. I really liked Dani Rovira as a comedian (and I still do) but if you ask my opinion about his English, I was far from impressed.
Here you have the video in case you have not seen it yet. Priceless!

Glossary: 

• To come to terms with (v. expr): to become resigned or accustomed. 

Example: I did not like the fact that my sister had a boyfriend much older than her but I have finally come to terms with it.

• Appaling (Adj): Shocking, horrifying.  

Example: My friend's behaviour was appalling. I had never seen someone being so rude in my whole life!

• Striking (adj): Noticeable. 

Example: The fact that everybody signed the petition was very striking. I think they were quite right in their claims.

It´s raining idioms!

'It´s raining cats and dogs' Really? is it raining cats and dogs? No, of course not! it´s only an idiom. As you probably know by now, an idiom is a popular expression that does not look familiar since the words do not give any clues about its meaning.  

• 'It´s raining cats and dogs' is not connected to animals at all. It just means that it is raining very heavily. Example: We can´t go for a walk. It´s raining cats and dogs! 

Did you find it funny? Do you want to know some more idioms with the word 'rain' in it? Well, today is your lucky day! Keep on reading and enjoy...

• 'Never rains but it pours' is also a very popular expression with the word rain but unlike the one before, it does not have anything to do with weather. This expression means that when something bad happens, something else bad will happen that will make the situation even worse. Example: Mary lost her wallet and that same afternoon, she was mugged and her handbag was stolen. Never rain but it pours! 

•  'Come rain or shine' is a more positive expression than the previous one. It just simply means regardless of circumstances. So, if someone does something 'come rain or shine' will do it no matter what the circumstances are. Example: My sister and me argue every day come rain or shine. 

• 'As right as rain' is also a positive idiom. If someone is 'as right as rain' he feels perfectly well. It is often used as a way of offering reassurance (comfort) to someone. Example: My mother is back after three days in hospital and I´m glad to say that she feels as right as rain.

•  'Save for a rainy day'. This idioms is about money or at least, mainly about money. It means to save something for a time when it might be needed. Example: That money is what Claire had been saving for a rainy day. 

• 'Take a rain check' on something. Its meaning is to postpone something. It is normally used in informal English as an alternative to the phrasal verb: 'put off'. Example: I may have a meeting tomorrow evening so I may have to take a rain check on our dinner date. 

• 'Rain on someone else´s parade'. This idioms is very explicit. Its meaning is quite obvious. It means to ruin someone else´s happiness. Example: Everytime I got a B in an exam, my brother always comes with an A in one of his. He keeps on raining on my parade.

Did you enjoy it? Well, I hope you did. This is all for now but remember: I will be back 'come rain or shine'! Have a good week!