´óÏó´«Ã½

This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

Last updated at 12:48 BST, Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Episode 200: Language Point

Tim and Khalid at the pub

Background

'Like' is a word that is used a lot in English. It's also a word with lots of different meanings. For example, Khalid used it twice: "Well he's a grown-up like the rest of us. Maybe he'll just have to learn to like it or lump it". The first one means 'similar to' and the second one is part of an expression (like it or lump it) which means you have to accept a situation even if you don't like it because you can't change it.

Here are some of the other meanings of like, as well as some common expressions using like.

Like meanings

1. enjoy or approve of something or someone
Examples: Do you like seafood?
I like watching TV and going to the cinema.

2. want or desire (used in requests, often with 'would')
Examples: I'd like a cup of tea please.
Would you like to come to the cinema with us tonight?

3. used when recounting a story, or an encounter with someone, to introduce what someone said or how you felt
Examples: When he told me he was getting married I was like "What? You've only known her for two minutes. You can't!"
He was, like, so angry when they missed the train. I thought he was going to punch someone!

4. typical, usual or characteristic of
Examples: That's just like my mum to say I can't go out this weekend. She never lets me do anything fun!
It's not like you not to finish your food. Aren't you hungry?

5. such as
Examples: He loves racket sports – you know, like tennis, badminton, squash, that kind of thing.
She's really into spicy food, like curries, or anything with chillies in it.

6. in a way that suggests
Examples:It looks like the bus is never going to come. Should we just walk into town instead?
It sounds to me like you two really don't get along. Why are you still going out with him?

7. similar to
Examples: Her bike is just like his, except hers is red.
He looks just like his father.

Expressions with 'like'

like it or lump it
you have to accept a situation even if you don't like it because you can't change it
Example: Like it or lump it, we'll have to stay late to finish the report. The boss wants it ready for tomorrow and that's that.

something like
approximately
Example: There were something like 100,000 people at the game last night.

feel like (doing)
have a desire for something or to want to do something
Examples: I feel like going for a swim.
I feel like a cold beer. Do you want one?
I wish I didn't have to go into the office. I don't feel like working today.

do something like mad (informal)
do very enthusiastically, quickly or a lot
Example: His exams are next week. He's been studying like mad because he needs to pass them to get into university.

That's more like it! (informal)
used to show that you think something or someone has improved
Example: That's more like it! I knew you could do it. That was a great practice run. Now I want you to run like that in the race tomorrow.

do something like a shot (informal)
do something extremely quickly and enthusiastically
Example: The minute Bill said he was leaving, Liz was off like a shot into the boss's office to ask for his job! She's got a nerve.

Vocabulary

ask her out
ask her to go out on a (romantic) date
you said yourself
(used to emphasise) you admitted
awkward
difficult to deal with
a grown-up
an adult, not a child

Downloads

To take away

Episode 200 links

Local Navigation

  1. Home
  2. >ÌýThe Flatmates
  3. >ÌýEpisode 200: Language Point