6 (American) Idioms in SILVER

Contexts such as stories, songs, photos, drawings, colors, news headlines, music or whatever captures our interest and imagination make learning easy and help us retain new information.  The following silver idioms are explained in context:

1.  silver lining: the positive side of a negative situation

"Every cloud has a silver lining" is a famous metaphor to express the idea that every negative circumstance or situation has a positive angle. 

British musician David Gray uses this idiom in his song "Silver Lining" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpESwMFyB8w:

Take this silver lining
Keep it in your own sweet head
Shine it when the night is burning red
Shine it in the twilight
Shine it on the cold cold ground
Shine it till these walls come
Tumbling down

2.  (to be) born with a silver spoon in (one's) mouth: a person who comes from a wealthy family/upbringing, somebody who hasn't worked hard for all they have, spoiled.
Note: "one's" is possessive (my, your, his, her, our, their)

Here's a quote from President Obama on the campaign trail:
"I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn't, either," the president said to a crowd of 400 students at Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio. “But somebody gave us a chance. Just like these folks up here are looking for a chance.”

3.  the silver screen: the big screen at a movie theater
Note: This popular, Hollywood term comes from the 1920´s when movie house projection screens were painted with a metallic finish, allowing black and white films to reflect more light. 

Here are some recent headlines:
"Gothamites psyched for Batman's silver screen return."
"'Star Trek: The Next Generation' hits the silver screen for one night only."
"Godzilla returning to the silver screen - again."

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4.  silver anniversary: celebration of 25 years

Unsurprisingly gifts made of silver are given for this anniversary, among other options...See headline below:

"Wife gives husband a precious gift for silver wedding anniversary - one of her kidneys
 It wasn't a difficult decision, says devoted wife."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2176067/Wife-gives-husband-precious-gift-silver-wedding-anniversary--kidneys.html#ixzz21k0bwFjZ

5.  silver fox: an attractive gentleman who has silver, grayish hair. 

Actor George Clooney is considered by many to be a silver fox.

6.  silver bullet: a cure-all, easy, instant and effective solution

This idiom made its way into the English language through various fairy tales in which a silver bullet was the only ammunition that could kill werewolves, witches and villains.  Today it's often referenced in advertising campaign (Coors Light beer, the "Silver Bullet") or product names.

"Whether it is losing weight, getting rich or managing government IT, it seems we can’t resist the lure of a silver bullet. The magic pill. The easy answer."
--Washington Technology

MODAL VERBS: English really IS so easy...

Have you ever heard of a MODAL verb?  Check out this list and I'm sure you'll know if not recognize all of the following words:

• can
• could
• will
• would
• may
• might
• shall (outdated and not frequently used other than the expression "Shall we?")
• should
• must

Modal verbs express the "gray area" of language, that is to say, when there is a condition, hypothesis, uncertainty, obligation or when the outcome of a situation is unknown. 

• "I would go to Las Vegas if I had more money."(condition)
• "If everyone had health insurance, the healthcare system would function more effectively. (hypothesis)
• "She may leave early, although it depends on the weather."(uncertainty)
• "I should write a follow up thank you email after the interview." (obligation)

Modal verbs also express ability, permission, polite requests, rules and advice.  Modal verbs give us a way to speak indirect, polite English.

• "He can speak Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, French and a little Japanese." (ability)
• "Can I use the restroom?" (permission)
• "Could you please pass the salt?"  "Give me the salt." (polite request)   
• "You should learn how to speak more languages because it will make you a better candidate in the job market."  (advice)
• "You must not smoke within 300 feet of the entrance of this building." (rule)

...SO, WHY is English so easy?

English is easy because modal verbs (just like regular past tense verbs) do not have conjugations (changes) for singular or plural voices, unlike many other languages in which verbs change with each subject pronoun.  Modal verbs have no conjugation whatsoever; neither the modal verb nor the simple verb changes, as you can see in the following model:

subject pronoun                    +modal                                              +simple verb

(I/You/He/She/It/We/They)     (CAN/ COULD/ WILL/ WOULD...)    ( GO/ DO/ BE/LIKE...) 

As you can see, the modal and simple verbs do not change with the subject pronoun:

Ex.  I will go.  He will go.  They will go.
       Should she pay?  Should I pay?  Should they pay?
       You must not say a word!  She must not say a word!  We must not say a word!

Practicing modal verbs is easy because you never have to conjugate the verb.  Use this to your advantage when speaking English!