超乎尋常的語言：英語English is a strange language - and some parts of it are stranger than others by Ruth Devlin
Anyone who has attempted to learn the English language knows its inherent difficulty. Some of it makes no sense at all – rules that apply in one situation do not apply in another. Apparent opposites can actually mean the same thing! Take these words and phrases for example:
* A house can burn up as it burns down because burn up means to consume and burn down means to destroy.
* Fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing. Both mean little chance of something happening although the former is more of a slang usage!
*Flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. We now see flammable written on vehicles carrying combustible material, so it's clear the contents can burst into flames.
Perhaps people make the assumption that the prefix in-means not; whereas, in inflammable, it actually means into.
* Look and see mean almost the same thing also, but overlook and oversee are opposites.
* An alarm clock goes off by going on.
* We recite at a play but play at a recital.
*People come from up north and down south, but never from left west or right east.
*Cleave can mean both split apart and stick together.
There is neither pine nor apple in pineapple, and there is no sense in English!
Grammar
Perhaps people make the assumption that the prefix in- means not; whereas, in inflammable, it actually means into.
Perhaps people make the assumption that the prefix in-means, "not."...
Where as = in "inflammable" it actually means "into"
Where as use on the contrast of two different idea.
Martha loves to go shopping on weekends, whereas her sister prefers to stay at home.
Thomas spends three hours every night doing his homework, whereas his roommate usually spends less than 30 minutes.
Vocabulary
inherent (adj)-固有，原有，与生俱来的
People appreciate the inherent beauty of Chinese characters.
*This actor seems to have an inherent talent for capturing his audiences' attention.
*There are several inherent weaknesses in the computer system that need to be improved.
assumption (n)-Don't make the assumption that Frank is not a good worker-find out for sure.
recital (n)-Everyone enjoyed Beth's piano performance at the recital.
cleave (v)-劈开，切开，The cook used a large knife to cleave the chicken breast in two.
*He used an ax to cleave a log in half.斧子，木头
*The butcher cleaved the bone and added it to the soup for flavor. 肉贩
*Mary cleaves to the principles of fairness and honesty. 紧紧的抓住，坚持
A man and his wife should cleave together and rely on one another.紧守
combustible-易燃的 can be burn, provide fire, heat, and power.
The combustible materials need to be stored separately in a colder temperature.
*Gasoline vapor is very combustible, so all gas stations forbid smoking.禁止
overlook -疏忽 missing the detail and make mistake on something.
oversee-监督in charge of a project or program.
Chat Room
hot or cold, hot =cool, popular, in fashion, cold means out of fashion, not fashionable.时尚(髦)
slow up and slow down means the same 慢下（上）来
colorfast-means colors don't run 颜色不会退色，颜色不会流失。虽fast-“快”意思
trim-take out a bid, hair get trim, trim one's hair, trim one's nails.修剪，修去一些儿
trim also means decorating, add upon. trim a Christmas tree. 装饰，点缀，有“加添”意思
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