English in Madrid

Alcohol-free beer and pet grooming used to measure inflation A shift towards healthy living has been reflected in changes to the way inflation is calculated. Alcohol-free beer and houmous are among the items added to the virtual basket of goods and services used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to chart the rising cost of living. The ONS collects the costs of 760 products and services across different retailers to come up with the monthly inflation figures. The items are reviewed every year and selected on the basis that they are representative of things that consumers typically spend their money on. Motorhomes, dashboard cameras, and pet grooming have also been added in the latest review. "This year, healthier lifestyle choices influence consumer spending, reflected by goods such as houmous and non-alcoholic beer," said Stephen Burgess, the deputy director for prices at the ONS. Image created with Chat GPT The items added or removed over time offer a fascinating i...

1️⃣ I depend __ my colleague for a lift to work. 🍓 for 🍍 of 🥝 on 🍉 to Augusto: on 👍 Graham: I depend on  my colleague for a lift to work.,😍 If I got a euro.for the amount of times I've heard 'depend of' 😡 , I'd be a very rich man. 🤑 Follow-up Question: How many of these sentences use on ? 🦓 I hope he doesn't let me down. I'm counting __ him. 🐼 The film is based __ a true story. 🐒We agreed __ the plan after a long discussion. 🐢 She insisted __ paying for the meal. 🦊 We rely __ our suppliers to deliver on time. 🐰Please concentrate __ the task at hand. 🐸 I spent too much __ clothes this month. 🦁 He refused to comment __ the rumours Su: I think I could use on in all of them (?) 😅 Graham: You think rightly. Juanmi: 8/8 with on. 👍 2️⃣ Which sentence is right? 💚 I'll be possibly late tonight 💛 I can be late tonight. 💙 I might to be late tonight. 🧡 All 3 sentences 👆🏻are wrong. Su : I'm not sure but I think all wrong. Graham...

Italy wins claim over name of Spanish restaurant chain The Mafia Sits at the Table After years of court action and complaints , trademark office in Spain rules name is counter to ‘public order and morality’ A Spanish restaurant chain called The Mafia Sits at the Table may soon have to change its name after the country’s patent and trademark office heeded objections from the Italian government and ruled that the brand ’s nomenclature ran counter to “both public order and morality”. Italy has pursued its claim against the chain – known in Spanish as La Mafia se sienta a la mesa – through various courts and official bodies over the past few years , alleging that the name trivialises both organised crime and efforts to fight it. In 2018, the EU Intellectual Property Office ruled that the name was invalid as it conveyed a “globally positive image” of the mafia. It added that the brand was “ therefore likely to shock or offend not only the victims of that criminal organisation an...

Image created with Chat GPT 6️⃣ PICK UP ➡️ to  lift or take something from the ground / a surface (🇪🇸 recoger, levantar) ➡️ to learn something - often informally, without studying it in depth (🇪🇸 aprender) ➡️ to improve or increase in speed, ability, or performance (🇪🇸 rejorar, agarrar ritmo) 🌞I dropped my keys, but someone picked them up for me. → Se me cayeron las llaves, pero alguien me las recogió . 🌞Can you pick up that pen from the floor? → ¿Puedes recoger ese bolígrafo del suelo? 🌞 Children pick up languages very quickly. → Los niños aprenden los idiomas muy rápido. 🌞 He picked up some useful skills during his internship. → Aprendió algunas habilidades útiles durante sus prácticas. 🌞 Business usually picks up around Christmas. → El negocio normalmente mejora en Navidad. 🌞 After a slow start, the game picked up in the second half. → Después de un comienzo lento, el partido mejoró en la segunda mitad. 1️⃣ What was the last thing you picked up from...

Image created with Chat GPT Trump threatens to halt trade with Spain over military base access US President Donald Trump has threatened to halt all trade with Spain, after the country barred the US from using its military bases as part of its operation in Iran. In comments at the White House, Trump said Spain had been "terrible" and suggested "we're going to cut off all trade". "We don't want anything to do with Spain," he told reporters. It is unclear whether the Trump administration will follow through on the threat, or how officials would move to block trade with a European Union member state. Trump's comments add to existing tensions between the two countries, including over the Spanish government's resistance to Trump's demand for NATO allies to raise their defence spending . "I could tomorrow - or today, even better - stop everything having to do with Spain, all business having to do with Spain," Trump said on Tue...

KIND OF  is a common English expression with multiple uses. It can indicate a category , soften a statement, or be used colloquially to mean somewhat or a little bit . It's also used as a way to express uncertainty or hesitation .  🌞 Categorization : It can be used to identify something as belonging to a specific group or type.  🦅 A bald eagle is a kind of bird .  🌞 Softening statements: In more casual conversation, kind of can be used to make a statement less direct or assertive .  🐝Instead of saying I'm busy , one might say, I'm kind of busy . 🌞 Somewhat or A little bit: When used as an adverb, kind of often means somewhat or a little bit.  🫩 I'm kind of tired means I'm a little bit tired .  🌞 Hesitation/Uncertainty: It can also be used to express uncertainty or a lack of full conviction about something.  🌞 Colloquial usage: In informal spoken English, kind of is often shortened to kinda . 🎷 What kind of music do you like? (catego...

Image created with Chat GPT Spain declassifies files on 1981 attempted coup in effort to dispel conspiracy theories Spain's government has released dozens of documents related to an attempted coup that took place 45 years ago - regarded as a key moment in the country's history. A group of armed officers burst into parliament and threatened MPs , aiming to overthrow the country's fledgling democracy and return it to dictatorship . Their efforts failed when King Juan Carlos refused to support them. However, conspiracy theories have abounded since , including that the king may have had prior knowledge of the coup or even that he may have been actively involved . The release of the files also came on the same day as the death of the coup's leader, Antonio Tejero Molina, at the age of 93. Tejero's lawyer described him as a "man of honour, unwavering faith , and great love for Spain". "May God grant him the peace that men denied him,...

UNDER-PRESSURE STARMER'S NEW U-TURN Compulsory digital IDs are on the cards U-turn Literal meaning: On the road, a U-turn is when a vehicle turns 180 degrees and goes back in the opposite direction . Figurative meaning: In everyday English, it describes a complete change of opinion, policy, or plan , often in politics, business, or personal decisions. 🌞 The government made a U-turn on tax policy after public protests. → They completely reversed their decision. To be on the cards (UK English; in US English: to be in the cards) Meaning: Something that is likely to happen, possible, or expected . Origin: Comes from the idea of fortune-telling with cards (like tarot or playing cards). If something is on the cards, it’s foretold or destined. 🌞 A promotion could be on the cards for her this year. → A promotion is likely or expected. Have you ever made a U-turn in your life — changed your mind completely about something? What happened? Can you think of a famous U-turn? What h...