English in Madrid

Spanish people have a secret code word for Brits - and it's not a compliment Brits heading to Spanish hotspots such as Benidorm, Lanzarote and Malaga may hear the word 'guiri' following them around, but it doesn't just get aimed at visitors from the UK The Spanish have a nickname for Brits who flock to the country - and it's not particularly complimentary. Brits who have been on Spain holidays may have heard the term 'guiri' floating about in the air.  Pronounced ‘guee-ree’, the term is typically aimed at or used to describe not just British tourists, but any who tick certain boxes . Those boxes typically include holidaymakers who enjoy lett ing their hair down and picking up a glass or two of alcohol. Given that five million more Brits visit Spain each year than any other country - and that their actions have even inspired debates in regional parliaments - it is no surprise the phrase may be more regularly directed at those adorned in Union fla...

Nude landlord no excuse for holding back rent, rules German court Frankfurt judges said people would have to lean far out of window to see naked sunbathing in courtyard A German court has said that a landlord sunbathing naked in the courtyard of his building was not a reason for his tenants to reduce their rental payments. The case involved a building in an upmarket residential district of Frankfurt, which included an office floor rented by a human resources company. The company withheld rent because it objected , among other things, to the landlord’s naked sunbathing. In response, the landlord * sued . The Frankfurt state court on Wednesday rejected the company’s reasoning , finding that “the usability of the rented property was not impaired by the plaintiff sunning himself naked in the courtyard”. It said in a statement that it couldn’t see an “inadmissible, deliberately improper effect on the property”. Judges were ruling on an appeal against a lower court decision th...

Match the following expressions to their definitions. Then make some examples of your own with them. I thought she really liked me but the next day she gave me the cold shoulder . We had to pull over on the hard shoulder when smoke started coming from the engine. He has had a chip on his shoulder ever since he didn't get the promotion he was expecting. Future generations will have to shoulder the burden of our mistakes. Nicholas, for a time, was able to rub shoulders with top politicians and even royalty. She is undeniably gorgeous but as they say - beauty is only skin deep . Nadal went through to the next round but only by the skin of his teeth . Nowadays you need to have a thick skin if you want to be in the public eye. My job interview is tomorrow so I have butterflies in my stomach . I did n't have the stomach for another fight. MPs couldn`t stomach the proposals and rebelled against the government. The images from the war-torn country turned my stomach .   Source: J...