Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
rule of thumb

rule of thumb

Date: May 05 2016

Themes: Celebrity, Music

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

“The way that I’ve always gone about making music, the rule of thumb, has just been to make what I love.”

Singer Amy Lee talking about her guideline for making music (BrainyQuote)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

general rule or guideline one follows

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Is there something you do everyday that is based upon a general principle. Sometimes, we do things that we know will work because of experience. For example, your mother knows by heart how to bake a delicious cake. She doesn’t measure every ingredient but follows a rule of thumb. She knows she needs to put some sugar, a little bit of butter, and flour in a bowl, and mix the ingredients together.

When you do something based on experience, its called doing it by rule of thumb. The expression comes from carpenters using their thumbs to measure things, rather than using rulers. They use their experience and practice to do their work. A good rule of thumb is to save some of the money you earn from working in case of an emergency.

Singer Amy Lee’s rule of thumb is to make music that she loves.

What is a rule of thumb you follow?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

“As a rule of thumb you should pay for your date’s dinner. “

“When I go out to eat, my rule of thumb is to eat only half of what is on the plate. The other half I take home and share with my boyfriend.”

“My mother’s rule of thumb was to come home by midnight. Sometimes I was late, but she was nice about it and did not punish me. “

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

Simple technique or steps you follow to approach your goals.
by La Princesse de la vie
a2020 In general.
by a2020

Want to guess next week's slang?

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Comments

Log in to Comment

math125

India

mahjong is the game that ever meet requirements we need one and player need start the game and make fissible way http://mahjongfreegames.online to win the match mahjong free games and check the cards to play regurlarly.

09:21 PM Feb 13 2017 |

JohnCarlisl

British Indian Ocean Territory

You have fantastic approach in teaching. Your methods really work and thanks to your blog posts and mini lessons I know how to easily explain certain rules as well as teach my child spoken phrases. I can’t wait when you finally write my essay today plan for the next lesson. Thumb up to you guys!

01:53 PM Dec 06 2016 |

Sergijko

Sergijko

Ukraine

The rule of thumb comes with an experience and a plenty of practice.

04:39 PM Jun 05 2016 |

ahmet55

ahmet55

Germany

The rule of thumb of mine is to follow my rules and daily agenda every day. In fact my recent rule of thumb is to interpret obtained results of various conducted experiments in a simplified, meaningful and effective way.

06:55 PM May 09 2016 |

Zigayi

Germany

My rule of thumb is to be able to change and be open to new opportunities

06:51 PM May 09 2016 |

Likes (5):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast