American Slang (2)

With the advance of US stuff (such as films and songs), American slang is all over the world now.  So, if you want to learn English faster, you must get to it.  If you work with westerners, more often than not, they all understand (or speak) some American slang.  

But once again, even if you learn some cool slang, you have to put it ‘into’ your English.  So, the big question is: how to do it.

A. An Example: Cool

For example, you heard of ‘cool’ all the time, right?  

1. But what does it mean?

2. How to use ‘cool’ in a cool way?

3. Is there a way for you to use ‘cool’ to show that you are ‘cooler’ than your coworkers?


If you want to get the answers, read the following dialogue:

You:  I’m afraid I have to leave now.                                                           Your coworkers: It’s okay.  It’s cool.

So what does the ‘cool’ mean?  Not hot?  Very good? No, no, no.  In American slang, you can use ‘cool’ to mean you agree with somebody.  Want another example?

Your boss:  Do you think the proposal is good?                          You: It’s cool, Boss.  I think we can make it.

B. How do you know you use ‘cool’ correctly?

Yes, even when you know what it means, you’re still not comfortable with using it?  Why?  Are you scared that you may not use it correctly? Well, you may go back to NAP once again. Or you can just take a nap (a short rest) to speak American slang at your office. 

How? At the last post, you have learned the ‘N’ way.  Now you move on to the ‘A’ way.  Not on your own, but with ‘cool’.

B1. A Cool Way to Learn: the 'A' Way

You can use ‘cool’ the A way as cool is an adjective. And is Mickey Mouse cool? Well, it depends. But in American Office English, it is absolutely NOT cool.   Why?  Read the following example:



Making a complaint:

I think your company sucks.  It is so Mickey Mouse.




What does she mean? A Mickey Mouse company is business that is poorly organized. (Well, sorry about that, Mickey Mouse, I didn’t mean to hurt your feeling.  But this is American slang.)

(Read American Slang 3.)

Picture sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76029035@N02/6829435523/in/photostream/?reg=1&src=comment
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76029035@N02/6829445565/sizes/n/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76029035@N02/6829471407/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lara604/2369412952/sizes/n/in/photostream/