Speaking – Page 3 – amalfabian

since

At times, I have heard: “I’ve been working here from 2015.”

Actually it should be: “I’ve been working here since 2015.”

Or one can say: “I’ve been working here for two years.”

Here is how since and for are used:

since + point in time (since 1906)

for + period of time (for 10 years)

We do use from with time expressions, but in a different sense. Here are some examples:

The conference starts from tomorrow.

The shop is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

And yes, by now you know why the ad is correct: Trusted since 1906.

In fact, from now on, you know the difference between since and for.

“He has a chip on his shoulder.” or does he?

blue chip

This is a commonly used idiom: he has a chip on his shoulder.

Some people use it to indicate that he is behaving arrogantly, normally due to his success or position. Perhaps they are making a connection between the chip on his shoulder and a microprocessor chip or a blue chip stock. Actually, this is not the meaning of the idiom.

It is not related to being arrogant.

When someone has a chip on his shoulder, he is angry or feels disrespected. And he feels angry/disrespected because he is under the impression that he has been treated unfairly in the past.

And that is what it means to have a chip on one’s shoulder.

A venture capitalist once said that he looks for an entrepreneur who has a chip on her shoulder, as this means that she will try even harder to succeed. Does that make sense?

How many idioms related to war can you think of? Learn about four of them here.