Hunglish.orgWhy are English-language expressions related to romantic relationships so damn complicated? Is this why there are so many breakups and breakdowns in intercultural relationships?
Written by Scott Savoie
There are almost no word in English for subjects dealing with romantic relationships. Some of these words have no Hungarian equivolent.
For example, to start a relationship we “hook up.” To do a lot of kissing is to “make out with.” To end a relationship, we “break up.” If someone takes it hard, they “break down” and cry. If it doesnt stop after a couple of weeks, it’s called a “nervous breakdown.”
If you have more than one lover, you are “fooling around with (the new lover)” or “cheating on (the jilted lover).” To put it more rudely, “screw around with” (a new lover) “ or screw around on “(the old lover).”
There are millions of euphemisms for the sex act, i.e. “bumping uglies” and “doing the nasty,” but a complete list would be beyond the scope of this (or any) article. However, a common phrasal verb for it is “get it on” (Am.) for “shag” (Br.).
“Get it on with” is different from “get along with” (Am.) or “get on with” (Br.), which simply mean to enjoy one another’s company with no sexual implications.
Is there any wonder there are so many breakups and breakdowns in intercultural relationships? Maybe we could make actual words for this stuff and use them?