if u r good at English ...

stick out like a "sore" thumb.
The matter with the 2nd question is that this expression is not used very often, hence to find the exact word "sore" for the blank is really rocket science for many, however easy it might be to deduce the expression''s meanig when put in proper contexts.

Tiền bất kiến cổ nhân
Hậu bất kiến lai giả
Niệm thiên địa chi du du
Độc sảng nhiên nhi lệ hạ

AHHAH!! OF COURSE! A ''sore'' thumb!! Why couldn''t I think of it!! =) It''s a rather ''common'' expression. Two thumbs up for ''longatum''!!!!!
To answer your private question. I am a Hanoi girl, born and bred. I probably attended course in Hanoi for....5 years? (Keep in mind that those are just NORMAL public school classes..not extra classes or anything as such). I''ve been using English in daily context situation (seeing that I -may- have lived/stil living/will be living abroad) for about 4 years. ^^ Hahah..don''t we all just love the suspence?
Emxinh, you couldn''t be more correct. =) And suddenly I mis "dau phu" ;_;...!!!!!

Doi la bien kho..

no doubt she''s living outside of the country ....
okie folks ...nothing to see ...move on... j/k
so sil, which country do you currently reside as we all are curious about your ''status''

www.NuSinh.com
 

I guess Sil must have something to do with Japan. Not because she loves anime. But because of the Japanese emoticons she uses.
I wish I''d love anime so I can enjoy your fiction stories, Sil !

SORE THUMB !!!
Yeah thanks, that''s great !!!
Thank u also sil, ur Eng is so good. Can i ask ''how old r u'' ?
Actually these 2 q r taken from Headway Advanced. Now i''m studying it on my own, so sure that i will have to ask u all if i have troubles.
I had had some ideas for the 1st q b4 posting but i wanna get more interesting & correct ideas.
E.g : For "get urself a drink !" i''m afraid that it''s not just simple as Sil thinks, becuz another sent. in that exercise is "Help urself, plz", which all know as " Make urself at home "
Eng is so complicated anyway !
Good luck 2 all !!!

pphn: Context should always be considered an important factor, as Sil has pointed out. In a figurative sense, "get yourself a drink" may have various meanings depending on the context. Say, if you tell someone to wait for something, tell her "I''''ll do that for ya. Get urself a drink!" Or if you think someone should relax (because she''''s nervous, or worried, or mad, or whatever...), tell her "Come on, go get urself a drink!" Or it can be said as a kind of congratulation: "Get urself a drink! You passed the exam!" blah blah blah... I''''m too lazy now to think of other things....
Được Ly_Trung_Binh sửa chữa / chuyển vào 10:23 ngày 09/10/2003

là bởi vì mình cũng đang làm theo cách này mà, chỉ mỗi tội là hơi lười nên chỉ có thể đọc một ít trước khi đi ngủ & một ít trong lúc "trút bầu tâm sự" trong washroom
 Anh Yêu Em Như Mắm Tôm Yêu Đậu Phụ

Japanese, you asked?
Watashi no Nihongo wa warui desu. Demo..Arigato Captor_of_sins-san. Anata no English wa sugoi desu. ^_-
More mysteries to solve, Mila. I don''t know where I''m residing.
Indeed, pphn, "get yourself a drink" can also mean "make yourself at home" and all that (jazz ), however, it is VERY important that a context is supplied, because a word can have a METAPHORICAL meaning, a FIGURATIVE meaning, and a LITERAL meaning, IMPLICATION and HINTS are equally important.
^^ Hahah.. I feel so overated and my ego would so explode soon.

Doi la bien kho..

between talent and arrogance, there''s a very very thin line. bet you must have passed that line, to the other side, huh ^_^? erm, anyway, i''m amazed at your english still, darn good skill, even able to write such fanfic ...
but i find your name quite similar to a fren of mine...... have i mistaken ? do you know sil-chan, also a fanfic author hehe?
itsa THL yo yo ^_^v

THL NGỐ!!! =P You blab!! I won''t ever talk to you again!! Tell the world my secrets..;_;..I''ll..be really really upset and not talk to you again!!
Hahaha..it''s all good. Take care of yourself, and I hope to catch up with you and all the guys soon.
Hugs,
Sil.

Doi la bien kho..