FOR A RAINY DAY

Dear Dr English,

What does it mean when someone says that they do something for a rainy day?
Could you give me some examples too?

Premruttana Pooklai

The expression 'for a rainy day' means for a time in the future when one might have financial problems. When people do something, which is usually saving for a rainy day, they keep their money aside for the time in the future when they might have some financial difficulties.
With four people to feed, I need to consider saving up for a rainy day.

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IN LIEU OF

Dear Dr English,

Could you please explain what Òin lieu ofÓ mean? Thank you.

Umphan Kachintorn

'In lieu of' is a formal expression meaning instead of, or as a substitute or alternative.
All cashiers were not pleased to receive an extra holiday in lieu of financial compensation for working over the New YearÕs holiday.

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Words to call young people

Dear Dr English,

I want to know the age ranges of these words: young adult, adolescent, teenager, juvenile and youth. I'm confused when I have to use them. I also want to know about the two words ÒefficiencyÓ and ÒeffectivenessÓ. Are there any differences between them?
Thank you.

Yanin Naiyachit

Apart from 'young adult', an adolescent, teenager, youth and juvenile refer to people who are too old to be called children and too young to be adults. They are people between 13 and 19 years old. (Adolescence is the period of life in which people develop from a child into an adult.)

Young adult connotes a broader age range and is a flexible term. In some contexts, the word refers to people between 18 and 35 and in some, it refers to people in their 20s and 30s.

Efficiency and effectiveness are different. Efficiency is the quality of being able to do work well without wasting any time or energy.
To be more competitive, a company needs to increase its business efficiency.

Something that is effective works well and achieves the desired result. Effectiveness is the state of being successful or achieving the intended results. For example, compared with other machines, BenÕs invention is outstanding in its effectiveness.

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