English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
COMPOUND IDIOMS IN ENGLISH
~Jokes apart~, I am not coming for the event (nonstandard).
~Joke apart~, I am not coming for the event (nonstandard).
*Joking apart*, I am not coming for the event (standard).
It is said when you want to start speaking seriously about something after making jokes and laughing about it.
I do not think you should ~take this personal~ (nonstandard).
I do not think you should *take this personally* (standard).
You take a situation personally when you think that someone is offending you when they are not.
Don’t ~take his complaint serious~ (nonstandard).
Don’t *take his complaint seriously* (standard).
To consider a person, subject, or situation to be important or dangerous and worth your attention or respect is to take them seriously.
GAB
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