Do you use "gem" in your conversation? Do you usually use a word of “gem” as a good person? Recently, I bought a book on survival English. I didn't notice it was American English conversation version

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Sheryl

Do you use "gem" in your conversation? Do you usually use a word of “gem” as a good person? Recently, I bought a book on survival English. I didn't notice it was American English conversation version. This time, I knew for the first time that they use "gem" as a good person. Is this a local or global English word? I think that, as well as Japanese has many intonations and slangs, English also has many. I hope to learn simple and global English, but I have a idea that languages are just a tool for communication and I need to adjust my words for others. If you are a native English speaker, how do you deal with this dialect issue? P.S. I'd found a funny comment on my Facebook before. It was SMS between my American friend and an Australian. Australian guy said "Corial"(I don't know the meaning either), and my friend sent back "Cordial?"... At last, he commented "Yes thats me, people of Australia I've never had Cordial, please send me some"

Aug 26, 2012 12:16 AM

Answers · 7

It's usually said, "A gem of a "______ ." Or, " _____" is a real gem. Besides being a precious stone, gem can have this meaning: A person or thing held to be a perfect example; treasure. "Susan's father donated so much money to charity over the years, people should know he's a gem of a person." "This young basketball player has the talent and class to be a real gem."

August 26, 2012

Australians call a good person 'a treasure'

August 26, 2012

"Gem" is a standard English word - you simply found a figurative usage. Any English speaker would be able to see the analogy. Don't worry too much about dialectical differences - we do understand each other well enough, and if we don't... well, we ask. :) I have no idea what the message exchange between the Aussie and the American meant, but it sounds like the Aussie was being a little smartalecky. Actually, they probably both were.

August 26, 2012

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