Christmas time is a time where many Americans eat a lot of food (of course you say, they always eat a lot of food). So we actually feel sick from eating too much. Using even one preposition in a sentence can change the meaning. Take a look at these two examples:

1. But my husband’s health condition was getting worse the next day.
2. But my husband’s health condition was getting worse by the next day.

What is the difference between 1 and 2? Well, both say the husband is not well. But number 1 indicates the husband was not fine on the first day, and he felt even worse on the second day. Number 2 indicates his health was fine on the first day, but became worse on the second day.

Popularity: 36%

The word raw can be used in many situations to express different feelings. For example,

1. There was not enough raw materials to finish the Christmas wreaths I give to my family and friends.
2. Sushi is a combination of raw fish and rice.
3. Be careful and wear a warm jacket today because it is very raw outside.

Number 1 means the material used to make the finished product. These materials are not necessarily like sushi (see next explanation.)
Number 2 means the item is not cooked.
Number 3 means very very cold.

Popularity: 41%

The phrase “gnawing on my nerves” means to be annoyed and it is one that may be used by a lot of people during the Christmas holiday season. The word gnaw means to bite or chew in a constant manner.

For example, you might hear parents with children that keeping asking their parents to buy each toy they see in the department store say

“Now stop asking me. You are gnawing on my nerves.”

Popularity: 25%

The Christmas holidays can bring a multiple of medical disorders, in other words, headaches from drinking too much. Describing a medical condition can be difficult for non-native English speakers, especially using the word ache. For example, we say “I have an earache/a toothache/a stomachache/a headache.”
Sometimes my students use the word pain instead of ache such as “I have a head pain.“, which although understandable is not correct. In this case, remove the article and say “I have head pain.”

The word ache isn’t used to describe everything wrong with the body. For example, you do not say “She has a throat ache.” Instead we say “She has a sore throat.”

Additionally, we say “My muscles are sore.” or “I have sore muscles.” or “I have muscle pain.” but not “I have a muscle ache.”

Your eyes are like muscles, so we say “My eyes are sore.” or “I have sore eyes.” or “I have eye pain.” but not “I have an eye ache.”

Popularity: 36%

It is now the Christmas break in America; a time when a large number of people take paid vacation until January 2. The word “break” means vacation. It is used to indicate a stop in a normal schedule, which in this case is working or going to school. The word “break” is often used to indicate stopping of some action like in breakfast, which is stopping the action of not eating (i.e. a person is eating after not having eaten for 8 hours.)

So if you have been at the shopping mall all day returning or exchanging presents, you can say “I’m tired. Let’s take a break.”

Popularity: 38%