PE 12/25 Annual bonus!

Since the company had a stellar year, these checks should be pretty big. Don't you think?
* stellar: excellent; very impressive
ex> Ryan's stellar performance in the championship game won him the coveted Player of the Year award.

I'll take my mother on a shopping spree and donate some to charity.
* shopping spree: 폭풍 쇼핑, 물건을 왕창 사들임

I'd put money on the fact that the CEO and the other top managers didn't take a cut in their bonuses this year. It isn't fair.
* put money on: to back up one's claim with a wager; place a bet
ex> She is definitely going to say yes if you ask her out. I'd put money on it.
* take a cut in: to willingly receive less than expected or deserved
ex> As part of the charity drive, all of the staff members took a cut in pay to fund the homeless shelter.

Look at it this way - the second year I worked here I didn't get a bonus at all because the company was in the red that year.
* look at it this way: to suggest a person see an issue from a different point of view
ex> Look at it this way, if you lose a lot of weight, you can go shopping for a whole new wardrobe.
* in the red: when a company is losing money
ex> For the first time in the company's history, they finished the year in the red.

PE 12/24 Baz Luhrmann's Speech - Part 4

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good.
* for good: forever; final
ex> If I walk out that door, I am walking out for good!

Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
* stick with: to keep someone as a friend through good times and bad
ex> some of my friends have come and gone, but the ones I had as a child have mostly stuck with me.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on.
* come and go: to enter and leave one's life
ex> Don't be so heartbroken, girlfriends will come and go until you find just the right one.
ex> Money will come and go, but once you lose your health, you will lose everything.

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
* bridge the gap: to overcome an obstacle separating people such as distance, age, culture, etc
ex> Despite spending almost a year apart, Tracey and Laurence managed to bridge the gap and were married in the spring.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.
* make someone hard: to remove a person's sensitivity and kindness through exposure to negative events or people
ex> Serving in two wars as an infantry soldier made my father hard and unable to express his feelings.
ex> Don't let a few bad breakups make you hard or you will never have a decent relationship.

PE 12/23 I Need the Newest Smartphone!

You are flat broke. You spent everything on new video games.
* flat broke: having no money at all
ex> Shirley wanted to go on a backpacking trip with her friends, but she was flat broke and couldn't even buy a plane ticket.

That ship has sailed, Wes,. I ordered your gift a month ago and, I might add, I spent a fortune on it.
* that ship has sailed: an opportunity that has already passed
ex> It's a little late to turn in your application for the manager position. That ship has sailed.

I don't want to be the troglodyte who's still carrying around an early-2013 model.
* troglodyte [^|trɑ:glədaɪt] : a cave dweller; a person who doesn't embrace technology
ex> My father is such a troglodyte that he doesn't even have an email address.

When you get a job and live in the real world you will see how unrealistic you are being.
* the real world: the demanding and often disappointing life of adults
ex> Many college graduates find the real world so stressful that they go back to school for their master's or another bachelor's

You'll have to wait until the 25th, but I promise you won't be disappointed in the least.
* in the least: not at all
Don't worry, I wasn't offended in the least. I have come to terms with the fact that I am bald.

PE 12/20 Hold My Purse, Please?

You want me to hold your big, bright gold purse while you disappear for what will feel like an eternity? No way.
* an eternity: a very long time
ex> As a child, the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed like an eternity.

It's not that heavy. Stop being such a girly man.
* girly man: a man who acts weak or feminine
ex> Tom is such a girly man, he can't even change the tire on his car.

Who's going to see you, or even care for that matter? I'm not asking you to wear it on your shoulder.
* for that matter:  in addition to something:; another reason or excuse for something
ex> This nuclear powered car will never break down and, for that matter, it will never run out of gas!

Real men don't carry purses, they carry wallets and briefcases and occasionally backpacks. Maybe even a fanny pack from time to time, but even that is pushing it.
* push it: to go beyond one's normal level of comfort
ex> I let you take the car out and now you want money to see a movie? Don't push it!

Thanks! And while I'm gone you can get in touch with your feminine side.
* get in touch with: to be in contact with
ex> The psychologist helped the angry man get in touch with his inner child to find the root of his problems.

PE 12/19 Hiking Camelback Mountain

How can you be such an early riser? Anyway, we're going to freeze our butts off up there.
* early riser: someone who is frequently awake before sunrise, = early bird
ex> I had a newspaper delivery route as a kid, which is why I'm still an early riser in my 30s.

Camelback Mountain is only a 407-meter rise in elevation from the base to the top, so there's no drastic change in temperature.
* drastic: extreme; sudden
ex> The politician's drastic change in opinion made me not trust his motives.

Milk and brown sugar, just the way you like it. I know you like the back of my hand.
* know ~ like the back of one's hand: to be very familiar with something or someone
= know inside out; know very well; know backwards and forwards
ex> I think I could drive home with my eyes closed because I know this route like the back of my hand.

This dry desert air in the morning is just what the doctor ordered. And this full moon is lighting up the trail as though it were a cloudy afternoon.
* just what the doctor ordered: the right thing at the right time; a remedy for an ailment or fatigue
ex> Great steak and a fine wine. Just what the doctor ordered!

You're such a ham. Okay, move a little more to the right, but not too far.
* a person who enjoys performing and receiving attention
ex> Most successful performers start out as children who are hams when anyone is watching.

PE 12/16 Getting a Haircut

Have you decided what you're going to wear for the big Christmas bash tomorrow night? I'm getting decked out in my black suit and new shoes.
* bash: a very large party
ex> The end of the year bash was such a success that Phil was already planning next year's party.
* decked out: wearing one's best clothes
ex> When the defendant was brought in front of the judge, he was decked out in a new suit and shiny black shoes.

So what do you suggest I do? Get a crew cut or a Mohawk? I think this goes well with my personality.
* go well with: to complement something /someone
ex> If you want my opinion, I don't think a tuxedo goes well with a cowboy hat.

You don't need to go to extremes. I think if you got it layered and cut away from your face a little bit it would bring out your handsome features.
* go to extremes: to overreact to sth
ex> Whenever she changes her look, she always goes to extremes to become a whole new person.
* layered: varying lengths of hair
ex> Jennifer Anniston looks best with layered hair.

Yeah, I am pretty handsome under this scruffy exterior. Maybe I should go for a new look for the new year. Maybe just a trim.
* scruffy: 꾀죄죄한, 지저분한

PE 12/13 Christmas Dinner

She really ties herself in knots during the holidays.
* tie oneself in knots: to become confused and/or anxious
ex> The politician tied himself in knots trying to come up with a reasonable answer for why he voted for the bill.

My father is really counting on us being there. He has a whole "guy's day" planned for he and I - duck hunting in the morning, watching football in the afternoon - the whole nine yards.
* the whole nine yards: everything that is possible or available
ex> The house comes with the garage, shed, barn, paddock for horses - the whole nine yards.

We really have to sort this out, and fast. I think it would break their hearts if we missed Christmas dinner.
* sort out: to find a solution to a problem
ex> The coach had to sort out who was going to be the starting pitcher before the game.

I guess our problem has solved itself. I'll let my mom know that we'll be there with bells on.
* with bells on: enthusiastically; excitedly
ex> I told my sister that I would be at her wedding with bells on.

And we should try to get back on track with our diets before then. Two turkey dinners in a row? Oh boy!
* get back on track: to redirect oneself toward one's goals or objectives
ex> After my vacation was over, it was hard to get back on track with my exercise program.

PE 12/12 Arizona Cardinals Football Game!!

You really outdid yourself this time.
* outdo oneself: to do sth better than before
ex> Jane outdid herself with this year's holiday party.

It's the least I could do after the blowout you threw for me on my 30th birthday.
* blowout: a huge party
ex> The college seniors had a big blowout to celebrate their upcoming graduation.
cf> "blow-out sale": a quick sale of merchandise at very, very low price

The Cardinals just got a touchdown! I think the Eagles have finally met their match.
* meet one's match: to come up against someone as good as oneself
ex> Sherlock Holmes met his match when he found himself up against Mariarty.

Eagles just intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown! Come on, defense! Get your head in the game!
* get/keep one's head in the game: to focus on the task at hand
ex> Listen, you only have one chance to make this shot, so get your head in the game.

Oh boy! I think I might have created a monster!
* create a monster: to turn someone into an aggressive fan of something
ex> When my little brother began imitating everything I did, my parents said that I had created a monster.

PE 12/11 Shipping Costs

I need to know how much it will set me back.
* set one back: how much it will cost someone
ex> That is an expensive looking car, Todd. How much did it set you back?

Do you have a tight deadline? - Well, I'd like the letters to be in our clients' hands within a week.
* tight deadline: a very short time to complete something
ex> The campaign to fund his movie had a very tight deadline before filming began.

Since you have about 100 letters, you could save a bundle.
* save a bundle: to spend less than expected
ex> We're having a big sale today, so if you buy your new television now, you'll save a bundle.

But they will both make it to their destination by Friday? I can't take any chances or my job may be on the line.
* on the line: in jeopardy; at risk; in danger
ex> Remember, everything is on the line today. We either get the contract or we go home empty handed.

Let's not jinx it. We might as well add insurance to the packages too.
* might as well: sth that should be done because the risk of a negative outcome is low
ex> It's only two dollars. You might as well buy one lottery ticket.

PE 12/10 Baz Luhrmann's Speech - Part 2

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts.
* reckless: careless
ex> The reckless driver lost his license after his car crashed into a school bus.

Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
* put up with: to accept someone or something
ex> You don't have to put up with your co-worker treating you like an idiot.

Don't waste your time on jealousy.
* waste one's time: to use up your time and energy on useless things.
ex> Don't wast your time on that guy. He's not good enough for you.

Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind.
* be/get behind: to be following instead of leading; be losing a race
ex> It seemed like Carl was always behind on his rent and car payment, despite having a good income.

The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
* in the end: at the finish; when one is nearing death
ex> In the end, most people have regrets a the end of their life.

PE 12/9 Renting an Apartment

Calm down, Collin. What are you all riled up about?
* rile up: irritated or angry
ex> I hate to see you get so riled up over a video game. Take a break and have some dinner with me.

Sounds like you're in a tough spot!

I've lived in my apartment for eight years and my key money was only 2 million won back then. Prices have really gone through the roof in the last few years.
* go through the roof: to rapidly climb in price
ex> When the U.S. and Spain declared war on each other in 1898, the price of sugar went through the roof.
* key money: 보증금, 권리금

Well, beggars can't be choosers. At this point you may have to settle for less.
* beggars can't be choosers: if one is really in need of sth, they can't be picky about what they get
ex> Look, this is all I can offer you for your car. Beggars can't be choosers.

You might want to look at CraigsList. It's always chock-full of people looking for roommates.
ex> By the time they arrived to the restaurant, the lobby was chock-full of diners waiting for tables.
ex> The football stadium is chock-full of people.

It's either that or go back to my parents' house with my tail between my legs.
* tail between one's legs: a reaction that's cowardly or weak
ex> When the smaller kids confronted the bully as a group, he ran from the playground with his tail between his legs.

PE 12/6 Decorating the Christmas Tree

We're just going to get sick of looking at it by the time Christmas rolls around.
* roll around: to happen or arrive again
ex> Every time my birthday rolls around, I am afraid that no one will remember and make a fool of myself telling everyone.

Do we have to go over this every year? It's a tradition in my family to put up the tree on the first Friday in December.
* go over: to review something that has already been learned or discussed
 = run over; look over; read over
ex> The performance is in only one hour, so I think we should go over the finale one more time.

Don't be so flippant about my family's traditions just because your family's long-standing tradition is to not get together for Christmas.
* flippant: dismissive or disrespectful
ex> The teenager gave a flippant answer when the police officer asked him what he saw.

We're starting a new one this year: we'll have a knock-down, drag-out family argument over Skype on Christmas Eve and then not talk to each other again until Easter.
* knock-down, drag-out: very angry and violent
ex> The board of directors engaged in a knock-down, drag-out fight over who would succeed the chairman.

You mean the funny looking ones made out of macaroni and dough? I thought they were devoured by mice last year.
* devour: to eat all of sth quickly or hungrily
ex> After the marathon, John devoured an entire pizza, two chickens and two liters of milk.

PE 12/5 The Grand Canyon!!

Well, it took about 17 million years for the Colorado River to cut the canyon out of the rock. And the rock layers show a mind-boggling 2 billion years of Earth's history.
* mind-boggling: something that is so large, old, or complex that it's hard to understand
ex> The most mind-boggling thing to me is trying to comprehend the universe as an endless space.

A couple of Native American tribes occupy parts of it. And the Hopi considered it hallowed ground and made pilgrimages here.
* hallowed ground: a sacred place; a burial site
ex> To many people, the National Cemetery is hallowed ground containing the soul of the nations' heroes.

Well, be happy we have a room at the Bright Angel Lodge tonight. We would freeze our butt's off tonight.
* v. + one's butt's off: to exert oneself at something
ex> The marketing team worked their butts off to make the new advertising campaign a success.
ex> It was so hot this summer that I sweated my butt off just walking to the bus stop.

I'm not that scared of heights, but I think this might give me palpitations.
* palpitations: irregular or pounding heartbeats
ex> The climb up to the top of the Status of Liberty gave the old man palpitations.

I thought you had nerves of steel? Don't be such a chicken.
* have nerves of steel: to be calm when faced with danger
ex> The key to being a successful athlete is to have nerves of steel when under pressure.

PE 12/4 Cutting Costs

They just turned the thermostats way down, so the heat won't go on until it drops below 12.

You might as well spit in the wind, because the union rep signed off on it already.
* spit in the wind: to do something futile; a useless act
ex> Telling my kids to clean up their rooms is as useful as spitting in the wind.

I feel so out of the loop. Will they at least give us a chance to give our opinions and reject the plan?
* out of the loop: not knowing what is going on
ex> I hate being kept out of the loop when it comes to important decisions.
ex> After his two-month vacation, Pat felt totally out of the loop at the office, like a new employee.

The one that you bailed on so you could go play cards with your friends.
* bail (out) on: to not show up to an event; leave in the middle of something
ex> This party is really boring. Let's bail.
ex> I didn't mean to bail out on you last night, but something important came up.

Oops, I guess I totally blew it that day. Well, what's the plan then?
* blow: to fail at something
= botch it up; mess it up; screw it up
ex> Although Carl studied hard, he felt that he blew it on the exam.

The plan is that we should wear multiple layers of clothes and we may bring in a small blanket from home if we wish. But they did splurge and get a new coffee machine, so we can at least stay warm on the inside.
* splurge: to spend money on something unnecessary
ex> At Christmas time, my father would always splurge on gifts for my sisters and me.

PE 12/3 Baz Luhrmann's Speech - Part 1

The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
* long-term: with consideration for a future time
ex> My long-term plans are to learn French and become a winemaker.
* meandering: 종잡을 수 없는

Oh, never mind.
* never mind: don't worry or think about something
ex> Never mind the noise coming from the engine, it's just an old car.

You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded.

In 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
* recall: to remember something
ex> I recall you saying something about buying me lunch today.

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm. on some idle Tuesday.
* cross one's mind: to have a thought suddenly occur to you
ex> It never crossed my mind that you and James were brothers, despite having the same last name.
* blindside/be blindsided: to strike or be struck suddenly and without warning
ex> Bill was blindsided by love when he met Elaine for the first time.
ex> Just when it seemed life was going well, she was blindsided by a devastating illness.

PE 12/2 Rake the Leaves!

My sentiments exactly. Grab your work gloves, we're taking care of that mess we call a yard.
* my sentiments exactly: (I'm) in complete agreement
ex> A: I think the city skyline always looks better under a full moon. B: My sentiments exactly.

I was thinking more along the lines of a drive to the park to feed the ducks bread.
* along the lines of: similar to
ex> The idea of this movie is something along the lines of "Gone With The Wind," except set in modern-day Norway.

Even though it's in the backyard, it's been getting on my nerves every time I look at it.
* get on one's nerves: to annoy or irritate
ex> If you want to go far in this organization, you'll have to try your best to not get on Mr. Conway's nerves.
note>> nerve (n): courage that allows you to do sth that is dangerous, difficult, or frightening

I thought you were going to get your hands dirty, too!
* get one's hands dirty: to do physical labor; engage in illegal activity
ex> The owner of the large dairy farm still liked to get his hands dirty a few times a week and help with the milking.
ex> The mafia boss never got his hands dirty - that's what his lieutenants were for.

After you build the fence for the compost pile, dig up the garden, and trim the bushes I'll be ready to lend a hand with raking.
* lend a hand: to assist with sth  = give someone a hand
ex> Ever since I was a teenager, I would go down to the homeless shelter once a week to lend a hand.

PE 11/29 Stuck in the "Friend Zone"!

I need your opinion on something kinda personal, but I think it might be right up your alley.
* right up one's alley: something that a person is apt to be good at or like
= one's cup of tea; fits one like a glove; be cut out for it
ex> That new sci-fi movie seems to be right up my alley.

You know we've been like two peas in a pod this semester.  We eat lunch and dinner together practically every day.
* like two peas in a pod: very close; inseparable
ex> As twins, they did everything together and even dressed the same, like two peas in a pod.
ex> Ever since they were little, Tom and Jenny were like two peas in a pod.

So far, so good! Have you been on any real dates?
* so far, so good: when you say that sth is progressing nicely, although a problem could occur
ex> It's been two weeks and we haven't had a problem with the new computer program. So far, so good.

I think I'm starting to get the picture. It sounds like you're trapped in the "friend zone."
* get the picture: to understand sth
ex> I think I get the picture: you're quitting school to become a famous artist. right?

You can make a bold move, but you risk upsetting the balance of your relationship.
* upset the balance: to disturb sth that is already working well
ex> When my brother moved back home, it upset the balance in the house and created tension between my parents.