PE 10/29 Working as a Wedding Planner

I think I’m going to need you to come with me for that meeting so you can take really good notes. I’m looking forward to that one since we've never tried a theme like that before.

* look forward to: to be happily awaiting something

ex> The kids were looking forward to the trip to the beach all month.

Oh, I’m with you on that. My head is swimming with ideas!

* be with someone: to be in agreement with someone; promise someone your support

ex> If you want me to help you move to your new apartment, I’m with you.

* one’s head is swimming: to have many ideas in one’s mind; be dizzy

ex> Mr. Lincoln’s head was swimming with thoughts of the beach as he toiled away in his office.

And how are things going with the Ralston-Donaldson wedding? It’s pretty straightforward, so we shouldn't have any surprises.

* straightforward: obvious; as it is stated

ex> It may look simple, but this camera isn't as straightforward as you think.

Note> A person can be straightforward, too. It means he’s honest and frank.

Brilliant idea! We’ll play to his ego. Nothing would make him madder than to lose a big job to his nemesis!

* play to one’s strength/ego/etc: to use one’s attributes against them

ex> With politicians, it’s easiest to get their attention by playing to their egos.

ex> I play to my strengths when I’m involved in team sports, which means I usually stay on the sidelines cheering for my teammates.

PE 10/28 Warren Buffett Speech – Part 4

Yeah when I started out – the sell situation has changed over the years because when I started out I had way more ideas than money. I mean I would go through Moody’s Manual, I went through it page by page, and then I went through it again page by page. And I found stocks in there that I could understand that were selling at like two times earnings, even one times earnings.

* start out: to begin one’s career

ex> When most people start out in life, they have no idea what they’re doing.

* over the years: as time has progressed

ex> Over the years, people have gotten taller in Korea due to better nutrition.

* go through something page by page: to make a detailed examination of a document

ex> My wife and I went through the agreement page by page to purchase our first house.

So, I was always coming up with more ideas than I had money, so I had to sell whatever I liked least to buy something new that just was compelling to me.

* compelling: convincing; persuasive

ex> The movie had a compelling plot, which brought many people back to see it a second time.

So, if you look at our annual report, which is on the Internet at our homepage berkshirehathaway.com, you’ll see something in the back called the economic principles of Berkshire, which I believe in setting out for my partners.

* set out: to present to someone; place in front of someone

ex> Shortly after setting out into the forest, Tim became scared and homesick.

PE 10/27 I LOVE Spicy Food!

When it comes to spicy food, nothing beats Korean. Indian and Mexican can’t hold a candle to Korean food.

* can’t hold a candle to: something is not even close to being as good as something else

= doesn’t compare to; doesn’t measure up to; doesn’t come close to

ex> Derek Jeter is a good baseball player, but he couldn’t hold a candle to Babe Ruth.

ex> When it comes to photography, nobody could hold a candle to Robert Doisneau.

Well, that was a fluke. I've seen other foreigners chug and entire beer after eating one bite of really spicy kimchi.

* fluke: a rare occurrence; an oddity

ex> Encountering a whale shark on our first dive was a complete fluke.

Now you’re making things up. Just admit that you’re wrong: Korean food is just as spicy but no spicier than Indian or Mexican, it’s just a different kind of spicy.

* make something up: to exaggerate about something

ex> A lot of people make things up on their resume to make themselves look better.

I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, because I’m sticking to my guns on this one.

* agree to disagree: to come to an impasse in a conversation

ex> I’m pretty sure I’m right about this, so we’ll just have to agree to disagree.

* stick to one’s guns: to refuse to change one’s mind; be unwilling to admit being wrong

ex> If you are sure you’re right, you should stick to your guns no matter what.

PE 10/24 Why Is the Neighbor Kid Raking Our Yard?

Mick, you know good and well that you aren't going to rake the leaves until next spring and then you’ll complain that our lawn is dead. Just like last year and the year before.

* know good and well: to be very aware of something

ex> I know good and well that you borrowed $20 from my wallet without asking me.

I did suggest calling Timmy last year. You said you just needed a few aspirin and some rest and that you would get out and do it. What’s with you and the yard work?

* What’s with you and…?: why are you obsessed with…?

ex> Every time I see you, you’re eating French fries. What’s with you and fast food?

It’s a matter of pride, Betty. A man’s yard is an extension of his castle. And I don’t need some kid to tend to my castle grounds.

* tend to: to take care of something

ex> If the weather is nice, Judy tends to her garden for a couple of hours each day.

Now you’re being melodramatic! Did I happen to mention he’s doing it for free? He felt bad about not offering to do it last year when you were injured.

* melodramatic: overly emotional

ex> Melodramatic people tend to think they are the only ones with problems.

Free? Well, that’s a different story. I guess if he does a half-decent job, I can always get out there and fix his mess.

* half-decent: good; skilled

ex> A half-decent golfer would have made that putt nine times out of 10.

PE 10/23 Jamaica: Floyd’s Pelican Bar!

Wait a minute! You want me to go into that rickety old structure? It looks like it could collapse at any moment.

* rickety: poorly made; shaky

ex> The rickety old car bounced and squeaked as it went down the road.

The owner and his friends built it from scratch and spent next to nothing on it!

* make/build from scratch: to create something from all of its component parts

ex> Bill made banana pancakes from scratch for his wife on her birthday.

You know what? I really like this place! It has such an eclectic mix of people here and the bartender and owner are really friendly. Let’s hurry and get our cocktails so we can drink a toast to the sunset with everyone.

* drink a toast to: to have a sip of a beverage to honor someone or something

ex> Every New Year’s Eve, we drink a toast to the coming year.

I guess the local government had never come across such a crazy idea before. And obviously word-of-mouth advertising is pretty strong when you have something so unique.

* come across: to encounter; meet

ex> Jane had never come across someone as interesting as Tracey.

Hmm… Maybe I should move to the Caribbean and try my hand at being a bar owner!

* try one’s hand at: to attempt to do something for the first time

ex> I tried my hand at sailing once, but it was too difficult.

PE 10/22 No More Personal Favors for the Boss!

He said he wanted to discuss my work performance. And, no, he made it clear that we were taking my car. And I even had to pay the tolls on the highway.

* make it clear: to explain

= make it plain; make it loud and clear; insist

ex> Sheila made it clear that she was not happy with her job.

He’s always taking advantage of the employees here! What did he say about your work performance?

* take advantage of: to use something to one’s own benefit

ex> We took advantage of the good weather and rode our bikes all day.

He pulled a similar stunt on me last month. He asked me to go pick up his dry cleaning. Then while I was out, he called and had me go pick up his son at school and drive him to soccer practice.

* pull a stunt: to deceive someone; play a trick on someone

ex> My brother, Todd, was always pulling a stunt that would get him into trouble.

Well, I’m drawing the line the next time he tries to use me like that.

* use someone: to get someone to do something without providing anything in return

ex> Watch out for James. He will pretend to be your friend and just use you for your car and money.

Me too. I mean, we’re not at his beck and call!

* at one’s beck and call: always ready to obey one’s orders

ex> Randy had three personal assistants who were always at his beck and call.

PE 10/21 Warren Buffett Speech – Part 3

Well I’ve made a lot of mistakes. The biggest mistake, well not necessarily the biggest, but buying Berkshire Hathaway itself was a mistake, because Berkshire was a lousy textile business.

* lousy [^|laʊzi]: poor quality; inadequate

= terrible; extremely bad; failing

ex> This lousy Internet router keeps shutting down.

ex> All she bought me was this lousy T-shirt.

And the cigar butt approach to buying stocks is that you walk down the street and you’re looking around for cigar butts, and you find on the street this terrible-looking, soggy, ugly-looking cigar – one puff left in it.

* soggy: wet

ex> The paper boy dropped the paper in the grass this morning and when I got it, it was soggy with dew.

You got the plants for nothing, you got the machinery for nothing, you got the inventory and receivables at a discount. It was cheap, so I bought it,. And 20 years later I was still running a lousy business and that money did not compound.

* for nothing: at very small cost

ex> If you look in the classified ads, you can get a used bike for nothing.

* run: to manage or control something

ex> I used to run a bookstore when I was younger.

So you might say I learned something out of that mistake. And I would have been way better off buying better businesses.

* be better off: to have an improved situation

ex> I will be better off just returning the TV and waiting for a sale.

PE 10/20 Taking Pictures of the Changing Leaves

It’s beautiful. You can really get in tune with nature. How did you find this place?

* get in tune with: to become comfortable with something

= get in touch with; connect with; be one with

ex> My mother goes to the Buddhist temple every day to get in tune with her inner self.

ex> My wife likes to have quiet time every day to get in tune with her inner peace.

Don’t forget that this was back in the day of film cameras, so when you took a picture, you had to make it count.

* back in the day: a reference to how things were different in the past

ex> Back in the day we used to call each other, not just send short text messages.

Note> This expression if often used to refer to a time in one’s life looked backed upon with great fondness.

* make something count: to give something your best effort because you only have one chance

ex> You only get one chance to impress your interviewer, so make it count.

I think if you get out of the car really quietly, you can sneak up on that group of deer in the grass over there.

* sneak up on: to move stealthily toward something so as not to be seen

ex> Please don’t sneak up on me while I’m working.

So beautiful! Look at the fawns with all their pretty spots.

* fawn [fɔ:n]: 새끼 사슴

The big buck with the huge antlers saw us. You’d better make it fast before they run off into the forest.

* make it fast/quick: to do something quickly

ex> The sun is setting soon, so if we’re going to put up our tent, we need to make it fast.

PE 10/17 Who Has a Higher Threshold for Pain, Men or Women?

What is all the ruckus about in here? I heard you scream a second ago.

* ruckus: a disturbance

= fuss; commotion; racket

ex> We heard a ruckus coming from the garage and went in to see what it was.

O wow ow!!! I just stubbed my toe on the corner of the bookshelf. O wow ow!!! I think it’s broken!

* stub one’s toe: to hit one’s toe directly into something causing great pain

ex> Be careful in the dining room so you don’t stub your toe on any of the chairs.

Note> A “stub” is the part of a check, receipt, ticket, or other document torn off and kept as a record.

When a woman is pregnant her whole body swells up, her back is in a constant strain from carrying around the bowling ball growing inside of her. And don’t get me started on the labor pain!

* don’t get someone started: don’t’ encourage me to talk about this subject, because I could continue for a long time

ex> You’re a fan of jazz? Don’t get me started on when I was in a jazz band back in the 1960s.

ex> Don’t get me started on this whole trend of making a fish face when posing for pictures.

I feel really sorry for you. I hope you never get an actual injury. And I’m not saying that just for your sake, but for my sake too.

* for one’s sake: for the benefit of someone

ex> For your sake, I hope Jill didn't hear what you said about her.

Note> The expression “for heaven’s sake” is something we say when we are angry or annoyed as an expletive.

ex> For heaven’s sake, clean up your room!

I mean, I don’t think I could stand all the whining and moaning if you did actually break your toe. I might have to really give you something to cry about.

* give you something to cry about: said to someone who is crying for no reason as a threat of physical pain

ex> My dad used to threaten us by saying, “I’ll give you something to cry about,” when we whined or complained too much.

PE 10/16 Jamaica – James Bond

Holly, you know I've never been to Jamaica before, right? Well, I’m having the strangest feeling of déjà vu right now.

* déjà vu: a feeling of recollection, despite never experiencing something before

ex> I sometimes get a feeling of déjà vu when I see things that I dreamed about the night before.

Has it finally come to you? Didn't you notice the sign on the way here that said “James Bond Beach”?

* come to someone: to remember something

ex> It just came to me that you still haven’t paid me back the money I lent you last year.

Wow, they have really decided to use the James Bond connection for everything it’s worth.

* for everything it’s worth: for all of something’s value or ability to produce value

ex> We drove that car for everything it was worth until it finally broke down.

What do you expect? When you’re on an island as beautiful as Jamaica, you have to find a way to stand above the crowd. In fact, they just opened Ian Fleming International Airport right down the road in 2010!

* stand above the crowd: to be unique or memorable

= to stand above the rest; to stand out from the crowd; to rise above the crowd

ex> Amy stool above the crowd with her unique ability to speak 14 languages.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why they would promote anything but the natural beauty of the island.

* for the life of one: however hard I try

ex> For the life of her, Lori couldn't remember how to get to her family’s winter cabin.

PE 10/15 Gambling at Work!

I clearly saw that you were playing poker on a gambling website at work. Do you know how angry that makes me? You’re being paid to write computer programs for our customers, not mess around.

* mess around: to misbehave; act irresponsibly

ex> Stop messing around and get back to work right this minute!

Note> To “mess around” is to kid, joke, or play.

ex> Don’t listen to him. He’s just messing around.

Okay, you caught me. But don’t you realize how mind-numbing it is to write code all day long? My brain needs a break something.

* mind-numbing: eroding one’s ability to think effectively

ex> Most mind-numbing jobs also pay the least.

Well, it’s not like I’m doing all of my shopping at work, like someone who shall remain nameless.

* someone who shall remain nameless: a way of pointing someone out who is known to everyone listening without saying his/her name

ex> A certain actress who shall remain nameless was quoted as saying she was in love with her co-star in the new movie.

That’s not a fair comparison, Melvin. As the owner, I work 80 hours a week here and the Internet is the only way I can buy groceries and have them delivered. What I do is neither here nor there.

* neither here nor there: irrelevant to what is being discussed

ex> Whether or not she is married is neither here nor there as to whether or not she can do the job.

If you weren't my best programmer, I’d call it extortion. But consider it done. You’ll see your arcade game by next Monday.

* extortion: obtaining something through threat or force

ex> The mafia was known for using extortion to get protection money.

PE 10/14 Warren Buffett Speech – Part 2

I’d like for the moment to have you pretend I've made you a great offer, and I've told you that you could pick any one of your classmates – and you now know each other probably pretty well after being here for a while. You have 24 hours to think it over and you can pick any one of your classmates, and you get 10 percent of their earnings for the rest of their lives.

* thin it over: to take time to consider something before making a decision

= give it some thought; mull it over; think about it

ex> I’ll need to think it over before I say yes to the job offer.

Note> To “think twice” is a similar expression which means to consider a course of action carefully before doing something.

And I ask you, what goes through your mind in determining which one of those you would pick?

* go through one’s mind: to think at a particular moment or under specific circumstances

ex> What goes through your mind when you come close to crashing your car?

You can’t pick the one with the richest father, that doesn't count. I mean, you've got to do with on merit. But you probably wouldn't pick the person that gets the highest grades in the class.

* something doesn't count: to dismiss a quality or factor

ex> People who don’t fill out the survey completely don’t count.

I mean, there’s nothing wrong with getting the highest grades in the class, but that isn't going to be the quality that sets apart a big winner from the rest of the pack.

* set something/someone apart: to cause something or someone to stand out

ex> The intensity with which she works really sets her apart from everyone else.

ex> The thing that set me apart from my classmates as a kid was my height.

And it gets down to a bunch of qualities that, interestingly enough, are self-made. I mean it’s not how tall you are.

* it (all) comes/gets down to: in the end, these are the qualities or circumstances that matter most

ex> To get the best deal, it all comes down to doing your research before making a purchase.

PE 10/13 Columbus Day

But I guess since the mainland has lots of people of Italian ancestry, Columbus Day would be a big deal. Even though it wasn't such a banner day for the natives already living here.

* banner day: a day to be commemorated for positive reasons

ex> It was a banner day for my son: his team won the championship and he got a perfect score in math.

Tell that to the hundreds of thousands of people already living here! But wasn't it Amerigo Vespucci who actually, for lack of a better term, “discovered” America?

* for lack of a better term/word: because there isn't a more appropriate word for what I’m speaking about

ex> For lack of a better term, his cooking is awful.

It seems strange, then, that Columbus only got a couple of cities named after him – not even a state, let alone the whole country.

* let alone: to say nothing of; not to mention

ex> The man could barely string together a complete sentence, let alone write a great novel.

Hmm… “The United States of Columbus” has a nice ring to it.

* have a nice ring to: to have a nice sound when said out loud

ex> “Kristin Wood, millionaire,” has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

Well, considering North American has been inhabited for more than 20,000 years, that original name might be hard to come by.

* hard to come by: rare; difficult to find

= out of reach; unattainable

ex> Classic cars from the 1930s are becoming harder and harder to come by.

PE 10/10 You’re a Different Guy Around Your Friends

A leopard can’t change its spots! I’m always just me: Little Tommy Bartlett.

* a leopard can’t change its spots: people (or animals) can’t change who they really are and will always act that way

ex> Don’t expect your boyfriend to become more responsible – a leopard can’t change its spots.

I’m not saying you aren't yourself. I’m saying you’re a different you around the guys. Like the way you talk. You have this tough-guy persona around them that you don’t have at home with me.

* tough-guy persona: a macho act put on by a man who is not really like that

Note> A PERSONA is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask.

ex> The tough-guy persona was just an act. Everyone who knows Tom thinks he is actually very sweet.

Ha ha ha! That’s ridiculous! Anyway, you’re one to talk – remember when we bumped into your college girlfriend at that dinner party last month? You were acting like James Bond – all suave and debonair!

* suave and debonair: smooth and charming

ex> On screen, he was suave and debonair, but in real life Jack was quite goofy.

Just for the record, I wanted to make her feel bad for dumping me. You know, make her see what kind of man I had become since college.

* just for the record: a way of stating one’s position on a topic

= Just so you remember…; Let me make myself clear…; Let’s get things straight…

ex> Just for the record, I never approved the purchases made by the personnel department.

I don’t know, honey. I kinda like the Faye that the pastor knows. Except with the “colorful language” I’m used to, you know, for good measure?

* for good measure: in addition to what is normally done

ex> For good measure, let’s add another teaspoon of vanilla.

PE 10/9 Blue Mountain – the Best Coffee

Kingston is such a cool city. And the Jamaican accent makes everyone sound so laid-back, you know?

* laid-back: relaxed, unperturbed

= easygoing; mellow; free and easy

ex> Don’t confuse Terry’s laid-back attitude with laziness – she works harder than anyone in the office.

This coffee is second to none! It’s hard to believe it’s grown right outside of one of the biggest cities in the Caribbean.

* second to none: the best

ex> The smartphones produced by Peach Company are second to none.

Wow, you’re a wealth of knowledge! When did you become such a walking encyclopedia?

* wealth of knowledge: the source of large amounts of information

ex> Libraries are a wealth of knowledge, however few people use them anymore.

* walking encyclopedia: a person who seems to know everything

ex> Brigitte acts like a walking encyclopedia, but she often gives people the wrong information

Note> You can also be a “walking dictionary” which means you know a lot of vocabulary words.

The tour bus is leaving in 20 minutes. Now we’re in a race against the clock. Let’s go!

* race against the clock: something that must take place within a set time limit

ex> After the injured man was driven to the hospital, it was a race against the clock to save his life.

PE 10/8 Is It a Home Business or a Pyramid Scheme?

It’s the compensation plan for this new business I’m starting – a vitamin company. It looks like the sky is the limit in terms of earnings potential! Here’s the catalogue.

* the sky is the limit: the possibilities are great

ex> When it comes to options for your new car, the sky’s the limit.

ex> If you have a lot of money, the sky is the limit when planning your vacation.

Yeah, like a Ponzi scheme. Is it one of those?

* Ponzi scheme: a form of fraud in which the first investors receive payments from later investors, who invariably lose everything

ex> Although the business appeared to be a Ponzi scheme at first glance, it had very strict rules for pulling out your investment.

My uncle Rick was in one of these companies for about three months and he said it was all a scam. He didn’t make any money at all. In fact, he blew about $5,000 on the products.

* blow: to spend without caution

= lost; waste; throw away

ex> Bill blew his inheritance on a year of partying and first-class travel.

See the problem? Rick wanted a get-rich-quick scheme and when it didn’t magically happen, Rick made the company the scapegoat for his failure. It only works if you work.

* get-rich-quick scheme: a plan that promises a high rate of return for little or no investment

ex> Rex will buy into every get-rich-quick scheme that comes along.

ex> The business may look like a get-rich-quick scheme, but it takes more work than a traditional job.

* scapegoat: a person or organization that is wrongly blamed for a problem

ex> The president was made a scapegoat for the poor introduction of the new healthcare program.

PE 10/7 Warren Buffett Speech – Part 1

You know, people always say, “Well who should I go to work for when I get out, then?” I’ve got a very simple answer, we may elaborate more on this as we go along, but, you know the real thing to do is to get going for some institution or individual that you admire.

* elaborate on: to explain something in further detail

ex> Would you mind elaborating on your plans for further airport expansion?

I mean it’s crazy to take in-between jobs just because they look good on your resume, or because you get a little higher starting pay.

* in-between job: an occupation that is used as a bridge to the career job

ex> I don’t think working as a dishwasher can be considered an in-between job.

I was up at Harvard a while back, and a very nice young guy he picked me up at the airport a Harvard Business School attendee.

* a while back: a short time in the past

ex> Laurence used to have long hair, but that was a while back.

I thought it would really round out my resume perfectly if I went to work now for a big management consulting firm.” And I said, “Well, is that what you want to do?” And he said “No,” but he said, “That’s the perfect resume.” And I said, “Well when are you going to start doing what you like?”

* round out: to make something complete; fill out

ex> The basketball team was rounded out by a 7-foot tall center and a 5-foot-6-inch small forward.

Note> This expression also means to “make round” (in terms of shape).

ex> Let’s round out the edges here.

They’re all becoming self-employed.” So, you’ve got to temper that advice a little bit.

* be/become self-employed: to own one’s own business

ex> Being self-employed may seem like complete freedom, but it can be very stressful.

PE 10/6 Long-distance Bicycle Tour

Let’s pull over here for a break. I’m pooped!

* pooped: exhausted, tired, wiped out

ex> When my family finally arrived at my grandparents’ place, we were pooped from the 10 hour drive.

Note> To “poop,” means (of a wave) to break over the stern of a ship, sometimes causing ti to capsize.

I’m so glad you twisted my arm and convinced me to go on this long distance bike trip with you. I’m having fun and getting in shape!

* twist one’s arm: to persuade someone to do something against their will (often used sarcastically when offered a good opportunity)

ex> You don’t have to twist my arm to get me to go with you.

ex> Jenny felt like she always had to twist her kids’ arms to make them take a bath.

My GPS says we've done 30 miles so far. And we still have about 14 more to go before we reach the campground for the night.

* so far: at the point currently reached

ex> So far this fall, the weather has been very pleasant.

I’m game if you’re game! We can get there in about 90 minutes if we don’t waste any more time.

* be game: to be willing to do or try something new

ex> Tom was game to try new things, even at risk of hurting himself.

ex> Even at 80 years old, my grandfather was always game for a new challenge.

By the way, I have your credit card, so I’ll just charge the room to you. You’ll find me in the indoor swimming pool!

* by the way: incidentally

ex> By the way, you still owe me money for last month’s rent.

PE 10/3 Good Dad, Bad Mom? Not Quite

So you rewarded him? You’re setting a bad precedent for our son! Now he’s going to think that he can always go running to you when I discipline him for anything.

* set a precedent: to set an example that will make future behavior acceptable, whether good or bad

ex> The court ruling set a precedent that would allow teachers to keep a gun in their desk at school.

Honey, he was throwing a fit and it was so annoying. I work from home and can’t have these distractions all day.

* throw a fit: to cry and scream over one’s displeasure or disappointment

= bent out of shape; ranting; making a scene

ex> The famous actress threw a fit when the bottled water in her dressing room was the wrong brand.

Note> You can throw “a hissy fit” which is slightly worse than “a fit.”

What harm did it really do? He’s being quiet on his swing, I’m being quiet and getting my work done. It seems like you’re the only one who’s getting worked up about it.

* get worked up: to become more and more agitated or angry over time

ex> I could see that Jane was getting worked up about something, but I didn't know what it was.

Of course I’m upset. You’re undermining my authority. You’re showing him that there are no consequences for bad behavior.

* undermine someone’s authority: to weaken someone’s influence by contradicting their decisions

ex> The new professor tried to undermine the previous professor’s authority by refuting everything he had taught us.

Well, what do you want me to do about it now? The damage is done.

* the damage is done: it is too late to fix something

ex> After the president’s disparaging remarks about her opponent were aired on television, the damage was done. 

PE 10/2 You've Never Heard of Reggae?

I’m at a loss, Owen! You’ve never heard of reggae music? Have you been living under a rock all these years?

* be at a loss: to not know what to say or to think in response to something one has just heard or seen

ex> I was at a loss when I saw my father dressed in a Superman costume.

* be living under a rock: to not know what has been going on in the world around you recently

ex> After a year of travel, it seemed as though I had been living under a rock when I watched the news on TV.

Not exactly, but close enough. My parents were very strict about the music I listened to as a kid. The lion’s share of it was classical or religious.

* the lion’s share: the largest portion of something

= The majority; the bulk; the greater part

ex> At dinner, my father always got the lion’s share of the food because he worked so hard.

Are you kidding me? We’d be hard pressed to find a band that didn’t play reggae.

* be hard pressed: to be challenged; find something very difficult to do

ex> We were hard pressed to find a vegan restaurant in Seoul.

Don’t worry. I got the reggae bug when I was six. My parents were big fans of Peter Tosh and Steel Pulse. I have some of their music on my MP3 player if you want to listen.

* have/get/catch the ~bug: to be a fan of something; be very enthusiastic about something

ex> When Sue was 10, she caught the reading bug and always carried a book with her.

ex> After a trip to Hawaii, Chad got the surfing bug and talks about nothing else.

PE 10/1 But I Wanted to Work for Two More Weeks!

I thought you were going to blow a fuse. You know I really like everyone here, you especially, but the work, well…

* blow a fuse: to lose one’s temper; loudly express one’s anger

ex> My dad used to blow a fuse when my brother and I broke things as kids.

Yeah, financial analysis isn't for everyone. But if it makes you feel any better, you are really good at it, so you've always got a fallback option.

* fallback option: a plan to follow if the initial plan fails

ex> The coach’s fallback option when the quarterback got hurt was to send in Chuck to take over.

ex> He always has his parents to fall back on.

It’s our company’s policy that when someone resigns, they have to skedaddle at the end of the day on which they quit.

* skedaddle: to leave a place quickly

ex> When the bell rang, we all skedaddled to catch the bus home.

ex> I wish I could stay longer and talk, but I really have to skedaddle – it’s my turn to make dinner at my house.

What’s the reason for this policy? I had already counted on two more weeks of pay.

* count on: to be able to expect something; rely on something

ex> The poor family counted on a check from the government to help them survive another month.

It’s purely for morale purposes. Some people make their last two weeks a living hell for everyone else in the office.

* living hell: a very unpleasant experience

ex> Sandy thought medical school would be a living hell, but it was actually easier than she expected.

Well that is some consolation for this harebrained rule. I appreciate it and I’ll see you tonight.

* consolation: 위안(을 주는 사람, 것)

ex> The children were a great consolation to him when his wife died.

* harebrained 말도 안 되는

ex> They plan to stick with the same harebrained policies until the end.

Great! And feel free to leave early today since you have to clean out your cubicle and schlep everything to your car.

* cubicle: 칸막이

* schlep [ʃlep]: 나르다, 끌다

ex> I’m not schlepping these suitcases all over town.

PE 9/30 Arianna Huffington Speech – Part 5

Marketers, who pride themselves on being ahead of the curve, are already tapping into our growing collective desire to do good.

* be/stay/get ahead of the curve: to know what the trends are going to be in the near future before most others

ex> My sister always stays ahead of the curve when it comes to fashion.

* do good: to perform kind deeds

ex> As a Boy Scout, Jake learned that it was important to do good every day.

It began with somber piano music, followed by a voice-over: “Millions of people,” it said, “everyone out for themselves… can this really be the only way?”

* be out for oneself: to be selfish in one’s thoughts and actions

ex> During a drought, animals that normally work together, will be out for themselves.

If Chivas whiskey feels that altruism is a good way to sell scotch, you know there’s something in the zeitgeist. This moment in history demands that we stop waiting on others – especially others living in Washington – to solve the problems and right the wrongs of our times.

* wait on others: to fail to take action because one expects others to do something first

ex> I learned to never wait on others when it came to my taking action toward my goals.

* right the wrongs: to correct the transgressions of others or ills of society

ex> Often, children feel the need to right the wrongs of their parents.

PE 9/29 Indian Summer

Indian summer sometimes shows up and takes everyone by surprise.

* take by surprise: to catch unawares; not expect something to happen

ex> The German shepherd took the burglar by surprise and growled at him until the police came.

I had to dig out my shorts and summer dresses from the closet. I thought we were done with the heat. Oh well, one more chance to show off the remainder of my tan.

* dig (something) out: to find something in a closet, attic, desk, or other area in which things can get easily lost

ex> Every year Todd digs out an old Hawaiian shirt and Panama hat for his “End-of-Summer Party.”

cf> “Dig in” means to start earing.

ex> Dinner is ready. Let’s dig in.

Well, the early Native Americans found it pretty useful. Especially if they had a really big crop to harvest – it gave them a window of opportunity to complete it.

* window of opportunity: a small period of time in which something can be done

ex> When the stock market opened for the day, there was a small window of opportunity to get the new tech stock at a low price.

Well, with climate change, I wouldn't be surprised if the seasons got completely turned upside down. It would just be a sign of the times.

* sign of the times: an event that is indicative of current trends

ex> The number of children begging on the streets in the richest countries on earth is a sign of the times about economic inequality.

Is that… snow?! Wow, there really is no rhyme or reason to this weather anymore.

* no rhyme or reason: inexplicable; irrational

ex> The speed limit on this road changes every mile or so with no rhyme or reason to it.

PE 9/26 The Possessive Girlfriend

And the group was set up by the professor, not by me. What are you getting at?

* be getting at: to hint at or allude to something without specifically saying it

ex> Jill wanted to know what I was getting at when I referred to her dog as “a monster.”

I can only imagine what you talk about during those study sessions. I mean, they know you have a girlfriend, so they have a lot of nerve even talking to you at all.

* have a lot of nerve: to be brash or arrogant in one’s speech or actions

ex> Ava had a lot of nerve calling her sister fat when she couldn't fit into her jeans anymore.

I've told you before that your jealousy is going to drive a wedge between us.

* drive a wedge between: to separate things or people through some damaging words or actions

ex> The Civil War drove a wedge between many families in the United States in the 1960s.

That’s it, I’m outta here. Have a nice life Anna, and please don’t call me ever again.

* I’m outta here: to announce that one is leaving and is not happy about it

ex> This place is boring. I’m so outta here!

What did I say? Don’t leave me, I promise I’ll turn over a new leaf starting now!

* turn over a new leaf: to start again; change one’s attitudes or actions in an attempt to be a better person

ex> I turned over a new leaf at the beginning of the year and now exercise every day.

PE 9/25 Johannesburg: Springboks’ Rugby Game at Ellis Stadium

This game is off the hook! The Springboks against the All Blacks of New Zealand. It almost feels like a world championship match!

* off the hook: very exciting

ex> That party was so off the hook, I don’t think there will ever be one that tops it!

Let’s not get into reverse discrimination now. He’s probably the best player or the most experienced in international competition.

* reverse discrimination: to engage in racism or ostracize members of the majority or ruling class

ex> When I moved to Africa, I felt what seemed like reverse discrimination, even though I was the minority.

Yeah, I guess so. It’s just hard not to see everything through the eyes of the victims of apartheid, you know?

* see through the eyes of: to understand another’s perspective

ex> If you could see through the eyes of an animal, you would be unlikely to continue eating meat.

Well, it doesn't look like the apartheid era in the stadium today, does it? Everyone seems to be getting a kick out of the game equally.

* get a kick out of: to find enjoyment in something

ex> Billy got such a kick out of sports cars as a kid, that now he sells them.

It’s great to see people able to look past their differences, even if it’s just for a few hours.

* look past: to ignore problems or differences

ex> Try to look past the candidate’s troubled youth and see him for the man he has become.

PE 9/24 Becoming a Barista

Gotcha, Amy. This is my first job, so I don’t really know what the protocol is for addressing one’s superior.

* gotcha: I understand

= Understood; I hear you; You got it.

ex> Will that be all? Gotcha. That was two hamburgers and two Cokes, right?

Well, I must give you a high score for politeness! I hope that attitude rubs off on your co-workers. Anyway, let’s start with the espresso machine, shall we?

* rub off on: to influence the actions of another

ex> Tanya’s uncle’s bad language rubbed off on her, getting her in serious trouble at school.

* shall we?: to suggest that one begins or resumes doing something

ex> Shall we continue hiking a while longer or set up our tent here?

Wow! This machine looks pretty complex. I hope I can get the hang of it quickly.

* get the hang of: to know how to do something

ex> I’m starting to get the hang of how to play this ukulele.

You’re a real eager beaver, aren't you? Okay, let’s get the low fat milk out of the fridge…

* eager beaver: a person who is anxious to do something

ex> You don’t have to be an eager beaver to get ahead in your career, but it helps.

PE 9/23 Arianna Huffington speech – Part 4

After years of burning the candle on both ends, my eyes have been opened to the value of getting some serious shuteye.

* burn the candle on/at both ends: to work and/or play to the point at which it negatively affects one’s health

ex> During medical school, we all were burning the candle at both ends just to keep up with classes.

And in the macho boys’ club atmosphere that dominates many offices, women too often feel they have to overcompensate by working harder, longer, and later. In fact, lack of sleep has become a sort of virility symbol. I was once out to dinner with a guy who kept bragging about how he only needed four hours of sleep a night. I wanted to tell him that he’d be much more interesting if he’d gotten five.

* macho: excessively masculine

ex> His macho attitude attracted a lot of resentment from the women in his family.

* brag about: to praise oneself highly to others

= show off; boast; singing his own praises

ex> Being ignorant of what is going on in the world is nothing to brag about.

* virility: 정력, 남자다움

Sleep and productive leisure can be keys to tapping into our wisdom – as is making our lives about something more than ourselves.

* tap into: to access something

ex> If you can tap into your subconscious mind, you can heal yourself of any disease, the Reiki teacher told us.

In a study on the roots of altruism, psychologist Dr. Ervin Staub analyzed men and women who had risked their lives during WWII to protect Jews hiding from the Nazis.

* altruism: selflessness; generosity; philanthropy

ex> I don’t volunteer at the animal shelter for pure altruism. I also do it because it make me feel good.

PE 9/22 Professor Finally Gets Tenure

Well, from the Cheshire cat grin on your face, it must be something big. And I know you just came from a meeting with the dean and the university president, so…

* Cheshire cat grin: a very large smile

ex> After being named Employee of the Year, Shauna had a Cheshire cat grin on her face for the rest of the day.

Note> The Cheshire cat is a character in Lewis Carroll’s book “Alice in Wonderland” and is famous for its big smile.

* dean: 학장

I got tenure! After only seven years here, I was offered tenure. Isn't that incredible?

* tenure: 종신 재직권

Well, it’s just that I've been here for 13 years and still don’t have tenure. So, while I’m happy for you, I feel a bit deflated for myself.

* feel/be deflated: to be made suddenly unhappy

ex> I felt deflated when I found out that the winning lottery numbers on my ticket was for a different week.

But you’re in the business department, which is full of world-class economists and marketing experts – a really stellar group. I’m just one of three Spanish professors.

* stellar: exceptional or famous

= outstanding; superb; marvelous

ex> The team selected for the trip to the moon was a stellar group of scientists and engineers.

Note> This word also means of or relating to the stars or like a star, as in brilliance and shape.

I’m published! I’m an expert! I think maybe I've hit the glass ceiling and will be stuck as an “associate professor” for the rest of my career.

* glass ceiling: a discriminatory barrier that prevents a person from rising beyond a certain point in their career.

ex> Don’t blame the glass ceiling on your inability to advance – your superiors are all women.

Yeah, maybe you’re right. Listen to me, raining on your parade when you just shared great news. Let’s go out and celebrate!

* rain on one’s parade: to say something that ruins someone else’s good mood

ex> While celebrating Nibali’s victory in the bicycle race, Sean came in and rained on our parade, informing us that the racer had been disqualified.

PE 9/19 What Do You Actually DO All Day?

If you were my husband and not my brother, I would divorce you for that comment! But since you’re obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed, I’ll tell you what I do all day.

* not the sharpest tool in the shed: not very smart; stupid

ex> Watching Chris try to unlock his apartment door with his car key, you could tell he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.

So far, so good. Sounds easy enough.

* so far, so good: progress has been satisfactory up to this point

ex> So far, so good, she thought, as she crossed the border into Poland.

Right, sounds easy. But that’s just a warm-up. Next, I go around the house collecting laundry from all the various places people leave it.

* warm-up / warm up: an exercise done to loosen up one’s muscles or thought processes

ex> Let’s warm up before we start our morning jog.

Let me cut to the chase: I cook, clean, clean some more, do laundry, organize the kids’ activities and drive them to and from said activities, shop for groceries, get repairs taken care of if something in the house breaks, and about a dozen other things.

* cut to the chase: to skip the formalities and get right to the substance of the matter

ex> Let me cut to the chase and tell you that you won’t be able to enter the museum with that camera.

I’ll take that as an apology and a compliment, Bruce. Oh, and lunch is on you.

* be on someone: to offer to pay for something

ex> Put your credit card away, dinner is on me.

PE 9/18 Johannesburg: The Gold Rush

You are so dense sometimes. Harrison was a gold miner and he sparked the gold rush of 1886 in South Africa on this very spot by staking his claim.

* dense: slow to comprehend something

ex> I felt pretty dense after discovering that I had been sitting next to a movie star the entire flight.

ex> Although he may seem dense at first, he’s actually a brilliant writer and speaker.

* stake one’s claim: to assert one’s right to something

ex> When we got to the beach, we spread out our blanket, raised our umbrella and staked our claim on the best spot.

How much gold was there in this area? Did Harrison miss the boat on the riches?

* miss the boat: to fail to attend or take part in something

ex> When the half-price sale on snowboards ended, I felt like I had really missed the boat.

Well, let me put it this way: the entire nation was turned around and mining became its biggest industry. In fact, it created a whole class of super-wealthy miners referred to as “randlords,” nicknamed after this area – Witwatersrand.

* let me put it this way: a way of explaining something in a different way to someone who does not understand

ex> Let me put it this way, the only things to make it to the top of that cliff were goats and birds!

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Haley. Grab it and let’s get out of here!

* Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth: Don’t question the value of something that is given for free

ex> Sure, brown isn't really my color, but my girlfriend gave me this sweater, so I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Note> A gift horse is a horse that was a gift. When given a horse, it would be bad manners to inspect the horse’s mouth to see if it had bad teeth. Instead, you should just be grateful for the gift.

PE 9/17 An Ad Campaign for the Winter

Okay, listen up team. We’re on a tight deadline to come up with an ad campaign for our client’s line of winter apparel. Marley, do you have anything to add?

* come up with: to think of a solution or valuable idea

ex> Maybe we can come up with a solution to your problem.

Sure. Let’s see… the client wants to focus on their eye-catching colors. While winter itself is often a drab season, it doesn't have to be with their bright outerwear.

* let’s see: to make a quick assessment of a situation or circumstance

ex> Let’s see how fast this car goes!

* drab: of a dull light brown color

Sounds like we’re already making strides, Marley. Good stuff. And maybe focus on warmth as well.

* make strides: to advance

ex> The field of medicine has made great strides toward curing cancer.

Note> “Stride” means to take a single long step.

I hope everyone on this call is writing this down. I expect you to work off of our ideas and turn in your top five to either Zoe, who is running point on this project, or me by tomorrow at 4 p.m.

* run point: to lead

ex> The captain sent several snipers and scouts forward to run point in the attack.

I think we've given you guys enough of a jumpstart to get things going. Feel free to pair up or brainstorm over coffee in the break room.

* get a jumpstart / give a jumpstart: to begin quickly or first

ex> After finishing this month’s writing project, Tracey got a jumpstart on the next month’s.

PE 9/16 Arianna Huffington Speech – Part 3

Of the many things my mother taught me –including the delightful notion that “Angles fly because they take themselves lightly” – the one that’s proved most useful in my life is the understanding that failure is not the opposite of success; it’s an integral part of success.

* take oneself lightly: to not be too serious about things

ex> I try to take myself lightly when I start to get stressed.

ex> Even after winning the Nobel Prize, Albert Einstein took himself lightly.

cf> Try not to take yourself too seriously sometimes.

* integral: 필수적인

And that means not letting the fears in our heads get in our way. Not letting that voice of doubt, which I call the obnoxious roommates living in your heads, have the last word.

* voice of doubt: negative self-talk

ex> when the voice of doubt gets in one’s head, it can often be hard to shut it up.

* have the last word: to make the final comment on a matter

ex> Dr. Marks, the English literature professor, often had the last word on the discussion of Shakespeare.

* obnoxious: 기분 나쁜

But I think what we really need is a killer app that gauges the state of our mind, body, and spirit and automatically offers the exact steps we need to take to realign ourselves and course correct. Call it a GPS for the soul.

* realign oneself: to seek or find balance in one’s life and/or work

ex> After a long, hard week, some people like to realign themselves by turning off all electronic devices and telephones.

The notion of productive leisure is more important than ever in our hyper-connected, always-on world. I call it unplugging and recharging.

* more than ever: extremely important at this time

ex> Aaron realized that his job on the fishing boat was now more dangerous than ever.