PE 12/9 Jen Lee Speech – Part 2

But I will say that, during those years, while I could admire Jason’s comfortable acceptance of himself, his motivating spirit, I was not quite ready to let go of doubt for myself.

* let go of: to stop focusing on something in your life

ex> It’s time you let go of the pain you experienced in the past and start living your life again.

And over the course of a decade I settled back into life, but I also unknowingly slipped back on those lenses of doubt.

* slip back on: to put something back onto one’s body or personality

ex> My daughter slipped back on her “angry teenager” persona when our guests arrived.

Because I wanted to go so badly; but feared I wasn't good enough.

* want something so badly: to desire something so greatly

ex> Jake wanted to go out with Mary so badly it kept him awake at night.

The only reason I sent in that application was because of Jason. He was reminder that if there was a chance to live the life I wanted, I owed it to him to go for it. And I got in.

* owe it to someone: to be obligated to do something for someone

ex> You owe it to yourself to take a day off from time to time.

ex> Don’t’ tell me I owe it all to you. I worked hard to get to where I am.

PE 12/8 Buying Snow Tires for the Car

But it was the middle of summer, go figure! Now that we need it, the prices are sky high.

* go figure: how strange

ex> By the time I got to the doctor I had stopped coughing. Go figure!

* sky high: very expensive

ex> Gas prices have gone sky high since last summer.

Well, we don’t have much choice. We’re between a rock and a hard place.

* be between a rock and a hard place: to be in a difficult situation with no easy solution

ex> When my boss told me to do something and my wife said not to, I was between a rock and a hard place.

Okay, I’m sold. Let’s order these and schedule a time to have them installed.

* sell someone on something: to convince about something

ex> His girlfriend sold him on the idea that they should get married.

We’d better step on it, look at the satellite map on the weather channel!

* step on it: increase one’s speed

= get a move on; pick up the speed; move fast

ex> When you are on the on-ramp of an interstate, you’d better step on it or you’ll be in trouble.

PE 12/5 You Brought Our Son Way Too Many Gifts!

That’s a nice sentiment, but did you have to go overboard?

* go overboard: to do something in an excessive or exaggerated way

ex> I think the decorator went overboard with her use of leather.

Either way, I think you should return at least half of what you bought. I don’t want Christ to turn into a spoiled brat!

* either way: to suggest that both possible choices are equally good or bad

= At any rate; One way or another; In any case

ex> It’s your choice, but either way, you’re going to have to drop one class this semester.

* spoiled brat: a child whose every whim or wish is provided for; a selfish child with poor manners

ex> Timmy was a spoiled brat because his rich grandparents indulged his every desire.

If I did, would you seriously hold a grudge against me for long?

* hold a grudge: to retain one’s anger for something someone else did in the past

ex> Unlike most young girls, Tabitha never held a grudge against her peers when they made mean comments.

Don’t try me! I might not talk to you for a whole hour if you do!

* don’t try me: do not test me; do not challenge my decision

ex> Don’t try me! I’m tired and not in the mood for jokes.

PE 12/4 Montpelier, Vermont – the Smallest State Capital in the U.S.

Oh! This is a really cute little town. It seems like every place we've been to in Vermont has been quaint like this.

* quaint: attractive because it is old-fashioned and charming

ex> Some people prefer quaint villages, but I like modern cities.

I wonder how it ended up being state capital. Look at that sign – it says the population of Montpelier is only 7,855! That’s smaller than our neighborhood in Brooklyn.

* end up: to become eventually

ex> Be careful on the rocks, or you’ll end up in the river!

We did drive through Orleans and Lamoille countries. But we’re also a hop, skip, and a jump from Quebec to the north, so that might be a factor.

* a hop, skip, and a jump: a short distance to something/somewhere

ex> Although Bob lived a hop, skip, and a jump away from Ellen, they never saw each other.

Note> Also called the “hop, step and jump” or the triple jump, this track and field event is one of the shortest in the Olympic games.

Ha, ha! That would be great. Hey, and if we aren’t pressed for time, let’s walk up to the top of Towne Hill over there and take some pictures of the Green Mountains after lunch.

* be pressed for time: to have little available time within one’s schedule

ex> Shauna was pressed for time, so she skipped dessert and left money on the table.

Great. But keep in mind, we have to get to Burlington in time to meet our friends for dinner.

* keep something in mind: to remember something important

ex> It’s important to keep in mind that this was painted using lead-based paint, which made the artist slowly sicker and sicker.

PE 12/3 Filling in for a Sick Co-worker

Food poisoning? I think she just might be hung over! I saw her last night with a group of girls downtown going into a bar.

* be hung over: to have a headache and possible stomach trouble related to the previous night’s drinking.

ex> She woke up hung over, but took a long, hot shower and went to work anyway.

Are you serious? That girl needs to clean up her act! I’m tired of her shenanigans.

* clean up one’s act: to make changes to one’s lifestyle or attitude

ex> If you don’t clean up your act, you’re going to be kicked out of the house!

* shenanigan: 사기, 속임수

Don’t jump the gun. There is a slight possibility that she really is sick and not hung over.

* jump the gun: to start too early; do something without thought

ex> Don’t jump the gun and buy the first car you see.

Note> An athlete starting a race before the starting pistol has been fired is said to be “jumping the gun.”

I hope she is for her sake. Anyway, I’ll start setting up the dining room. We have a group of 15 coming in right at noon.

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

ex> For your sake, I hope you brought a sweater, because it’s going to be cold tonight.

I wouldn’t want to step on her toes and risk giving them better service than her.

If she isn’t sick she’s going to be missing out on more than just a big tip from some rich businessmen – she’s going to be relegated to the worst shifts in the smoking section for the next month!

* relegate: 좌천시키다

PE 12/2 Jen Lee Speech – Part 1

My sister and I grew up on a poor street in a rich town. It was bad enough that everyone in America was wearing Seventies clothes, but we were in hand-me-down Seventies clothes. And to make it worse, I had the energy of the Tasmanian devil and the grace of a pile of pick-up sticks.

* hand-me-down: used clothing given to a younger child when the older child has outgrown them

ex> The little girl’s hand-me-downs were worn out by her two older siblings and were hardly fit to wear in public.

* to make it worse: to suggest that something being described is more negative than one thought

= to make it even worse; to worsen things; to make matters worse

ex> It wasn’t bad enough that he was blinded by a chemical accident, but to make it worse he was slowly going deaf, too.

And something happens to you, when everything you do is fuel for ridicule and mockery. Eventually you drink the bully Kool-aid and self-doubt takes over.

* something takes over: an internal factor gains control of a person

ex> Sometimes something takes over and a person finds a strength they never knew they had.

People talk about the dangers of rose-colored glasses, but let me tell you, the lenses of self-doubt are far worse. They are nasty. Thick and filthy…

* rose-colored glasses: a positive light

ex> Even after her divorce, Claire saw the world through rose-colored glasses and believed everything happens for a reason.

And they’re nearly impossible to see past.

* see past: to look beyond an obstruction

ex> sure, the house needs work, but if you can see past the sunken roof and the broken staircase, it really is a gem.

PE 12/1 Year-end Gathering of Friends

Well, it sounds like you’re making a lot of sacrifices to climb the corporate ladder.

* climb the corporate ladder: to rise in the ranks in a company

ex> My father spent his life trying to climb the corporate ladder, only to retire as a mid-level executive.

Yeah, but tonight, I’m going to let my hair down. I really need to re-learn how to relax.

* let one’s hair down: to allow oneself to have a good time

= let loose; enjoy myself; have a good time

ex> Don’t be so boring! Let your hair down a little and have fun!

ex> After a difficult three weeks, the project team let their hair down and celebrated their success.

Why don’t we get some food? I made some crab puffs that are just divine, if I do say so myself.

* if I do say so myself: a way of giving oneself credit or to make a mild boast

ex> It takes more than a good camera to take good pictures, if I do say so myself.

Crab puffs? Lead me to them! But I must warn you – there may not be any left in about 15 minutes. You've discovered my kryptonite!

* kryptonite: one’s greatest weakness in terms of vices or desires

ex> Although she had a strong will, chocolate was her kryptonite.

Whatever happened to “go into another room and call me to get me away from him”? You’re too funny.

* Whatever happened to…?: Why are you doing or saying the opposite of what you said earlier?

ex> Whatever happened to your favorite saying, “Live and let live”?

ex> Whatever happened to “I’m going to save one-third of my salary this year?”

PE 11/28 Mixing All the Colors

No sweat! I did a load and hung it to dry outside.

* no sweat: it is not a problem to do

ex> Hey, it’s no sweat picking you up at the airport. What are friends for?

You also have to take into consideration the type of material. Some fabrics need to be washed in cold, some in warm. Some also need to be washed on the “delicate” setting.

* take into consideration: to add in another factor when making a decision

= take into account; keep in mind; consider

ex> Remember to take into consideration the age of the wine when you drink it.

That’s pretty fuzzy logic, Ed! Remember, when in doubt, read the care labels on the clothes or sheets. Otherwise, we’ll just have a pile of grayish-pink laundry!

* fuzzy logic: thinking based on false premises

ex> When something is neither true nor false, you need to use fuzzy logic to make a decision.

Note> “Fuzzy” means difficult to perceive clearly or understand and explain precisely, indistinct or vague.

* when in doubt: if you aren't sure of what to do

ex> My father always used to say, “When in doubt, walk away.”

I’ll walk you through it when we change the sheets on the bed tomorrow.

* walk someone through: to guide someone step by step through a process

ex> Let me walk you through what took place here, starting with when the bank robbers came in.

PE 11/27 A Wedding at the Hotel del Coronado

You were surprised that they invited you? We've all been best friends since college. I would've been shattered if they didn't invite me!

* shattered: severely disappointed or emotionally hurt

ex> Jeff was shattered when he found out his favorite TV show was cancelled.

No, I was surprised that they were getting married at the Hotel del Coronado. This place is the cream of the crop!

* the cream of the crop: the best

= the crème de la crème; the best of the best; the pick of the crop

ex> The black and white Palomino was definitely the cream of the crop in the horseracing world.

Well, they both make a pretty good living and they come from well-to-do families, so I think it’s only natural that they pick an upscale place like this.

* well-to-do: rich; wealthy

ex> Although they weren't well-to-do, they did own several luxury automobiles.

ex> The well-to-do family vacationed in Switzerland and St. Thomas twice a year.

They really paid attention to details for this wedding and probably all weddings held here, come to think of it.

* come to think of it: upon further consideration

ex> I haven’t traveled to Europe in a while. Come to think of it, it’s been 15 years!

I think I just got caught up in the moment. Well, not entirely, Chloe, but you know what I mean.

* be/get caught up in the moment: to get emotionally involved in a situation and to do or say something reflecting those emotions

ex> The team was caught up in the moment as the national anthem of their country played.