PE 12/31 Two New Years in Russia

* jubilant: feeling or showing great joy or triumph

ex> This crowd will be jubilant if the other team fails to score before the clock runs out.

* get by: to have just enough of something to do what is necessary

ex> They’ll be able to get by on Alex’s salary if they’re very careful about their spending.

* legacy: something handed down from the past; inherited money or property

ex> We are still benefiting from the legacy of the Roman empire.

* sweep on off one’s feet: to cause someone to be admiring or infatuated

ex> My mom claims that my dad swept her off her feet when they first met in college.

Note> To be “swept off your feet” is to be surprised, enthralled, exhilarated. Critics can be swept off their feet by an epic film or operagoers can be swept off their feet by a beautiful aria.

* get a feel for[get the feel of] something: to become accustomed to something

ex> Staying in private homes while traveling helps you get a feel for what it’s like to live in that country.

* at the drop of a hat: without hesitation

ex> Mickey would get into a fight at the drop of a hat, so I had to watch him constantly.

Note> In the 19^th century it was occasionally the practice in the United States to signal the start of a fight or a race by dropping a hat or sweeping it downward while holding it in the hand.

* Talk about something(형용사): (강조) 아주~하다, ~가 말도 못한다.

The inflection of this expression is important in distinguishing it from other uses of these two words together. When spoken, the adjective always receives the greatest emphasis, and the word talk gets secondary emphasis.

ex> Talk about generous. Did you know that he has donated over $200 million to medical research?

PE 12/30 A Taxing Problem

* come to grips with: to accept or handle something difficult

ex> Knowing that she would still be able to visit them helped the kids come to grips with Ms. Bennett’s departure.

ex> The government eventually came to grip with the loss of revenues from natural resources.

Note> If a person comes to grips with a problem, he is facing reality and is ready to do battle. Maybe like two wrestlers grip each other.

* open a can of worms: to do something that unintentionally creates a problem

ex> We really opened a can of worms when we had that carpenter look inside our walls.

* course of action: a way of proceeding with something

ex> Tamara realized that the best course of action was to tell her father about the lama.

* cook the books: to intentionally record false financial information

ex> The movie is about the corrupt prison warden who had been cooking the books for years.

Note> What does cooking have to do with books? Well, the phrase is an allusion to changing the ingredients (figures or numbers) to make another meal (accounting book or records).

* jeopardize: to put something in danger or at risk

ex> I knew I was in an unhealthy relationship when it started to jeopardize my career.

* catch up: to reach the same position as something that was ahead

ex> Elizabeth has already sold fourteen units, but I’m determined to catch up to her.

* rash: 성급한, 조급한

As a noun, this word has two additional meanings. One is a reddish patch of skin caused by disease or abrasion. The other is a series of similar events happening in close succession, e.g. a rash of car thefts in the area.

ex> A: We should take away his computer and forbid him from going out with his friends for two weeks.

B: That’s much too rash, Sonya. We don’t even know if he actually did the things he’s been accused of.

PE 12/29 David Brooks – Wake Forest University Commencement Speech

* through the ages: over a long period of history

ex> Judging from what has been left behind, the personalities of humans have changed very little through the ages.

* feel (it) in one's bones: to be instinctively aware of something

ex> There's going to be a big storm tonight: I can feel it in my bones.

ex> You can feel it in your bones when a piece of music was written for a loved one.

Note> The origin of this saying comes from someone who has arthritis or rheumatism, and when cold and wet weather approaches, they will be able to feel pain in their bones.

* over the years: during the course of one's life

ex> My cousin became much easier to get along with over the years.

* pick up: to learn or acquire without great effort

ex> Cynthia picked up chess after watching just a few games being played.

* posse: a group of temporary law enforcement officers; a group of people who share a common characteristic

ex> The sheriff gathered a posse of men to help him find the escaped prisoner.

Note> The classic image of a posse is from the Old West, of a group of armed cowboys on horses, in pursuit of an outlaw. Originally the term was posse comitatus, Latin meaning the force of the country. Today, the word posse is used most often to refer to a group of friends or people with some common interest.

* entourage: a group of attendants or associates accompanying an important person

ex> The secret of my fame was that I assembled an entourage early in my career.

* think hard: 잘 생각하다, 골똘히 생각하다

An alternative version of this expression is think long and hard. The meaning is the same.

ex> I'm going to have to think hard about how to use mine.

PE 12/28 Getting Pete to Sing

* I’m good: I am content and satisfied; I don’t need anything

ex> I have plenty of religious literature already, so I’m good, thanks.

* regular: one who is often at a particular establishment

ex> Tom noticed that one of the library’s regulars hadn’t been there for several weeks.

* no dice: absolutely not; it is impossible

ex> I asked my brother-in-law if he could loan me the money, and he said “No dice.”

* fall for something: to be fooled by something

ex> You didn’t fall for that old excuse about his dog eating his homework, did you?

* brace oneself: to prepare oneself for something intense

ex> I had that same crazy bus driver again, and had to brace myself the entire ride.

ex> Brace yourself, because I’m about to tell you something you won’t believe.

* bring down the house: to receive very positive audience response

ex> During Darren’s toast to the bridesmaids, he told a joke that brought down the house.

Note> This phrase signifies applause or cheering so thunderous that it could, in theory, make the playhouse collapse. The idiom does not refer to the actual destruction or collapse of a structure.

* carry a tune: 정확한 음으로 노래 부르다, 가락이 틀리지 않다

This expression is used only in reference to singing, and not to playing musical instruments. A variation of it is sometimes used to describe someone who sings badly: “He/She can’t carry a tune in a basket.”

ex> My grandfather’s hands are too shaky to play the accordion any more, but he can still carry a tune.

PE 12/25 James Loves His Christmas Bathrobe

* gussy up: to dress up or decorate something; wear fancy clothes

ex> When our daughter appeared all gussied up for her high school dance, I hardly recognized her.

* not even: much earlier or less than

ex> I can’t make pancakes because there’s not even enough butter for two of them.

* keep the wolf from the door: to have just enough to prevent starvation or to avoid running out of money.

ex> Susie got a job at a café to keep the wolf from the door while her husband recovered from his illness.

* go solo: to leave a group to do something alone

ex> After seven years with that band, the guitarist went solo and produced several hits.

Note> Korean people often use the word “solo” to mean single. This is Konglish so please don’t use it this way!

* saunter: to walk in a slow, relaxed manner

ex> My younger son is always scrambling from one thing to another, but the eldest just saunters alone, still managing to get everything done.

* odd man out: different or excluded from the rest of a group in some way

ex> Because I was so uncoordinated, I was always the odd man out when baseball teams were chosen.

* lounge: 느긋하게 서[앉아/누워] 있다, 빈둥거리다

Lounge is also a noun which describes a communal room in a hotel, theater, club, or ship for relaxation, where drinks are sometimes served. It is also sometimes used to describe a type of upholstered furniture for sitting, like a small backless couch.

Ex> He spent the morning lounging in front of the TV, then went out with his friends.

PE 12/24 Christmas in St. Petersburg

* fledgling: young, new, and inexperienced

ex> Despite their early mistakes, the fledgling company has begun to release some very competitive products.

* baptism by fire: a difficult and challenging first experience at something

ex> Being promoted to department head without warning was a baptism by fire.

Note> Baptism by fire has its roots in battle terminology, describing a soldier’s first time in battle. This phrase is used when the best way for someone to be trained is for that person to experience the actual situations rather than to just study those situations (jobs like police officers, firemen, or military personnel).

* way off base: wrong; unrealistic

ex> Even though they were way off base, those early guesses made later more accurate theories possible.

* lovey-dovey: excessively affectionate

ex> Some cultures are uncomfortable with couples being lovey-dovey in public.

* get off one’s high horse: be more humble; stop behaving in superior manner

ex> When your uncle gets off his high horse, he’ll realize that he’s no better than anyone else.

* reticent: uncommunicative; restrained

ex> A lot of people think my dad is unpleasant, but he’s just a reticent person.

* take one so long: (누가) 무엇을 하는 데 오래 걸리다

One form of this expression, What took you so long?, is used both literally and sarcastically. In its literal sense, it means, “Why did it take so much time for you to do that?” The sarcastic version means, “Wow! That was fast!”

ex> I was wondering what took you so long. Is everything okay now?

PE 12/23 Take the Bus – It’s Cheaper!

* pay the piper: to face the unpleasant results of one’s actions

ex> I’ve fallen behind on this project, so now I have to pay the piper and spend the next few evenings getting caught up.

* go/come with the territory: to be an inevitable part of a specific situation

ex> A lot of media attention goes with the territory of being a sports star.

* creature of habit: one who always follows a regular routine

ex> My dad is such a creature of habit that I can predict what he’ll be doing at any time of the day.

* guesstimate: an estimate made without information

ex> The collision repair place didn’t want to give me a guesstimate because they prefer to calculate all their costs first.

* set one back: to cost a specific amount

ex> I’m trying not to think about how much these new boots set me back.

* adept: skillful or proficient at something

ex> Connor was very adept at getting the supervisor to agree to his plans.

* put (someone or something) out to pasture: 은퇴시키다, 물러나게 하다

Even though this expression originally refereed to grazing farm animals, it is now usually used to refer to people or vehicles that are too old or worn out to remain in service.

ex> I feel sorry for him. He’s far too young to be put out to pasture like that.

PE 12/22 Chris Mattews – Fordham University Commencement Speech

* out of bounds (out-of-bounds): beyond the limits of a playing field; forbidden

ex> The referee quickly indicated that the ball had gone out of bounds.

Note> If you’re out of bounds, you are breaking the rules and being unreasonable.

* run for it: to hurry to get something; run away in order to escape danger

ex> The bus was about to pull away, so we decided to run for it.

Note> It’s interesting to note the expression, go for it which may similar to the phrase above. These two phrases couldn’t be more different! Go for it means to try it or do it (after some hesitation).

* get in: to be accepted; gain admission

ex> I asked my cousin, an MIT graduate, what I should do to try to get in.

* cadence: the flow or rhythm of events

ex> I started watching movies in that language to hear the cadence of the speech.

* when lightning strikes: when something rare happens suddenly

ex> You need to diversify your investments so you’re more likely to benefit when lightning strikes.

* big-time: related to the most successful level

ex> Marcel dreamed of becoming a big-time sports hero, and practiced every day.

* lingo: (특정 집단이 쓰는) 용어, (외국어, 전문어 등) 뜻이 통하지 않는 말

The term lingo is often used as a synonym for “jargon”: the vocabulary of an area of interest that is mostly unknown to outsides. It is also used as a slang term for language in general, as in, “I couldn’t communicate with the locals because I didn’t speak their lingo.”

ex> Helen told me you’ve been writing an article about the lingo used in American diners in the 1950’s. 

PE 12/21 Rona’s Stolen Bike

* make off with something: to escape with something; steal something

ex> Police say that the thieves made off with over three million dollars’ worth of diamonds.

* have a history of: to be known for being or doing something repeatedly

ex> My brother has a history of breaking up with women as soon as they mention marriage.

* beloved: very loved; cherished

ex> Cheryl had a coffee mug made with a picture of her beloved dog Melvis on it.

* shoddy: badly made or done

ex> Because of the shoddy workmanship, the coat hooks fell off the wall in only a few weeks.

* bite the bullet: to face a difficult or painful situation

ex> I guess I’m going to have to bite the bullet and tell Gloria I lost her favorite gloves.

Note> Long ago, patients were given a stick or lead bullet to bit down on during painful surgical procedures. Although the bullet was quite strong, they would actually deform somewhat when bitten hard. Hence teeth would not break.

* bitter pill to swallow: something unpleasant that must be accepted

ex> It was a bitter pill to swallow when my kids started beating me at the games I taught them.

Note> This also means an unpleasant fact, disappointment, or humiliation that is difficult to endure. Failing an important exam or being demoted (opposite of promotion) in the office could be a bitter pill to swallow.

* in plain view: 잘 보이는

An alternate version of this expression is in plain sight. The meaning is exactly the same.

ex> It was sitting on the chair in the corner of the bedroom, in plain view. I can’t believe you couldn’t see it. 

PE 12/18 Our Weird Hobbies

* bend one’s ear: to talk to someone eagerly or annoyingly

ex> My cousin would come over and bend my ear about his problems with his parents for hours.

Note> If we “bend our ears” (forward), we are doing it to hear better. Theoretically we are able to pick up more words. So if someone does this to us, figuratively, it’s to force us to listen, whether we want to or not.

* morose: very serious and unhappy

ex> We used to think that Charles was morose by nature, but we discovered that he just needed some positive encouragement.

* a standstill: no movement

ex> Negotiations were at a standstill because the workers demanded the company pay for their birthday parties.

ex> Traffic on Highway 15 is at a standstill due to an accident, so motorists are advised to take the Williston Turnpike instead.

* like two peas in a pod: very similar, especially in appearance

ex> Hannah and her friend Elsie are like two peas in a pod: they even wear the same clothes.

Note> The definition is based on the extreme similarity of peas that come from the same pod.

* extensive: widespread; very large in area or scope

ex> Extensive evergreen forests cover much of the state’s northwest region.

* face up to: to accept a difficult situation; = face the music

ex> My parents are going to have to face up to the reality that I was not born to be a doctor.

* get cold feet: (계획한 일에 대해) 겁이 나다, 초조해지다

Although this expression is sometimes applied to other situations (like investors changing their minds about putting money into a company), it is usually applied to relationships, and marriage in particular.

ex> I think Adam’s getting cold feet. Every time I suggest a date, he comes up with a reason why we can’t get married then.

PE 12/17 All Aboard for St. Petersburg

* up-to-date: based on or using the latest methods or information

ex> I’m impressed with Hilary’s up-to-date ideas on using social media for advertising.

* conducive: providing the conditions for a specific outcome

ex> Your giving trumpet lessons in our home would not be conducive to my being able to study.

* tie in with: to be relevant to

ex> The two departments were merged because their research tied in with each other’s.

Note> I often heard this from professors who would grade my essays in college. They would make remarks on the side such as, “This point ties in nicely with your argument.” Those types of comments would make my day!

* before you know it: very soon

ex> I’ll teach him how to shred lettuce, and before you know it he’ll be making salads all by himself.

Note> This phrase means that it will happen so quickly that you might miss whatever happened. So I would say, “It’ll all be over before you know it!”

* bonkers: crazy; mentally unbalanced

ex> Trying to get all these papers in order is enough to drive you bonkers.

* Come off it: I don’t believe you.

ex> Come off it. There’s no way that a dog can ever be taught to perform arithmetic.

* furthermore: 게다가, 더욱이

There are several synonyms for furthermore, like in addition to, what’s more, besides, moreover, additionally, on top of that, and and. Why? In English, it is considered bad style to reuse the same expressions within a passage, except when they’re used intentionally for emphasis. That’s why there are so many ways to say and!

ex> You’re not allowed to leave this house for two weeks. Furthermore, you must take all the medication your doctor has prescribed. Is that understood?

PE 12/16 What to Do with Ugly Fruit

* produce: food or other goods obtained through farming

ex> Our neighborhood convenience store has started carrying some produce.

* let something slide: to neglect something

ex> John took piano lessons for many years, but he let it slide when he went to college.

* bat a thousand: to do something perfectly or successfully

ex> I’ve sold something to every customer today, so I guess I’m batting a thousand.

Note> In the baseball world, batting (a) 1000 in major league baseball is considered perfect. Please note that this phrase is often used sarcastically.

* get rid of: to discard; dispose of

ex> My bedroom is much more organized now that I’ve gotten rid of all the clothes I wasn’t wearing.

* brainstorm: a sudden idea; a group session to gather ideas

ex> Unless someone has brainstorm, I suggest we maintain our current advertising strategy.

* there’s a lot to be said for something: the idea has many strong merits

ex> There’s a lot to be said for finishing one project before starting another.

* put out: 내놓다, 내다 놓다

Put out is an expression with many meanings. It means “to extinguish,” as in “Firefighters put out the blaze in minutes.” In British English,, put out means “annoyed.” It also means “to place outdoors,” as in “Please put out the cat before you come to bed.”

ex> Danielle, would you please put out these Christmas cookies on top of the display counter?

PE 12/15 Meredith Vieira Speech

* on the road: traveling; touring or working

ex> My uncle’s career meant that he was on the road for ten months of the year.

* media darling: a popular, well-liked celebrity

ex> You’ll never become a media darling if you keep throwing drinks at reporters.

Note> Darling is used as an affectionate form of address to a beloved person. You can use this term to your children, spouse, and loved ones.

* have it all: to be successful in every way

ex> Thanks to his hard work and good luck, my cousin now has it all.

* go along: to participate in a situation without objecting

ex> Fanny would go along with her older brother’s crazy schemes because they were often exciting.

* commit to something: to dedicate oneself to doing something fully

ex> Once I committed to becoming a better person, everything in my life improved.

* listen to one’s gut: to trust one’s instincts

ex> If I had listened to my gut, I would’ve changed careers a long time ago.

Note> Native speakers also use the expression “have a gut feeling” to mean the same thing. It means to have an intuitive feeling about something.

* churning: 불안한, 혼란스러운, 요동치는

Churning is literally the process of turning milk or cream into butter by agitating it. The term is also applied to the act of a stockbroker excessively trading their customer’s securities to increase their commissions.

ex> Do I seem calm to you” That’s amazing, because I’m churning inside.

PE 12/14 Where Did My Elastics Go?

* go over something with a fine-tooth comb: to search or examine something thoroughly

ex> My accountant is going over my tax return with a fine-tooth comb to see if I can save some money.

* deplete: (of a supply) to reduce to a tiny or nonexistent amount

ex> Over fishing depleted the Atlantic cod stocks to the point where the species practically vanished.

* baffling: impossible to understand

ex> Shelly can take one look at a roadmap and know where we are, but I find them baffling.

Note> Baffle means “confuse,” but it can also mean “amaze.” A magician might baffle you with an impressive magic trick. Baffle can also be used like stump. If you are stumped by a question on a test, then you’ve been baffled by that question.

* nail it: to do something perfectly or successfully

ex> Bob was worried about taking his driving test, but he nailed it.

* from here on in: starting from now

ex> From here on in, I suggest you close your umbrella before you try to walk through the door.

* toe the line: to do what one is expected or requested to do; follow orders

ex> Daniel’s new teacher is very good at getting the kids to toe the line.

Note> The phrase derives from track-and-field events in which athletes are required to place a foot on a starting line and wait for the signal to go. Race officials used to shout “Toe the line!” where now they shout “On your marks!”

* be busted: (나쁜 짓을 하다가) 걸린, 들킨

The slang term busted also means “broken,” as in “We couldn’t leave the compound because the automatic gate was busted.” It is also a slang term meaning “to be arrested.”

ex> I got busted for hiding the dishes I was supposed to wash in the oven.

PE 12/11 The Perfect Sock Drawer

* go against the grain: to be the opposite of what one would normally want or do

ex> It goes against the grain for David to pay for anything.

Note> According to one theory, the expression comes from the world of carpentry. The fine lines that you find on a piece of wood are called “grain.” If you wish to smoothen wood, for best results, you should run the tool you are using “along” the grain, and not “against” it.

* stem from: to be caused by something

ex> His ability to decorate home stems from his training as an interior designer.

* espouse: to express support for something

ex> I admire the speaker for espousing the elimination of capital punishment everywhere.

* mishmash: a confused mixture

ex> She can take a mishmash of leftovers and turn it into a fantastic meal.

Note> Many houses have one kitchen drawer full of a mishmash of pens, rubber bands, carryout menus, and gum, for example. The word was originally spelled with a hyphen, mish-mash, and before that it was mysse-masche, which had to do with mash, as it a bunch of soft food chucked together and fed to pigs.

* sticking point: something that prevents progress or agreement

ex> One of the sticking points in the dispute is the duration of paid maternity leave.

* deal-breaker: an unresolved problem that prevents an agreement from being reached

ex> His personal hygiene is not the greatest, but I wouldn’t say it was a deal-breaker.

* settle down: 정착하다

This expression has another – but somewhat related – meaning. To settle down can mean “to become calm,” and is sometimes used in the imperative form to demand that someone behave in a more calm manner.

ex> H is, and I have a feeling that the two of them will be settling down soon.

PE 12/10 St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

* above and beyond the call of duty: more than what is necessary or expected

ex> Carl went above and beyond the call of duty when he filled up and washed my car after borrowing it last week.

* macabre: gruesome; involving death or injury in a horrifying way

ex> Ellie didn’t like the movie I took her to because it was too macabre for her.

* game over: a hopeless situation

ex> If we can’t convince this client to sign the contract, it’ll be game over for this company.

* one’s elevator doesn’t go to the top floor: one is insane or mentally unstable

ex> Judging from his ideas about politics, I’d say that Frank’s elevator doesn’t go to the top floor.

Note> Basically, this is just a nicer way of saying that someone is dumb or stupid

* power trip: an urge and quest to dominate others

ex> Some people go into politics to make the world a better place, and some are simply on a power trip.

Note> For people who work in the office, I’m sure you’ve encountered a boss or supervisor who goes on power trips. I find that people who go on power trips are trying to hide their insecurities inside.

* neurotic: excessively worried about imagined threats or problems

ex> My neurotic aunt used to be so worried about germs that she would boil all her dishes.

* wipe out: 완전히 없애 버리다 (파괴하다)

Wipe out also means “to lose one’s balance and fall down” as in, “Kenny wiped out when he was skiing and broke his ankle.” It is also a slang term meaning “to murder.”

ex> Did you know that the bison was almost completely wiped out due to excessive hunting?

PE 12/9 Repair or Replace?

* take (something) into account: to consider; remember as being significant

ex> When you realize how many factors meteorologists take into account, it’s amazing they can predict the weather at all.

* preferable: more desirable than another option

ex> Which do you think would be preferable for the guests: a morning swim or an afternoon walk?

* ballpark figure: a numerical estimate within a reasonable range

ex> I don’t need to know exactly how much the repairs will cost, but can you give me a ballpark figure?

Note> This phrase is from the fact that baseballs are seldom hit out of the ballpark, but may still land anywhere within a large area.

* bamboozle: to cheat or confuse someone

ex> Salesmen in the 1950’s employed many methods to bamboozle their customers.

* on good terms: in a friendly relationship; without conflict or bad feelings

ex> I’ve been on good terms with my landlady ever since I swept the sidewalks.

Note> You can also be on bad terms with someone. Clearly, this would mean that there is conflict and ill feelings for someone.

* bad taste in one’s mouth: an unpleasant memory of an experience

ex> Sarah’s high school experiences left her with a bad taste in her mouth, so she was reluctant to enroll for college.

* you reap what you sow: 뿌린 대로 거둔다

The word sow has two different meanings with two different pronunciations. In this expression, sow means “to scatter seeds on the ground,” and is pronounced the same as the common English word so. The other meaning of sow is “an adult female pig,” and is pronounced with the same vowel sound as the word how.

ex> Well, you reap what you sow. You should’ve talked to her if you weren’t happy in your relationship.

PE 12/8 Anderson Cooper – Tulane University Commencement Speech

* one must admit: the truth is inescapable

ex> You must admit that the performance was much better than you were expecting.

* odd: unusual; unexpected

ex> Don’t you think it’s kind of odd that certain stores aren’t allowed to be open on certain days?

* set out to be: plan to become

ex> Trent originally set out to be a painter, but he became an art historian instead.

* fake: attempting to appear real

ex> Jewelry appraisers have accurate ways of determining whether a piece is real or fake.

* I feel your pain: I experience or empathize with your emotion

ex> I feel your pain, but there’s nothing I can do to help you finish that assignment.

Note> Sometimes native speakers just simply use the phrase, I feel you which basically means the same thing.

* screwed: in a difficult or hopeless situation

ex> As soon as our competitor announced their new product, we knew we were screwed.

Note> This is an informal word so please be advised that you use this word around people you’re familiar or are close to.

* a blow: (불의의) 충격, (정신적인) 타격

A blow can be a physical impact, like something being struck by a hammer, or a person being struck with a fist. It can also be a non-physical impact, like a lawsuit being a blow to a company’s reputation.

ex> Have you talked to your sister lately? How is she dealing with the blow?

PE 12/7 A Forgotten Assignment

* slip one’s mind: to be forgotten

ex> It slipped his mind that we needed light bulbs, so I made him go back and get some.

* not have a leg to stand on: to have no chance of proving that something is true

ex> The defendant pleaded guilty because there were no witnesses, so he didn’t have a leg to stand on.

* face the music: to accept the unpleasant results of one’s actions

ex> You’re the one who suggested we take her car, so you have to face the music.

Note> As for the origin of this phrase, a popular theory is that it was actors who “faced the music,” that is, faced the orchestra pit, when they went on stage.

* cut one some slack: to give one some additional freedom; allow something that is not normally allowed

ex> I’ll cut you some slack this week, but from now on please practice all the exercises I assign to you.

* head case: a person with mental problems

ex> Candice was dating this really cute guy who turned out to be a total head case.

Note> This literally means medical cases that are related to the head. Other similar expressions are mental case and nut case.

* far-fetched: unlikely; difficult to believe

ex> Rudy has a far-fetched theory that the universe was created just a few thousand years ago.

* cock and bull story: 터무니없는 이야기, 엉터리 해명

This expression is sometimes written with hyphens, but the hyphens are becoming less common, as in other compound adjectives. Either way, don’t be afraid to use this expression: it’s not obscene (even though it might seem so)

ex> Every time he’s late, he tells me a cock and bull story about his car breaking down. 

PE 12/4 The Art of Furniture Arranging

* busy as a beaver: very busy

ex> Jake was busy as a beaver in his room, making a model bridge out of balsa wood.

* appreciative: grateful; showing pleasure

ex> Last night’s audience was both appreciative and generous: our donation box was full.

* lie through one’s teeth: to boldly say something that is completely false

ex> I lied through my teeth and told him I was twenty-nine.

Note> When I think of this expression, I imagine a person who is completely lying and smiling at the same time. Very deceitful.

* put one’s heart into something: to do something with passion; have an emotional investment in an outcome

ex> Because Nicole had put her heart into the audition, I couldn’t tell her that she’d prepared the wrong piece.

* rationale: a set of reasons for believing or doing something

ex> Detectives are unsure of the thief’s rationale for stealing such an odd collection of paintings.

* here and there: in a few separate places

ex> Snowdrops appear here and there in the yard by the end of February each year.

* bust one’s butt: 매우 열심히 일하다

This expression is derived from one that is more vulgar, but this version should still only be used between peers in a casual setting. A more polite equivalent expression would be knocking oneself out or breaking one’s back.

ex> Why should I bust my butt to put these posters up while you’re just sitting in the truck?

PE 12/3 Warm Enough in Moscow’s Red Square

* nuts: insane

ex> We really enjoyed our time in Italy, but the drivers there are nuts.

* ahead of time: earlier than the specified time; beforehand

ex> The recipe suggests preparing the dry ingredients ahead of time.

* pinch pennies: to spend as little money as possible; be frugal

ex> My wife and I pinched pennies for several months so we could afford this trip.

Note> Based on this definition, a penny-pincher is a person who is very careful with money. In many cases, you’re so careful with money that you actually look cheap. Basically it has a negative connotation.

* for one’s own good: for one’s benefit, even it is unwanted

ex> Trish might not like the taste of this cough syrup, but it’s for her own good.

* make one’s way: to go towards a destination or goal; achieve success in life

ex> It was already 3 o’clock when she left the house, so Kathy made her way to the gallery as quickly as she could.

* get it over with: to eliminate a duty by performing it soon

ex> He performed his military service as soon as he could to get it over with.

Note> Usually this is said because you have to complete an unpleasant or tedious task. You have to do it so you do it quickly and don’t have to deal with it later.

* afterward: 나중에

As with forward, backward, and toward, this word is sometimes spelled with an “s” at the end, especially in non-North American forms of English. The meaning is not affected by adding the “s.” Note that afterward has a homonym. An afterword is an additional section at the end of a book, usually written by a different author ..

ex> Can we do that afterward? I’d like to finish putting these things away first.

PE 12/2 Money Does Not Buy Happiness

* bounce something off one: to get another person’s opinion of an idea

ex> We shouldn’t change the schedule until we’ve bounced it off the other employees.

* long overdue for: to have been entitled for a long time to something that has not happened yet

ex> The weather forecast doesn’t surprise me because we are long overdue for some cold weather.

* sooner or later: at some future time; eventually

ex> Sooner or later we’re going to have to get gas, so let’s stop at the next station.

* something’s got to give: one force must yield to another; something has to yield or it will break under force or pressure.

ex> If we tie a rope to the door handle and if we all pull it, something’s got to give.

Note> This also means that emotions and tempers have escalated and there is going to be an outburst.

ex> Something’s got to give because they have been fighting every day for a month.

* at loggerheads: in a stubborn dispute or disagreement

ex> Students and school administrators are at loggerheads over the school’s new uniform policy.

Note> In the 17^th century, a loggerhead was recorded as “an iron instrument with a long handle used for melting pitch and for heating liquids.” It is likely that the use of these tools as weapons was what was being referred to when rivals were first said to be  at loggerheads.

* rehash: to put old ideas or material into a new form without much improvement

ex> For many years, carmakers presented consumers with little more than rehashed designs.

ex> Kate and I kept rehashing the same arguments, so we decided to see a counselor.

* turnover: 이직률

This word has two other meanings. It can refer to the amount of money in sales that a store or a company receives. It also describes a pastry snack usually containing a fruit filling, where the pastry is folded over the filling.

ex> What did you company do to correct the high turnover it used to have?