PE 7/31 The Case of the Hidden Putter

* something fishy: a suspicious or questionable element

ex> We called our lawyer because there was something fishy in the sales contract.

* fine line between a and b: not much difference; a minor distinction

ex> There’s a fine line between being honest and being insulting, Mark.

* hesitant: unsure about proceeding; reluctant

ex> We were hesitant to step into the street until the student driver was completely out of sight.

* take one to task: to scold or reprimand someone

ex> My PE teacher took me to task for pretending the badminton racket was a banjo.

* humiliating: causing feelings of shame and foolishness

ex> I don’t mind the job, but wearing this uniform is a humiliating experience.

* come back to haunt one: to have later consequences

ex> My poor eating habits came back to haunt me in the form of high cholesterol.

ex> Let’s deal with this defect now so that it doesn’t come back to haunt us.

Note> Also, when we think of the work “haunt,” we’re reminded of the “haunted house” or a ghost that haunts a particular place.

* be open to: In normal speech, this expression sounds very similar to a different one: “be hoping to.” Their meanings are slightly different. One “is open to” something that will be done by or with one or more other people, but one “is hoping to” do something they have to initiate themselves.

ex> I’d be open to offering our friends some pizza and soda in exchange for their help.

PE 7/30 Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona

* rub it in one’s face: to remind someone of an unpleasant situation

ex> Everyone knows you won the race, so you don’t have to rub it in their faces.

ex> I know I was stupid; you don’t have to rub it in.

* lift one’s spirits: to make someone happy or reduce their unhappiness

ex> It really lifted our spirits when the sun came out just before the wedding.

* pull strings: to make use of personal connections to achieve a goal

ex> My coworker pulled a few strings with her father and got us in to meet the performers.

Note> Just like the puppeteer pulled the strings to make things happen for the puppet, so the person who metaphorically pulls some strings does something similar to get something done elsewhere.

* role model: someone whose behavior is a good example for others to follow

ex> My high school music teacher was my role model, and I’ve tried to be like him ever since.

* advocate: a person who speaks on behalf of another person or a cause

ex> My uncle is a tireless advocate for human rights throughout this region.

* disadvantaged: in an unfavorable situation

ex> Many disadvantaged families don’t receive the help they need because their pride prevents them from asking for it.

Note> This word is used especially with regard to social or financial opportunities.

* come through: “Come through” has a range of usages, all related to the idea of something succeeding after a wait or some uncertainty. If someone recovers from an illness or surgery, you can say they “came through.” An email you’ve been waiting for might eventually “come through,” and you yourself might “come through” for a friend who was hoping for your help.

A: Simone told me that you’ve received the approval to undertake your research project.

B: Yes, and I couldn’t be happier. After a six month wait, it finally came through.

PE 7/29 Ross to the Rescue!

* envision: to imagine as a possibility

ex> When I was young, I never envisioned that this area would become so developed.

* onus: duty or responsibility

ex> The onus is on us to find good schools for our kids.

ex> Prosecution lawyers accept the onus to provide proof that the defendant is guilty.

* fall on deaf ears: for information to be ignored

ex> June told them the elevator wasn’t working, but her warnings fell on deaf ears.

* take one for the team: to accept an unpleasant task for the benefit of one’s colleagues

ex> I took one for the team and offered to babysit while everyone else went to the party.

Note> This phrase comes from sports teams. It’s when a player makes a sacrifice for the benefit of the team.

* look forward to: to be eager for a future event or situation

ex> Tammy is looking forward to seeing her family at Christmastime this year.

* leave one high and dry: to leave one helpless

ex> His wife withdrew all their money when she left, leaving him high and dry.

ex> Those guys left me high and dry by running out of the restaurant without paying.

Note> It is believed that this phrase has to do with boats that sometimes get stranded on beaches due to shifting sea levels.

* crux of the matter: This expression means the same thing as “the heart of the matter,” which is more commonly used. When someone says they want to get to the crux of the matter, it means they don’t want to waste time discussing non-essential details.

ex> He’s able to identify the crux of the matter from pieces of evidence others overlook.

PE 7/28 President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Special Message to the Congress: The American Promise

* hold (something) back: to prevent something from moving forward; restrain

ex> You make some very funny faces when you hold back a sneeze.

* stark: severe; bare

ex> The building’s steel frame made a stark image against the evening sky.

ex> If you put some pictures on the walls, your apartment wouldn’t look so stark.

* scarred: damaged by suffering or conflict

ex> My father eventually realized that he was emotionally scarred by the poor treatment he received at boarding school.

* hold onto the past: to refuse to accept new ways or situations

ex> My ex-boyfriend keeps holding onto the past and insisting we go out again.

Note> You can also “hold onto” other things. For instance, you can hold onto your old CDs or hold onto memories.

* at the cost of something: causing a loss or reduction of something else

ex> His promotion came at the cost of both his health and his family’s happiness.

* restless: unsettled; unable to rest or relax

ex> Some graffiti is made by artists, and some is the work of restless teens.

Note> restless night (unable to sleep), restless child (a child that can’t be still), restless audience (bored audience)

* appeal: The expression “appeal to” has an alternate, but similar meaning. If you see something you think is attractive, you can say it appeals to you. The verb “appeal” in a legal context means to challenge a court’s decision and request that it be reversed.

ex> Maybe the teacher will consider letting you rewrite the test if you appeal to him.

PE 7/27 How to Get Served Faster at the Bank

* make a nuisance of oneself: to cause an unwanted distraction or burden on others

ex> You can go next door to visit Mr. Harrison as long as you don’t make a nuisance of yourself.

* hit the nail on the head: to make a correct and accurate guess

ex> I was wondering if you knew what I was doing, but you’ve hit the nail on the head.

* have something up one’s sleeve: to have a secret plan

ex> You don’t have to worry about how we’re going to get in because I have something up my sleeve.

Note> This phrase is from the practice of magicians hiding tricks or gimmicks in the sleeve.

* incentive: an idea, offer, etc. that makes someone want to do something

ex> The sales manager offers incentives to her staff in order to boost their performance.

* one has missed one’s calling: one’s primary talent is in an area one did not pursue.

ex> When I heard our cook sing, I told her that she’d missed her calling.

ex> You’ve missed your calling: your ability to make a solid argument would have made you a great lawyer.

Note> “Calling” is a strong desire to spend your life doing a certain kind of work (such as religious work).

* troublemaker: one who causes a disturbance

ex> Brenda was home from school twice this year for being a troublemaker.

* why on God’s green earth: This expression is used when the speaker wants to know the reason for something that has surprised or shocked them. It is used to imply that the situation doesn’t make sense, and that a poor decision may have been made. “Why in the world …?” is an equivalent expression.

ex> Why on God’s green earth did you do that? The fumes could be highly dangerous!

PE 7/24 No Money for a Meal Out

* bone dry: very dry

ex> It’s bone dry here in the winter, so we usually have a humidifier running at home.

Note> “Bone dry” clearly derives from an allusion to the dryness of bone after being left in the sun.

* the last of something: the final portion, amount, or item of something

ex> Would you please finish up the last of the peanut butter so I can recycle the jar?

ex> This book was the last of a series of six novels the author wrote over a span of ten years.

* destitute: extremely poor; not having the basic necessities of life

ex> Many families were left destitute when their farms were destroyed by the mudslide.

* paint the town red: to celebrate with a spree of enjoyment and/or consumption

ex> Whenever my old roommate visits me, we tend to paint the town red.

Note> “Paint the town red” is, by definition, a group activity, requiring at least two people, and must be conducted in a spirit of giddy jubilation. One lonely guy on a crosstown bender is not “painting the town red.”

* beside oneself: in an extremely emotional state

ex> Suzette was beside herself with joy when her puppy was found.

ex> When I told my wife I’d spent our savings on a land investment, she was beside herself with anger.

* pragmatic: sensible, practical, realistic

ex> Our grandmother is a very pragmatic woman, having lived through difficult times.

* off the top of one’s head: People often answer a question “off the top of their head” to give themselves an allowance for any inaccuracy that might be present in what they’re about to say. It has the same meaning as, “I don’t know for sure, but here is my best guess.”

ex> Off the top of my head, I’d say it’s about seventy meters tall, give or take a few.

PE 7/23 Riding the Sant Joan Funicular

 * queasy [^|kwi:zi]: (subject to) feeling sick or nauseated

ex> I get queasy if I try to text while I’m riding in a moving vehicle.

ex> You may feel a little queasy right after the injection, but it will only last a few minutes.

* sweeten the pot: to add something to make a proposal more appealing; increase a bet in a card game

ex> The salesman sweetened the pot by offering to deliver the furniture for free.

* act on: to do something in response to information, actions, feelings, etc.

ex> Our manager always acts on customer complaints immediately.

* impulse: a sudden, strong urge to do something

ex> The car’s trunk was filled with items she had bought on impulse and later hid.

Note> Another meaning of “impulse” is an electrical charge or pulse. Electrical impulses are coursing through wires all through your house every day.

* there’s no time like the present: now is the ideal time to begin or do something

ex> My mom always taught me that realizing there’s no time like the present will help me get more accomplished.

* drink something in / drink in something: to pay close attention to something for the sensation, memory, or experience

ex> Let’s spend a little while longer at this lookout and drink it all in.

ex> We just stood there drinking in the scenery.

* make the most of something: One generally “makes the most of” a situation that is positive but may be a temporary opportunity, like a trip, some free time, or some unexpected money. When trying to make the most out of a negative situation, you would use the related expression, to “make the best of” it.

ex> How are you planning to make the most of your upcoming trip?

ex> Some international help is available, but experts say that to make the best of this help, new cooperative approaches are needed.

PE 7/22 Social Media Banned at Work

* sure-fire way: a method or procedure that is certain to succeed

ex> Being late to work all the time is a sure-fire way to get fired.

Note> This phrase originates from rifles. Since early rifles were not completely reliable, a “sure-fire” rifle would be highly regarded.

* indifferent: not interested or concerned; ordinary

ex> The kids at my school were indifferent to Charlie until they discovered what a great baseball player he was.

ex> There was a lot of selection at the hotel’s buffet, but the quality was indifferent.

* vex: to annoy, frustrate, or worry someone

ex> Sheila was vexed by the constant changes to the bus schedule in her area.

* in the grand scheme of things: compared to more important matters

ex> My favorite ice cream flavor has been discontinued, but I guess it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

ex> In the grand scheme of things, the actions of celebrities are not worth worrying about.

* rank and file: normal members of an organization; not leaders

ex> Some union representatives were unhappy with the deal, but the rank and file approved it.

Note> The term originates from the formation of military personnel, since troops would stand next to each other (rank) and in a line (file) when marching, while officers would march on the outside of the formation.

* cover one’s tracks: to erase evidence of one’s actions or movements

ex> The thieves who broke into the liquor warehouse were very good at covering their tracks.

* keep something under one’s hat: This informal expression is usually used from one person to another to request that they not share the information with anyone else. Similar expressions include “keep this on the down-low” or “just between you and me.” In a more formal setting, the speaker would ask the listener or listeners to “keep this confidential.”

ex> Keep this under your hat, but I’ve been approached by a rival company to go and work for them.

PE 7/21 Ronald Reagan – Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate

* token gesture: a meaningless action that is made only for show

ex> He donated a little bit of money as a token gesture to get his name in the program.

Note> A “token” is a sign, indication, or symbol so if you give your best friend a bracelet, this would be a token of your friendship.

* false hope: something desirable that is unlikely to happen

ex> Please don’t tell your niece you can make it if you’re just giving her false hopes.

* be open: to be receptive; be willing to share information

ex> The mayor’s office has been open about its long-term vision for the city.

* go together: to be compatible

ex> Not everyone thinks that peanut butter and tuna go together in a sandwich.

* dramatically: in a very impressive way; in a manner related to theater

ex> Tyler’s grades improved dramatically when he started taking gymnastics classes.

* tear down: to demolish; destroy (a structure)

ex> My parents have decided to tear down the old shed that’s on their property.

ex> The warehouse will be torn down next month to make way for a new social housing development.

Note> This phrase is also occasionally used figuratively. If you tear someone down, you criticize or degrade that person.

* seek: The verb “seek” is interesting because it doesn’t require a preposition before the object. It’s the same as “traveling to a country” and “visiting a country.” They mean the same thing, but only the first verb requires a preposition before the object.

ex> I’m seeking a job that involves a lot of travel and allows me to advance within the company.

PE 7/20 One Rotten Avocado

* come along: to develop over time; progress

ex> Albert is coming along very well in school, despite his shyness.

* famished: very hungry

ex> We were all famished by the time we came down from the mountain, so we stopped for a late lunch.

Note> Tracing the roots of “famished” leads us to the Middle English word for “starve.” So it’s no wonder “famished” means absolutely starving or totally ravenous. Just think of all those poor famished people in the Middle Ages, with only porridge and vegetables to eat.

* alternative: another option

ex> Ivan wants us to go to the baseball game with him this afternoon, but Ruthie has a few alternatives she’d like to suggest.

* you get what you pay for: if something is inexpensive or easily gained, it won’t be of high quality

ex> The used car my uncle gave me broke down last week, but you get what you pay for.

* crapshoot: a situation left to chance; a gamble

ex> I don’t recommend buying used musical instruments online because it can be a crapshoot.

ex> The weather there this time of year is a crapshoot, so let’s bring our rain jackets.

Note> Craps is a game in which players make wagers on the outcomes of rolls of dice. Because dice tumble randomly and the outcome is not predictable, craps is a game of chance.

* pocket chance; a small amount of money

ex> Tyler got his new bike second-hand for pocket change, so he’s very happy.

* go downhill: All kinds of things can be said to “go downhill”: product quality, relationships, the weather, etc. One can also say that something is “on a downhill slide” – it means the same thing.

ex> Do you believe that western European art music went downhill in the twentieth century?

PE 7/17 TV Battles

* put the kibosh on: to prevent something from continuing

ex> My childhood friend wanted to make chlorine gas for his science project, but the teacher quickly put the kibosh on that.

ex> The unexpected rainstorm put the kibosh on our picnic plans.

* mesmerizing: able to capture one’s complete attention

ex> Our neighbor has a model railroad installation that is mesmerizing to see in action.

* sissy: effeminate; more appealing to females

ex> As my little brother got older, he thought our games were sissy and wouldn’t play with us any more.

Note> Sissy (derived from sister; also sissy baby, sissy boy, sissy man, etc.) is a negative term for a boy or man who violates or does not meet the standard male gender role.

* take something any day: to strongly prefer something

ex> If choosing between carrots and peas, I’ll take carrots any day.

* from time to time: occasionally

ex> My friends and I like to travel to poorer countries and volunteer our help from time to time.

* in light of: because of; considering

ex> In light of your promotion, I think you should pay for our lunch.

* put off: You might think that the opposite of “put off” would be “put on,” but English is rarely that logical. The closest opposite of “put off” would be “do now,” and the opposite of “put on” is “take off.”

ex> Shall we put off going to the amusement park until next weekend?

PE 7/16 Barcelona’s Picasso Museum

* know-it-all: one who claims to have complete, exclusive knowledge of a subject

ex> Marvin is such a know-it-all that he never respects the opinions of others.

* perplex: to confuse; cause a lack of comprehension

ex> The device was giving us perplexing readings until we calibrated it.

* weight on one’s mind: to be a source of concern or worry

ex> Evelyn’s comments weighed on my mind as I walked along the river that afternoon.

* needle in a haystack: something that is difficult or impossible to find

ex> Finding a specific pair of earrings was like looking for a needle in a haystack until I got a proper jewelry box.

* handy-dandy: convenient and appealing

ex> This handy-dandy vegetable chopper is easy to clean, and comes in three colors.

ex> I replaced a whole room full of tools with this handy-dandy kit I found online.

* nothing gets past one: one cannot be tricked or made to overlook anything

ex> Don’t bother inventing an excuse for handing in your paper late: nothing gets past our teacher.

ex> Nothing gets past a well-trained and alert airport security officer.

* look into: There are so many English expressions (look after, look through, look over, etc.) that have the form “look” plus a preposition that it’s easy to get them confused. Thankfully, “look into” makes sense: to “investigate” something, you literally have to “look into” it.

ex> I called the contractor and he has promised to look into it.

PE 7/15 Leonard Buys New Glasses

 * bookworm: someone who spends too much time reading

ex> When we were young, I was always a bookworm while my sister played lots of sports.

Note> Literally, a bookworm is the larva of a wood-boring beetle that feeds on the paper and glue in books.

* all the rage: extremely popular

ex> My outfit might look strange to you, but this look is all the rage in China.

* fly out the door: to be sold to many people

ex> Once we get the technical problems solved, these things will fly out the door.

* out of one’s league: beyond one’s budget, capability, eligibility, etc.

ex> I’d love to date someone as beautiful as her, but I think she might be out of my league.

* budget range: the general amount that one can afford

ex> There’s nothing in this fancy boutique that’s within my budget range.

* talk turkey: to speak seriously to reach an agreement

ex> Stan was in a friendly mood, but his attitude changed when we began to talk turkey.

* accommodate: “Accommodate” is frequently misspelled, even by native English speakers. Here’s an easy way to remember that there are two C’s and two M’s: to accommodate two people, you need two cots and two mattresses.

ex> I’d like to rent a vehicle that can accommodate three adults and four children, please.

PE 7/14 Martin Luther King – I Have a Dream

* wallow: (of people) to indulge in something; (of animals) roll in mud, water, etc

ex> Ruth likes to sit in lobbies of luxury hotels and wallow in the atmosphere of wealth.

ex> Pigs don’t wallow in mud because they’re lazy or dirty; they do it because it provides them with health benefits.

Note> Informally, this means to do an assortment of activities such as; watching sappy movies, eating absurd amounts of junk food, crying, sleeping, and talking with friends after a particularly bad breakup.

* despair: loss of hope

ex> This exam is only a small part of your final grade, so don’t feel any despair if you fail it.

* face: to turn toward; address; accept; confront

ex> Losing their hair as they get older is something most men have to face.

* rooted in: based on or caused by something

ex> The Holocaust was rooted in racial tensions that had existed for generations.

* live out: to experience a planned goal, idea, or period of time

ex> Peter began to live out his dream of becoming a costume designer for Hollywood films.

Note> A “live-in” is a person who resides in your home with you permanently or on a full time basis.

* swelter: to be uncomfortably hot

ex> Please close the curtains in the morning, or it will be sweltering in here by noon.

ex> We found a little café where we could escape the sweltering heat and have a lemonade.

* be judged: The verb “to judge” implies a fair, impartial assessment, but in regular usage it can sometimes mean “condemn,” which means to disapprove. To “have good judgement” means to make good decisions, but to be “judgmental” means to be excessively critical.

ex> Don’t forget that we’ll be judged by what we sing as well as how well we sing it.

PE 7/13 The Dog Across the Hall

* last straw: the final event that forces an action or situation

ex> He’s been late for our meetings before, but this is the last straw.

Note> This phrase comes from the idiom the straw that broke the camel’s back, alluding to the proverb “it is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.”

* cacophony: a harsh mixture of unpleasant sounds

ex> Edwin’s violin playing will eventually improve, but now it’s just a cacophony.

* take something to heart: to be personally moved or affected by something

ex> Alice took her friend’s advice to heart, and adopted a more responsible lifestyle.

ex> I think he was just teasing you, so don’t take his comment to heart.

* pathetic: causing pity; causing pity to the point of scorn or ridicule

ex> When that little brown puppy looked at me with those pathetic eyes, I knew I had to adopt her.

* let’s face it: let’s accept that the following (bad situation) is true

ex> I ran well today, but let’s face it: I’ll never be an Olympic champion.

* let alone: not to mention; especially not

ex> There was nothing at all to eat in the house, let alone the kind of feast Tom wanted.

* all by one’s lonesome: “All by one’s lonesome” means the same as the more commonly used “all alone,” but it’s a more informal and folksy expression. By itself, “lonesome” is an old-fashioned word meaning “lonely.”

ex> You’re going to leave me in this scary neighborhood all by my lonesome?

PE 7/10 Affordable Fashions for Women

* fetching: attractive

ex> They live in a fetching little yellow house on a tree-lined street in Pasadena.

* come up/away empty-handed: to return with nothing

ex> We went to several garage sales hoping to find a sewing machine, but came away empty-handed.

* clout: influence or power; a physical hit

ex> Jim’s friends advised him not to run for president because he lacked political clout.

* go whole hog: to do everything possible; be extravagant

ex> I went whole hog and bought every accessory they had for my camera.

Note> This is likely a folk term from the practice of livestock and butchery; “whole hog” refers to letting no portion of the animal carcass go to waste. For example, skin is tanned for leather, sweetbreads are harvested, and commonly cast off pieces such as hooves are pickled.

* break the bank: to spend all one’s money

ex> I do like this neighborhood, but buying this house broke the bank.

Note> This idiom has its origins in casino gambling as a reference to occasions when the casino bank does not have the cash to cover winning bets. In common usage, the phrase is often used as a way of saying that a service or product is too expensive.

* retail therapy: shopping to make oneself feel better

ex> There are very few personal problems my sister can’t solve with retail therapy.

* leap out: This past participle of “leap” can be “leaped” or “leapt,” just as “dreamed” and “dreamt” are both acceptable forms. The expression “leap out” can be used literally or figuratively. A dog could leap out at you from a yard, or a car could leap out at you from a magazine!

ex> Wow! These are great colors you’ve chosen! I love the way the letters leap out at you.

PE 7/9 Amazed by the Sagrada Familia Cathedral

* predilection: a special liking for something; a preference

ex> I admire your predilection for eating the local food whenever you travel

* tough it out: to endure a difficulty until it ends

ex> Business is always slow for new restaurants, but many will do well if they can tough it out.

ex> My marriage is going through a difficult time, but I’ve decided to tough it out.

* holy moly: an expression of surprise

ex> Holy moly! The cat jumped right into the bathtub!

* How in the world…?: How…? (used for emphasis to show wonder and surprise)

ex> How in the world did those students hang that car from under the bridge?

* renowned: famous

ex> The orchestra will be led by a renowned conductor from the Czech Republic.

* push the envelope: to approach or extend the limits of what is possible

ex> Private space research organizations are pushing the envelope of reusable spacecraft design.

* work (something) out: Like many expressions that end with “out,” the object can be inside or after the expression. For instance, one can say either “we worked out the communication problem” or “we worked the communication problem out,” To “work out” has another meaning that may be more familiar; it means “exercise,” while a “workout” (no space) means a specific exercise session.

ex> Have you worked out how you’re going to get from Seattle to San Francisco?

PE 7/8 Planning the Company’s 10th Anniversary

* rake one over the coals: to severely scold or reprimand someone

ex> My girlfriend will rake me over the coals if I’m late for our dinner date.

ex> Geoff’s teacher raked him over the coals for disrupting the class with his humming.

Note> This phrase is from the practice of dragging or raking heretics over coals performed by certain religions as a form of torture.

* on the go: in progress

ex> Joan is exhausted these days because she has too many things on the go.

* feel for one: to sympathize with someone

ex> I feel for the people who didn’t get their tickets before the price went up.

* Type A: tense, impatient, and aggressive, or associated with that personality type

ex> Harry is one of those Type A people who can never sit still for a moment.

* turn a blind eye: to ignore something

ex> The policeman knew I had parked illegally, but he turned a blind eye because I had the baby with me.

Note> The meaning of the idiom is to ignore deliberately, to pretend not to notice.

* appease: to calm or satisfy someone by meeting their demands

ex> The shareholders were unhappy with the new president, but he appeased them with a large dividend.

* stand on one’s head: Confusingly, there’s a similar English expression that means almost the opposite. If someone says they can do something standing on their head, it means that the task is very easy.

ex> I got tired of standing on my head just to make the company look good.

PE 7/7 John Kennedy Inaugural Address

* bear arms: to carry one or more weapons

ex> An early amendment to America’s constitution granted its citizens the right to bear arms.

Note> It’s important to note here that “arms” (not our physical two arms) means weapons and ammunition.

* twilight: the period just before sunrise or just after sunset

ex> Helen stood on the porch, her hair softly glowing in the twilight.

* be granted (something): to be given something, especially in an official or legal way

ex> Settlers were granted large pieces of land on the condition they planted crops on them.

ex> Whoever finds and rubs the lamp will be granted three wishes.

* shrink from something: to avoid something, especially because of fear

ex> Bonny was so shy when she was a teenager that she would shrink from anyone who looked at her.

* welcome something: to accept something without hesitation

ex> Candice actually welcomed the rainy weather because it was good for the plants.

* endeavor: an effort to achieve a goal

ex> Our endeavors to clean the house before our parents came home were successful.

* year in and year out: This same structure is used for some other time periods as well, for example “day in and day out.” A similar structure with the same meaning is “year after year,” “month after month,” “hour after hour,” etc. All the expressions describe something that happens steadily for a long time.

ex> My family would stay in the same lakeside cabin year in and year out.

PE 7/6 A Handwritten Letter from Home

* go the way of the dodo: to not be used any more; become obsolete

ex> Telephone answering machines have gone the way of the dodo.

* meticulous: careful; precise; showing attention to detail

ex> Ben’s meticulous nature allowed him to build model aircraft with amazing precision.

* ask after one: to inquire about another person’s state of well-being

ex> I can tell that Shannon is still interested in you because she always asks after you.

* under the weather: not feeling well; slightly unhealthy

ex> Cameron was feeling under the weather, so I made him stay home from school.

* on a dare: as a result of a challenge from another person

ex> On a dare, I once walked through my entire high school dressed as a chicken.

ex> Some people will do anything on a dare, and others will just ignore the challenge.

* out of sight, out of mind: something that is present is forgotten

ex> The problem of poverty in our society is often out of sight, out of mind.

Note> The complete opposite of this phrase would be, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

* apathetic: In English, the prefix “a” sometimes means “not,” especially if the rest of the word has Greek origins. Examples include “apolitical” and “asymmetry.” Apathetic is not one of those words! “Pathetic” means to inspire pity, but “apathetic” means “without enthusiasm.”

ex> Good luck. They’re too apathetic to get up that early on a weekend.

PE 7/3 Too Embarrassed to Ask

* amiable [^|eɪmiəbl]: friendly; pleasant; likeable

ex> We always go to that café because the woman who runs it is so amiable.

* down-to-earth: realistic; practical; unpretentious

ex> Do you find that people who live in the countryside are more down-to-earth than city people?

* sensible: wise; reasonable; without unnecessary details

ex> The report made some very sensible predictions about the future of our industry.

* stone’s throw: a short distance; very close

ex> We were lucky to have had lived within a stone’s throw of our school.

Note> The phrase basically came from the fact that the distance you can throw a stone is between 20-100 feet, which is very close.

* greased lightning: something that is very fast

ex> Owen’s bike doesn’t look like much, but it goes like greased lightning.

ex> Bart ran down the stairs like greased lightning when he was called for dinner.

* call for something: to request, specify, or require something

ex> The recipe called for brown sugar, but I used maple syrup instead.

* in a pickle: Occasionally you will hear someone say “in a pretty pickle,” but it means the same thing: in trouble! Sometimes an adjective that is specific to the situation will be used, like “in a legal pickle” or “in a financial pickle.” The important thing to remember is that these expressions have nothing to do with pickles.

ex> No way. If we can’t get this escalator back into operation soon, we’ll be in a pickle.

PE 7/2 A Walking Tour in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter

* in the know: aware; well informed

ex> My grandmother still reads the newspaper every day because she wants to be in the know.

ex> Those who are in the know are investing in gold these days.

Note> If you are “in the know,” you have access to all the information about something, which other people don’t have.

* perk: an extra benefit or reward

ex> The salary at my new job is not very high, but there are many perks to working there.

Note> When the word is used as a verb (usually used with up, “perk up”), it means to become lively and cheerful.

* pop open: to open suddenly and unexpectedly

ex> We were just sitting down to lunch when the door popped open and Ernie ran in.

ex> Every time I wear that blouse, it pops open whenever I raise my arms.

* that was close: a bad situation almost happened

ex> That was close! The goalie barely returned to the net in time to catch the ball!

* pickpocket: a thief who takes things from people’s pockets without being detected

ex> They say that the world’s cleverest pickpockets are in Naples, Italy.

* have one’s back: to protect someone by being aware and ready to help them

ex> Don’t worry about telling the boss what happened: I’ve got your back.

* hit the bricks: “Hit the bricks” and “hit the pavement” mean the same thing: to go out on foot – especially in a city – with a specific purpose. Compare this to “hit the road” which means to leave a place, and “hit the streets” which means to go out into public.

ex> As long as we hit the bricks by 8:00 AM, we should be able to do it.

PE 7/1 Getting a Taxi in a Foreign City

* reluctant: not willing; hesitant

ex> I was reluctant to test drive the bicycle my brother fixed because he’s not very careful.

* pull something: to deceive; play a trick

ex> My sister always tries to pull something when we play cards, just to see if I’m watching her.

* out of the goodness of one’s heart: for reasons of kindness alone

ex> I was ten minutes late, but the shopkeeper still served me out of the goodness of his heart.

* steamed: annoyed; angry

ex> Eunice was so steamed at her boyfriend’s comment that she left the restaurant.

* comfort zone: a comfortable, secure mental state

ex> My boss always challenges me to work outside of my comfort zone.

* ride shotgun: to sit in the front passenger seat of a vehicle

ex> My mom always lets my older sister ride shotgun because she’s prone to motion sickness.

Note> The expression “riding shotgun” is derived from “shotgun messenger,” a colloquial term for “express messenger,” in the days of stagecoach travel. It’s the person in the position next to the driver.

* winnow down: The expressions “winnow down” and “whittle down” mean almost the same thing, but not exactly. To whittle something down is to gradually remove small pieces from it, often until there is nothing left. Winnowing down is a faster process for removing unwanted parts and revealing desirable ones.

ex> I guess we have no choice but to winnow down our guest list.

* 택시를 잡다: get/catch/hail/flag/nab a taxi

PE 6/30 Jane Goodall: What Separates Us from Chimpanzees?

* altruism: devotion to the welfare of others

ex> The selection committee prefers applicants who show signs of altruism.

* rich: plentiful; abundant

ex> There is a rich diversity of plant life on the far side of that hill.

* sense of humor: the ability or willingness to respond to amusement

ex> It is rare to find a person who has absolutely no sense of humor.

* prerogative: a right or entitlement that is specific to an individual or group

ex> It’s easy to forget that international air travel was once the prerogative of the wealthy.

* above all: more than anything

ex> Above all, we wanted to make sure that our son’s education was appropriate to his natural abilities.

* abuse: to mistreat

ex> I abused those leather shoes so badly that I had to replace them after only four months.

Note> Be careful with the pronunciation of this word. The “s” for the verb form has a Z sound. The “s” for the noun form has the S sound.

* pat one on the back: This expression is also used to refer to a reward that is smaller than desired or expected. If you were hoping for a raise at work but receive only a word of thanks, you might call that “a pat on the back.”

ex> That’s a real accomplishment. You can pat yourself on the back for that.