PE 8/28 Spaghetti for Dinner – Again

* signature (adj.): representative; what one is known for

ex> The diver could always count on her signature move to get applause from audiences.

ex> This article analyzes the signature techniques that made the guitarist so famous.

* give one flak: to criticize someone harshly

ex> My mom gave me flak for hiding the garbage under my sister’s bed.

Note> “Flak came into English as an abbreviation for the German word “Fliegerabwehrkanone,” meaning “aircraft-defense gun.” If you’re enemy territory drawing shots, or you’re dealing with a ton of criticism that seems like antiaircraft fire.

 

* look a gift horse in the mouth: to find fault with something one received for free

ex> The purse he got me isn’t exactly the one I wanted, but I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

* magnanimity [mæ̀ɡnəníməti] : generosity

ex> Her uncle was famous for his magnanimity, having donated a fortune to build a library.

* ad nauseam: until one is sick of it

ex> The principal’s speech went on ad nauseam about how we could be better school citizens.

Note> “Ad nauseam” is a Latin term for a discussion that has continued so long that it has continued “ to [the point of] nausea.”

* do something blindfolded: to be able to do something with very little effort or concentration

ex> We’ve been to the mall so many times this week I could probably drive there blindfolded.

* since the dawn of time: This is one of many English expressions that use exaggeration to make their point. Two other expressions that mean “since a long time ago” are “from the year dot” and “since dinosaurs roamed the earth.”

ex> He’s had a basketball in his hands since the dawn of time.

PE 8/27 Horseback Riding in Costa Rica

* terrain: ground; land surface

ex> Scientists have made extensive maps of the Martian terrain.

ex> These hiking boots are designed for all types of terrain, and they’re waterproof too.

* ins and outs: the correct methods and details of a situation or process

ex> An experienced architect knows the ins and outs of obtaining government approvals.

Note> This phrase alludes to the tortuous windings and turnings of a road or path.

* well-versed: very experienced and knowledgeable

ex> At the end of this program, you will be well-versed in Byzantine art and literature.

* pick a winner: to make a good decision that leads to success

ex> Your fiancée is truly lovely and smart. It looks like you’ve picked a winner, son.

* hazard: a danger or risk

ex> I don’t enjoy playing golf if there are too many hazards on the course.

* muster the courage: to have the necessary bravery

ex> Once I mustered the courage to try paragliding, I decided it was my favorite sport.

Note> The word, “muster,” meant to gather reluctant soldiers out of bed and into the field of battle. Now, muster’s definition has been expanded to include gathering up just about anything including courage.

* set out: Here are a few other expressions that mean the same as “set out:” “set off,” “start out,” “sally forth,” “hit the trail,” “hit the road,” and “set sail.” There are lots of ways to start a journey in English!

ex> I think we’ll be fine as long as we set out before 7 AM.

PE 8/26 The High Cost of a Popular Location

* run/rush off one’s feet: very busy

ex> Farmers are run off their feet this time of year, but can relax during winter.

Note> This hyperbolic expression alludes to running or hurrying so much that one falls down. The first dates from the mid-1800s; the second was first recorded as “rushed off one’s leg” in 1916.

* explode: to grow very quickly

ex> That band’s popularity exploded last year.

ex> Experts predict that sales of electric vehicles will explode in the coming months.

* slammed: struck hard; faced with a heavy workload

ex> I heard your company was slammed with orders after the trade show.

* be hit with: to be given something large and/or unwanted

ex> We were hit with a huge bill when our tree fell down on our neighbour’s fence.

* pony up: to pay money, especially to settle a bill

ex> Carl lost his bet to Roy, so he had to pony up for everyone’s dinner.

Note> “Pony up” is very much an American phrase and most people in the USA will know its meaning, whereas elsewhere in the English-speaking world the expression is rarely used. In the UK we are more likely to “stump up” and in Australia and New Zealand money is “fronted up.”

* come a long way: to improve very much

ex> My cello playing isn’t as good as I would like it to be yet, but I’ve come a long way.

ex> Maurice came a long way in only three months, so he’ll probably improve some more.

* bottom line: Even though “bottom line” originated from accounting terminology, it has come to mean “end result” or “conclusion” in a more general way. For example, you can say, “There are many reasons behind our decision, but the “bottom line” is that we’re not going there.

ex> Simon told me that the new milling machine was very expensive. – It was, but we’ve been able to make more money with it, so it actually improved our bottom line.

PE 8/25 Stephen Colbert – Knox College Commencement Speech

* thorough: performed with care and completeness

ex> Fred spent two hours giving the bathroom the most thorough cleaning it’s ever had.

* diversity: range of different things or people

ex> Because the city was damaged many times, it has a diversity of building styles.

* go out on a limb: to take a risky, dangerous position, esp. by stating an unusual viewpoint

ex> I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this show will become a huge hit.

Note> This expression is often used sarcastically and humorously to describe obvious situations. It is used this way in today’s speech excerpt.

* mainstream: normal and conventional attitudes, trends, activities, etc.

ex> The world has been shaped by people who operated outside of the mainstream.

ex> I really like Harold, even though his taste in clothes is a bit too mainstream.

* give one the credit: to claim that one is the reason for a positive result

ex> Alistair did most of the work, but the boss gave Dale all the credit.

* blogosphere: the collective world of personal websites and blogs

ex> The blogosphere is alive with discussions of the celebrity couple’s breakup.

* fitting (adjective) The word “fitting” is also a noun, which has two very different meanings. It can describe a procedure or appointment for checking the sizes of custom made clothing. It is also used to describe a small part attached to furniture, lamps, or equipment.

ex> That would be fitting. She was my roommate last year, and we got along great.

PE 8/24 One Dead Barbecue

* I hate to be the bearer of bad news: I don’t want to deliver bad news

ex> I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you need a new transmission.

* give up the ghost: to die; be permanently broken

ex> My grandfather stopped driving when his old car finally gave up the ghost.

Note> “Ghost” can describe a person’s soul or spirit (if you believe in such things), so if you gave it up, possibly to some higher authority, you no longer have it and you die. Its use in that sense is very old, but the expression is more used now to describe less dramatic events.

* hang in there: to endure a difficult situation

ex> We’ll be all right if we can just hang in there until payday.

ex> If you can hang in there for three more laps, you will win the race.

* pack it in: to stop functioning; quit

ex> Our fridge packed it in on the hottest day of the year, so we cooked a lot of food that day.

Note> This usage alludes to packing one’s things before departing, and during World War I became military slang for being killed. It also is used as an imperative ordering someone to stop, as in “Pack it.”

* luck out: to experience a piece of good fortune

ex> My team lucked out and found the hidden treasure before anyone else.

* discontinued: no longer available

ex> We can’t break any more dishes because this pattern has been discontinued.

* shot: The term “shot” is used to describe anything that is no longer functioning: objects, machines, even relationships. They only kinds of things you wouldn’t say were “shot” would be complicated objects or systems, like a house or a corporation.

ex> I’d love to, but my tennis racket is shot. I really have to get a new one.

PE 8/21 Disagreeing with the Numbers

* cheap at twice the price: still a bargain even if the price was doubled

ex> I bought two baskets of these berries because they would’ve been cheap at twice the price.

Note> “Cheap at half the price” is the original and correct version of the saying. In Middle English, cheap, or “cheep” also meant goods or property, so the street cry, “Cheap at half the price!” was the Middle Ages’ equivalent of today’s shop window sign, “All stock 50% off.” “Cheap at twice the price seems to be a misunderstanding of the original meaning of “cheep.”

* no kidding: I agree; of course; Is that true?

ex> No kidding they want his autograph. He’s the most popular film actor ever!

ex> Your mom used to be a flight attendant? No kidding!

* two stops ahead of one: to have already started or done what was needed

ex> I told Leanne she should take up tap dancing, but she was already two steps ahead of me.

* smidge / smidgen: a very small amount

ex> Leo says that adding a smidge of salt to this cookie recipe makes them much tastier.

ex> You’ll be able to open your door if you move the car forward just a smidgen.

* precisely: exactly; carefully

ex> Lisa’s house is precisely fifteen miles from the nearest beach.

* give it a rest: stop repeating or doing something

ex> Ray kept trying to convince me to go out with him, so I told him to give it a rest.

* put something up: You can also say that you’ve put something up for sale, which means that you’ve announced that it is available for purchase. And when you put a person up, it means you’ve given them a place to sleep in your home.

ex> Why don’t we put a shelf up on the long wall in the living room?

PE 8/20 I Saw an Agouti!

* peculiar: unusual; strange

ex> She had a peculiar habit of running with her arms straight down at her sides.

* lost in translation: changed in meaning when passed from one person, language or medium to another

ex> My instructions must’ve gotten lost in translation, because they brought me a pickle instead.

Note> So many words and expressions get “lost in translation” when we translate Korean into English. For instance, it’s difficult to find English words for “여유” or “정.” So it’s inevitable that certain words get lost in translation.

* scurry: to run quickly with short steps

ex> After shopping, we scurried home to show Miles what we’d bought.

* on tiptoe: walking quietly with one’s heels raised

ex> We walked on tiptoe past Clara’s door because we didn’t want to awaken her.

* run amok: to behave in an uncontrolled manner

ex> Grandma used to let us kids run amok in the fields behind her house.

ex> The fence is broken and the cattle are running amok on the road.

Note> The phrase “run amok” (also spelled “amuck”) is often used to describe such things as children making a mess while they run around and paly. Classically, though, it more resembled the modern phrase “going postal” or someone who just snaps for various reasons and goes on a murderous rampage.

* show one’s face: to appear; to stop hiding

ex> After losing the game so badly, we didn’t want to show our faces at school.

ex> Deer rarely show their faces this time of day, so we were very lucky to see some.

* pay attention: The word “pay” is usually related to money, so here’s a one-line English joke for you: “I’m so poor that I can’t even afford to pay attention!”

ex> This film is so bad that I’m finding it hard to pay attention. Why are they in a submarine now?

PE 8/19 Working from Home

* thrilled to pieces: very happy and excited

ex> Grandma was thrilled to pieces with the gift we got her.

Note> Another variation of this phrase is “thrilled to bits.” You can also “love someone to bits” which means to love someone a lot.

* apprehensive: nervous; concerned about a future situation

ex> Trevor is always apprehensive when the company is being audited.

* How so?: Why do you say that? What is the reason?

ex> You say we won’t be able to afford a vacation next year. How so?

ex> Our competitor’s customer service is superior to ours? How so?

* isolated: separated from or having little in common with others

ex> Our son was very isolated until he started playing guitar in a band.

* stir crazy: restless and agitated

ex> We taught each other card games so we wouldn’t go stir crazy on the long voyage.

Note> Stir crazy is a phrase that was used among inmates in prison. It referred to a prisoner who became mentally unbalanced because of prolonged incarceration. The term “stir crazy” is based upon the slang stir (1851) to mean prison.

* in a big way: very much; to a great extent

ex> Maria’s taco truck was successful in a big way, so she bought another one.

* round up: “Round up” also refers to the mathematical operation of increasing a figure to the next highest amount. It has a third meaning too! A “roundup” or “round-up” is a gathering together of people or animals, especially livestock.

ex> Don’t worry. I’m sure that if we can round up enough volunteers the work will be done in less than an hour.

PE 8/18 Bradley Whitford – University of Wisconsin Commencement Speech

* catch one’s breath: to recover from a sudden or intense activity or emotion

ex> Judith ran up the stairs so fast it took her a minute to catch her breath.

Note> This phrase also means to take in a breath sharply and hold it, usually in reaction to a sudden shock, or surprise.

* limit oneself: to avoid pursuing one’s potential

ex> Are you sure you aren’t limiting yourself by taking that restaurant job?

* take it from someone: accept someone as an experienced authority

ex> Take it from someone who has had pneumonia twice: don’t take chances with your respiratory health.

ex> We decided to take it from Ron, who worked as a field guide there for years.

* gregarious: enjoying the company of others

ex> Your uncle is a gregarious host, and seems to know everyone’s name.

* insecure: unsure; anxious; not confident

ex> News of the country’s civil war made her insecure about travelling there.

Note> Models make a living being beautiful. We automatically assume that all models are confident about their beauty. But surprisingly, there are many who are “insecure” about their appearances.

* bristle: to act in an angry or offended way

ex> Marcus bristled when Faye said she thought his ideas were borrowed from someone else.

* extrovert: An “extrovert” is a person whose primary concern is the social and physical world around them, and an “introvert” is someone who is more concerned with their own thoughts and feelings. An easy way to remember the difference is that an introvert looks inside themselves more.

ex> Would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extrovert?

PE 8/17 Nina the Volunteer Storyteller

* climb the wall: to be very restless

ex> We’d better schedule a break in this seminar or the attendees will be climbing the wall.

Note> Restlessness can come from boredom, anxiety, frustration or even excitement. So make sure to consider the context when you come across this phrase.

* get the lead out: to stop being slow or lazy; start doing something energetically

ex> We got the lead out as soon as we arrived, and began to clean the cabin.

* haven’t got a clue: to not know (emphatic)

ex> I haven’t got a clue how your cookie got onto my plate.

ex> Many consumers haven’t got a clue how their electronic devices work.

* of all stripes / of every stripe: of all types

ex> This zoo used to house animals of every stripe, but many have been relocated to a large nature reserve.

Note> The word, “stripe” derives from a slangy term of the 1820s onwards for the narrow strips of colored material sewn to military uniforms to indicate rank, such as the three stripes of a sergeant. “Stripe” soon shifted colloquially to refer generally to a person’s views or affiliations, or to his type or category, not only in politics but also in religion and other matters.

* gig: a job, especially a temporary one

ex> Geoffrey got a gig waiting tables at an outdoor café for the summer.

* undoubtedly: certainly

ex> It will undoubtedly rain before the day is over.

* bored out of one’s skull: There are several English expressions that mean “very bored.” They include “bored out of my tree,” “bored out of my mind,” “bored to tears,” and even “bored out of my gourd”!

ex> I was bored out of my skull by the movie, but spending time with her was great.

PE 8/14 Persuaded a Party

* dude up: to dress well; make attractive

ex> Clive likes to get his car all duded up and drive up and down the shoreline road.

* swamped: very busy with work

ex> We were swamped with orders within days of announcing our new product.

* never fail: always happen

ex> It never fails: every time I’m in the shower, my mother phones me.

* sing one’s heart out: to sing loudly and freely

ex> Those girls stood outside the restaurant for half an hour, singing their hearts out.

Note> Korean people love to sing. Singing rooms are a great place “to sing one’s heart out,” but the best place to do this is in the car. Just make sure no one is watching.

* transmogrify: to be transformed in a quick and surprising way

ex> Children are amazed to watch a caterpillar transmogrify into a butterfly.

* happy-go-lucky: carefree; not worried about the future

ex> I’m trying to become as happy-go-lucky as my puppy is.

Note> People who can be accurately described as happy-go-lucky do not let the stresses and pressures of everyday life get to them. Happy-go-lucky people take a positive approach, appreciating the good things – not just the bad – that come from a rough situation.

* every once in a while: English has many expressions that mean “occasionally” or “rarely.” For things that happen sometimes, you can use “every now and again,” “every now and then,” or “every once in a while.” For very rare events, you can say “once in a blue moon.”

ex> Every once in a while my dad will do something strange, like fill the fridge with car parts.

PE 8/13 The Arenal Volcano

* spitting image of something: someone or something that looks exactly like someone or something else

ex> My niece is always being photographed by strangers because she’s the spitting image of Emma Stone.

Note> The term “spitting image” is a shortening of the original “spit and image,” which means that you are both the stuff that your parents are made of (the spit) and you look like them, too (the image).

* spring chicken: a very young person or thing

ex> My grandmother is no spring chicken, but she can swim faster than I can.

ex> This car is no spring chicken, so I don’t think it will last much longer.

Note> This phrase is almost always used in the negative, “no spring chicken.”

* play with fire: to do something dangerous or to act recklessly

ex> Fred should’ve known he was playing with fire to ask Tammy about her ex-boyfriend.

* cause a commotion: to do something that causes a widespread emotional reaction

ex> The Mutant Turnips’ second album caused a commotion when it first came out.

* dormant: temporarily inactive or slowed down

ex> These plants are dormant through the winter, but produce beautiful blooms all spring.

* obliterate: to destroy completely

ex> There are many simple things we can do to ensure that the rainforests are not obliterated.

ex> These figures make it clear that many diseases have been obliterated by improved hygiene.

* ease off: “ease off” and “ease up” means the same thing: to become lesser. You can also use “let up,” which has the same meaning, especially when talking about the weather.

ex> I’m still hopeful that the rain will ease off soon.

PE 8/12 Dinosaurs at Work

* better off: in a preferable position

ex> I know you want pizza, but you’d be better off having a salad instead.

ex> My ancestors were much better off after they left their homeland and came here.

Note> When you’re trying to console your friend who has been dumped by his/her significant other, you’ll probably say, “You’re better off without him/her!”

* in one’s prime: at the height of one’s abilities

ex> When my dad was in his prime, he could bench press over 200 lbs.

ex> Many orchestral conductors are still in their prime when they’re in their eighties.

* lose one’s marbles: to become senile or insane

ex> I’m worried that if my cousin spends any more time in the military, he might lose his marbles.

* heads are going to roll / heads will roll: people will be dismissed or punished

ex> Heads will roll when the boss finds out that the project is behind schedule again.

ex> If the economy takes another downturn, you can bet that heads are going to roll.

Note> This phrase is from the imagery of a head rolling on the ground when a person is decapitated as punishment for a crime.

* dinosaur: an old and obsolete worker, piece of equipment, etc.

ex> We should get rid of that dinosaur and buy a new photocopier.

ex> Clay’s linguistics professor was an old dinosaur who had taught there for decades.

* get the axe: to be dismissed or canceled

ex> Rumors suggest that over 3,000 workers will get the axe when the company restructures.

ex> My proposal got the axe, but many of its central ideas were retained.

* loaded: Like many English expressions, “loaded” has an alternate meaning that is very different: it means “drunk.” When you hear this expression being used, you will have to rely on the context to figure out which meaning is intended. For example, if someone says their family is loaded, they’re probably talking about money, not alcohol.

ex> Marie told me that our new neighbors are having a second garage built for all their cars.

Really? They must be loaded.

PE 8/11 George Saunders – Syracuse University Commencement Speech

* in one’s favor: to one’s advantage or benefit

ex> One thing our opponent has in their favor is a lot of fans to cheer them on.

* real life: life as it is lived in the real world, with both good and bad events

ex> I didn’t get my first taste of real life until I graduated from college.

Note> On the Internet, “real life” refers to life offline. Online, the acronym “IRL” stands for “in real life,” with the meaning “not on the Internet.”

* come to one’s defense: to voluntarily defend another person against criticism

ex> Jack came to my defense when the manager accused me of giving away company secrets.

* near and dear: closely and fondly familiar

ex> We had to reduce our wedding guest list to those who are near and dear.

* drop away: to slowly go away or become removed

ex> Our graduating class holds reunions every five years so friendships don’t drop away.

ex> Ever since the illness, I can feel my energy dropping away at about 3 o’clock every day.

* heartfelt: sincere; strongly felt

ex> My grandfather sent me his heartfelt wishes for a successful future.

* get/have one’s butt kicked: There are a few variations to this casual expression. To kick (some) butt is to compete or win in an assertive, decisive way. Butt is considered a more acceptable noun than the more vulgar term ass, which is sometimes substituted in these expressions.

ex> Did you watch the Ocelots get their butts kicked in the game yesterday?

PE 8/10 Cindy’s New Suitcase

* brick-and-mortar: a physical location (as opposed to an online store)

ex> The internet has made it challenging for brick-and-mortar stores to stay in business.

ex> My sister like shopping online, but I prefer going to brick-and-mortar stores.

* hands-on: involving active participation

ex> Naomi has a lot of hands-on experience teaching gymnastics to kids.

Note> In Hollywood, some celebrities make it a point to tell everyone that they are “hands-on” parents. Because these people have easy access to nannies and housekeepers, they want the world to know that they are actively involved in raising their kids.

* pushy: excessively assertive or ambitious

ex> Why are these so many pushy older women on the subway today?

* won’t take no for an answer: to be unwilling to accept refusal

ex> I’d like to take you to dinner this Friday, and I won’t take no for an answer.

* devil’s advocate: a person who gives an opposing viewpoint to test the strength of an argument

ex> I’ll play devil’s advocate here and suggest that your plan could do more harm than good.

Note> Originally, a Devil’s Advocate was a Roman Catholic church official who had been appointed to argue the case against a proposed canonization of a candidate for sainthood. The Devil’s Advocate’s formal title is Promoter of the Faith, which isn’t quite as sinister.

* in a heartbeat: quickly and enthusiastically

ex> If Victor proposed to me, I would say “yes” in a heartbeat.

ex> We’d always wanted to spend time in Europe, so we agreed in a heartbeat when the opportunity came up.

* shady: The word “shady” has a more literal meaning as well. It can refer to an outdoor area that is protected from direct sunlight, like a shady patio or a shady forest. To help remember that it also means “dishonest,” imagine that truth is like sunshine.

ex> That place has a shady reputation, and I don’t want to see you lose your money.

PE 8/7 The Secret Beneath the Stairs

* pending: waiting for a decision, process, etc

ex> The sale of this house is pending, but there are others I can show you.

* tight-lipped: unwilling to speak about something

ex> Police have been tight-lipped about whether the suspect matches the thief’s description.

Note> This also means to have an angry expression. Someone who is tight-lipped has their lips pressed tightly together because they are annoyed about something or they do not approve of it.

* slippery slope: an idea or action that will lead to a bad situation

ex> Do you really think that reading this book would put us on the slippery slope to sci-fi addiction?

ex> The company is on the slippery slope to failure due to its poor internal communications.

Note> If someone tells you that you are heading down a slippery slope, it is a warning which assumes no other options but a rapid slide into negative consequences.

* full-blown: fully developed

ex> I felt uncomfortable after lunch, and by 6PM I had full-blown stomach flu.

* be at it: to be doing something intensely without stopping

ex> We’ve been at it all morning, so I think we should take a break for lunch soon.

ex> I’m surprised that Kira is still cleaning her room, because she was at it for hours yesterday.

* from dawn till dusk: all day

ex> The hikers were on the trail from dawn till dusk, setting up their tents only after the sun had gone down.

* hoard: “Hoard” is also a verb, meaning to gather together and hide valuables. Try not to confuse this word with “horde,” which is pronounced the same way, but means “a large group of people.”

ex> Do you really think that the pirate’s hoard of gold would have survived for two centuries?

PE 8/6 Costa Rica – A Nation of Peace

* catch one’s eye: to be noticed by someone

ex> This silver bracelet caught my eye at a craft fair, so I bought it as a gift for my sister.

* have it both ways: to benefit from two conflicting aspects of a situation

ex> Eating too much of your favorite ice cream will make you gain weight because you can’t have it both ways.

Note> This phrase is usually used in the negative. I hear some people say that you can’t be the best mom and best career woman at the same time. What do you think? Can working moms have it both ways?

* abolish: to officially eliminate something

ex> Countries that abolish capital punishment do not experience an increase in violent crime.

* squabble: <noun> a noisy disagreement over a minor matter; <verb> to engage in this

ex> I used to squabble with my younger brother, but now we’re the best of friends.

ex> A squabble over fishing rights is preventing the two countries from maintaining peace.

* stand the test of time: to exist for a long time through strength, quality, etc.

ex> These castle walls were built without mortar, but have stood the test of time.

ex> I have no doubt that our relationship will stand the test of time.

* follow one’s lead: to do what someone else has successfully done

ex> If we ban the use of harmful pesticides, other countries will follow our lead.

* haven’t the foggiest idea: This expression is used when someone is confronted with a situation that doesn’t make any sense to them. It means the same as “I haven’t the slightest idea” or “I haven’t got a clue.”

ex> I haven’t the foggiest idea, but I’ll bet that Vince has something to do with it.

PE 8/5 Trying to Rent a Purple and Yellow Car

* aberration: something that is different from what is normal or expected

ex> The teacher decided to treat his one bad test score as an aberration.

* have one’s hands tied / one’s hands are tied: to be prevented from doing something by a situation beyond one’s control.

ex> We wanted to give the client a better rate, but we had our hands tied by company policies.

ex> Gail’s hands were tied, so she couldn’t meet her friends until the job was done.

Note> This expression is similar to “have one’s hands full” so it is used interchangeably with the phrase above. And this expression just simply means, “to be busy or thoroughly preoccupied.”

* picked over: to already have had all the desirable items removed

ex> We got to the sale too late, and all the racks had been picked over by the time we got there.

* sweet-talk: to influence someone by flattering them

ex> I can’t believe you sweet-talked your mom into letting you borrow her car.

Note> Native speakers often used the adjective form of “sweet” to describe someone who is pleasant, kind, and gentle.

* taciturn: reserved; uncommunicative; silent

ex> I expected the librarian to be taciturn, but he was very friendly and talkative.

* pan out: to succeed

ex> Glen hoped the city would approve his caramel apple stand, but it didn’t pan out.

ex> The camping trip didn’t pan out because the weather report predicted thundershowers.

* get over: English is full of idioms that have the form “get+a preposition.” Examples include “get up,” “get behind,” “get with,” and “get at.”

ex> It sounds like Sue is having a hard time getting over her breakup with Mark.

PE 8/4 Shonda Rhimes – Dartmouth Commencement Speech

* lesson one: the most important thing to know

ex> Grace learned early that lesson one was to make sure her students felt important.

ex> Lesson one: never turn on this piece of machinery unless you’re wearing all the proper safety equipment.

* ditch (verb): to throw away; abandon

ex> They had to ditch their plan to go wakeboarding because the water was too rough.

Note> Back when I was in high school, almost everyone “ditched” a class or two. This meant that you skipped class to do something else.

* doer: a person who takes action

ex> Daphne was a real doer, so it’s no surprise she earned a degree while raising kids.

ex> Ralph talks a lot about his plans and dreams, but he’s not much of a doer.

* paralyzed: unable to move; powerless

ex> We were so afraid of the snake that we stool there paralyzed for several minutes.

* move forward: to make progress

ex> Our company will be able to move forward when the new regulations take effect.

Note> If you’ve had a serious disagreement with a friend or family member, try to resolve the situation by saying, “I apologize. Let’s try to move forward.”

* seize the/an opportunity: to take action to benefit from a temporary situation

ex> Tim became wealthy from being able to know when to seize an opportunity.

* crappy: The word crappy is slightly vulgar, and should only be used in casual settings amongst one’s peers. Some more polite words that mean the same thing include “worthless,” “lousy,” “useless,” or “shoddy.”

ex> Why are we still use this crappy old toaster? The bread always gets stuck inside it.

PE 8/3 Advice from a Worried Father

* fend for oneself: to take care of oneself; be independent

ex> The apartment manager’s office is closed, so it looks like we’ll have to fend for ourselves.

ex> You’ll have to fend for yourself until I get home from work at 5 o’clock.

* proffer: to present something for acceptance

ex> When I proffered my resignation, I felt like a weight had been lifted from me.

* polish (something) off: to complete doing or consuming something

ex> Sam polished off his dinner in just a few minutes, then left for his practice.

ex> As soon as we polish this paper off, we can take a break and go for coffee.

* tuck into: to eat food eagerly

ex> We were so hungry from our long hike that we all tucked into lunch without saying a word.

Note> I you “tuck someone into something,” it means to put a child into bed and make sure that they are warm and comfortable by covering them well.

ex> He fed the children and tucked them into bed.

* lose sleep over something: to be excessively worried about something

ex> I’ve been losing sleep over how I’m going to handle my taxes this year.

* leave one to one’s own devices: to leave someone alone to do what they want

ex> My siblings and I are capable because we were often left to our own devices when we were children.

Note> This phrase is a fairly recent idiom, dating to the late 19^th century, and the original sense of “devices” in the phrase was simply “wishes” or “preferences.” But over time “device” in the phrase has drifted in the direction of the sense of “scheme, plan, plot or trick.”

* rundown: Don’t confuse the noun “rundown” with the adjective “run-down,” which means “in poor condition due to neglect,” as in a run-down old house.”

ex> I didn’t have a chance to read your report but I’m heading into the meeting now. Could you give me a quick rundown of what’s in it?