PE 9/30 A Business with a Heart

* busy as a one-armed paper hanger: very busy

ex> Evan’s been busy as a one-armed paper hanger trying to get the house ready for Jane’s visit.

Note> This comical expression relates to the task of applying (“hanging”) wallpaper, which is a difficult enough task for a person to perform with two arms, let alone one.

* moved: affected emotionally

ex> My parents were moved by that film about the dog that traveled across the country to rejoin his family.

* touching: causing sentimental feelings

ex> This book tells the touching story of a friendship between an old blind man and a young boy in a wheelchair.

* move heaven and earth: to make large efforts, especially organizational

ex> You must’ve moved heaven and earth to get these playoff tickets!

Note> This expression is an example of hyperbole, which means the use of exaggeration to make a point. Other examples include “I have a million things to do.” and “I could eat a horse.”

* way of life: a central aspect of one’s lifestyle

ex> Cattle herding is a way of life for the people of Nepal.

* on cloud nine: elated; extremely happy

ex> Lorri has been on cloud nine since she received her approval letter from the university.

* We’re square.: 우리 사이에는 빚이 없다

This expression doesn’t just relate to money. It can refer to any situation where nothing is owed between the speakers. Another way to say the same thing is, “We’re even.”

ex> You bought me lunch last week, so I’d say we’re square.

9/30 Car Insurance

Talk about the car insurance you have.

It is required by law to have car insurance in Korea. I have comprehensive collision coverage on my insurance plan. The insurance company pays if my car was in an accident and need repairs. I also have full liability coverage. It covers both injuries and property damage. Most car insurance policies in Korea are like that. I have to renew my car insurance every year. The insurance fee varies from person to person. It depends on how old you are and how long you had car insurance. Plus, the fee goes up if you had accidents and goes down if you didn't have any accidents.

* comprehensive collision coverage: 자차 보험
* be in an accident: 사고 나다
* full liability coverage: 대물/대인 보험
* insurance fee: 보험료,, cf> insurance money: 보험금 (받는 돈)

@ Speaking Tips: vary from person to person

사람마다 다르다

사람마다 다르다는 말을 할 때 vary from person to person이라고 하면 된다. 또한 나라마다 다르다고 할 때는 country를 넣어 vary from country to country라고 하면 된다.

@ The insurance company covered the costs.  보험사가 비용을 대 줬어.

9/29 Convenience Store

Talk about convenience stores in Korea.

You can find convenience stores all over the place in Korea. You can easily find one because they are on every street corner. Most of them are open 24 hours a day. They sell everything at convenience stores. It’s not just drinks, snacks or ice cream. They also sell basic stationery and household items. They even sell things like playing cards or sewing kits. Plus, a lot of convenience stores have promotions going on. You can get discounts with points on your mobile membership card. They also have “buy two get one free” promotions going on for various items. This helps boost sales for the stores and helps customers get more for their money.

* buy two get one free promotion: 2+1 프로모션

* get more for one’s money: 가격 대비 이득을 보다

@ Speaking Tips: boost

증대시키다 / 증폭시키다

boost는 '증대시키다', '증폭시키다' 등의 뜻으로 다양한 상황에 사용할 수 있는 동사이다. 매출과 같은 수치에도 사용하고 자신감이나 자존감과 같은 사람의 심리 상태에도 사용이 가능하다.

@ There's one in every other building.  건물마다 하나씩 있어.

PE 9/29 Carol Bartz – UW Madison Commencement Speech

* like an eternity: like a long time that is difficult to endure

ex> It seems like an eternity that we’ve been waiting for our plane to take off.

Note> An eternity is technically eternal, meaning that it has no end, and possibly no beginning. the word’s origin is Latin, but came to the English language via French, the language of the English court during much of the middle ages.

* a thing of the past: something that is obsolete

ex> In a few years, plugging in your phone to charge it will be a thing of the past.

* burden: a heavy load

ex> My mom is beginning to feel like she’s a burden to us.

Note> The word burden means “something that is carried,” and comes from a very ancient Germanic source that also developed into the word birth.

* from now: measured from the present moment

ex> Fifteen years from now, most of the cars in this city will drive themselves.

* runway: the time or resources available to do something important

ex> Our plan is ambitious, but we have enough runway to make it happen.

ex> The market research shows that we have to act now before we run out of runway.

* unstable: likely to fall down or break apart; prone to sudden mood changes or mental problems

ex> Heavy rains have left the hillside unstable, so residents are being asked to leave their homes.

* suck up: 아첨하다, 비위 맞추다

Be careful to use this expression only amongst your peers, as it is still considered slightly impolite. This is also true of the expression suck it up, which means to endure an unpleasant situation.

ex> I guess the boss doesn’t realized that Dale is always just sucking up to him.

PE 9/28 the Reality of Airport Security

* budge: to move by a small amount

ex> I saw the bedroom door budge a little, and then a little face peered around the corner.

Note> Budge is derived from the French verb bougier, which means to be in motion. At the time it was adopted into the English language, the pronunciation of the letter “u” would have been more of an “oo” sound, as in “room.”

* take one’s sweet time: to be needlessly slow

ex> We’ve worked hard all day, so I think we can take our sweet time with this final order.

ex> You took your sweet time getting back here with the sandwiches, didn’t you?

* tongue-in-cheek: sarcastic; not meant to be taken literally

ex> Daphne made a tongue-in-cheek remark about David’s Hawaiian shirt.

Note> This expression refers to a facial gesture that used to be common, and was formerly an expression of hatred. It later meant to signify restrained laughter, similar to biting one’s tongue.

* pay lip service: to express support in words, but not in action

ex> Let’s hope the company really is going to implement some gender equality policies, and not just pay lip service to the idea.

* give one the benefit of the doubt: to believe someone without proof that they are right

ex> I really appreciate you giving me the benefit of the doubt, ma’am: I don’t know where I left my ID.

* bright ideas: motivation to act on an opportunity

ex> We’d better put these snacks away before the dogs get any bright ideas.

* holdup: 지연, 연기

Be careful not to confuse holdup (a delay) with hold-up (an armed robbery). Adding to the confusion, native English speakers often reverse the spellings of these two nouns, so you really must rely on the context to know which one is being talked about.

ex> Can you see what the holdup is? There’s a big truck blocking my view.

cf> If this is a holdup, I have no cash with me.

9/28 Traditional Markets

Describe a traditional Korean market.

There are many traditional Korean markets in Korea. There are tons of vendors selling all kinds of stuff. You can practically find everything at these places. You name it, they have it. You will see a lot of vendors selling produce, seafood, health products, clothes, and miscellaneous items there. Street food is another thing you can get at these markets. You can also see a lot of vendors who sell all sorts of street food. Shoppers stop by to grab a bite while they are shopping. When you go to these markets, you can experience the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.

@ Speaking Tips: the hustle and bustle

북적거림, 웅성거림

시장과 같이 사람들이 많이 모이는 장소의 분위기를 묘사할 때 매우 유용한 표현이 the hustle and bustle이다. 사람들이 북적거리는 상황을 묘사하는 말이다.

@ I'm not good at haggling for prices.  난 가격 흥정을 잘 못해.

9/25 Family Holiday

Talk about the family holidays in Korea.

There are two big family holidays in Korea. One of them is the Korean version of Thanksgiving called Chuseok. It's a three-day holiday, normally during the months of September or October. The reason the date changes is that it is based on the lunar calendar. During the family holidays, family members get together at one place. People visit their hometowns to see their relatives. They cook holiday food and eat together. They also hold memorials for their ancestors. They also visit their ancestors' graves to pay their respects. As everyone is on the move, it is very hard to get plane or train tickets during this time of year.

@ Speaking Tips: memorial

제사, 차례, 추모식

누군가를 기리는 추모식을 영어로는 memorial이라고 한다. 우리 조상을 기리는 의식인 제사나 차례를 표현하기에 가장 적합한 단어가 바로 이 memorial이다.

@ Traffic was a nightmare.  차가 끔찍하게 막혔어.

PE 9/25 Sam’s Words of Wisdom

* steer clear of: to avoid

ex> My doctor told me to steer clear of processed meats and dairy products.

* words of wisdom: good advice

ex> What words of wisdom does that book have for people who want to travel alone?

* dump: to discard; break up with; empty carelessly

ex> Lisette dumped her suitcase’s contents onto the living room floor and left with the empty bag.

Note> Dump is both a noun and a verb, and the verb is the older form by several centuries. It probably comes from Scandinavian languages, and originally meant “to throw down with force.”

* devastated: destroyed; ruined; overcome by grief

ex> The geological record shows that the region has been devastated by major eruptions several times.

Note> The root of devastate is the Latin word vastare, which means “laid to waste” or “destroyed.” Devastate shares its origin with the word waste.

* carry on: to continue

ex> We carried on through the rain, stopping only once to eat some snacks in the shelter of a shallow cave.

* when the going gets tough: when things become difficult

ex> I know I can count on you to support me when the going gets tough.

* drive one up the wall: 매우 짜증나게 만들다, 몹시 화나게 하다

ex> If being driven up the wall is too strange for you, you can also be driven around the bend, which means the same thing. British speakers tend to use a different variation: drive one round the twist.

ex> It was driving me up the wall, so I’m taking a break from it.

PE 9/24 Copenhagen on Two Wheels

* thin out: to become less

ex> Let’s wait until the crowd has thinned out and see if we can get her autograph.

* mind-blowing: amazing; very impressive; difficult to comprehend

ex> That new gelato place has a mind-blowing assortment of flavors, including your favorite.

Note> This became a commonplace saying and slogan in the 1960s hippie era which meant to expand your mind by use of hallucinatory drugs.

* foresight: the ability to predict or anticipate future events or situations

ex> Matilda’s foresight enabled her to see that an economic crisis was coming.

* mental note: a special effort to remember something for future use

ex> He made a mental note to never use water to extinguish an oil or grease fire.

ex> Let’s make a mental note of this park’s location because I want to come back here.

* shell out: to pay (an excessive amount) for something (without wanting to)

ex> Because of your cat, I had to shell out $300 to replace our roommate’s feather duvet.

Note> Even though seashells were used as money by civilizations all over the world for millennia, this early 19^th century American expression doesn’t appear to originate from that practice. Instead, it may equate the act of removing money from one’s pocket or purse with removing nuts or peas from their shells.

* noble cause: a worthwhile and respectable principle

ex> When he sold his company and became wealthy, he began to look for a noble cause to contribute to.

* skeptical: 회의적인

In English publications from outside of North America (e.g. those from Britain, Australia, and New Zealand), this word will usually be spelled skeptical. Either way, it is pronounced with the hard “k” sound.

ex> Why are you being so skeptical? Tim’s predictions are almost always accurate.

PE 9/23 Acessories to Success

* stroke of genius: an excellent idea

ex> Getting a pony to stop the goats from being lonely was a stroke of genius.

* hat’s off: a gesture to acknowledge another’s superiority and/or success

ex> My hat’s off to whoever came up with chocolate-covered raisins.

ex> Hat’s off to Brad, Cheryl, and all the organizers of this wonderful event.

Note> When a hat was a normal part of a man’s outfit, it was a common gesture of respect for a man to remove his hat and bow his head to a superior, or when a woman entered the room or passed in the street. This act was later reduced to simply tipping the hat or just touching the brim. Now, as with this expression, the gesture is purely verbal.

* keep up: to move at the same rate

ex> We’re still only number two in the market, but we’re keeping up with our main competitor.

* rethink: to revise a past decision or approach

ex> If I do poorly on this test, I’m going to have to rethink my study strategy.

* emphasis: special value or focus given to something

ex> I want to start a family medical practice with an emphasis on nutrition.

* wash one’s hands of something: to give up responsibility for something

ex> The authorities washed their hands of the case when the girl confessed she’d been lying.

Note> This expression is of biblical origin. It relates to the story of Pontius Pilate publicly washing his hands to signify his refusal to condemn Jesus.

* over the top: 정상에 올라선; 상식을 벗어난, 정도가 지나친

Confusingly, over the top is also used to describe something that is excessive in some way. For example, a wedding dress that lights up and sprays gold confetti might be considered over the top.

ex> Tell us, Dave: what was it that put your career over the top? Was it one particular song or TV appearance?

9/24 Housing Market

Talk about the housing market in Korea.

The housing market in Korea has been in a slump for the past few years. There were less and less people who wanted to buy house as the economy was bad. More people wanted to rent a house or an apartment instead. As more people opted to sign a lease contract, rent prices rose sharply. That became a huge burden on households. Meanwhile, there are two ways of leasing a home in Korea. One is wolsae, which is a monthly rent system. The other is jeonsae. This is when you pay a lump-sum deposit at the beginning of the lease contract and don't pay a monthly rent.

@ Speaking Tips: lease vs. lease contract

임대 vs. 임대 계약(서)

차량이나 집 등을 임대한다고 할 때 흔히 쓰는 말은 lease이다. '임대 계약(서)'을 지칭할 때 쓸 수 있는 영어 표현은 lease contract이다.

@ There are signs of recovery recently.  요즘 들어 회복의 조짐이 있어.

9/23 Studio Apartment

Talk about a studio apartment you used to live in.

I used to live in studio when I was in college. Because my family lived far from my school, I had to move out and live by myself. Many of my classmates lived in similar studios like that. The studio I used to live in was just the right size for me. It wasn't that big, but it had everything I needed including a bathroom with a shower booth. In fact, it was a partly-furnished studio. Things like the washer and the fridge were built into the walls. I had to buy my own desk and bed among other things. I paid a monthly rent while I was living there.

@ Speaking Tips: partly-furnished vs. fully-furnished

가구가 일부 갖춰진 vs. 가구가 완비된

partly-furnished는 부분적으로 가구가 갖추어져 있다는 말이고, fully-furnished는 가구가 완전히 다 갖추어져 있다는 말이다. 한편, 가구가 하나도 없는 경우, non-furnished라고 한다.

@ Were they fully-furnished?  가구가 완비된 곳들이었어?

* the washer: 세탁기  ex> built-in-washer: 붙박이 세탁기
* the fridge: 냉장고
* freezer: 냉동실

* the air: 에어콘

PE 9/22 Jerry Yang – University of Hawaii at Hilo Commencement Speech

* bleak: empty; barren; unlikely to succeed

ex> The train station was surrounded by bleak old buildings covered with graffiti.

Note> This word has its origins in a Old Norse word meaning “pale,” It is related to the word that became the verb to bleach in English, which means to “whiten.”

* easy way out: the least challenging solution

ex> Some of the most successful inventions come from trying to find the easy way out of a problem.

* the point is: in conclusion

ex> The point is that we’re going to have to move if we don’t want to get wet.

* adversity: difficulties; misfortune

ex> She had to overcome adversity many times during her life, but always remained positive.

Note> The Latin root of adversity is vers, which means “turned.” It’s the same root that’s found in words like inverse, controversy, and anniversary.

* come down to: to be mainly caused by or depend on

ex> Your success in this sport will come down to your focus and reaction time.

* outlook: attitude; way of perceiving

ex> You hunger is affecting your outlook, so please go and get something to eat!

* status quo: 현재의 상황

One of the most difficult things about English is the inconsistency of pronunciation. Not only is it very difficult to know from reading a word how it will be spoken, but pronunciation can change depending on what region the speaker is from. British speakers pronounce status quo with a long “a” sound, as in “hate.” In the US, you’ll hear this expression spoken with the softer “a” sound, as in “pat.”

ex> I guess big companies are more focused on maintaining the status quo.

PE 9/21 Stinky Streetwork

* stench: a strong, unpleasant smell

ex> Many people find the stench of the fish market unbearable on a hot day.

* make tracks: to leave quickly (to/for somewhere)

ex> Let’s make tracks to the library and return these old documents before they’re overdue.

Note> Make tracks does not refer to railroad tracks, but to footprints. This is why “tracking” a person or an animal means to follow their footprints.

* noxious: toxic; poisonous; harmful to life

ex> Overcome with the noxious gas, my aunt was rushed to the hospital in Geneva.

Note> This word comes from the Latin word noxa, which means “injury” or “damage.” The meaning of noxious has broadened to include anything very objectionable.

* traumatic: emotionally disturbing

ex> Why are we drawn to watch TV shows that feature people in traumatic situations?

* peace of mind: the absence of worry

ex> Disposing of most of the useless things I’d accumulated gave me great peace of mind.

* way to go: method; approach; route

ex> If you’re going to take all those costumes with you, taking a taxi would be the best way to go.

ex> Finishing a chapter before starting the next one is a good way to go.

Note> You might hear someone shout, “Way to go!” as a form of encouragement or congratulation. In this context, you can think of it as meaning, “You have done what you have done by the best possible method.”

* cool one’s heels: 기다리면서 쉬다, 오래 기다리다

In English you can cool your heels, which means to wait, or cool your jets, which means to calm down. Even though there are situations where you might be doing both at the same time, the meanings are different.

ex> She said she’d meet us here, so let’s just cool our heels here until she arrives.

9/22 Glasses & Contacts

Talk about your contacts or glasses.

I have pretty bad eyesight. My eyesight was pretty bad from when I was young. It got worse in my teenage years. I needed to get higher prescription for my contacts as my vision worsened. Now, I can't see at all without my contacts. I use disposable contact lenses that are very convenient. When I come home, I take out my contacts and wear glasses. I need to give my eyes some rest. A lot of people around me have gotten vision enhancement surgery. I'm thinking of getting LASIK or implantable contact lenses myself in the future. I can't wait to get 20/20 vision.

@ Speaking Tips: 20/20 vision

좋은 시력, 교정 시력 1.0

영어에서 1.0의 좋은 시력을 의미하는 표현은 20/20 vision이다. 20피트의 거리에서 보여야 할 것이 20피트 거리에서 정상적으로 보인다는 의미에서 유래된 표현이다.

@ My eyes get dry very easily.  난 눈이 정말 쉽게 건조해져.

9/21 Being Athletic

Do you think you are athletic?

Both my parents are very athletic. My dad was on a soccer team when he was in school. My mom used to swim competitively in high school. They now enjoy playing badminton and golf from time to time. I am quite athletic myself. I think I got it from my parents. I am a fast learner when it comes to sports. I've tried various types of sports in my life including tennis, bowling, and squash. I'm taking yoga classes these days as well. Yoga helps me become more flexible. Overall, I'm glad I am a person who enjoys sports. I think I can stay healthier because I am like this.

@ Speaking Tips: fast learner vs. slow learner

빨리 배우는 사람 vs. 늦게 배우는 사람

무엇인가를 빨리 배우는 사람을 fast learner라고 한다. 반면, 배우는 시간이 오래 걸리는 사람을 slow learner라고 부른다.

@ Some people are born with the genes. 어떤 사람들은 그냥 타고나잖아.

9/18 Math Skills

Talk about your math skills.

I wasn't that good at math when I was in school. Math was definitely not my favorite subject. However, when it comes to doing the math in daily life, I'm not that bad. People around me often tell me I'm pretty good with numbers. I can add up or multiply things pretty easily. I have a calculator on my phone, but I'm used to doing the math in my head. I think many Koreans are like this because we are trained to do basic math in our heads as children. I think it's quite a useful skill.

@ Speaking Tips: add up vs. multiply  합산하다 vs. 곱하다

더하고 곱한다는 이야기를 할 때 사용하는 영어 표현은 add up과 multiply이다. add up은 전부 더해서 총합을 구한다는 의미로 주로 사용된다.

@ Let's do the math.  계산 한번 해 보자.

PE 9/18 Afraid to Dance?

* No chance.: Definitely not.

ex> You want to borrow my new car to go out with your friends? No chance.

* rough around the edges: unrefined; unsophisticated; showing signs of wear

ex> Our gardener is a little rough around the edges, but he does a very good job.

Note> this expression may have originated from woodwork or pottery. A piece that was functional but not smooth or polished, or that had become worn through mishandling, would have edges that were rough.

* light as a feather: very light

ex> You can wear these pants in the hottest weather because the fabric is light as a feather.

* agility: ease and quickness of movement

ex> My sister showed the greatest agility in the water when we took swimming lessons.

* inherently: part of the basic nature of someone or something

ex> Mark is inherently good at basketball because of his height.

* chalk something up to: to assign credit or blame

ex> If we win this game, we can chalk it up to excellent coaching and lots of practice.

Note> To chalk something up refers to the practice of writing scores or results on a chalkboard (a piece of slate or painted wood that could be marked with a small bar of chalk) so that they could be seen by others.

* call the shots: 명령하다, 지휘하다

Among the many expressions with a similar or identical meaning to call the shots are wear the pants, take charge, be at the helm, be in the driver’s seat, be in control, be the boss, pull the strings, run the show, and rule the roost.

PE 9/17 Prince Hamlet’s Castle

* spellbind: to hold one’s complete attention, as if by magic

ex> My little sister was spellbound by the ballet, and she danced around the house for weeks.

Note> You might guess that the verb spellbind came before the adjective spellbound, but it was the other way around. This process, called “back-formation,” is the origin of many English words.

* refer to as something: to call by a name or description

ex> Paris is referred to as “the city of light” because it was one of the first cities to adopt an extensive street lighting system.

ex> Kevin’s ex mother-in-law was Dutch, so he used to refer to her as “The Hag.”

* real-world: existing in reality; practical; typical

ex> Now that the lab trials are over, we can test this can opener under real-world conditions.

* scare one out of one’s skin: to make someone feel extremely frightened

ex> This haunted house ride seems silly now, but it used to scare me out of my skin.

* burst one’s bubble: to show someone that their idea is false, impossible, or fanciful

ex> Our little niece is so fascinated with unicorns that no one wants to burst her bubble.

ex> I’m sorry that the data from the survey has burst your bubble.

Note> Children have been blowing bubbles for fun since at least the 17^th century, when the practice appears in several Dutch paintings. To burst someone’s bubble is to quickly and suddenly spoil their fun.

* make-believe: imaginary

ex> My brother and I built a make-believe submarine out of cardboard boxes and duct tape.

ex> People with Asperger’s syndrome are often uncomfortable with make-believe characters and situations.

* fictional: 허구의

Fictional is often confused with the word fictitious, which has a similar meaning. Something that is fictional was created for a story or some other work of art. If something is fictitious, it was created to deceive someone, or it is something the believer doesn’t realize isn’t true. Ebenezer Scrooge is fictional, but a forged legal document is fictitious.

ex> Whether they’re real or fictional, we can probably learn a lot from them.

9/17 Memory

Talk about how good your memory is.

I think I have a fairly good memory. I remember things that happened in the past quite well. I am pretty good at remembering numbers as well. I remember phone numbers or numbers on addresses quite well. I'm not that good with names though. I forget people's names quite easily. Plus, I tend to forget where I put my things quite often. I leave behind my keys or cell phone off and on. That's why I always try to pay more attention. Next, I always try to write down things that I have to do on my scheduler. By making a to-do list like this, I can become less forgetful.

* scheduler: 수첩, 다이어리 (= organizer; planner; calender)

@ Speaking Tips: to-do list 해야 할 일들의 목록

'해야 할 일들의 목록'에 해당하는 영어 표현은 to-do list라는 합성어이다. make 동사와 함께 자주 사용된다.

@ It totally slipped my mind.  완전 깜빡했어.

9/16 Water Shortage

Talk about the likelihood of a water shortage.

It seems like we have enough water around us, but there is a high possibility that we may face a water shortage in the future. People think that the Earth has an endless amount of water, but that's not true. 70 percent of the Earth is water, but 97 percent of that is sea water. Less than 3 percent is fresh water we can use. Some countries are already running out of fresh water supplies. Rivers and lakes are drying up. Plus, we see severe droughts more often. We need to conserve water as much as we can. Also, we need to come up with ways to recycle the water that we use.

@ Speaking Tips: conserve 절약하다

물이나 에너지 자원에 관련된 절약을 언급할 때 사용하는 동사가 바로 conserve이다. 명사 형태인 conservation과 함께 매우 흔하게 사용된다.

@ Don't keep the water running.  물 틀어 놓지 마.

PE 9/16 Meditation is Simple

* drive one bonkers: to make one crazy

ex> I need to stop playing this game on my phone because it’s driving me bonkers.

* cool as a cucumber: calm, unlikely to become upset

ex> Here’s a photo of Nikola Tesla sitting in a chair, cool as a cucumber, while high voltage sparks flash all around him.

Note> Cucumbers are no more even-tempered than other fruits, but they have an interesting thermal property: their insides can be up to 20 degrees Celsius cooler than the outside temperature.

* catch a wink: to nap or sleep

ex> Nina is just catching a few winks in the spare room before her concert tonight.

* superfluous: not necessary; more than enough

ex> the ad was so successful that we had to find something for the superfluous volunteers to do.

* there’s nothing to it: it is easy

ex> I used to be too afraid to learn to use a sewing machine, but I’ve found that there’s nothing to it.

* banish: to punish someone by sending them away; send away something that is unwanted

ex> Many political activists were banished to a cold and desolate part of the country.

Note> Banishment is one of the oldest forms of punishment. It was effective because it separated the person being punished from the safety and shelter of the community. Later, criminals would be sent to stay at a specific remote place, usually an island.

* keep something up: ~을 정기적으로 계속하다

There is a minor variation of this expression that is commonly used. One can say that they keep up with something or someone. Keeping up with someone means remaining in contact with someone you’ve known in the past.

ex> I haven’t kept it up, but I’ve been thinking of joining a funk band, so hopefully I can remember how to play. 

PE 9/15 Chris Gardner – The Pursuit of Happiness

* figure it out: to solve the problem

ex> Algebra was difficult for him, but he was grateful that his math teacher always made him figure it out on his own.

Note> The word figure is sometimes used to refer to the form or shape of something, like a human body. It can also refer to a numeral or an amount, and it is this usage that gives us the expression figure out, which originally meant to solve by calculation.

* make it: to maintain a livelihood with difficulty

ex> My first roommates and I became good friends mostly because we were all struggling at making it in our new careers.

* gross: before expenses, deductions, removal of defects, etc.

ex> The company’s gross profits seemed impressive, but they were actually losing money.

Note> The word gross has several meanings in English. It is a unit of quantity, equal to 144 pieces (twelve dozen) of an item. It also means “unattractively large,” and is used in casual situations to describe something that is disgusting or unpleasant.

* obscene: shocking, indecent, improper

ex> What is attractive and artistic to one person may be obscene to another.

* go to work: to start on a goal with intent

ex> Once we realized our competitor was developing a similar vehicle, we went to work and completed our prototype ahead of schedule.

* come over: to go to where the speaker is

ex> Mom, can Alice come over after dinner so we can work on our project together?

ex> The policeman came over an asked us why we were in the tree.

* advance: 선금, 선불

Another word with multiple meanings, advance as a verb means “to move forward,” but it can also mean to pay someone for future work, e.g. “My boss advanced me two hundred dollars because I needed to buy some safety boots.”

ex> Remember when record companies would sign bands and give them a huge advance?

9/15 Baby Products

Talk about baby products.

Babies need a lot of things. They need diapers first of all. It takes them some time to get potty-trained. You also need a crib for the baby to sleep in. Plus, you need a stroller as well. The prices for strollers vary based on brands. Next, you also need things like milk bottles and pacifiers. Plus, you need baby clothes. You need clothes for the baby to wear indoors and outdoors. And then, you need to buy toys for the baby. Toys are very important because they help the baby think. Raising a baby can be a financial burden. That's why friends and family members help out by buying gifts for the baby.

@ Speaking Tips: get/be potty-trained/toilet-trained  배변 훈련 하다

배변 훈련을 한다는 말을 할 때 사용하는 문구가 바로 potty-trained 혹은 toilet-trained이다. 여기서 potty는 아기용 변기를 말하는 단어이다. 강아지의 경우도 실내에서 화장실 훈련을 시킨다는 의미로 toliet-trained를 많이 사용한다.

@ He said his first word yesterday.  어제 처음으로 말을 했어.

9/14 getting Carsick

Talk about a time when you got carsick.

I used to get carsick very easily when I was a kid. My mom used to put behind-the-ear patches on me when we went on a car trip. As a grown-up, I don't get carsick that easily. However, I remember a time when I got carsick when I was going on a trip a few years ago. We were stuck in some traffic. My friend and I were messaging each other back and forth on our cell phones. After a while, I started to feel a bit dizzy and my stomach felt uneasy. I felt like throwing up. It was quite an unpleasant feeling. I felt a bit better after I rolled down the windows and got some fresh air.

@ Speaking Tips: roll down the window vs. roll up the window

차량 창문을 내리다 vs. 차량 창문을 올리다

차량 창문을 열고 닫는다는 말을 할 때 open 혹은 close 동사를 잘 사용하지 않는다. 그보다는 roll up과 roll down을 더 많이 사용한다. 이는 예전에 차량 창문을 열고 닫기 위해 손잡이를 돌리던 시절에서 유래된 표현이다.

@ My dog threw up in the car.  내 개가 차에 토했어.

PE 9/14 Removing Grape Juice Stains

* manic: showing wild and crazy

ex> He later abandoned the manic style of his early years, and became a founder of the cool jazz movement.

Note> Manic is derived from the ancient Greek word mania, which meant “madness” – particularly the raging, furious kind. It was later used as a suffix to describe numerous kinds of insane fixations, like kleptomania (compulsive stealing) and egomania (self-worship).

* bonehead: a stupid person or error

ex> Who was the bonehead who left the mustard knife in the peanut butter?

* beat oneself up: to continue to feel and express strong regret

ex> Is Mike still beating himself up over that goal he let in?

ex> Instead of beating yourself up, just learn from your mistake and move on.

* act fast: to respond quickly; do something before it is too late

ex> We’ll have to act fast if we want to have our feelings known before they pass the new law.

Note> This expression might seem grammatically incorrect, as most adverbs end with “ly.” However, “fat” is a so-called “flat adverb,” which takes the same form as its related adjective. That’s why expressions like “think hard” are also grammatically correct.

* back in the day: during a former, distant time that is being remembered fondly

ex> Back in the day, my sisters and I would put on little plays and puppet shows for our parents.

* worth a shot: success is possible, so it is reasonable to try

ex> Our entry might not be the fastest solar-powered vehicle, but it’s still worth a shot.

* kicking around: (쓰이지 않고) 놓여 있는, 돌아다니는

The related expression kick (ing) around has two meanings: to spend time somewhere without any specific plans (e.g. “We’re just kicking around at home.”), or to treat someone with disregard (e.g. “I quit my job, so they won’t have me to kick around any more.”)

ex> You wouldn’t happen to have an extra mask and snorkel kicking around, would you?

9/11 Meat

How often do you have meat?

I am definitely a meat person. I go to Korean barbecue restaurants quite often to have dinner. However, I also like to have meat at home. I grill meat on the frying pan or put meat in soups or stews I cook. There is a butcher shop I go to near my house. I buy pork and beef there most of the time. They have quality meat and the prices are cheaper than at other places. The owner is very friendly and I'm a regular there. When I'm in the mood for chicken or duck, I go to the local supermarket. I buy chicken breasts and use them when I make salads.

@ Speaking Tips: quality meat  양질의 육류

물질이 좋다는 말을 할 때 사용하는 표현이 quality이다. '뜻 깊은 시간'이라는 말을 할 때는 quality time, '양질의 상품'이라고 할 때는 quality goods라고 하면 된다.

@ The meat is undercooked.  고기가 덜 익었어.

PE 9/11 Singing Cindy to Sleep

* give one the cold shoulder: to ignore someone on purpose; be unfriendly

ex> Ever since I asked our waiter to replace that dirty fork, he’s been giving us the cold shoulder.

* get up on the wrong side of the bed: to be in a bad mood all day for no obvious reason

ex> I must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, because I’ve been rude to strangers all morning.

Note> This expression dates from Roman times, when it was believed that one would have bad luck all day if one got out of bed on the wrong side.

* astronomical: a very large amount of something (often money)

ex> An astronomical amount of beer gets consumed on this campus each weekend.

* at the end of the day: when everything has been considered

ex> I will consider my coworkers’ feelings on the matter, but at the end of the day it’s my decision.

* hand someone something on a silver platter: to give something valuable to someone without any effort from them

ex> Everyone thinks the manager’s nephew was handed his job on a silver platter.

* hold one’s tongue: to resist the temptation to say something; be silent

ex> My aunt wanted to know if her new dress looked good on her, but I held my tongue.

* the sandman: (아이들의 눈에 모래를 뿌려 졸음이 오게 한다는) 잠귀신, 수마

 When you use this expression, remember to include the definite article “the.” If you don’t, people might think you’re talking about a superhero they’ve never heard of, like Spiderman or Batman.

ex> I just hope the sandman finds me soon, or I’m not going to be able to function at work tomorrow.

9/10 school Alumni Network

Talk about school alumni network you are part of.

I go to school reunions quite often. The most active reunion I go to is the one for my high school. My high school has an alumni network. We have reunions on a yearly basis. We normally have a big one at the end of the year. There are smaller gatherings here and there. We have an alumni Facebook page. There are small clubs for various hobbies in the reunion. I check postings there off and on. School reunions are great for networking purposes. But at the same time, it simply feels good to get together with alumni. I'm very glad that I am a member of my school alumni.

@ Speaking Tips: reunion vs. alumni network 동문회 모임vs. 동문회 조직

학교를 같이 다닌 사람들이 한자리에 모이는 동문회 모임은 영어로 reunion이라고 한다. 한편, 동문들로 구성된 조직이나 모임은 alumni netwoking이라고 한다. alum이라는 단어가 동문을 가리키는 단어이다.

@ We talk about the good old days.  좋았던 옛날 추억 얘기를 하지.