PE 1/29 Hard Decisions Made Easy

* in the blink of an eye: occurring very quickly

ex> The doorbell rang, and in the blink of an eye Winston had hidden behind the curtains.

Note> As a parent, you know how quickly children grow. In the blink of an eye, they’re in elementary school. And in the blink of another eye, they’re in college. I’m trying to spend as much time with Yunseo now because I know she’ll be too old to hang out with Daddy one day soon.

* snap decision: a decision made quickly and without consideration

ex> This game teaches students to become confident making snap decisions.

Note> Snap as an adjective means done or taken on the spur of the moment, unexpectedly, or without notice.

* not see the forest for the trees: to be too focused on details to assess the main issue

ex> Many workers can’t see the forest for the trees and don’t realize their demands could collapse the whole industry.

* in broad strokes: in general terms; without detail

ex> I have only a few minutes, so could you describe your proposal in broad strokes?

* systematic: using a careful system or method

ex> The excavation was carried out in a systematic way, allowing many fragile artifacts to be preserved.

* look back on: to think of the past

ex> Harry looked back on his summers at the lake with great fondness.

* humor: 비위를 맞춰 주다, 만족시키다, 장단을 맞추다

Humor is one of many words that end in “-or” in American English, but in “-our” in other variants of English. Other examples include flavor/flavor, color/colour, and honor/honour.

ex> I find it’s easier to humor him than to try to change his mind. He likes this road, so we’re taking it.

PE 1/28 Antigua History Comes Alive

* out on the town: enjoying an evening of public social activity

ex> My parents like to dress up and go out on the town once or twice a year.

* jumping: (of a place or event) very popular and active

ex> It’s quiet now, but this place really starts jumping after midnight.

* hit it out of the park: to accomplish something very successfully

ex> I thought your last show was really good, but tonight you hit it out of the park.

* heyday: the period when someone or something is most successful, popular, or able

ex> In his heyday, my dad could lift his own weight over his head and hold it there.

ex> Although her heyday was over thirty years ago, her concerts still sell out within hours.

* shrinking violet: a very shy person

ex> Judy was a shrinking violet before she took that public speaking course.

* sleep in: to sleep for longer than usual

ex> I was an hour late to work today because I slept in.

* pull up in: 차량을 타고 도착하다(멈추다)

Without the preposition “in,” pull up also has the more literal meaning: “to raise with a pulling motion.” You can pull up some water in a bucket, or your pants in a hurry

ex> Your friends wouldn’t care if you pulled up in a wagon. They’ll just be happy to see you.

PE 1/27 Winning a Sales Race

* need something yesterday: to demand something urgently and impatiently

ex> Morris called and says he needs 500 more of these, and he needs them yesterday.

* drive one crazy: to make one agitated or stimulated to the point of insanity

ex> Please tell your sister to turn her computer down because that nose is driving me crazy.

* cheesed off: annoyed; angry

ex> Malcolm was so cheesed off at the bus driver that he complained to the transit company.

Note> This expression is chiefly British. The closest American equivalent of this phrase would be fed up.

* lowball: to offer an unreasonably low price or estimate

ex> I’m pretty sure that the mechanic is lowballing us just to get us to leave our car here.

* nickel-and-dime one to death: to strain one financially with a large number of small expenses

ex> That hotel offers a rate that sounds good, then nickel-and-dimes you to death.

Note> To further explain, this means to charge, or be charged, several unexpected small amounts of money, often in the form of fees, taxes, or related expenses, which when taken as a whole add up to a significant unexpected cost.

* keep at it: to persist at something

ex> The violin is a very difficult instrument for beginners, but you’ll improve quickly if you keep at it.

* score: 득점을 올리다

ex> I phoned the radio station to tell them about an accident on the interstate, and ended up scoring two tickets to tonight’s concert.

PE 1/26 Ralph Lauren Speech

* pay one’s dues: to fulfill necessary obligations; deserve something through hard work

ex> Most famous musicians paid their dues playing in small venues for little money for many years.

* update: to make something current or relevant

ex> Automotive designers constantly monitor trends to keep their products updated.

* tuned in: aligned with contemporary culture and events

ex> My aunt is very tuned in to what people of my generation are talking about.

* vintage: of a valued style from the past

ex> Chuck drove a vintage Rolls-Royce but looked like someone who drove a tractor.

* hip: popular and fashionable; aware of current trends

ex> My dad is quite hip for a guy his age: he even listens to the same music as me.

* to a degree: up to a certain extend

ex> They support the idea to a degree, but most of the teachers would rather not spend the whole day at the museum.

Note> You can also say, to a certain degree or to some degree to mean the same thing.

* integrity: 정직성, 진실성, 고결한

The word integrity has a variety of meanings. It can also be used to describe the stability of a structure (ex. The integrity of the bridge was compromised by the mudslide.), or the wholeness of something (ex. The lighting effects contributed to the show’s integrity.).

ex> I greatly admire Jessica’s integrity and her desire to help others. I think she’d be ideal for this program.

PE 1/25 A Box of Memories

* laugh oneself silly: to laugh uncontrollably

ex> They stood outside the pet store, laughing themselves silly at the kittens’ antics.

ex> It’s very cute the way you can laugh yourself silly watching the same video over and over again.

* memento: an object kept to remind one of an event or person

ex> My great aunt kept all her theater programs as mementos, then discovered they had become quite valuable.

* choked up: to be unable to speak or ready to cry due to strong emotion

ex> My mom became more emotional as she got older, and would get choked up watching TV commercials.

* jumble: an untidy collection of things

ex> Her bedroom was a jumble of clothes, paperbacks, tissue boxes, and magazines.

* stand a chance: to have a possibility or hope of success

ex> Do you think we stand a chance of having our proposal accepted by the committee?

* not see hide nor hair: to not see someone or something at all

ex> That new assistant was supposed to start this morning, but I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her.

Note> In this case, hide is not the verb that we’re familiar with. It’s the noun form which means the skin of an animal.

* sift through: 꼼꼼하게 살펴 추려내다

This expression is very similar to the expression sort through, but not quite. Sifting through something implies that the items are and will remain in a random state, but sorting through suggests that the items are or will be more orderly.

ex> I guess we’ll have to sift through the data again and see where we went wrong.

PE 1/22 A Very Fancy New Shirt

* pay top dollar: to pay a high price

ex> That couple paid top dollar for their apartment just before the market went down.

Note> When a famous singer from abroad comes to Korea for a concert, you can expect to pay top dollar for good seats. When I heard the Berlin Philharmonic were coming, I knew I would have to pay top dollar to see them.

* own it: to do or wear something with pride and confidence

ex> Nancy’s daughter is an effective performer because she really owns it when she sings.

* frou-frou: frills or ornamentation

ex> Mr. Garrett had asked for simple decorations, not for everything to be covered in frou-frou.

* hindsight: recognized the importance or needs of a situations after it has happened

ex> If we make use of our hindsight of the nation’s history, we can prevent future mistakes.

* on target: correct; appropriate for achieving a desired outcome

ex> My boss thinks your ad campaign idea is completely on target, and would like to start right away.

* goodness knows: polite variation of “God knows” (used to emphasize a point or express uncertainty)

* can hardly wait: 몹시 바라다, 빨리 ~하고 싶어 하다

There is a common but incorrect version of the above expression: I can’t hardly wait. This is a double negative, and should be avoided. There’s an American movie from 1998 called I Can’t Hardly Wait, adding to the confusion.

ex> I can hardly wait to see what grandma and granddad got me for my birthday. They always find great gifts for me.

PE 1/21 Explaining Cricket

* can’t make head nor tail of something: to be completely unable to understand something

ex> I eventually found a math tutor because I couldn’t make head nor tail of algebra.

* set aside something: to temporarily or permanently disregard something; save something for a future time

ex> Let’s set aside our differences and try to make this project a success.

* arcane: understood by only a few people

ex> He still knows how to program in several arcane languages, like Forth and Pascal.

* get a dose of: to indulge in something for a brief time

ex> Every once in a while I need to go to a club to get a dose of live jazz.

* make a beeline for: to go somewhere quickly and directly

ex> As soon as the bell rang, the kids made a beeline for the gym.

* toss-up: a situation where all results are equally possible

ex> It’s a toss-up whether the bus trip will be canceled due to the weather.

Note> This comes from the tossing of a coin to make a decision between two alternatives.

* side of the pond: 대서양에 면해 있는 나라나 지역

The use of the word pond – literally a very small body of water – to describe the Atlantic Ocean appears in a few variations of this expression. For example, to cross the pond means to travel from one side of the Atlantic to the other.

ex> Do you expect to be on this side of the pond while it’s running? Maybe we could go together.

PE 1/20 A Race Between Couriers

* respective: belonging to each one of the individuals, items, or groups mentioned

ex> I have trouble relating the controls on my stove to their respective elements.

* kill two birds with one stone: to accomplish two tasks at the same time

ex> Neville always eats while driving to kill two birds with one stone.

* frontrunner: the individual or item that is leading and is most likely to win a competition

ex> Marla is the frontrunner, but at this point Terry is just a few votes short of her total.

* track record: the past performance of an individual or group

ex> Your track record is not very impressive, but we’re giving you another chance.

Note> In the dating world, we use this phrase to speak of a person’s history of romantic relationships. When you start dating someone, you want to know what kind of relationships the other person has had.

* pit one against the other: to place two people or groups into a competitive situation

ex> The relationship between Lennon and McCartney often pitted one against the other, resulting in some of their finest songs.

* give one a shout: to call a person, especially on the phone (informal)

ex> Give me a shout when your appointment is over and I’ll come and pick you up.

Note> When we listen to the radio or hear an acceptance for an award, we can often hear people saying, “I want to give a shout-out to…” This means a public expression of thanks or gratitude.

* put our heads together: 머리를 맞대고 상의하다

Naturally, the possessive pronoun in this expression must always be plural (usually “our” or their”) e.g. “The people in the marketing department put their heads together with a couple of engineers.”

ex> I’m sure that if we all put our heads together we can come up with something clever.

PE 1/19 Manolo Blahnik – Interview with The Guardian

* without batting an eye(lid): 태연히, 눈 하나 깜짝하지 않고

ex> Albert lied to me about where his ex-girlfriend was living without batting an eyelid.

Note> If you have cash to burn, you probably wouldn’t bat an eye when paying for a very expensive pair of shoes or handbag. I wonder what that would be like…

* mainstream: established; commonly recognized; conventional

ex> His name is not known yet to followers of mainstream fiction, but it will be.

* the talk of the town: something that popularly discussed; a topic of current gossip

ex> In those days, it was the talk of the town if you dated someone from outside your circle.

Note> There is another expression that seems similar to the phrase above, the toast of the town. This expression is positive and means that you’re admired and liked by the people of a particular community.

* I’m all for something: I support it without hesitation

ex> I’m all for visiting Harry in the hospital, but do you mind if I go home and change first?

* stiletto: a long, tapered heel on a woman’s shoe; a short knife of similar shape

ex> Claire has the amazing ability to elegantly climb a stone staircase in stiletto heels.

* vile: repulsive; disgusting; despicable

ex> I like the chair itself, but the color of the fabric is vile.

* invaluable:  매우 귀중한, 유용한

ex> Judith, your work on this project was invaluable. I want you to know that I’ve recommended you for a promotion.

PE 1/18 Pop’s Parking Puzzle

* conundrum: a confusing or difficult problem

ex> Unable to stop thinking about the conundrum facing her, Elspeth lay awake for hours.

* throw in the towel: to admit defeat; quit

ex> It’s getting late and we’re nowhere near being finished, so let’s throw in the towel.

* be all ears: to be eager to hear what one is going to say

ex> If you think you know a better way to make money, I’m all ears.

* clear as mud: very confusing

ex> Jim’s explanations are always clear as mud, so I’d prefer to ask someone else.

Note> This phrase is usually used to humorously explain that there was a problem in somebody’s question, answer or explanation. “The teacher’s lecture was clear as mud.” Basically, I have no idea what the teacher said.

* be a breeze: to be very easy

ex> Finding your place was a breeze, thanks to the excellent directions you sent me.

Note> A breeze (noun) is a light wind that is usually pleasant. So if something seems like a breeze, it will be pleasant and thus very easy.

* highway robbery: a bill that is much too high but must be paid

ex> Zach’s face showed that he thought the restaurant bill was high way robbery

* screwball: 미친, 별난, 말도 안 되는

Screwball is also a noun meaning a person who is eccentric, crazy, whimsical, absurd, or irrational.

ex> It’s a screwball idea if you ask me, but most of yours are, and they still work out somehow.

PE 1/15 A Ring for All Seasons

* couldn’t/can’t help but: could not prevent or avoid

ex> Excuse me, but I couldn’t help but overhear that you’re looking for the same address we are.

* for fear: out of concern that the specified outcome could occur

ex> He never drove in winter for fear that his precious truck would rust.

* questionable: unlikely to be true or honorable

ex> Nate’s brother has some questionable ideas about the origin of the universe.

* play the field: to date multiple people without committing to anyone

ex> Are you planning to play the field while we’re studying at different colleges?

Note> This comes from horse racing where people can reduce their risk of losing by betting on more than one horse. If they bet on all the horses, they would be literally playing the field… displaying an interest in lots of different horses.

* chick magnet: someone or something that strongly attracts women

ex> I actually enjoyed walking your puppy because he’s a real chick magnet.

* diamond in the rough: someone or something whose positive qualities are hidden by a rough appearance

ex> My friend Barb can walk into any antique store and come out with a diamond in the rough.

* player: 바람둥이

ex> Some people had warned me that he was a player, and it turned out to be true.

PE 1/14 A Plantation Called Betty’s Hope

* take turns: two or more people doing something alternately

ex> Mona’s arm was getting tired, so we decided to take turns mixing the dough.

* day in , day out: continuously over a long period of time, sometimes to a boring degree

ex> Mr. Foster went to the same office day in, day out for over forty years.

* congenial: agreeable; similar in taste or inclination

ex> If I’m going to spend two weeks traveling with someone, I want them to be congenial.

Note> A congenial person is easy to get along with. Congenial means sharing the same temperament, or agreeing with your temperament. You can talk about a congenial person, place, or environment. Maybe you enjoy the congenial atmosphere of the library.

* emancipate: to set free; release from restrictions or slavery

ex> It was many years before Leo was fully emancipated from his mother’s control.

* grunt work: physical tasks requiring unskilled labor

ex> Why are only two guys doing the grunt work while everyone else is supervising?

* pass down: to give to a younger relative

ex> This pocket watch has been passed down from father to son for six generations.

* get on the wrong side of one: ~의 눈 밖에 나다, ~의 노염을 사다

Another version of this expression is get on one’s bad side. The meaning is exactly the same. Curiously, the forms get on one’s wrong side or get on the bad side of one are almost never used.

ex> We usually do, but I got on the wrong side of her by suggesting that maybe she shouldn’t be driving any more.

PE 1/13 Making Food Safely

* hurdle: an obstacle; one of a series of small barriers that must be jumped over in a footrace

ex> After overcoming a series of hurdles, the couple were allowed to build their hillside home.

* by the book: according to the rules

ex> Swiss immigration officers are known to do everything by the book.

* red tape: excessively complicated official routines or procedures

ex> I can’t believe there’s so much red tape involved in getting a new driver’s license.

* rain on one’s parade: to spoil one’s enjoyment

ex> I don’t want to rain on your parade, but this lottery ticket expired yesterday.

* party pooper: one who spoils others’ enjoyment

ex> Ryan was being a party pooper and insisted that we all go home by 11 PM.

* at this rate: under these conditions; unless something changes

ex> At this rate, we won’t arrive at the village until after dark.

* toast: 축배를 들다, 건배하다

The verb toast also means “to cook or brown food by exposing it to radiant heat,” and the noun toast refers to a slice of bread that has been prepared this way.

ex> Do you realize that your duties will include toasting the bridesmaids?

PE 1/12 Tom Ford – CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

* precisely: exactly; clearly; specifically

ex> Mortimer arrived at precisely four o’clock, set down his bag, and stood waiting for Dr. Allison.

* to the point: to such a degree or extent

ex> Debbie’s interruptions have gotten to the point where I can’t get anything done.

Note> You have to pay close attention to the context since this phrase can also mean concerning the important or essential issue. This usage is often put as come or get to the point, meaning “address the important issue.”

* get out now: to abandon a pursuit immediately

ex> After watching the value of my portfolio decline for months, I decided I should get out now.

* light at the end of the tunnel: an encouraging sign of improvement during a long and difficult situation

ex> Don’t be discouraged by all this hard work: I’m sure there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

* contemporary: occurring in the present period or during the same period as what has been referenced

ex> Albert was familiar with all the major participants in the contemporary art scene.

* rush: a brief sense of excitement or pleasure; great thrill

ex> I can’t stand being in crowds, but you seem to get a rush from it.

* industry: 산업, 업계

Industry also means “energetic, committed activity at a task”. For example, “Sarah approaches her schoolwork with great industry in the morning, but less energetically in the afternoon.”

ex> I could see that the record industry was in decline, and I was in the mood for a change.

PE 1/11 In Trouble at School

* up to no good: to be doing something which is forbidden

ex> After watching the men closely for twenty minutes, Ellen was sure they were up to no good.

* off limits: forbidden from entry, discussion, or consideration

ex> Certain topics were definitely off limits at the dinner table, mainly sex and politics.

* egg one on: to compel one to take action

ex> We never thought we’d actually put a fish in the supervisor’s car: I guess we just egged each other on.

ex> My friend egged me on until I found the courage to sign up for singing lessons.

* tell on: to incriminate someone by giving information about them to an authority figure

ex> My parents would never let us tell on one another because they wanted to create a culture of truth.

* ultimatum: a final demand or threat

ex> The king threatened to wage war if the southern nation did not accept his ultimatum.

* hang in the balance: to be at risk and dependent on something for success or survival

ex> We stepped cautiously onto the old rope bridge, knowing our lives were hanging in the balance.

* suspension: 정직, 정학

suspension, from the verb suspend, has multiple meanings, but they are all related to the concept of something hanging above its normal position. In the field of chemistry. it refers to fine particles temporarily dispersed in fluid, like dust in the air of a room.

ex> Anyone caught not following them will face suspension and a fine.

PE 1/8 Cheryl’s Renewed Loyalty

* make headway: to make progress

ex> Tyler is easily distracted, but he’s making headway with his written assignments.

* be out of here: to leave

ex> If they’re sold out of my favorite cookies again, I’m out of here.

* climb/jump on the bandwagon: to join a popular movement or opinion because it is popular

ex> I was reluctant to jump on the bandwagon at first, but I have to admit that I really like this book.

* elated: very happy; thrilled; over joyed

ex> Virginia was elated when her paper was accepted for presentation at the conference.

* throw in: to include in a transaction without extra cost

ex> If you place your order before midnight, we’ll throw in this handy microfiber cloth for free.

* through thick and thin: under all circumstances, whether easy or difficult

ex> This dog has been my loyal friend through thick and thin.

* break: 기회

The word break has numerous meanings, both as a noun and a verb. It can mean “a short rest or interruption” as well as “an opportunity.” As a verb, it means “to damage something, especially by causing it to fall apart into several pieces.”

ex> I think it’s so cool that you went to school with someone who became a famous actor. How did she get her big break?

PE 1/7 Return to Antigua

* on one’s own terms: according to one’s wishes; in the context of one’s perspective

ex> I’ll consider resuming my old position, but only on my own terms.

* dodge: to avoid something by moving quickly

ex> Experienced bicycle couriers dodge traffic so artfully that they can reach their destinations much faster than cars in the inner city.

Note> Dodgeball is a game in which players on two teams try to throw balls at each other while avoiding being hit themselves.

* recharge one’s batteries: to restore one’s energy through rest and relaxation

ex> Can we please take a break to recharge our batteries before we continue the workout?

* lead one up/down the garden path: to deceive one or waste their time by giving them false information

ex> Mike told me there was a great new shoe store in this area, but he may have been leading me up the garden path.

* bet one’s bottom dollar: to be very certain

ex> If Angie says she’s going to do something, you can bet your bottom dollar she will.

* gusto: much energy and enthusiasm

ex> The group attacked the cleanup project with gusto, and they were finished in less than two hours.

* stretch the truth: 진실을 왜곡하다, 사실을 과장하다

To stretch the truth is not as malicious or even as intentional as telling a lie. It is possible to suggest that a peer has stretched the truth without offending them.

ex> I’ve just been reading about how advertising agencies used to really stretch the truth in their ads.

PE 1/6 A Sign of the Times

* time-honored: respected or valued because it has existed for a long time

ex> My family has this time-honored custom of making up food baskets for the poor each winter.

* hand something down: to give something to a later generation

ex> These recipes have been handed down in my family for generations.

* of one’s own accord: by one’s own choice; without being asked

ex> My parents were stunned when I cleaned up my room of my own accord.

* cutting edge: the latest or most advanced

ex> Nick insists on having a cutting edge computer, and he’s willing to pay for it.

Note> Literally, the cutting edge is the sharp edge of something that is used to cut things.

* zip: nothing; zero

ex> Our team beat the visiting team five to zip.

* make money hand over fist: to make lots of money quickly

ex> The company made money hand over fist until their product was illegally copied.

* out of pocket: 손해를 보아, (돈을) 잃은

ex> If we cancel the show, we’ll be out of pocket thousands of dollars.

PE 1/5 Tory Burch – Babson College Commencement Speech

* short-circuit: to bypass or impede

ex> Alan says he has a plan to help us short-circuit some of the steps in this boring project.

* tenacity: determination; persistence  a) tenacious 

ex> He may not be the smartest candidate, but he has the tenacity to be heard in debates.

* finishing touch: a final action or detail that completes a work

ex> Betty always let her nephew perform the finishing touches on her cakes.

* overnight success: a person, product or organization that achieves success quickly

ex> The group’s first album was an overnight success, propelling them to international stardom.

* gloss over: to ignore or avoid facts that are awkward, embarrassing, or unpleasant

ex> The company’s annual report glossed over its poor sales performance in Europe.

Note> The noun gloss is a shiny finish on an object so this phrase could also mean to make something more attractive or acceptable by deception or superficial treatment.

* timing: choosing or being able to choose the most effective moment to perform an action

ex> I’m certain that my idea was good but my timing was off, so I’m going to ask her again.

* decent: (수준이) 괜찮은, 적절한

ex> We’ll do that as soon as we get some decent weather. I don’t want to drive around in conditions like these.

PE 1/4 A Healthy Start to the New Year

* drop by: to make a short, informal visit

ex> Why don’t you drop by about 11 o’clock and we’ll take a look at some flooring samples together?

* all in all: everything considered; on the whole

ex> All in all, the movie was an interesting look at a possible future for humankind.

Note> All in all was a reference to the omnipresent and all-pervasive nature of the Christian God, that is, “all things in all places.”

* slot: a position in an arrangement or plan

ex> Good news: the community center said there are still a few slots available in their dog obedience class.

* in a bind: in a difficult situation

ex> Jason is in a bind because he left his wallet at home and I don’t have enough cash with me to cover his bill.

* run one ragged: to make one very tired through working too hard

ex> I ran myself ragged collecting all the materials, and now I don’t have the energy to build anything.

* encroach: to intrude gradually; cross a boundary

ex> The farmer took his neighbor to court for encroaching on his property.

ex> We took out the ivy last fall because it always encroached on the lilacs.

* get up to: (장난 등을) 벌이다(하느라 바쁘다)

ex> Those two have been very quiet since they went up to the attic. What do you suppose they’ve gotten up?

PE 1/1 New Year, New Friends

* make good on: to fulfill a promise or repay a debt

ex> Davina made good on her promise to put away the dishes if I made dinner

* at ease: relaxed and comfortable

ex> Hearing that our friends had made it home safely in the storm put us at ease.

* get along: to have a friendly relationship; make progress in situation

ex> It’s great that my brother and I get alone so well now, because we used to disagree a lot.

* standoffish: unfriendly; reserved

ex> Alan can seem standoffish at first, but he’s actually just very shy.

* at loose ends: restless due to not having enough to do

* My kids are always at loose ends during the last few days of a school break.

* flaky: eccentric; unreliable

ex> I used to think that all artists were slightly flaky until I met Randolph.

Note> A person who is flaky is known as a flake “You are such a flake!”

* ask (one) out: ~에게 데이트를 신청하다, ~을 초대하다

ex> I haven’t found the courage to ask her out yet, but I will.