PE 2/22 Indoor Climbing for the First Time

* free-for-all: an uncontrolled competition, argument, or fight in which anyone can participate

ex> Once the shouting and name-calling began, the meeting quickly disintegrated into a free-for-all.

* no-nonsense: straightforward; sensible; practical

ex> Heather’s aunt was a no-nonsense, middle-aged woman who rarely laughed, joked, or even relaxed.

* name of the game: the essential part or ultimate purpose of an activity

ex> In today’s media landscape, the name of the game is to get as many likes, shares, and retweets as possible.

* dog tired: exhausted: exhausted

ex> Even though we were dog tired after the fundraiser, we were thrilled at how much we were able to accomplish for the refugees.

* off-kilter: not properly aligned; not functioning properly

ex> Ian knew there had been another small earthquake because all the pictures in his house were off-kilter again.

* flail: to move in an energetic but uncontrolled way

ex> Don’t flail around in the water: it takes less energy than you think to stay afloat.

* take a leaf from one’s book: ~의 행동을 본받다

A commonly-used variation of this expression is take a page from one’s book. Technically, this is impossible to do, as a page is only one side of a leaf of paper, so you can’t take just a single page out of a book.

ex> I took a leaf from Andy’s book and started going to bed and waking up earlier.

PE 2/19 Retraining Wayne

* (as) fit as a fiddle: in excellent health

ex> After three days of rest and plenty of water, my dad was as fit as a fiddle.

* head down a dark road: to be engaged in a process with unhealthy, dangerous, or sinister consequences

ex> Many people feel that the country would be heading down a dark road if it reversed its immigration policies.

* nosedive: a sudden, sharp drop in value, condition, etc.; the downward plunge of an aircraft

ex> Analysts are still trying to determine why the price of oil took a nosedive at that time.

* by the same token: in the same way; for the same reason

ex> The country’s population is aging, and by the same token there are greater demands on its seniors’ programs.

* earful: an angry reprimand; a scolding

ex> I got an earful from my wife for forgetting her birthday one year.

* by hook or by crook: by any means possible

ex> We will get the interior work finished on time by hook or by crook.

Note> Some believe this phrase comes from the custom in medieval English of allowing peasants to take from royal forests whatever deadwood they could pull down with a shepherd’s crook or cut with a reaper’s billhook

* let oneself go: 자제심을 잃다, 마음껏 ~하다

There is another, unrelated, and more positive meaning for this expression. It means “to be uninhibited or less constrained.”

ex> Sometimes people lets themselves go because they lose the motivation to eat properly or take care of themselves.

PE 2/18 At the Jemaa el-Fnaa Market

* morph into: to change from one thing into another, especially in a surprising or magical way

ex> Many parents are shocked to see their gentle child morph into an angry teenager.

Note> Morph comes from the word metamorphosis, which is a Greek word meaning “a transforming.”

* relinquish: to give up something; give over possession of something

ex> Never let life’s discouragements cause you to relinquish your dreams.

* jockey for position: to do something for one’s own benefit in a competitive situation

ex> Because there was only one spotlight, the actors were all jockeying for position on the stage.

* hit the hay: to go to bed

ex> I’m planning to hit the hay early tonight because I have a doctor’s appointment first thing in the morning.

* fine by me: (it is) acceptable to me

ex> It’s fine by me if you need to shut the water off, but I’ll ask my wife first and let you know what she says.

* stuff oneself: to eat a lot of food

ex> I stuffed myself so much last holiday season that my weight is only returning to normal now.

ex> Don’t stuff yourselves with cookies and treats this close to dinnertime, please.

* dismantle: 분해하다, 해체하다

This is one of several English words whose root words are no longer in common use. To mantle meant to cloak or cover something, but is now obsolete. Another example is whelm, the root of overwhelm, which meant to engulf or submerge.

ex> She was dismantled many years ago because she was no longer seaworthy.

PE 2/17 Buggles the Crafty Cat

* break into: to open something or enter a closed place by force

ex> The thieves broke into the store by using a robotic device to disable the alarm system.

* do one’s level best: to make all possible efforts

ex> Donna didn’t win the snooker tournament, but she did her level best.

* from the get-go: from the very beginning

ex> Harriet seemed to be in a bad mood from the get-go, so I asked her what was wrong.

* crafty: able to get what one wants through clever or deceitful methods

ex> When I got back to the hotel, I discovered that some crafty pickpocket had stolen my wallet and my watch.

* opaque: not transparent; difficult to understand

ex> The old inn’s windows were almost opaque from centuries of smoke and soot.

* cut the mustard: to meet required standards or expectations

ex> Bernie was eliminated from the team because he wasn’t cutting the mustard.

* crème de la crème: 최고 중의 최고

As with many other expressions that have come to English from the French language, the accents are often dropped in the English spelling because it is inconvenient to type them on English keyboards.

ex> The company I want to work for only hires the crème de la crème, so I need to earn top grades.

PE 2/16 Dr. Sanjay Gupta – University of Michigan Speech

* on the border of: at the threshold of one thing becoming another

ex> I know you’re just trying to get what you want, but your behavior is on the border of being rude.

* push oneself: to make oneself perform at one’s highest level; strive

ex> Beth began to enjoy the sense of achievement she felt when she pushed herself.

ex> I never really pushed myself in school because I didn’t want to be noticed

* out of control: unmanageable; unruly

ex> I started doing a small load of laundry every day so that it didn’t get out of control.

* sweet spot: an ideal set of conditions; the area on a sports racket or bat where it is most effective

ex> Three cookies is the sweet spot for me: any more than that and I start to feel sick.

Note> The origin is probably from sports, particularly racket or bat sports where there’s a sweet spot that the ball should ideally be hit with, then expanding into other sporting uses, before becoming a more general phrase.

* deep down: instinctively and honestly; in one’s inner beliefs

ex> Deep down he knew it was wrong, but he just couldn’t stop himself from eating the last cookie.

* socially awkward: uncomfortable around people

ex> You might feel that you were socially awkward in high school, but keep in mind that everyone feels that way at that age.

* savor: 음미하다

In its original (and still common) usage, this word means to enjoy a taste or smell. It later came to be applied both to happy situation like enjoying a positive feeling, or more sinister ones like revenge.

ex> This is the first time I’ve ever won anything in my life. I want to savor this moment so I never forget this feeling.

PE 2/15 The Magic of Language

* on it: taking action to get something done

ex> Don’t worry about walking the dog this afternoon: your sister is on it.

* hard won: achieved only with difficulty

ex> Peter’s political success was hard won, as he spent many years studying the issues and talking to voters.

* hit pay dirt: to achieve or discover something valuable

ex> The excavation team hit pay dirt on its third attempt when they found traces of the lost tomb.

Note> To hit or strike pay dirt was to dig until you hit dirt that would pay – soil with gold in it. In a larger sense it meant to find something valuable, so a scholar who makes a valuable discovery may say she has hit pay dirt.

* turn the corner: to pass a critical point in a process and begin to improve

ex> Your cooking probably won’t turn the corner until you stop using ketchup as your main ingredient.

* bogged down: to be heavily involved in a problem and unable to proceed

ex> Bert got bogged down in sorting out the project’s legal issues and needed help.

Note> A bog is a wet muddy ground that’s mainly composed of moss and peat. Imagine yourself sinking or being stuck in a bog.

* relevant: connected with or important to the present matter

ex> The detective paid attention to clues that other investigators didn’t think were relevant.

* everyday: 일상생활의

This adjective is one of several in English that are formed by compounding the words of an adverbial phrase. Be sure about which one you mean to use, and be careful of the spelling.

ex> Don’t put those on the table, honey. Your parents deserve something nicer than our everyday dishes.

PE 2/12 Hidden Meanings in Text Messages

* make of something: to have an opinion or perception of something

ex> Sally just told me what happened at church, and I didn’t know what to make of it.

* break (something) down: to reduce into smaller or simpler parts

ex> If this poem seems complicated when you first read it, I suggest you break it down line by line.

* surreptitious: secret; unauthorized

ex> The man was arrested for taking surreptitious photos of women on the subway.

Note> While surreptitious means secret, it has the added sense of “sneaky” or “hidden.” You’ll see surreptitious applied mostly to actions, rather than to things or ideas such as “We do things surreptitiously.”

* after the fact: after something has already happened, especially a crime

ex> He found out years after the fact that his sister had been adopted.

ex> It was only after the fact that we realized what all those extra crews were for.

* agonize: to suffer, usually due to worry or a difficult decision

ex> My parents agonized over whether they should send my sister and me to private schools.

* make a mountain out of a molehill: to describe or react to a problem as if it is worse than it is

ex> Our late departure puts us a little behind schedule, but there’s no need to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Note> This idea for this phrase is this: You are taking something small, such as a molehill, and you’re making it out to be bigger than it true is. Often times, people will argue or cause trouble over the most insignificant things. Hence, someone who escalates a small problem into a larger one is said to be overreacting, or as the phrase puts it, they are making a mountain out of a molehill.

* venture a guess: (별 정보 없이) 짐작하다, 추측하다

As in today's’ dialogue, this expression is sometimes used humorously or sarcastically to imply that the reason for something is obvious.

ex> It’s impossible to know for sure, but I’d venture a guess that a drought destroyed their food and water supply.

PE 2/11 A Peaceful Place in Busy Casablanca

* maniacal: crazy and uncontrolled

ex> The evil witch queen’s maniacal laugh used to terrify me as a small child.

* duck into: to enter a place quickly, especially to avoid something

ex> It began to rain heavily, so the two women ducked into a covered doorway.

* music to my ears: an appreciated suggestion or piece of information

ex> My request has been approved? That’s music to my ears.

* one’s dogs are barking: one’s feet are hurting

ex> Michelle’s dogs were barking from her new shoes, so we rested on a bench beside the walkway.

ex> Unless we get a ride or take a bus, our dogs will be barking by the time we get there.

* throng: a densely-packed crowd

ex> A throng of impatient people had gathered outside the bank, demanding their money.

* on the tip of one’s tongue: close to being remembered, but not quite

ex> It’s on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t quite recall the name of Danielle’s new boyfriend.

* What do you say ~?: ~을 하자, ~을 하는 게 어때?

This expression is used to make a suggestion in an informal, friendly way. It can be used at the beginning of a sentence as in the above example, or as a separate addition to a statement, as in, “I’ve got two tickets to a concert you’d love. What do you say?”

ex> What do you say we take a break in about fifteen minutes to get something to eat?

PE 2/10 Handling Patient Information

* bang-up job: an excellent or successful piece of work

ex> Sue did such a bang-up job on the Miller account that she received a bonus.

* ample: enough or more than enough; large

ex> I know we preserved ample fruit last summer, so there must be some more downstairs somewhere.

* down to the wire: incomplete or not settled until the last possible moment

ex> Why do all my work projects always go down to the wire?

Note> American racetracks in the latter part of the nineteenth century had a wire strung across the track above the finishing line to help stewards decide nose had got across the line first. So, a race that was undecided until the very last moment was said to go down to the wire.

* change tack: to try a different way of doing something

ex> Gloria isn’t answering my emails, so I’ll change tack and try calling her.

Note> the phrase is derived from the nautical term to tack. When ships tack, they change course relative to the direction of the wind – zig-zagging against the wind to move forward.

* straight from the horse’s mouth: from the original source, or from one that is dependable and authoritative

ex> I got it straight from the horse’s mouth that these old windows are finally going to be replaced.

* incisive: clear, direct, accurate

ex> The defendant was surprised by the lawyer’s incisive question, and was momentarily speechless.

* adhere to: ~을 준수하다, 고수하다

To adhere literally means “to stick” or “to cling,” and is the root of the word adhesive. The verb is used literally to describe one object sticking to another, and figuratively to describe a person or group following rules.

ex> Their contact was dissolved because the parties weren’t adhering to its terms.

PE 2/9 Dr. Mehmet Oz – West Chester University Speech

* come alive: to be activated, inspired or invigorated

ex> In the evenings, the plaza comes alive with food vendors and street performers.

* expertise: skill or knowledge in a specific thing

ex> I need to find a framer with expertise in mounting fragile historical documents.

* work for one: to satisfy one’s needs or preferences

ex> My wife wanted to take a cruise this winter, but I don’t like boats so that didn’t work for me.

ex> Let’s sit down and try to come up with a schedule that works for you.

* stick to something: to continue with a regular activity

ex> You won’t get better at playing the piano unless you can stick to it.

* give one’s all: to make a complete effort

ex> Our son didn’t win the competition, but we’re very proud of him for giving his all.

* on purpose: with intent

Fred apologized to the woman for staining her coat, even though he didn’t do it on purpose.

* give one the benefit of (the) doubt: (증거가 없어) ~의 말을 믿어 주다

This expression usually takes the form give one the benefit of the doubt, even though the second “the” is unnecessary for the expression to make sense.

ex> Give her the benefit of the doubt. She probably didn’t know you were standing right behind her.

PE 2/8 Cookies for the Water Man

* annoyed with: irritated by; slightly angry at

ex> My mom was annoyed with the grocery clerk for putting heavy jars on top of her bananas.

* dilly-dally: to waste time by being aimless or indecisive

ex> she always used to leave the house on time, but her dilly-dallying on the way to school usually made her late.

* muster the strength: to summon or create the necessary power to do something

ex> Despite being exhausted, Andrea mustered the strength to get out of bed and answer the door.

Note> The word, muster was used to involve getting reluctant soldiers out of bed and into the field of battle – it involves overcoming a certain inertia. When you muster up the strength to do something, it’s clear that you don’t have much strength to start with.

* at a snail’s pace: very slow

ex> Time seemed to move at a snail’s pace whenever Peter had a detention at school.

* see better days: to be in worse condition than before; be old and worn out

ex> These shoes have seen better days, but I keep wearing them because they’re so comfortable.

* gratuity: an amount of money given directly to a server in return for their services; a tip

ex> Waiters in the US typically expect to receive a gratuity of 15 percent of the bill.

ex> In America, tipping 15-20% of the bill before tax is the average range for waitstaff. Leaving 10% reflects poor service. Delivery people who come to your door – pizza and Chinese restaurants are typical – expect to pay 10-20%.

* breakdown: 고장

The term breakdown can be used to describe a failure in a mechanical device, a system, a relationship, or a person’s mental state.

ex> I’m so sorry you were worried. There was a breakdown that blocked a section of the highway where there was no phone service.

PE 2/5 Finding Their Way Together

* hidden gem: desirable but unknown or hard to find

ex> The restaurant is a hidden gem, serving excellent French dishes to the few people who know about it.

* stink: to perform badly; be inferior

ex> This new humidifier stinks, so I’m going to try to return it tomorrow.

* I stand corrected: I accept that I have been proven wrong

ex> I stand corrected: Alfred Nobel was born in Sweden, not Norway.

Note> This phrase is often used by a person who has been holding a strong opinion when faced with conclusive contrary evidence.

* twiddle one’s thumbs: to idly wait for something

ex> If you’re just going to sit there twiddling your thumbs, give me a hand putting these boxes away.

Note> Literally, this phrase means to circle one’s thumbs around one another, usually with the fingers interlaced.

* shift one’s focus: to pay attention to something else

ex> When consumers started buying fewer printers, the company shifted its focus to other products.

* detract: to reduce the importance, value, or effectiveness of something

ex> That old TV antenna detracts from the view, so I hope it gets removed soon.

* nether regions: 지옥, 저승, 암흑기

Careful! This expression is sometimes used humorously to describe one’s “private parts.”

ex> I haven’t looked in the basement’s nether regions yet.

PE 2/4 The Hidden Royal Tombs of Marrakech

* by all accounts: according to every report

ex> The new film is the best one in the series by all accounts.

* (as) plain as day: obvious; very visible

ex> With these new glasses I can see every letter on the chart as plain as day.

* relegate: to put someone or something into a lesser position

ex> Calder’s least favorite toys were soon relegated to the bottom of his toy box.

ex> To show his dissatisfaction, Moira’s boss relegated her to a clerical position.

* predecessor: a person or thing that has been replaced by another

ex> I was fortunate that most of my predecessor’s clients accepted me as their new dentist.

* green with envy: very jealous

ex> Mark will be green with envy when he sees me in this new Ferrari.

Note> The origin of this idiom green with envy is believed to come directly from the great William Shakespeare himself. In Othello, Iago warns Othello: “Beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”

* thorn in one’s side: someone or something that is a continuous source of trouble for one

ex> My neighbor’s barking dog has been a thorn in my side ever since I moved in.

Note> This expression appears in several books of the Bible; in the Book of Judes (2:3) it refers to enemies who “shall be as thorns in your sides,” and in the New Testament Paul refers to his infirmities as “given to me a thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7).

* pushing up the daisies: 죽은

This is a casual, slang expression that is not obscene, but should only be used between friends and peers in situations that are not sensitive.

ex> He’ll be causing mischief till he’s pushing up the daisies. 

PE 2/3 Same Paint, Different Color

* sheen: a shiny quality; luster

ex> He can tell the difference between silk and polyester just from their sheen.

* botch: to do something badly or carelessly

ex> Do you think you can alphabetize these book titles without botching the job?

* even though: despite of the fact that

ex> she decided to adopt the stray animal even though she was slightly allergic to cats.

* give one a piece of one’s mind: to angrily tell one that they have done something wrong

ex> My mom gave me a piece of her mind the last time I came home late.

* in the first place: from the beginning; before anything else

ex> If you had told me in the first place that she was your sister, I never would’ve asked her out.

* on top of the world: very pleased; ecstatic

ex> When he noticed that she had liked all the pictures he was in, he was on top of the world.

* water under the bridge: 지나간 일, 끝난 일

This expression is used to describe an unfortunate past event or situation that must be accepted, forgiven, or forgotten. It usually relates to a situation between people, as opposed to an uncontrolled event.

ex> We had a longstanding disagreement over money, but it’s water under the bridge now.

PE 2/2 Dr. Atul Gawande – Yale Medical School Speech

* predicament: a difficult situation

ex> The class I was going to take was canceled, so there must be several other students in the same predicament.

* high stakes: a large risk of heavy loss or gain

ex> My uncle lost everything he had because he was drawn to investments with high stakes.

Note> High stakes is a gambling metaphor which means the gambler is going to win or lose a lot of money in the game.

* uncertainty: doubt; hesitancy

ex> Even with advanced computer modeling, there’s a large measure of uncertainty in weather prediction.

* deal with: endure; solve; handle

ex> I’ll clean up this mess if you can deal with getting the kids ready for school.

* ambiguous: capable of being understood in multiple ways; unclear

ex> Rose was an expert at providing ambiguous replies so she could always claim afterward to have been right.

ex> The color of this shirt is ambiguous: some would call it green, and some would insist it was blue.

* unforeseen: not predicted

ex> I like to keep a little extra money in the bank in case something unforeseen comes up.

* sheer: 순전한, 순수한

The adjective sheer has two other common meanings: “transparent” and “nearly vertical.” Even though these meanings are very different, the context in which the word is used will usually make it clear which meaning is intended.

ex> You realize this is sheer lunacy, right? I mean, there’s no way we can make it there on time.

PE 2/1 Cash in the Mail

* monetary: related to money

ex> Not interested in monetary gain, Doris donated most of her salary to her favorite charity.

* be at a loss: to not know what to do or say

ex> Your family will be at a loss if you don’t provide them with clear instructions.

* be a snap: to be easy

ex> Ivan offered to supply cookies to the volunteers because baking is a snap with his new oven.

* on the blink: broken; not functioning

ex> Bob says he won’t be able to complete the document on time because his computer is on the blink.

* all the bells and whistles: every available feature, accessory, option, etc

ex> He doesn’t want to buy a car with all the bells and whistles because he thinks they might affect its reliability.

* entry-level: suitable for newcomers; simple, limited, and inexpensive

ex> The employment program is intended to create more entry-level positons for college graduates.

* sneak up on: ~에게 몰래 다가가다

People, animals, events, and even abstract concepts can sneak up on one, although the question of intent is obviously not valid when it is not a creature that is sneaking up. A cat can sneak up on a bird, or old age can sneak up on a person.

ex> I wish you wouldn’t sneak up on me like that. You almost gave me a heart attack!