PE 9/29 Sketches of Tuscany

* all right: free from danger, discomfort, problems, etc

ex> I hit my head on the door frame, but I’m all right.

They’re just doodles. Whenever I embark on a trip I toss this little book into my bag so I can draw on the spur of the moment, but I usually get sidetracked.

* doodle: a casual drawing made without concentration or care; a scribble

ex> There was a page full of doodles on his desk.

* embark on: to begin; undertake

ex> They embarked on a mission to protect African wildlife.

* on/at the spur of the moment:without prior planning; spontaneously

ex> They decided on the spur of the moment to help the old couple.

Note> A “spur” is a sharp pointed object that is attached to the heel of a horse rider’s boot and that is pressed into the horse’s side to make the horse go faster.

* sidetracked: distracted from a current activity by another one

ex> She often became sidetracked when working on her thesis.

I just draw for pleasure. That’s the first feedback I’ve ever had.

* feedback: opinions or advice on one’s work, output, etc.

ex> Members of the songwriting club give each other feedback on their songs.

@ I’ve never seen any place as picturesque as this. 이곳처럼 그림 같은 곳은 처음 봐요.

attractive /beautiful /scenic

PE 9/28 More Time, More Energy

* early bird: one who is awake and alert early in the morning

ex> Mona is an early bird, but her sister always sleeps late.

And when I’ve got a client request to work on, I like to strike while the iron’s hot, you know?

* strike while the iron’s hot: to do something before the opportunity is lost

ex> Let’s strike while the iron’s hot and patent our idea before someone else does.

I seem to drag my feet all day, no matter what I do.

* drag one’s feet: to proceed slowly

ex> If you keep dragging your feet, you’ll miss the deadline.

I was like that too until I found the perfect sleeping hours for my body. Now I rise an shine at 5 o’clock. If I didn’t come to work early, I’d just be spinning my wheels at home.

* rise and shine: to get out of bed and be alert

* spin one’s wheels: to make little progress

ex> Without better advertising, this company is just spinning its wheels.

With the new company rules, you can be footloose and fancy free once the day’s work is done.

* footloose and fancy free: free and happy; having no responsibilities

ex> I can’t believe we’re footloose and fancy free in Manhattan!

@ Late night TV is my downfall.  늦은 밤에 하는 텔레비전 프로그램이 함정이에요.

weakness /Achilles’ heel /bete noire

Morning Special_20160930 (Weekly Hot Clicks)

Morning Special_20160929 (Morning Date) - Lucky

PE 9/27 Dolly Parton - University of Tennessee Commencement Speech

Dreams build convictions because you work hard to pay the price to make sure that they come true.

* pay the price: to experience the consequences or requirements of something

ex> Harold paid the price for not finishing his work on time.

Wishes are hoping good things will happen to you but there is no fire in your gut that causes you to put everything forth to overcome all the obstacles.

* fire in one's gut: ambition; motivation

ex> Being told I’d never get accepted to that school put a fire in my gut.

ex> My brother always had a fire in his gut to become a great inventor.

Note> People also use the phrase “fire in the belly” to mean the same thing. Both phrases mean more passion, more fight and more emotional investment.

* obstacle: something that prevents progress

ex> The hikers couldn’t reach the water because of all the obstacles on the beach.

* one’s department: one’s area of responsibility or expertise

ex> I’ll make dinner, but setting the table is your department.

I will never go to seed and as they say I would certainly rather wear out than to rust out.

* go to seed: to become useless due to neglect

ex> That company went to seed because of poor management.

* wear out: to make or become useless due to excessive use

ex> My son can wear out a pair of jeans in three months.

@ It causes you to put everything forth.  그것은 모든 노력을 들이게 한다.

Make every effort. /try very hard. /do your best.

PE 9/26 A Weakness for Apple Crumble

Well, did you see anything on the dessert menu that’s to your liking?

* to one’s liking: pleasing or agreeable to one

ex> Was the cherry pie to your liking?

* picky: very or excessively selective

ex> Ryan is a very picky eater.

Note> Children can be very picky eaters including my daughter Yunseo. I hear kids these days don’t even like kimchi. Well, I’m relieved to say that Yunseo is a big fan of kimchil.

There are still a few restaurants that are late to the party. My son is allergic to peanuts, so I have to be careful when I have my kids in tow.

* late to the party: among the last people to discover or adopt something

ex> I was late to the party and didn’t find out until yesterday that Scott got engaged.

* in tow: following or accompanying one

ex> Lucy always had her best friend in tow when I took her on a date.

Note> “in tow” is a nautical metaphor; if you encounter a boat whose engines have failed, and pass a rope to tow it back to harbor, you “take it in tow.”

That’s okay. I trust you, and we’re happy it’s safe for us to eat. We all have a weakness for apple crumble.

* have a weakness for something: to be unable to resist something

ex> I have to watch my weight because I have a weakness for desserts.

I’ll bring you a large one with lots of spoons so you can all go to town on it, okay?

* go to town: to perform a task with enthusiasm and thoroughness

ex> The boys grabbed their hammers and went to town on the old shed.

ex> As soon as we receive approval, we’ll go to town on the building design.

@ Is there one ingredient you’re concerned about?

Worried about? /troubles you? /apprehensive about?

Morning Special_20160928 (All Around the World) - Germany

Morning Special_20160927 (Hello Global Talk)

Morning Special_20160926 (Tune tastic) - Olivia Newton John

PE 9/23 A Confusing Problem

I told my science teacher about our pool, but I really opened a can of worms.

* open a can of worms: to accidentally cause a problem

ex> Sam opened a can of worms by asking Ray about his ex-girlfriend.

I’ll hazard a guess that he gave you an assignment related to the pool.

* hazard a guess: to make a guess that could be wrong (but probably isn’t)

ex> I’ll hazard a guess that this isn’t the first time you’ve played softball.

Note> The word “hazard” is (probably from an arabic word meaning “dice,” and came to English through French where it originally meant a game of dice and then more generally chance, randomness.

It’s more like a fool’s errand. He wants to know how many ping-pong balls would fit in our pool when it’s finished.

* fool’s errand: a task that has no chance of success

ex> Trying to find a hardware store around here is a fool’s errand.

* blow something out of proportion: to behave as if something is a bigger problem than it really is

ex> That columnist always blows the crime situation out of proportion.

He’s just put you in a quandary so you’ll have to work for your lightbulb moment.

* lightbulb moment: the point when one has a sudden, important realization

ex> Nick’s lightbulb moment came when he realized he was holding the map upside-down.

I think you’re well on your way to solving your problem.

* well on one’s way: to have already made significant progress toward a result or goal

ex> Owen is well on his way to having an impressive coin collection.

ex> If you’re trying to make me angry, you’re well on your way.

@ He’s just put you in a quandary.  그는 단지 너를 곤란한 상황에 놓이게 한 것뿐이다.

a confusing situation. / a problem to solve. /a difficult decision to make.

PE 9/22 A Convincing Guest

9/22 A Convincing Guest

I see you’re here on your own at this villa.

* on one’s own: alone

ex> I can’t believe you built this cottage on your own.

Yes, and I’m in my element: I have a good book, a comfortable chair, and this magnificent view is the icing on the cake.

* in one’s element: in a place or performing an activity that is very suitable to one’s interests and/or abilities

ex> Your son is obviously in his element at the Science Center.

* icing on the cake: an additional benefit to a good situation

ex> The flight was great, and being upgraded was the icing on the cake.

So I can’t sway you to join a few of us on a scenic, tasty, unforgettable, winery bike tour through the world-famous Chianti region?

* sway: to convince; persuade

ex> This ad will sway viewers to try our product.

ex> Do you think we could sway Roger to join us?

* make a good case: to give convincing reasons

ex> The engineers made a good case for modifying the structure.

I can’t believe I’m on the verge of leaving this perfect setting to go on a bike ride with total strangers.

* on the verge of: close to doing or beginning something

ex> That constant noise put me on the verge of screaming.

@ Nothing could coerce me to leave this spot.  내가 이 자리를 떠나도록 강요할 수 있는 건 아무것도 없다

drive ~ /force ~ /compel ~

Morning Special_20160923 (Weekly Hot Clicks)

Morning Special_20160922 (Morning Date) - Jae Jin

PE 9/21 Choosing a New Beginning

9/21 Choosing a New Beginning

The company’s failed product launch came home to roost.

* come home to roost: an earlier mistake causes later problems

ex> If you don’t learn the material thoroughly, it’ll come home to roost.

Note> The older fuller form was “curses are like chickens; they always come home to roost,” meaning that your offensive words or actions are likely at some point to rebound on you. So don’t say or do things you’ll regret later!

Dozens of us got our pink slips first thing this morning.

* pink slip: a dismissal notice from an employer

ex> Hundreds of workers received pink slips when the factory was relocated.

I guess we’re going to have to tighten our belts for a while.

* tighten one’s belt: to reduce spending due to money shortage

It’s a toss-up.

* toss-up: a situation where two different solutions are equal in worth

ex> I can’t decide: it’s a toss-up between the red bike and the light blue one.

I could either pound the pavement again, or finally start my own business and get off this roller coaster.

* pound the pavement: to travel by foot, especially in search of employment, support, etc.

* roller coaster: a continuously varying or cyclic situation

@ We got them first thing this morning.  우리는 그것들을 오늘 아침에 바로 받았다.

before anything else today. /early this morning. /at the beginning of the day.