PE 11/14 The Cost of Light

I was just jotting down the wattages of all our old light bulbs. I’m going to replace them all with energy-efficient ones.

* jot down: to write information or ideas quickly by hand

ex> Let’s jot down a list of the groceries we need.

Have you run the numbers to see if it’s really a good idea to go whole hog and replace them all at once? That could get kind of spendy.

* run the numbers: to analyze financial data before taking action

* go whole hog: to do something as completely as possible; be extravagant

* spendy: expensive

ex> When we ran the numbers, we saw that the car was a poor investment.

ex> The couple went whole hog and booked a luxurious wedding hall.

ex> The shoes in this store are kind of spendy.

I’ve read that some of the new bulbs haven’t lived up to expectations, and don’t last as long as they should.

* live up to something: to attain; fulfill

ex> Family pressure made it hard for Benjamin to live up to his potential.

* one by one: individually; in sequence

@ Why is the ladder smack-dab in the middle of the hallway? 왜 복도 한가운데 사다리가 있지?

right /plump /squarely

PE 11/11 Toby the Babysitter

Why not? I thought you’d be over the moon about a chance to make some money.

* over the moon: thrilled; very pleased

ex> Freddie was over the moon when his package arrived early.

Note> In Britain, this phrase is linked with football (soccer for Americans). If the team had lost, the speaker was “as sick as a parrot” (in a state of deep depression, not physically ill). If the team had won, he was over the moon.

But they’re so little! I’d be too worried they’d fall down the stairs or something. I couldn’t stand it.

* not stand something: to be unable to tolerate or endure something

ex> Are there any types of music you simply can’t stand?

Oh, Toby. It would only be for a few hours. I’m sure you could tough it out.

* tough it out: to endure difficulties; show strength during hardship

And if one of them keels over on your watch, just bury him or her in the yard.

* on one’s watch: during a time when one is in a position of responsibility

ex> The kids behaved very well on my watch.

Bob! Honestly! Whatever possessed you to say such a horrible thing?

* Whatever possessed you to…? : Why did you…?!? (said for emphasis)

ex> Whatever possessed you to wash red and white clothes together?

Sorry, you two. I didn’t mean to make light of such a serious discussion.

* make light of something: to treat something serious as if it was unimportant or humorous

ex> He tried to make light of the flat tire, saying he needed a break from driving.

@ And if one of them keels over, just bury him or her in the yard.  만약 그들 중 한명이 쓰러지면, 그냥 마당에 묻어.

croaks, /kicks the bucket, /gives up the ghost,

PE 11/10 Hot Water Beach

There it is! That car rental agent sure was in the know about all the sights in this area.

* in the know: aware of information that is not widely known

ex> I have a friend who is in the know about what happens at City Hall.

Yeah! My brother who toured the North Island just two years ago didn’t say diddly-squat about Hot Water Beach, but it looks like much more than a poor man’s spa.

* diddly-squat / doodly-squat: the smallest possible amount; nothing at all

ex> Sorry - I know diddly-squat about fixing motor scooters.

* a poor man’s something: an inexpensive or lower-grade alternative to something

ex> We thought of our local beach as a poor man’s Hawaii.

Yeah, but you have to take it slow. One girl jumped out of the water lickety-split when she discovered how hot it was.

* take it slow: to proceed cautiously

ex> It will be dark when we climb down, so we’ll have to take it slow.

* lickety-split: quickly

ex> The library is closing soon, so we’ll have to get there lickety-split.

* happy as a clam: very happy and contented

ex> Mom is happy as a clam as long as she has a good book to read.

@ I think I’ve got the gist of it.  감 잡은 거 같아.

idea /hang /essence

PE 11/9 Two Companies Want Cassie

* be courted by someone: to receive positive attention from one who wants to form a permanent relationship

ex> Tim’s been courted by several companies since graduating this year.

* shake up /shake-up: a drastic change within an organization, especially involving personnel

ex> The cabinet minister lost his job in a recent government shakeup.

* come to light: to become widely known

ex> As the scandal came to light, more changes were laid.

* play both ends against the middle: to make two groups compete for one’s own gain

ex> Our six-year-old is already playing both ends against the middle with us.

* be on the lookout for something: to be alert to the appearance of something

ex> Please be on the lookout for a gas station with a convenience store.

* ride something out: to endure something unpleasant, hoping it will end

ex> She always stops practicing by 10 PM, so let’s just ride it out.

ex> Our sales have been slow, but we have enough cash to ride it out.

@ I won’t exploit the situation.  이 상황을 부당하게 이용할 생각은 없다

manipulate /unfairly benefit from ~ /take advantage of ~

PE 11/8 David McCullough Jr. - Wellesley High School Graduation Speech

Resist the easy comforts of complacency, the specious glitter of materialism, the narcotic paralysis of self-satisfaction.

* complacent: self-satisfied and unwilling to change

ex> We mustn’t become complacent about the habits that spread diseases.

* materialism: placing more importance on physical goods than on intellectual or spiritual pursuits

ex> Do you think that materialism has made people less sensitive to others?

Be worthy of your advantages. And read… read all the time… read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing staple of life.

* staple: something that is widely used, provides sustenance, and is in steady demand

ex> Rice is a staple that provides half the world with 20% of its daily calories.

Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. Love everything you love, everyone you love, with all your might. And do so, please with a sense of urgency, for every tick of the clock subtracts from fewer and fewer; and as surely as there are commencements there are cessations, and you’ll be in no condition to enjoy the ceremony attendant to that eventuality no matter how delightful the afternoon.

* think for oneself: to be mentally independent; forego popular ideas in favor of one’s own

ex> I won’t tell you the answer because I want you to think for yourself.

ex> The program was hard, but it taught me to think for myself.

* with all one’s might: intensely; using all of one’s strength or ability

ex> We pushed against the old door with all our might, but it wouldn’t move.

* sense of urgency:nervous eagerness; a feeling that something must be done immediately

ex> There was a sense of urgency in his voice when he asked for you.

@ Resist the specious glitter of materialism.  그럴 듯한 물질주의의 반짝거림에 저항하세요.

* specious [|spi:ʃəs]: 허울만 그럴 듯한; pleasing to the eye but deceptive

hollow /deceptive /misleading

PE 11/7 One Last Theater Ticket

Ooh! There’s just one ticket left for Friday night’s performance of the musical Badgers. Should I take the plunge?

* take the plunge: to do something about which one has been hesitant

ex> I took the plunge and bought coat I told you about.

ex> Did you hear that Kyle took the plunge and proposed to Karen?

Without a doubt! The scuttlebutt is that Darren McLaren will be leaving the show soon, so you’d better go see him while you can.

* scuttlebutt: stories; gossip

ex> This news service features all the scuttlebutt on famous performers.

Note> This slang is derived from a nautical term. Water to drink on a sailing ship was stored in a scuttled butt. Since sailors exchanged gossip when they gathered at the scuttlebutt for a drink of water, scuttlebutt became Navy slang for gossip or rumors.

Do you really believe that rumor? I think he’s just hedging his bets now that the movie companies have begun to beat a path to his door.

* hedge one’s bets: to reduce the risk of loss or error by having multiple options

ex> Dan hedged his bets by negotiating with two companies at the same time.

* beat a path to one’s door: to be eager to meet, congratulate, or engage with one

ex> Just because your idea is good doesn’t mean the world will beat a path to your door.

* heartthrob: a man who is popularly attractive and romantically desirable

ex> My teenage sister has pictures of all the popular heartthrobs on her bedroom wall.

He certainly has drawing power. This show has been sold out for weeks.

* drawing power: the ability to attract a large audience

ex> We need to choose actors who have good drawing power.

@ Without a doubt!  두말하면 잔소리지!

Definitely! /undeniably! /unquestionably!

PE 11/4 Caroline Gets the Warm Fuzzies

* come down with something: to catch or develop a disease

ex> She came down with the flu and had to stay home.

* fall on one: to become one’s duty or responsibility

ex> When my mother became old, it fell on me to look after her.

ex> When Sue is away, it will fall on Jeremy to take out the trash.

We’re a family, CAroline. We should all do our best to help one another along the way. And keep in mind that Toby did help you with your science project a couple of days ago. He did that because he cares about you.

* along the way: as time, a journey, or a process progresses

ex> I’ve seen this whole country and made many friends along the way.

* keep in mind that…: do not forget that…; be aware that…

ex> If she seems impatient, keep in mind that she is very busy these days.

If you’re trying to give me the warm fuzzies, it’s working.

* warm fuzzies: a good feeling of contentment, sentimentality, happiness, etc.

ex> I always get the warm fuzzies from watching old movies like this one.

* sweeten the pot: to make something more desirable; add money to a bet

ex> She might join our company if we sweeten the pot.

@ I’m occupied with dinner right now.  지금 저녁 준비로 바쁘다.

busy with ~ /attending to ~ /concentrating on ~

PE 11/3 Discovering New Zealand’s Natives

I brought along this New Zealand fact book to help kill time on this excruciatingly long flight. We must live as far away from there as possible.

* kill time: to do something optional or unimportant while waiting

ex> She killed time at a cafe while waiting for her appointment.

Note> Frankly, I wish I had more time to kill. So when I get on the bus for my 4-hour journey to Seoul, I kill time by bring watching some of my favorite TV dramas. Yay!

* excruciatingly: painfully; unbearably; extremely

ex> My knees were excruciatingly sore after the race.

Be that as it may, we’re going to need some entertainment, so here goes: did you know that New Zealand’s first inhabitants, the Maori, have lived there for less than a thousand years?

* Be that as it may, : That may be true, however…; Nevertheless,

ex> Yes it’s late, but be that as it may, I’m still going to practice the trombone.

ex> I’m sorry to hear about your troubles, but be that as it may , you still must carry out your responsibilities.

* here goes: said when starting something, especially if one is not ready or the result is unsure

ex> Here goes: would you mind if I dated your ex-girlfriend?

Although the book doesn’t say that the two groups got along like a house on fire, it does say that relations were amicable from the beginning. And Maori culture is still important throughout New Zealand.

* get along/on like a house on fire: to be highly compatible and quickly very friendly and happy with one another

ex> Jared and his new puppy are getting along like a house on fire.

ex> Fiona gets on like a house on fire with the girls on her team.

Note> Imagine a house on fire and how quickly it can burn down. So if anything gets along like a house on fire, it will happen quickly, vigorously, and often successfully!

* amicable: polite; friendly; avoiding disagreement

ex> He left his former job on amicable terms with his employer.

@ I brought along this New Zealand fact book.  뉴질랜드에 관한 사실들이 적힌 이 홍보 책자를 들고 왔어.

carted along ~ / am toting ~ /am packing ~