PE 3/31 salman Khan Speech – Part 5

And this isn't just a commencement speaker trying to make you feel good or take weight off your shoulders. This is another member of your species who knows how badly the world needs you.

* take weight off one’s shoulders: to ease one’s mental or physical burden

ex> Knowing we were close to the top took weight off my shoulders.

ex> Let’s take weight off Mom’s shoulders and help her with her work.

Note> You can “put weight on one’s shoulders” to mean the opposite of this expression.

Who knows that MIT graduates, like a tall person who learns to slouch to not stand out, sometimes undersell who they are, even to themselves. I am, in fact, putting weight on your shoulders because I know how scarce and important a resource you are.

* slouch: to move, sit or stand in a relaxed, bent-over position

ex> A huge bag of flour lay slouched in the corner of the kitchen.

* stand out: to be conspicuous

ex> Eric stood out in the class because he was tall and always wore the same green sweater.

So with all that said, let me leave you with a thought experiment I use to help keep my priorities in check.

* keep something in check: to prevent something from exceeding limits

ex> A police car parked alongside the road can keep speeding motorists in check.

You begin to ponder your life. The career successes, how you've been able to provide for your family. You’ll think of all the great moments with your family and friends. But then you start to think about all of the things you wished you had done just a little differently, your regrets.

* provide for one’s family: to contribute a livelihood to be shared amongst family members

= bring home the bacon for your family; take care of your family; make ends meet for your family

ex> I used to lose a lot of sleep worrying about how to provide for my family.

ex> Today, both women and men provide for their families in a variety of ways.

PE 3/30 A New Grocery Store in the Neighborhood

Ah, here it is. Right where the bedding store used to be.

* bedding store: 침대 가게

Wow! That’s quite a window display! This new supermarket is obviously planning to give our regular store a run for its money.

* a run for one’s money: a challenge, especially to compete

ex> Let’s give our competition a run for their money by offering a discount on our newest models.

Note> The literal origin of the phrase comes from horse racing. To want a run for your money is to want a horse that you have placed a bet on to participate in the race.

Well, they’re sure taking a step in the right direction with their pricing. Bananas cost almost twice this much at our usual store.

* take a step in the right direction: to engage in positive action

ex> Getting our roof and drain pipes repaired before the rainy season starts would be taking a step in the right direction.

Let’s think about this before we go off half-cocked. Maybe these low prices are just a temporary strategy to lure customers away from our regular store, maybe so they’ll go out of business. And then…

* go off half-cocked: to respond or react prematurely

= rush into it; jump the gun; plunge into it

ex> Randall went off half-cocked when he sold his shares before the entire report.

ex> Let’s wait and see what the other club members think. We don’t want to go off half-cocked.

I bet our old store won’t be taking this lying down. Should we do our grocery shopping at both places for the next few weeks to see how things shape up?

* take something lying down: to shy away from a competitive situation (usually used in the negative)

ex> Cheryl discovered that Stan was seeing another woman, but she’s not taking it lying down.

* shape up: unfold; develop over time

ex> Let’s see how class performance shapes up after the review lesson.

3/31 Memorable Incident on a Rainy Day

Talk about a memorable incident on a rainy day.

I was once on a bus getting home. It suddenly started to rain. It first drizzled but it soon started to pour. Cars started to go slower and I soon got stuck in some major traffic. It was at least a ten-minute walk from the bus stop to my house. I didn't have an umbrella with me and thought of buying one at the convenience store. But I thought it was a waste of money because I had many umbrellas at home. I just got off the bus and started to run. I used my bag as an umbrella. By the time I got home, I was soaking wet.

* drizzle: 부슬부슬 내리다

* be soaking wet: 흠뻑 젖음

ex> I got soaking wet because I didn’t have an umbrella.

@ It's pouring out there.  밖에 비 엄청 와.

@ Related Topics>> Rainy Weather (2012.3.29)

3/30 Dried Seaweed

Talk about dried seaweed, Gim.

Gim is a type of seaweed which is edible. It tastes good and is a very popular side dish in Korea. Gim is rich in dietary minerals, particularly iodine and iron. Gim is made by collecting laver from the sea and drying it out in sheets. Once it is dried, people spread sesame oil or perilla oil on the sheet. Then they add salt and lightly roast it. By being prepared this way, Gim adds a roasted, salty flavor to the rice Koreans eat. You can make gimbab with it, which is very similar to rolls. Gim can also be shredded and added as toppings to soups or other rice dishes.

@ It tastes amazing.  맛이 기가 막혀.

@ Related Topics>> Dried Seaweed (2012.4.9), Kimbab (2011.1.18)

PE 3/27 Bigger Restrooms at the Theater

Finally! What’s been keeping you, Heather? They’ve already started ringing the bell for everyone to return to their seats.

* what’s been keeping you?: why are you late?

= What took you so long; What was the hold up; why so late

ex> What’s been keeping you? The movie started ten minutes ago!

for one thing, most men don’t spend several minutes fixing their makeup. And I’ll take a shot in the dark that most men never even take the time to wash their hands.

* take a shot in the dark: to make an uninformed guess

ex> We took a shot in the dark that the stain was from a coffee spill.

Well, they’re still probably all men. It’s about time someone did something.

* it’s about time: something or someone is long overdue

ex> It’s about time that the city fixed that huge hole in the street.

ex> You’re going to ask Samantha out on a date? It’s about time!

Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and send an email to the theater asking them to expand their washrooms? They’d probably prefer to have patrons buying refreshments and merch than standing in line.

* put one’s money where one’s mouth is: to take action that reflects one’s expressed position

ex> Sonny decided to put his money where his mouth is and get his master’s degree.

ex> No one is going to believe in your product idea until you put your money where your mouth is.

* patron: 후원자

* refreshments: 다과, 간단한 식사

That’s a good idea. And I’m going to snap a picture of that bathroom lineup right now, just to drive my point home.

* drive something home: to make something clear and obvious

ex> A good journalist can drive his or her point home without sounding preachy.

PE 3/26 A Wine Tour in Chile

Oooh! They’re pouring a pinot noir over here! My favorite! Let’s try some, Bea.

 * pinot noir: 피노 누아 (와인 만드는 포도 품종)

Twist my arm. I've read that the French may have brought that variety here from Burgundy in the 1800’s. Mmm. Oh, that’s lovely, isn't it? Lots of black cherry and plum.

* twist my arm: the suggestion is welcome

ex> You want me to try your fresh baked cookies? Twist my arm.

I’ll drink to that. The earthquake certainly must have been a setback, but the Chilean wine industry seems to be on its feet again.

* drink to that: to agree with a recent statement or idea

ex> Headquarters wants to give us more holidays, and I’m sure we can all drink to that.

* set back: a stoppage or reversal of earlier progress

= upset; stumbling block; misfortune

ex> The fire was only a minor setback for the family, whose friends offered much assistance.

* on one’s feet again: healthy or functioning after an illness or interruption

ex> I heard that your uncle is already back on his feet again after his knee surgery.

Fifst!!! Hee-hee! I think we may be getting a bit tipsy.

* tipsy: slightly drunk

ex> I asked the cab driver to pull over and let me out when I noticed he was tipsy.

PE 3/25 Giving Public Transit a Try

Hi Chuck. It’s barely 9 o’clock and I’m already frazzled. How is it that you’re always in a good mood first thing in the morning?

* barely: 겨우

* frazzled: 기진맥진한

Just the usual battles with traffic and other drivers. I’ve tried listening to music on my way in like you suggested, but something on the road always seems to get me all wound up.

* wound up: stressed; in a state of agitation

= uptight; on edge; wired

ex> Ted gets so wound up when he watches sports on TV that I worry about our furniture.

I’m a firm believer in public transit. It’s consistent, costs less, is better for the planet, and allows you to stay in the pink mentally. You really should give it a whirl.

* firm believer: someone who is certain in their belief

ex> Gerry is a firm believer in the power of positive thinking.

* in the pink: in good health

ex> Three weeks of boot camp left me completely in the pink physically.

ex> The company was in the pink after consumers discovered how good its new laptop was.

* give something a whirl: to casually try something for evaluation purposes

ex> I thought I’d give this new badminton racket a whirl during our game today.

Note> “Give it a shot” is a similar expression.

Okay, you've convinced me. I’ll get a one-week pass and put your idea to the test. It certainly couldn't hurt.

* put something/someone to the test: to test something or someone thoroughly (to determine maximum abilities)

ex> Janice spent about two hours putting that car to the test before deciding to buy it.

3/27 Intellectual Property Rights

Talk about intellectual property rights.

Intellectual property rights include things like copyrights, trademarks, patents, and industrial designs. Intellectual property is protected by law. You have to pay royalties to the right-holder to legally use intellectual property. Copyright cover artistic works. Books, films, songs, TV shows, and even letter fonts can all be protected by copyrights. Violating copyright laws is often called plagiarism. On the other hand, creating fake designer products breaks trademark laws. Often times, companies accuse each other of infringing each other's patents or designs. These legal battles are all based on intellectual property right laws.

@ Be careful not to break any copyright laws.  저작권법을 위반하지 않도록 조심해.

@ Related Topics>> Intellectual Property (2013.6.20), Intellectual Property Rights (2012.3.1)

3/26 Memorable Incident at an Airport

Talk about a memorable incident you had at the airport.

When I was returning to Korea from a holiday, there was an unexpected problem at the airport. I had bought a lot of souvenirs and clothes, but I didn't think it would push my suitcase over the weight limit. Unfortunately, I was wrong. My check-in baggage weighed more than 30kg. It was way over the limit and the excess baggage charge was hundreds of dollars. There was no way I was going to pay the surcharge. I thought I would have to give up some of my purchases. I eventually bought a new suitcase at the airport and put some stuff in the new bag. I didn't have to pay extra money that way.

@ How was your flight?  비행은 어땠어?

@ Related Topics>> Airport (2012.5.7)

3/25 Memorable Text Message

Talk about a text message that you remember.

Well, I remember one of my friends texting me one day a few years back. He actually told me that he was getting married. He asked me my address to send me the wedding invitation. I did not expect him to get married so suddenly, because he hadn't been going out with anyone. He told me that he proposed to his fiancée only six months after they had met. We exchanged several text messages back and forth. I told him that I would be at his wedding. So, that's the text message I remember. It was about my friend telling me that he was getting married.

@ Text me when you get home.  집에 가면 문자 보내.

@ Related Topics>> text message (2014.2.20) text messaging (2011.10.5)

3/24 How Phones Have Changed

How have phones changed over the years?

Phones have changed a lot over the years. Phones today can do a lot more than make calls. You can surf the Internet, check your email, make status updates on Facebook, listen to music, watch video clips, and take pictures with your phone today. Better yet, you can take a high-quality picture and post it up online on the spot. Some call it an all-in-one device because it can do so much with it. Having a phone today makes a world of difference. It keeps you connected to others. But most importantly, you can get access to all the information on the Internet with your phone now.

@ Let me make a short phone call before we leave.  가기 전에 간단히 전화 한 통만 할게.

@ Related Topics>> Smartpohones (2011.11.2)

PE 3/24 Salman Khan Speech – Part 4

When you gain or lose material things, remember how silly they really are. How little they mean relative to your health and relationships.

* material things: tangible items, especially personal property

ex> He spent his whole life acquiring material things, and forgot what was truly important.

Note> A person who puts material things first in his/her life is known as “materialistic.”

When you feel stressed, look up at the night sky and ponder the distance to the next star and the age of the universe.

* ponder: to think about carefully

ex> When you lose someone who was close to you, it makes you ponder the meaning of life.

Think of all the other stressed sentient creatures from other star systems and galaxies looking out in the vastness of space in wonder and awe and take comfort in your shared experience.

* take comfort in: to derive satisfaction or freedom from stress

ex> Your knee may be sore now, but take comfort in the fact that you weren’t badly injured.

ex> We took comfort in knowing that the plane had landed safely.

That after this life, you will go back in time and be reincarnated as the person you are arguing with, or passing judgment on (and will then have to put up with the current version of you).

* pass judgment: to express a strong (often negative) opinion

ex> No one like the way that Gerald was always passing judgment on his coworkers.

Note> This also means to give a decision concerning a defendant or legal matter (of a court or judge).

* put up with: to tolerate = endure; bear

ex> Pam decided she wasn’t going to put up with her husband’s rudeness any more.

Remember that real success is maximizing your internally derived happiness. It will not come from external status or money or praise. It will come from a feeling of contribution. A feeling that you are using your gifts in the best way possible.

* derived: 끌어낸

PE 3/23 The Best way to Encourage Children

I think I get the picture. There’s no incentive for them to try if everything they do is complimented.

* get the picture: to comprehend new information

ex> Dr. Dawson took one look at the lab results and got the picture immediately.

Fair enough. But what about criticism when she makes a mistake? How are we supposed to handle that?

* fair enough: reasonable; acceptable

ex> You want to buy a new couch? Fair enough. We need one.

According to this, it’s important not to gloss over her mistakes. Saying things like “Please try to do it better next time” is much more constructive than making her feel as if something about her is permanently inadequate.

* gloss enough: to ignore or pay little attention to unpleasant facts

= sweep aside; turn a blind eye to; overlook

ex> In his speech, the vice president glossed over the company’s image problems.

ex> I read the brochure for the resort, but I wondered if some of its shortcomings were glossed over.

We’ll just have to make a mental note to keep our feedback appropriate to the situation, and not sugarcoat everything.

* make a mental note: to decide to remember something for future recall

ex> We made a mental note to return to the café because their baked goods were so delicious.

* sugarcoat: to make something seem more appealing than it is

ex> Please don’t sugarcoat the situation. Tell me exactly what she said.

3/23 getting a New Cell Phone

Tell me about when you got a new cell phone.

I remember a time when I bought a new smartphone a year ago. Because it was a new model, I was not used to the new features. It was quite frustrating because I had trouble doing basic things such as storing people's numbers. Plus, I was not used to the keypad, so it took me a long time to type in something. Even worse, I had to get used to each application on my phone. In fact, it took me a full week to get used to my new phone. I still probably don't know how to use all the functions. Overall, I think this is a common thing people experience when they get a new phone.

@ Did you get a new phone?  전화기 새로 샀어?

@ Related Topics>> New cell phone (2014.3.4), smartphone (2011.11.1)

3/20 Food Poisoning

Talk about a food poisoning incident you remember.

I remember watching the news about a massive food poisoning incident at a school several years ago. Something was wrong with the food the students ate at the cafeteria. The whole school got seriously sick. Most of the students were hospitalized. They had high fever, stomach pain, and vomiting. The health authorities announced that the cause was salmonella. The incident was top news throughout that week. It was very unfortunate that all the students got sick like that. Ever since that incident, I always make sure to be careful when I'm eating something. I always check the expiration date on food items.

@ The soup went bad.  국이 상했어.

PE 3/20 The Fastest Iron in the West

What?!? Are you kidding me? All this time I’ve been complimenting you for something Mrs. Carmichael has been doing, and you haven’t said a peep?

* not say a peep: to remain quiet; keep a secret

ex> The twins didn't want to get in trouble, so neither of them said a peep about the broken window.

Note> As a verb, “peep” means to utter the slightest sound.

It’s kind of embarrassing. My mom taught my sisters to iron, but not me. I used to always take my shirts to the dry cleaner, but it got kind of expensive. Mrs. Carmichael saw me with an armload of them one day last year and offered to do them out of the goodness of her heart. I asked her not to mention it to you.

* armload: an amount that is carried in both arms; a large amount

= bunch; number; heap

ex> Bill carried an armload of firewood to the cabin to keep them warm for the evening.

ex> My supervisor gave me an armload of work to do over the weekend.

* out of the goodness of one’s heart: generously; without expecting any type of compensation

ex> Winston carried the woman’s suitcase up the stairs out of the goodness of his heart.

This is unbelievable! I thought you were so independent, buy you've been foisting your dirty work on that nice old woman for ages.

* dirty work: unwanted or unpleasant duties

ex> My big brother used to make me do all his dirty work until I was about twelve.

* foist: 떠맡기다

You can start by getting out the iron and ironing board. I’m going to teach you how to use them once and for all.

* once and for all: done thoroughly so that further effort will not be required

ex> I’m going to explain my opinion once and for all so I won’t have to do it again.

PE 3/19 Hiking to the Top of Cerro San Cristobal

What a perfect day! The weatherman hit it on the nose. The rain must’ve stopped not long after we turned in last night.

* hit it on the nose: to make an accurate prediction or statement

ex> Cassie hit it on the nose when she guessed that those two would get together.

Note> This term may come from boxing, where the opponent’s nose is a highly desired target.

* turn in: to go to bed

ex> We decided to turn in early tonight so we could wake up at 5:00 a.m. to watch the match.

The waiter at breakfast said Santiago is so busy that the air is rarely this crystal clear, so it looks like we picked the perfect day for a hike.

* crystal clear: without any visual obstructions or distortions; completely understandable

ex> I enjoy reading Penny’s emails because her meaning is always crystal clear.

A cable car sounds like a pretty good idea if we run out of steam. This basket weighs a ton!

* run out of steam: to become exhausted

ex> Last year when I did my first marathon, I ran out of steam after ten kilometers.

Just imagine how good it’ll all taste when we reach the top on foot! Let’s strike out now before we’re tempted to break into that picnic.

* strike out: to begin a journey

ex> We struck out as soon as the sun was up, knowing that the journey would take 14 hours.

PE 3/18 A Bright Idea for a New Location

Yeah, and it’ll be quite a challenge to pull off the move without disrupting our lighting rentals operation. It’s our bread and butter.

* pull off: to achieve a difficult task

= manage; handle; work out

ex> If we can pull off this project, we may never have to work again!

* bread and butter: a primary source of income

ex> Being a lifeguard was my bread and butter during the summers when I was in college.

Okay: let’s get down to brass tacks. We obviously need two to three times more space than we have now, but we've been told not to increase our monthly costs by more than fifty percent.

* get down to brass tacks: to begin to discuss important things.

ex> I hope the chatting will end soon so we can get down to brass tacks.

That’s all well and good, but it has to be conveniently accessible by public transit for the staff, and close enough that it’s not a deterrent to our clients and the delivery drivers.

* all well and good: something that is positive but incomplete or inconsequential

ex> Tara’s suggestions are all well and good, but we need a thorough plan of action.

* deterrent: 방해물

Maybe we could find a revenue-generating application for the extra space.

* revenue: 수익

Say… could we put in a small theater? It could double as a lighting showroom during the day, and at night we could rent it to theater groups.

* double as: to perform an alternative function

ex> This antique library chair folds back on itself to double as a ladder.

ex> Many household items can double as weapons if the situation is desperate.

Weekind and Kitties!

3/17  (1/4)

So, I fed the kitties just before, so I’m going to see if they’re finished eating. So, big thank you to people that sent us money for cat food because the cats are really enjoying it now. Come here. So basically, most cats in this area are very feral and they’re very wild. But for some reason, this mother cat and her kittens took up residence here. And they’re very sweet and very nice, so I’m really happy that we can give them some good cat food and look after them now.

* feral: 돌아다니며 사는, 야생의

* for some reason: 왠지, 무슨 이유에서인지

ex> I actually thought today was Monday for some reason.

ex> For some reason, I forgot to turn off the lights when I left the house this morning.

3/18  (2/4)

Okay, we’re going to just film a video about Jeonju choco pies. And Jazz Star, who you may see in the comments sometimes on our blog, sent us a whole box of these. And they’re delicious. So we’re going to do a video about the difference between, like, normal choco pies and these ones. Okay, not much is actually happening here at the moment. Saturday night, but no doing much. This is a heater if you’re wondering what this glowing thing is here. Um, so I’m just going to keep vlogging tomorrow, I think.

* at the moment: 지금, 이 순간에

* glow: 빛나다

3/19 (3/4) 

We are just discussing where we should film our “Commenting on Comments” video.  Okay, well let’s try inside the greenhouse and let’s have a look.  I just hope the bees are not going to be angry that we’re using… Yeah, I need to go get the battery. So, basically there is a beehive in here, and the bees come and pollinate the strawberries, strawberry plants. Hi, bees. Good job. Good job doing that.

* beehive: 벌집, 벌통

* pollinate: 수분하다

* I just hope that~ 그냥 ~하기만을 바랄 뿐이예요.

ex> I just hope that we can see each other one more time before you go abroad.

ex> This presentation is extremely important, so I just hope that I don’t mess it up.

3/20 (4/4) 

Okay, we’re just editing some videos. Um, I think we’re going to just edit a bunch of stuff now so that later in the week we’ve got more time. Isn’t that right? Hi. Hi. Um, so, Sunday night, and just editing like this. But I have some Mint Slice from Australia that Sophie sent me. So I’m going to have a cup of tea, we’re going to do this. And we’re going to do so much work, and then we’ll be ready for the week. So, some videos on the “My Korean Husband” channel coming soon.

* bunch: 다발, 송이, 묶음; (양 수가) 많음

3/18 Buying Groceries

What does a typical grocery store look like?

Many people buy groceries at large discount stores in Korea. It's easy to find one because there's one in almost every neighborhood. First of all, these stores are very large in size. In fact, some have several floors. You can find almost everything there. They have everything under one roof. Plus, you can get great deals at these stores. They have good prices and good quality goods there. You can get fresh produce, meat, and seafood. Some stores are open until late at night because some customers have to shop for groceries after they get off work. Plus, there is plenty of parking space because most people bring their cars to shop for groceries.

@ I bought a whole bunch of things.  이것저것 많이 샀어.

PE 3/17 Salman Khan Speech – Part 3

Many of you will soon enter the outside world and be somewhat taken aback. It will be far less efficient, far less fair, far less productive, and far more political than what you may have imagined it to be.

* be taken aback: to be surprised and confused

= be caught off guard; be thrown; be startled

ex> Sam and Tommy were taken aback by the size of the record company’s offer.

There will be pessimism and cynicism everywhere. It is easy to succumb to this, to become cynical or negative yourself.

* succumb to: to yield to something, especially a disease, weakness, etc.

ex> My aunt eventually succumbed to the cancer she had fought for over ten years.

ex> We will probably succumb to the temptation to buy some donuts.

I am not too much older than most of you, so take all of this with a large grain of salt.

* take something with a grain of salt: to acknowledge that something may be untrue, inaccurate or biased

ex> Take this with a grain of salt, but I’m convinced that the world is controlled by aliens.

ex> Because the magazine was financed by advertisers, we chose to take its recommendations with a grain of salt.

Realized or even rationalize that the grass is truly greener on your side of the fence. Just the belief that it is becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

* the grass is greener on the other side (of the fence): what one doesn’t have seems more appealing

ex> I left home when I was only seventeen because I foolishly believed the grass was greener on the other side.

Note> The idiom can be used in the short or long form, but just saying “the grass is always greener” is most common, as the listener will normally know the full idiom.

* self-fulfilling prophecy: something that happens because its prediction was expressed

ex> I don’t want to predict poor sales for this product because it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

3/17 Changes to Libraries

How have libraries changed over the years?

The biggest change that has happened to libraries is digitization. We hear the phrase "digital library" very often these days. Back in the day, we used to look for books ourselves. But now, everything is on the library computer. It's much easier to search for books. Library systems have become very advanced. The whole archive is connected and everything is done online. Plus, a lot of books and journals are digitized. You can read them on the computer screen and print them out if you want to. Of course, there are people like to read books the old-fashioned way.

@ Ask the librarian for some help.  사서에게 도와 달라고 해.

@ Related Topics>> Library (2011.9.28)

3/16 Libraries

What do people do at a library?

People normally go to libraries to read books. They can check out books if they want to. Many people go to libraries to study as well. Students study for their tests at student libraries. The library gets packed with people during mid-terms or finals. On the other hand, there are people who go to libraries to get work done as well. You can see people doing research or writing a report. I normally go to the library when I need to concentrate on something. It's very quiet there and I can get some studying done. Most libraries have electronic contents these days and this makes it easier to get access to various contents.

@ I had to pay a late fee.  연체료 내야 했어.

@ Related Topics>> Library (2011.9.28)

3/13 At the Bank

Talk about a memorable incident you had at the bank.

I remember a time when I went to the bank to pay a bill. I went during lunch time. But when I got to the bank, there were so many people there. I pulled out a queue ticket, but there were at least 20 people waiting in front of me. It was impossible to guess how long it would take. I waited for half an hour but it was still not my turn. Unfortunately, lunch time was almost over, so I had to leave. Eventually, I had to pay a late fee because I paid the bill late. Ever since that incident, I always make sure to pay my bills on time.

@ I need to get some cash.  현금을 좀 찾아야겠다.

@ Related Topics>> Bank (2014.1.10)

3/12 Problems while Moving

Talk about a time when you had problems while you were moving.

I remember moving into my apartment several years ago. I called up a professional moving company. The movers came early in the morning and started to move our things. They did all the packing and unpacking for us. They were friendly and did a good job. However, I found out that one of the dressers was damaged. One of the legs had fallen off. Plus, there were scratches on the left side. I complained about the damage. I told them that the dresser was in great condition before I moved. In the end, I got compensated for the damage later on. It was fortunate that I did.

@ Are you all settled in?  정리 다 했어?

@ Related Topics>> moving (2011.10.17)

3/11 Fashion Style (2)

Talk about fashion styles in your country. (Part 2)

Due to the Internet, people can get access to the latest trends more easily. Many people get exposed to new fashion trends online. There are tons of online shopping malls where people buy the latest fashion items. Plus, because Korea has four distinct seasons, people wear different clothing for each season. Naturally, fashion styles are seasonal. Stores have new lineups for different seasons. There are big-scale sales and promotions that go on when seasons change. Also, due to the Korean pop-culture wave, Korean fashion trends go overseas to neighboring countries in Asia. Many Asian tourists come to Korea to shop for these hot items.

@ That style is out of fashion.  그 스타일은 조금 촌스러워.

3/10 Fashion Style (1)

Talk about fashion styles in your country. (Part 1)

I think Koreans are quite fashionable. They like to follow the latest fashion trends. The media plays a much bigger role when it comes to how people dress these days. This trend is much more evident than in the past. Many fashion trends start on TV. If there is a popular TV drama, the fashion style in the drama becomes a trend. The trends include certain styles of clothing or fashion items such as bags, shoes, or accessories. Fashion magazines also play a role in setting trends. Some fashion styles become huge and become a fad. They don't last for that long though.

@ That hat looks good on you.  그 모자 너한테 잘 어울린다.

3/9 Vaccinations

Talk about various vaccinations.

Vaccinations are very important in our lives. A vaccination injects antigenic material into our bodies. The vaccine stimulates the immune system so that our bodies can fight off certain diseases. If you aren't vaccinated for a disease, your body can't build the antibody. This leaves you vulnerable. Vaccinations have prevented the spread of deadly disease such as smallpox. Babies and children have to get vaccinated for various illnesses. Adults also get vaccinations like flu shots, hepatitis shots, or cervical cancer vaccinations. Immunization and inoculation are other words commonly used for vaccination.

@ I don't like getting shots.  나 주사 맞는 거 싫어해.

@ Related Topics>> vaccinations (2012.4.11)

PE 3/16 Being Taken for a Ride

Balderdash! Are you trying to line your pockets because I wasn't paying attention? I told you to take Springfield and turn left at Grant Avenue.

* line one’s pockets: to earn money by illegal or dishonest methods

= feather your nest; fill your pockets; turn a profit

ex> They discovered that the corrupt customs official had been lining his pockets for years.

* balderdash [^|bɔ:ldərdӕʃ]: 허튼소리

What planet are you from? They finished that work months ago. I take a bus through there every day and it’s always smooth sailing.

* smooth sailing: easy progress, free of obstacles

ex> Once my research paper was completed, it was all smooth sailing to the end of the semester.

Okay, buster. I’m taking a picture of your license and turning on my GPS recorder. If I’m not safely at my office in less than seven minutes, you can count on being raked over the coals by your boss and the police. How do you like those apples?

* rake over the coals: to reprimand severely

ex> My mother raked me over the coals for forgetting to take the garbage out again.

* How do you like those apples?: an expression used to mock someone who has received surprising information

ex> Your ex-girlfriend just won a trip for two to Mexico! How do you like those apples?

Okay, lady. I’m sorry. There’s no way we can get there in seven minutes without getting into more trouble, so I guess I’ll have to take my lumps.

* take one’s lumps: to willingly accept due punishment

ex> The soccer player took his lumps from the rest of the team after taking the penalty that cost them the game.

PE 3/13 What Men Don’t Talk About

He knows I know about it, so there really wasn't any reason to discuss it at length.

* at length: for or after a long time

ex> We spoke at length about his plan to buy a cabbage farm.

I can believe you! The poor guy must be devastated, and would've wanted to get it off his chest with someone he’s known for a long time and who knows the situation.

* get something off one’s chest: to openly express something that has been causing one concern or anxiety

ex> Liam always feels better once he gets his concerns off his chest.

Obviously the poor man’s in pain. That’s why he went out and splurged on a new bike. My girlfriends always go shopping when they’re hurting from a breakup or an argument.

* spurge: to spend money freely or wastefully; an extravagant purchase

ex> I used to splurge on a new guitar once or twice a year.

If you’re still having to guess at his frame of mind after a twenty-minute phone call, you can’t be a very good friend. Don’t you guys ever talk about your feelings?

* frame of mind: mood or mental state

ex> There’s something about a really good donut that always puts me in a happy frame of mind

Sure we do. I can tell you exactly how he feels about tons of stuff: soccer, bikes, music… But if he doesn't want to dwell on his ex-girlfriend, I’m totally cool with that.

* dwell on: to contemplate or discuss excessively

= keep thinking; to be preoccupied about; ponder about

ex> Let’s not dwell on our past mistakes. We can simply learn from them and move on.

Note> The word, “dwell,” also means to live as a resident.

PE 3/12 Picture Perfect in Patagonia

This landscape is positively breathtaking, Felipe. You must be very proud to come from a nation that has such beautiful lands, as well as the good sense to protect them.

* positively: 정말로

Is it possible to get to the other side of this lake? I’d like to paint these mountains with the lake in the foreground. It’s such a clam day, and the reflections will be perfect. And the sun will be in the ideal position in another hour or so.

* foreground: 전경

* reflection: 비친 모습

Splendid. Let’s hop to it, then. And I’ll need the large easel today, Felipe. The hotel packed me a lovely lunch, so I’ll be fine over there until late afternoon. Would you be so kind as to leave me to my painting until then? You needn't be at my beck and call all day.

* hop to it: to begin a task immediately

= get going; get to it; get on it

ex> if you want to finish before nightfall, you’d better hop to it.

ex> The class was expected to hop to it as soon as their assignment was given to them.

* be so kind as to: to demonstrate sufficient courtesy and willingness

ex> Would you be so kind as to bring an extra umbrella? I forgot mine.

ex> Please be so kind as to leave your shoes at the door?

* be at one’s back and call: to be ready to instantly perform the tasks one requests

ex> I quit my job as a personal assistant because I was tired of being at someone’s beck and call.

Not to worry. I have this wonderful coat I bought in Santiago. Ahh… it’s a very good day to be alive, Felipe. Lead the way.

* not to worry: it doesn’t matter; do not be concerned

ex> Not to worry. The dispatcher told me the package will arrive later today.

* lead the way: to take the foremost position in a journey or process

ex> That software company always leads the way in game development.

PE 3/11 The Company Smoking Room

Actually, it’s pretty cushy in there. I took a look when they first announced it was ready for use. They've put in a state-of-the-art ventilation system, so it’s quite a nice place to take a load off. It’s even given people from different departments a chance to talk about work in a low-pressure environment.

* cushy: comfortable, undemanding

ex> Belinda seems like a new person since she got that cushy executive position.

* take a load off: to rest or relax, especially by sitting or lying down

= put your feet up; take a breather; take a break

ex> Why don’t you gals take a load off while I prepare some lunch for us?

  

That would explain why Gavin has been so chummy with the VP of Marketing lately. They’re both smokers.

* chummy: closely friendly

ex> Mark soon realized his new schoolmates were only being chummy because his dad was famous.

It wouldn't surprise me if some new alliances and important decisions are getting made in there. I don’t want to be left out of the loop just because I don’t smoke.

* be left out of the loop: to not be included in the sharing of information

ex> I felt like I was left out of the loop when I stopped reading online news.

Note> You can “be in the loop” which means to have special knowledge or information that belongs to a particular group of people.

Well, I’m not about to take up smoking just to get in tight with the higher-ups. But it is sort of a burn to be on the outside while guys like Gavin are in there making new influential friends.

* get in tight: to become closely connected with a person or group

ex> Fiona hoped to get in tight with the decision makers in her company.

PE 3/10 Salman Khan Speech – Part 2

A place where students who may have been the brightest student in their school, state or country often feel mediocre and stressed. A place where sleep regularly takes a back seat to the intellectual intensity of the curriculum.

* mediocre: average; of only moderate quality

= ordinary; run-of-the-mill; average

ex> The salad was mediocre, but this soup is excellent.

Note> Not good, not bad, but a negative term nonetheless. Often used to describe something average, but was expected to be much better.

* take a back seat: to accept a secondary position

ex> Sandy always succeeded in everything because she refused to take a back seat to anyone.

Because of this, whenever you see another MIT graduate the rest of your life, you know that you have a past in common. That you both have secret powers that you often keep hidden from regular view.

* have (something) in common: to have the same interests or characteristics

ex> We became friends very quickly because we had a lot in common.

Regardless of how different your pre-MIT backgrounds may have been, you will feel deeply connected – like people meeting from a long-lost village or family or galaxy.

* long-lost: absent or misplaced for a long time

ex> School reunions are a great opportunity for long-lost friends to meet again.

When others talk about an intellectually challenging experience they had or complain about how hard they had to work, you will glance at the other MIT grad in the room and share a quick smirk.

* smirk: a smug, conceited smile; to smile smugly

ex> She gave a little smirk when she realized that her plan was working well.

3/6 Refrigerators

Talk about refrigerators in Korea.

Every household has a fridge. They keep foods cool or frozen. This allows the foods to last longer. There are two types of refrigerators commonly used in Korea. One is the rectangular-shaped fridge divided into two blocks. The smaller block on the top is the freezer and the bigger block on the bottom is the fridge. The other is the type that's split vertically half-way in the middle. The left door is the freezer and the right door is the fridge. Fancy models have water dispensers or ice dispensers built into them. Many Korean families also have separate kimchi refrigerators. These fridges are good to store kimchi, veggies and fruits.

@ There's so much stuff in my fridge.  냉장고에 뭐가 너무 많아.

@ Related Topics>> Refrigerator (2012.3.26)

3/5 Bean Sprouts

Talk about bean sprouts in Korean food.

Bean sprouts are very commonly used in Korean food. Many people like bean sprouts because of their taste and texture. They're used all-year-around in main dishes, soups, and stews. They are rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium. They can be added to a dish to make it healthier. A common side dish in Korea is blanched bean sprouts. Bean sprouts are also used in various seafood dishes. There's also bean sprout soup, which is great for breakfast. A lot of hangover relief soups in Korea also use bean sprouts.

@ What are the ingredients?  들어가는 재료가 뭐야?

@ Related Topics>> Bean Sprouts (2012.3.16)

3/4 Memorable Vacation

Talk about a memorable vacation you went on.

One of the most memorable vacations I took was to Bali, Indonesia. My husband and I stayed at a nice private resort during our stay. The weather was absolutely perfect. The color of the ocean was incredible. We enjoyed a lot of sun at the beach and the swimming pool. We also tried lots of local food. Some of them tasted amazing. Plus, we went out on a speed boat and did some snorkeling. The coral reefs were very colorful and pretty. At night, we ordered room service and had dinner in the candle light. It was one of the best vacations in my life as far as I can remember. I would love to go again sometime.

@ It couldn't have been better.  더할 나위 없이 좋았어.

@ Related Topics>> Overseas Vacation (2012.3.15)

3/3 Stiff Shoulders

Talk about stiff shoulders.

Our shoulders get stiff for different reasons. One reason can be sudden or excessive exercise. We can also get stiff shoulders when we are sitting for a long time. Lack of exercise and bad posture can cause stiffness in our shoulders as well. If the stiffness in our shoulders continues, it can lead to frozen shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis). This is when the tissue around our shoulder joint becomes inflamed. This results in chronic stiffness, restricted motion, and severe pain. Frozen shoulder can last for a long time. Also, it is not easy to treat. The best way to prevent shoulder problems is to work out and maintain good posture.

@ I have chronic shoulder pain. 난 어깨에 만성 통증이 있어.

@ Related Topics>> Stiff Shoulder (2012.3.12)

3/2 High School Days

Describe how your high school days were.

My high school days were endless hours of studying. I had to prepare for the college entrance exam. I got to school by seven thirty and got ready for classes. Classes went on until four o'clock. After regular classes, we took extra classes until dinner. After dinner, some students went to cram schools while others stuck around for study-hall sessions. I typically left school around ten at night. I sometimes went to a private library after that, especially in my senior year. Looking back, high school was one of the toughest periods of my life.

* stick around: 가지 않고 남다

* study-hall session: 자율 학습 시간

@ He's in his second year of high school.  그는 고등학교 2학년이야.

@ Related Topics>> High School Days (2014.1.8)

PE 3/9 Should We Buy or Rent?

Have you got a minute, honey? I've just fired up the computer to take a look at the real estate listings. Is there anything here that floats your boat?

* fire up: to activate or turn on a machine or device

ex> The cat always hides under the bed when we fire up the vacuum cleaner.

* float one’s boat: to make one happy or interested

= tickles your fancy; works for you; bakes your cake

ex> Buffet restaurants are great because everyone can find something that floats their boat.

ex> Would it float your boat if I made a red velvet cake with amaretto icing for your birthday?

Let’s see. Oh… are these listed in order of price? Even the cheapest ones would be a stretch for us financially, and they aren't anything special. Look at this place. Blech! And it’s expensive, too.

* be a stretch: to stress resources in order to achieve something

ex> Buying a second car this year would be a real stretch for us.

Like what? Getting a place out in the boonies? We don’t want to spend half our lives commuting just so we can buy a home.

* the boonies: a distant, remote, undeveloped place

ex> My aunt and uncle lived out in the boonies, so we hardly ever visited them.

Note> This comes from the word, “boondocks,” which has the same meaning.

Okay, let’s crunch some numbers. Here’s the monthly mortgage payment for a small place in the city, like the one that just made you say “blech.”

* crunch numbers: to perform calculations, usually for financial forecasting

ex> We’ll need to gather more reports before we can begin crunching the numbers.