PE 6/30 Cruising Home from Alaska

* This is the life: This is comfortable, enjoyable, luxurious, etc.

ex> Ah… this is the life: floating on an air mattress, sipping a soda in the sunshine

* come (a)round: to adopt another person’s opinion

ex> Pete thought my idea would never work, but he came around.

* take in: to look at something for pleasure; attend an event

ex> Alan stopped the car so we could all take in the magnificent view.

* top-flight: of superior or excellent quality

ex> Many top-flight gymnasts choose a performing career over competitions.

ex> Only top-flight students are accepted into this program.

* on tenterhooks: in a state of anxiety, uneasiness or suspense

ex> Her parents were on tenterhooks until they heard she had arrived safely.

* break the fourth wall: unexpected communication between performer and audience

ex> Actors are trained not to break the fourth wall by reacting to the audience.

@ I hear you.  맞아

I agree./ You’re right./ I feel you.

PE 6/29 Good Idea + Good Plan = Success

* (I) can’t complain: things are going okay/fairly well

ex> My health has been better, but I can’t complain.

ex> ‘How are you?’ ‘Oh, I can’t complain.’  불평할 정도는 아니에요.

* beat/bang one’s head against the wall: to waste time doing something difficult, impossible, or have no chance of success

ex> I’ve been beating my head against the wall trying to teach my cat to roll over.

* walk in the park: something that is easy and pleasant = a piece of cake

ex> Using his new phone is a walk in the park compared to my old one.

* pinch oneself: to ensure that a happy situation isn’t just dream

ex> When I first saw the Eiffel Tower in person, I had to pinch myself.

• too good to be true: 너무 좋아서 믿어지지 않는
• The news is too good to be true.

* come to a head: to reach a point where something must be done; reach a crisis

ex> The dispute between Anne and Jeff came to a head last week.

* jump ship: to leave a post or position, especially in response to difficulty

ex> Many of the sailors jumped ship as soon as they arrived in the Caribbean.

• In ancient times a sailor wishing to leave without authorization would jump over the side when near to land (hopefully unnoticed) and swim for it, hence the expression to jump ship, meaning to abandon your post and desert the ship.

@ I thought that every online business idea was already spoken for.  

~ taken/~ claimed/~ staked out

PE 6/28 Martin Scorsese - NYU Tisch School of Arts Commencement Speech

* undone: defeated; unfulfilled; incomplete

ex> His political career was undone by revelations of his personal problems.

* sentimental: based on or expressing emotions instead of reason, usually excessively

ex> She realized she had been keeping many things for sentimental reasons.

* beside the point: unimportant; not relevant

ex> It’s true I was yawning, but that’s beside the point: the accident was his fault.

* trivialize: to make something seem less important than it is

ex> My parents would trivialize my dyslexia because they were embarrassed by it.

* imperative: absolutely necessary

ex> It is imperative that the valve be opened before attempting to open the door.

* get hung up on: to become overly concerned with or delayed by

ex> Joyce got hung up on trying to find the ideal parking spot.

@ You can’t do your work according to other people’s values.

In line with ~/in keeping with ~/in conformance with

PE 6/27 Providing Earthquake Relief

* sign up: to request to participate

ex> Bill and I have signed up for tennis lessons this summer.

* as it stands: at the present moment; according to the current plan or situation

ex> As it stands, there are four teams with a good chance to win the pennant.

* set off: to begin a journey

ex> We’ll set off at 8 o’clock sharp, so everyone please be up and ready by then.

* hard(est) hit: badly affected

ex> Many trees were damaged in the areas that were hardest hit by the windstorm.

* around the clock: continuously

ex> Neighbors are searching the area around the clock for the missing pet.

* pay off: to have positive results

ex> All my hard work has paid off: my application was accepted!

• This phrasal verb also means to get rid of or eliminate a debt or a loan. Did you know that it takes more than a decade (or more) to pay off a student loan after graduating college in America?

@ There definitely was widespread damage in that area.  

extensive/considerable/large-scale

PE 6/24 Toby Needs Glasses

* damaged goods: a person who is flawed, especially by something that has happened

ex> Society no longer treats divorced women like damaged goods.

* down in the dumps: in a sad or depressed mood

ex> Mark is down in the dumps because his favorite team keeps losing.

* drama queen: someone who overreacts or is too emotional

ex> Tammy is being a drama queen, but she’ll calm down.

• A ‘drama queen’ regularly tries to be the center of attention, and treats other people’s problems as less important than his or her own.

* only time will tell: it can’t be known until later

ex> Only time will tell whether he has inherited his father’s musical ability.

* pick (something) out: to choose something from among many others

ex> We spent an hour picking out a new microwave.

* fair chunk of change: a substantial amount of money

ex> He must have paid a fair chunk of change for that convertible.

@ Well boys, what’s the verdict?

what’s the news?/ what’s the story?/ what’s the situation?

PE 6/23 A romantic Rail Journey

* pave the way: to do something to make others’ future progress possible

ex> Einstein’s work paved the way for a century of theoretical physics.

* smitten: struck or overwhelmed by something (usually love)

ex> Tory was smitten by that shiny trombone in the store window.

* have bigger fish to fry: to have more important or interesting things to do

ex> My job was satisfactory, but I knew I had bigger fish to fry.

* fall on hard times: to experience a serious financial decline

ex> My grandfather closed his business when it fell on hard times.

* mansplain: (of a man) to explain something (usually to a woman) in a needless or condescending way

ex> Anne’s husband has the bad habit of mansplaining to her constantly.

* fall on deaf ears: (of a statement) to be ignored by its intended listener(s)

ex> Environmentalists’ warnings fell on deaf ears until their predictions came true.

@ Most of them returned home penniless.

Broke /destitute /without a dime

PE 6/22 The Price of Small Success

* core group: a small group of essential things or people

ex> The company is being supported by a core group of consumer products.

* keep someone/something afloat: to provide enough income or assistance for survival

ex> Some generous donors kept the school afloat during those difficult years.

* albatross around one’s neck: something one has done that causes them problems or prevents their success

ex> The book club I started has become an albatross around my neck.

• Literally an albatross is a large sea bird. The phrase alludes to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” in which a sailor who shoots a friendly albatross is forced to wear its carcass around his neck as punishment.

* behind the curve: not keeping up with the current situation or trends

ex> You’re a little behind the curve: that suggestion came up weeks ago.

* give something a facelift: to improve something’s appearance in a simple way

ex> The bike manufacturer gave all its models a facelift last year.

* catch-22: a paradox in which there is no possible satisfactory outcome

ex> No agent will take me unless I’ve worked, but I can’t get work without an agent. What a catch-22!

@ Much less the full redesign it really needs.  

Let alone ~/Not to mention ~/To say nothing of ~

PE 6/21 Jerry Zucker - University of Wisconsin Commencement Speech

* from now: measured from the present to the future

ex> Ask yourself where you want to be five years from now.

* have nothing to lose: to be willing to try anything because one’s situation is already bad

ex> I began working for my cousin’s startup because I had nothing to lose.

= What have you got to lose?

* now is the time: this is the appropriate moment

ex> The realtor said prices are rising, so now is the time to buy a new home.

* start from scratch: to begin a project or process without any initial advantages; start again

ex> The first batch was burned, so she had to start from scratch.

ex> My grandparents started from scratch after coming to this country.

* fit in: to be compatible with the situation, position, etc.; belong

ex> Let’s do what we can to help newcomers fit in to your society.

* afford to do something: to be able to do something without harmful consequences

ex> The team could afford to lose the game and still be in the playoffs.

ex> We can’t afford to waste another minute: the show will start soon!

@ Why the hell did I do that?!

Why on earth ~/Why the blazes ~/

PE 6/20 A Beautiful Stamp Collection

* late: deceased

ex> She established a scholarship in the name of her late husband.

* cream of the crop: the very best of something

ex> The national gallery’s acquisition budget allows them to buy the cream of the crop.

* have a soft spot: a sentimental attraction to something

ex> I know we already have a toaster, but I have a soft spot for 1950’s designs.

* intricate [^|ɪntrɪkət]: detailed; having many small elements connected in complex ways

ex> The novel was praised for its intricate plot.

* coveted: craved; desired; sought after

ex> Starting next week, teams will battle for the coveted trophy.

* have one’s heart set on something: to be expecting something one desires

ex> Lily has her heart set on seeing the ponies: we can’t disappoint her.

@ It could fetch a good price there.

obtain ~/secure ~/realize ~

PE 6/17 A Fantastic Parade

* jacked up: physically or mentally stimulated

ex> Our dog gets so jacked up when she sees a bird that we can’t control her.

Note> It can also mean injured, broken or ruined, rude and not proper, and abnormal when describing a person.

* hold still: to refrain from moving; remain motionless

ex> That nice hairstylist had no trouble getting Olivia to hold still.

* hands down: decisively; unquestionably

ex> That was the best movie I’ve ever seen, hands down.

* runner-up: the second-place finisher

ex> Did you know my mother had been the runner-up in a teen beauty pageant?

* rife-size: having the same dimensions as the real item

ex> My brother used his life-size fake fire hydrant to save us a parking spot.

* there’s no such thing: it does not exist

ex> Nick finally realized there’s no such thing as a free ride.

@ The restroom facilities are a country mile from here.

a far piece ~/a fair distance ~/a long way away ~

PE 6/16 Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord

* old hand: an experienced person

ex> Don’t worry about my dad: he’s an old hand at finding his way without GPS.

* the latter: the second of two options; the last

ex> I was offered a raise or a bonus, and I chose the latter.

* have a go: to try an activity or undertaking

ex> Dawn decided to have a go at learning Dutch before her trip to Amsterdam.

* take some getting used to: to require time before comfort or ease is achieved.

ex> His old saxophone was different from mine, and took some getting used to.

* get the ball rolling: to initiate something; make a start

ex> Our plans are complete, so let’s get the ball rolling on this project.

* in one’s own backyard: where one lives; in an area of importance to one

ex> Residents don’t want a sewage treatment plant in their own backyard.

ex> This special camera lets us observe wildlife in its own backyard.

@ It’s such a jaw-dropping experience to see the bears and seals.

stunning ~/astonishing ~/ astounding ~

PE 6/15 Old Shoes Made New

* past one’s prime: beyond the peak of one’s abilities

ex> He’s past his prime now, but I still enjoyed seeing him in concert.

* over the hill: old; too old for a specified activity

ex> When I was a kid, my parents seemed over the hill in their thirties.

* no sweat: easily done

ex> You want me to empty the dishwasher? No sweat!

* have/take a seat: (an invitation to) sit down

ex> Please have a seat over there and wait for us to call your name.

* come out in the wash: to result in no lasting problems; end well

ex> It may seem like a problem now, but it will all come out in the wash.

* give something a new lease on life: to improve something so that it looks or performs better

ex> That mechanic has given my old bike a new lease on life.

@ Has your business dwindled since people started wearing running shoes?

Fallen off~/dropped off~/diminished~

PE 6/14 Alan Alda - Connecticut College Commencement Speech

* chutzpah [|xʊtspə ; |hʊtspə]: boldness; audacity; extreme self-confidence

ex> Even airline passengers with endless chutzpah can’t get free upgrades any more.

* laugh at oneself: to not take oneself too seriously; be immune from embarrassment

ex> I love Lily’s ability to laugh at herself.

ex> If you spill something, it’s better to laugh at yourself than to feel bad about it.

* puny [|pju:ni]: small and inferior

ex> The food was good, but the portions were puny.

* insignificant: lacking importance; too small for consideration or influence

ex> An insignificant number of people supported that candidate in the last election.

* step back: to take a broader view; adopt an overall perspective

ex> When you take a step back, you realize that your problems aren’t so bad.

* have the nerve: to have the necessary courage or audacity

ex> I can’t believe she had the nerve to laugh at my car.

@ They're supposed to be gigantic explosions.

huge/enormous/colossal

PE 6/13 The Secret to Drawing Well

* top drawer: at the highest level of excellence

ex> The museum has a superb collection of top drawer Chinese ceramics.

* take credit: to claim responsibility for something positive

ex> Claire did most of the work on our project, but Sonny took credit for it.

* shot in the arm: a sudden, positive encouragement or benefit

ex> Finding that new singer has been a shot in the arm for the band.

* at cross purposes: unintentionally trying to achieve contradictory goals; misunderstanding

ex> The environmentalists and farmers discovered they were working at cross purposes.

* try one’s hand at something: to willingly try something unfamiliar

ex> Angela decided to try her hand at water skiing this summer.

* by leaps and bounds: with rapid progress

ex> Her language skills improved by leaps and bounds when she lived with a Canadian family.

@ By and large, yes. 뭐 대충, 그런 거지

On the whole, yes/Generally speaking, yes./All things considered, yes.