PE 1/30 Portland's Rose Festival

Today they're going to crown the Rose Princess. It's the be-all and end-all for high school seniors in Portland.

* crown: 왕관을 씌우다, 왕위에 앉히다

* be-all and end-all: something considered essential or ultimate

ex> Getting a driver's license at 16 was the be-all and end-all when I was in high school.

They've been doing this since 1907, so they opened up the port for Fleet Week. It's a real cash cow for the city.

* cash cow: something that consistently brings in a lot of money

ex> Bottled water has become a cash cow because of fears of contamination.

Portlanders are going to be out in force today - maybe a half million people.

* in force: in large numbers

ex> Elderly people were out in force on Grandparents' Day.

I can tell by the grin on your face that you're going to make a beeline for the falafel truck on Burnside Avenue.

* make a beeline for: to go straight toward something

ex> When my ex-girlfriend saw me at the party, she made a beeline for the front door.

You can read me like a book. Come on, let's get going.

* read sb like a book: to know someone so well that you can predict their thoughts or actions

ex> Her lies don't fool me anymore, I can read her like a book.

PE 1/23 Portland: Snowshoeing Mt. Hood

Mt. Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon, so it’s hardly going to be a piece of cake.

* a piece of cake: very easy thing to do

ex> If you thought running a marathon was easy, this 10k race will be a piece of cake.

Is this going to be really hard? I’m a little out of shape these days?

* out of shape: 건강이 안 좋은

I’m not going to tell any tall tales. This will be hard for some of you, but we have extra guides to bring up the rear, as it were.

* tall tale: unbelievable story

ex> The old fisherman was famous for telling tall tales about “the big one that got away.”

* bring up the rear: to follow behind a group to prevent anyone from getting lost

ex> Horse number six is in the lead, following by horse number three, with horse number eight bringing up the rear!

ex> The prisoners marched in a row with guards in front and dogs bringing up the rear.

So why will it be such a chore?

* a chore: a required or difficult task

= a hassle; a drag; a headache

ex> It was such a chore to get up at 6 AM every day back in high school.

Let’s not waste any more time. Everyone pile in the van for the drive to the mountain!

* pile in/on: to pack in tightly; fill a space until it is crowded

ex> When the tornado siren sounded, everyone in the neighborhood piled in to my family’s storm shelter.

PE 1/2 Bicycle-friendly Portland

It’s a gorgeous day today, Gina. What tickles your fancy today? Anything you want.

* tickle one’s fancy: to please someone or make them happy

ex> When something tickled Jane’s fancy, she usually gave it a try.

Why is that an obvious thing? This city is most known for its gloomy winter weather and its laid back population.

* laid back: relaxed; not bothered by anything

= easy-going; free and easy; low-key

ex> It’s hard to be laid back when you live in a city as crowded as Seoul.

Let’s make hay while the sun shines! Do you think there’s a place that rents bikes around here?

* make hay while the sun shines: to stop wasting time; get to work or get moving

ex> If we want to reach Albany by dinnertime, we need to make hay while the sun shines.

You go get that and I’ll change into something suited for the long haul.

* a/the long haul: a great distance; an extended amount of time doing sth

ex> Even though they had been driving for hours, they still had a long haul ahead of them.

Me and my big mouth.

* me and my big mouth: an exclamation of regret over something one has said

ex> I can’t believe I promised to drive her to the airport. Me and my big mouth.