PE 11/2 Two Ways to Measure

* head-scratcher: a puzzle; a confusing mystery

ex> It’s a head-scratcher way Jake didn’t wear his warm jacket today.

Chances are he wants them in inches. Most Americans are discomfited by the metric system.

* chances are: it is likely; probably

ex> Chances are we won’t be home until after it’s dark.

Oh… okay. I’ll do the conversions and get those to him pronto. Out of curiosity, are there any other countries that have yet to adopt the metric system?

* pronto: quickly; immediately; promptly

ex> Better get that dish out of the oven pronto!

ex> Get down here pronto: you’re late for the meeting!

* out of curiosity: for no reason other than personal interest; I wonder

ex> Is this the first time you’ve driven a motorbike, out of curiosity?

* have yet to do something: have not done something yet

ex> Some of you still have yet to submit your timesheets.

* strange bedfellows: an unusual combination or alliance

ex> A minority government can make strange bedfellows of opposing parties.

@ Most Americans are discomfited by the metric system.  대부분의 미국인들은 미터법을 당황스러워 하거든요.

disturbed ~ /flustered ~ /perplexed ~

Morning Special 20161111 (Weekly Hot Click)

PE 11/1 Richard Russo - Colby College Commencement Speech

Rule number one: search out the kind of work that you would gladly do for free, and then get somebody to pay you for it. Don’t expect this to happen overnight. It took me nearly twenty years to get people to pay me a living wage for my writing, which makes me, even at this juncture, one of the fortunate few.

* living wage: enough regular income for survival

ex> I rented my own apartment as soon as I was making a living wage.

* juncture: an important point in time; a place where things join

ex> As this juncture, it looks like she’ll be studying in France next year.

ex> There has been a settlement at the juncture of these rivers since Roman times.

* give something meaning: to make something significant or fulfilling

ex> Helping others has given my life meaning.

It should be the kind of work that constantly humbles you, that never allows you to become smug - in short, work that sustains you instead of just paying your bills.

* smug: self-satisfied to the point of annoying others

ex> Betty gets a smug look on her face when she’s playing cards against Helen.

Note> This word means to show “extreme” satisfaction with one’s ability or achievements. No wonder why it’s irritating to others.

* in short: briefly put; in conclusion

ex> In short, his message says that the package has arrived.

* sustain: to allow something to continue without difficulty

ex> Scientists have discovered a new planet that can sustain life.

@ Search out the kind of work that you would gladly do for free.  돈을 받지 않고도 기쁘게 할 만한 일을 (끝까지) 찾아 보세요.

Seek ~ /Look for ~ /Ferret out ~

PE 10/31 A First on Halloween

He’s not on his own: he’s with two very good friends. And he has his trusty flashlight to ward off any evil spirits.

* ward off: to keep away something potentially harmful

ex> THere was a large sign to ward off trespassers.

I’m serious, Bard. I’m worried sick about our little boy’s safety.

* worried sick: very worried or anxious

ex> I’m worried sick about how much the repairs will cost us.

He’s not so little any more. He can’t stay tied to your apron strings forever. It’s our duty as parents to help him become more independent.

* tied to one’s apron strings: dependent upon or controlled by one’s mother or wife

ex> Gerry can’t join us tonight because he’s tied to his wife’s apron strings.

Note> In the days before playpens and other devices, a mother would attach her child to her by her apron strings. The child could play nearby safely.

I know, but I get so wound up thinking about all the things that could happen to him.

* wound up: worried; nervous; angry; tense

ex> Doug gets all wound up when he watches the news.

ex> Steven is wound up because he thinks someone stole his coffee mug.

You know what will happen to him? He’ll come home exactly at 9, high as a kite on sugar and none the worse for wear. I guarantee it.

* high as a kite: overexcited; intoxicated

ex> I thought Bob was as high as a kite, but he was just excited about the game.

* none the worse for wear: undamaged or unaffected by use or activity

ex> She returned my laptop none the worse for wear.

@ He has his trusty flashlight.  그에게는 믿음직스런 손전등이 있다.

Reliable ~ /faithful ~ /dependable ~

PE 10/28 A Practice Strategy

* come along: to progress; proceed; accompany

ex> Matthew is coming along well with his trampoline skills.

ex> We’re going to the lake. Would you like to come along?

* go in circles: to make no progress due to lack of direction

ex> I’m going in circles with this math problem.

Note> If you go round in circles when you are discussing something or trying to achieve something, you do not make any progress because you keep going back to the same subjects or the same problems.

*  uphill climb: a project or duty requiring much time and effort

ex> My university studies were one uphill climb after another.

* Rome wasn’t built in a day. : Big goals take a long time to achieve.

ex> Tell the customer that Rome wasn’t built in a day: their order is complicated.

* in your dreams: it will never happen; your wish is unrealistic

ex> In your dreams. I don’t date men with cheesy pick-up lines.

ex> You want success without working for it? In your dreams.

* bite your tongue: refrain from saying something unlucky or offensive

ex> Bite your tongue! I’m sure there will still be seats left when we get there.

Note> If you bite your tongue, you cannot speak. Biting one’s tongue would definitely prevent saying something that would later be regretted.

@ He plays the same two songs over and over again. 그는 두 곡을 계속 무한 반복해서 연주해요.

repeatedly. /infinitum. /again and again.

PE 10/27 Living in a Lighthouse

This lighthouse was tended by a resident lighthouse keeper from the time it was built in 1895 until about twelve years ago.

* tend: to look after; care for

ex> Will you please tend the fire while I go look for some more wood?

* bored silly: very bored

ex> Hannah enjoys playing cards, but I’m usually bored silly.

Believe it or not, there were a lot of regular duties to perform, especially in the early days. The keeper really had to be on his toes.

* believe it or not: remarkably; amazing, but true

ex> My letter’s going to be published in the paper, believe it or not.

* be on one’s toes: to be alert, prepared, and energetic

ex> Working with so many clever young people keeps me on my toes.

ex> We were kept on our toes because our boss always came in without warning.

Not every lighthouse keeper was a loner. Some had their families at their sides. In fact, the last one who lived here had a wife and four children.

* loner: one who avoids interacting with others

ex> My cousin Alan is a loner, but he seems happy and productive.

* at one’s side: accompanying or supporting one

ex> That man’s dachshund is always at his side.

@ That job would suit someone who liked to keep to themselves.  그런 일을 하는 사람은 남들과 어울리기 싫어하는 사람이 제격이겠다.

~ be alone. /~ go solo. /~ be solitary.

PE 10/26 What’s a Hackerspace?

Now that I’m past the blue-sky phase of my software project, I’m really itching to get down to the nitty-gritty of developing it.

* blue-sky: not subject to practical limitations; creative; imaginative; unrealistic

ex> Blue-sky thinking has led to some of history’s greatest inventions.

Note> when speaking of securities (stocks), “a blue-sky stock” has dubious value and is not financially sound. Basically, it’s a bad stock.

* be itching to do something: to be very eager and restless to do something

ex> I’m itching to try out my new putter at the golf course this weekend.

* nitty-gritty: the basic, essential, practical elements of something

ex> We know we want to work together, so let’s address the nitty-gritty of your contract.

ex> I’m more interested in design than the nitty-gritty of manufacturing.

Note> When it comes to dancing, “getting down to the real nitty-gritty” means to dance REAL GOOD. It also means to be real in the way that you dance - not being stiff, or refined, or too controlled in the way you move.

Great! I guess you’ll be moving forward with that soon, then.

* move forward: to make progress; proceed

ex> We can’t move forward until everyone agrees what our next step should be.

I wish I could, but my hands are tied. I don’t have all the skills myself, and I can’t afford to pay someone.

* one’s hands are tied: external forces prevent one’s progress

ex> The developer’s hands are tied because the land is agricultural.

That sounds perfect! Thanks very much for giving me the scoop!

* give one the scoop: to tell one information or details about a situation

ex> Jamie gave me the scoop about what the police were doing there.

@ Why don’t you check out a hackerspace?   헤커스페이스를 한번 알아보지 그래?

look into ~ /investigate ~ /scope ~