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 ~

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 ~