PE 11/16 Carpooling with the Boss

Did you see who took the last slot in our carpool? The CFO, of all people.

* of all people: used to emphasize that the person named is surprising or unexpected; more than anyone else

ex> Then my long-lost brother walked through the door, of all people!

Really? I guess he wants to set a good example for the rest of the staff.

* set a good example: to do something that inspires others to behave similarly

ex> It’s better to set a good example than to offer advice.

I’d better keep my car as neat as a pin. Have you seen his desk?

* neat as a pin: very tidy and clean

ex> Erin must want something - her room is as neat as a pin.

Well, I guess we’re going to have to start minding our p’s and q’s during the commute.

* mind one’s p’s and q’s: to behave politely, especially in the presence of an elder or superior

ex> Our new supervisor is strict, so we have to mind our p’s and q’s.

Aw, he’s probably a down-to-earth guy just like us. Maybe he’ll welcome the chance to let his hair down a bit.

* down-to-earth: practical; sensible; realistic; unpretentious

ex> The boss is very down-to-earth, so you can be honest with him.

* let one’s hair down: to behave in a relaxed, free, and uninhibited way

ex> My coworkers and I let our hair down after work on Fridays.

@ His desk is always immaculate.  그의 책상은 항상 티 하나 없이 깨끗하다.

spotless. /impeccable. /spick-and-span.

[ɪ|mӕkjələt]

PE 11/15 Sarah Heidt - Kenyon College Commencement Speech

Since you’ve chosen to attend this weekend’s ceremonies in the flesh, try turning your whole mind to them, as well. Let your attention be here.

* in the flesh: in person; while physically present

ex> I won’t believe back in this country until I see him in the flesh.

I’m making this request, in part, because the division of our attention, the fragmentation of our awareness of any given moment in our lives and experience, has become such a cultural and personal commonplace.

* in part: partially; somewhat; for one of several reasons

ex> He wanted his own place, in part to give him more peace and quiet.

* commonplace (noun or adjective)

ex> Minor traffic accidents caused by mobile phone use are now a commonplace.

Distractions are, of course, nothing new. But our tools of distraction are becoming ever more plentiful and portable, and we stand to miss so much if we simply give in to their omnipresence.

* distraction: something that interferes with attention; something that is entertaining

ex> These distractions are preventing me from getting my work done.

* stand to: to be likely to; be in a position to

ex> Tanner stands to take over his brother’s room when he goes to college.

ex> The company stands to lose a lot of money due to the recall.

* filled to the brim: completely full (especially of liquids, uncountables, abstract ideas)

ex> Julia was filled to the brim with joy on her wedding day.

ex> Be careful not to spill you juice: the glass is filled to the brim.

@ Every moment we live is filled with incipient meaning.  우리가 사는 모든 순간은 막 시작되는 의미로 가득 차 있습니다.

nascent /embryonic /fundamental

PE 11/14 The Cost of Light

I was just jotting down the wattages of all our old light bulbs. I’m going to replace them all with energy-efficient ones.

* jot down: to write information or ideas quickly by hand

ex> Let’s jot down a list of the groceries we need.

Have you run the numbers to see if it’s really a good idea to go whole hog and replace them all at once? That could get kind of spendy.

* run the numbers: to analyze financial data before taking action

* go whole hog: to do something as completely as possible; be extravagant

* spendy: expensive

ex> When we ran the numbers, we saw that the car was a poor investment.

ex> The couple went whole hog and booked a luxurious wedding hall.

ex> The shoes in this store are kind of spendy.

I’ve read that some of the new bulbs haven’t lived up to expectations, and don’t last as long as they should.

* live up to something: to attain; fulfill

ex> Family pressure made it hard for Benjamin to live up to his potential.

* one by one: individually; in sequence

@ Why is the ladder smack-dab in the middle of the hallway? 왜 복도 한가운데 사다리가 있지?

right /plump /squarely

PE 11/11 Toby the Babysitter

Why not? I thought you’d be over the moon about a chance to make some money.

* over the moon: thrilled; very pleased

ex> Freddie was over the moon when his package arrived early.

Note> In Britain, this phrase is linked with football (soccer for Americans). If the team had lost, the speaker was “as sick as a parrot” (in a state of deep depression, not physically ill). If the team had won, he was over the moon.

But they’re so little! I’d be too worried they’d fall down the stairs or something. I couldn’t stand it.

* not stand something: to be unable to tolerate or endure something

ex> Are there any types of music you simply can’t stand?

Oh, Toby. It would only be for a few hours. I’m sure you could tough it out.

* tough it out: to endure difficulties; show strength during hardship

And if one of them keels over on your watch, just bury him or her in the yard.

* on one’s watch: during a time when one is in a position of responsibility

ex> The kids behaved very well on my watch.

Bob! Honestly! Whatever possessed you to say such a horrible thing?

* Whatever possessed you to…? : Why did you…?!? (said for emphasis)

ex> Whatever possessed you to wash red and white clothes together?

Sorry, you two. I didn’t mean to make light of such a serious discussion.

* make light of something: to treat something serious as if it was unimportant or humorous

ex> He tried to make light of the flat tire, saying he needed a break from driving.

@ And if one of them keels over, just bury him or her in the yard.  만약 그들 중 한명이 쓰러지면, 그냥 마당에 묻어.

croaks, /kicks the bucket, /gives up the ghost,

PE 11/10 Hot Water Beach

There it is! That car rental agent sure was in the know about all the sights in this area.

* in the know: aware of information that is not widely known

ex> I have a friend who is in the know about what happens at City Hall.

Yeah! My brother who toured the North Island just two years ago didn’t say diddly-squat about Hot Water Beach, but it looks like much more than a poor man’s spa.

* diddly-squat / doodly-squat: the smallest possible amount; nothing at all

ex> Sorry - I know diddly-squat about fixing motor scooters.

* a poor man’s something: an inexpensive or lower-grade alternative to something

ex> We thought of our local beach as a poor man’s Hawaii.

Yeah, but you have to take it slow. One girl jumped out of the water lickety-split when she discovered how hot it was.

* take it slow: to proceed cautiously

ex> It will be dark when we climb down, so we’ll have to take it slow.

* lickety-split: quickly

ex> The library is closing soon, so we’ll have to get there lickety-split.

* happy as a clam: very happy and contented

ex> Mom is happy as a clam as long as she has a good book to read.

@ I think I’ve got the gist of it.  감 잡은 거 같아.

idea /hang /essence

PE 11/9 Two Companies Want Cassie

* be courted by someone: to receive positive attention from one who wants to form a permanent relationship

ex> Tim’s been courted by several companies since graduating this year.

* shake up /shake-up: a drastic change within an organization, especially involving personnel

ex> The cabinet minister lost his job in a recent government shakeup.

* come to light: to become widely known

ex> As the scandal came to light, more changes were laid.

* play both ends against the middle: to make two groups compete for one’s own gain

ex> Our six-year-old is already playing both ends against the middle with us.

* be on the lookout for something: to be alert to the appearance of something

ex> Please be on the lookout for a gas station with a convenience store.

* ride something out: to endure something unpleasant, hoping it will end

ex> She always stops practicing by 10 PM, so let’s just ride it out.

ex> Our sales have been slow, but we have enough cash to ride it out.

@ I won’t exploit the situation.  이 상황을 부당하게 이용할 생각은 없다

manipulate /unfairly benefit from ~ /take advantage of ~

PE 11/8 David McCullough Jr. - Wellesley High School Graduation Speech

Resist the easy comforts of complacency, the specious glitter of materialism, the narcotic paralysis of self-satisfaction.

* complacent: self-satisfied and unwilling to change

ex> We mustn’t become complacent about the habits that spread diseases.

* materialism: placing more importance on physical goods than on intellectual or spiritual pursuits

ex> Do you think that materialism has made people less sensitive to others?

Be worthy of your advantages. And read… read all the time… read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing staple of life.

* staple: something that is widely used, provides sustenance, and is in steady demand

ex> Rice is a staple that provides half the world with 20% of its daily calories.

Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. Love everything you love, everyone you love, with all your might. And do so, please with a sense of urgency, for every tick of the clock subtracts from fewer and fewer; and as surely as there are commencements there are cessations, and you’ll be in no condition to enjoy the ceremony attendant to that eventuality no matter how delightful the afternoon.

* think for oneself: to be mentally independent; forego popular ideas in favor of one’s own

ex> I won’t tell you the answer because I want you to think for yourself.

ex> The program was hard, but it taught me to think for myself.

* with all one’s might: intensely; using all of one’s strength or ability

ex> We pushed against the old door with all our might, but it wouldn’t move.

* sense of urgency:nervous eagerness; a feeling that something must be done immediately

ex> There was a sense of urgency in his voice when he asked for you.

@ Resist the specious glitter of materialism.  그럴 듯한 물질주의의 반짝거림에 저항하세요.

* specious [|spi:ʃəs]: 허울만 그럴 듯한; pleasing to the eye but deceptive

hollow /deceptive /misleading