PE 12/5 Making Pottery for Fun

This all seems to be in order. So – what brings you to the class?

* in order: complete and correct; tidy and functional

ex> First we have to confirm that your application is in order.

* bring one to something: to compel one to do something; be the cause for a decision

ex> What brings you to this outdoor festival on such a chilly day?

I loved doing pottery in school, so I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground for a course like this one. I’m on cloud nine to be here, truth be told[하1] .

* keep one’s ear to the ground: to be alert for desired news or information

ex> I’m keeping my ear to the ground for job opportunities.

* on cloud nine: very happy and elated

ex> Jake has been on cloud nine since he heard he was going to be a father.

Great! I assume you’ve already scoped out all the details, like what kinds of ideas, materials and tools we’ll be using?

* scope out: to investigate; examine

ex> Jeannie wants to scope out all the restaurants in her new neighborhood.

Don’t worry: I’ll be here to give you a helping hand whenever you need it. Just find a place in the studio and grab a smock[하2]  from the hooks on the wall. We’ll be starting in about ten minutes.

* a helping hand: assistance

ex> My mom lends a helping hand at the seniors’ center on weekends.

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 [하1]솔직히 말해서

= to be honest; if truth be known.; as a matter of fact.

 [하2][smɑ:k] (옷이 더러워지지 않도록 위에 걸치는) 작업복[덧옷]

PE 12/2 New Boots for Caroline

We were coming up against a brick wall for a while there, weren’t we, Caroline?

* come up against a brick wall: to encounter a very difficult obstacle; be unable to proceed

ex> The developers have come up against a brick wall due to height restrictions.

Well, we couldn’t have you swanning around in those little purple things and taking cover every time it rained or snowed.

* swan around[하1] : to move in a dramatic manner

ex> When the girls were little, they would dress up and swan around the yard.

* take cover[하2] : to quickly find shelter from harsh weather, falling objects, attack, etc.

ex> It began to rain, so we took cover in a doorway.

It took quite a while for Little Miss Diva here to take a fancy to anything that would actually keep her feet warm and dry, but we eventually found these.

* take a fancy to someone/something: to be attracted to someone or something

ex> He must have taken a fancy to me, because he began smiling at me in the halls.

And best of all the price was right, so it was a done deal.

* the price was right: something is affordable or attractively priced; something is free

ex> It’s not the most attractive sandwich place, but the price is right.

* done deal: a transaction or mission that is completed, inevitable, or irreversible

ex> The seller agreed to my offer, so it’s a done deal.

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 [하1]If we say that somebody is swanning around, we are implying that they’re doing it to impress in an irresponsible or carefree way.

 [하2]When it comes to earthquakes, they say you should take cover underneath a desk or a doorway.

PE 12/1 A Fancy Ranch

Holy moly[하1] ! Look at this house! When you said we’d be staying at an “estancia,” I looked it up – it means “ranch.” This is a palace!

* look something up: to seek written information about something

ex> I looked your number up online.

It’s pretty swish for a farmhouse, huh? This is where the owner lived whenever they wanted to escape the hoi polloi in the city.

* swish [하2] (adjective): fashionable and expensive

ex> Lorna is taking me to dinner at a swish restaurant tonight.

* hoi polloi[하3] : average people; the general public

ex> Darren won’t read any books that are popular with the hoi polloi.

Your mom and I have lots of other adventures planned. It costs a pretty penny to stay here, but it seemed like a nice way to bookend our weeks of roughing it across Argentina.

* pretty penny: a large amount of money

ex> They must have paid a pretty penny for that car.

* bookend (verb) to occur or be placed at both ends of something

ex> The conference will be bookended by live entertainment.

* rough it: to live under simple or crude conditions

ex> Some people travel luxuriously, and some prefer to rough it.

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 [하1]맙소사!

Holy Toledo! /Wowza! /Oh my gosh!

 [하2]This also means something extremely awesome, impressive and satisfying, much like hearing a swish when you shoot in basketball.

 [하3]Hoi polloi is an expression from Greek that means “the many” or “the majority.” This often has a negative connotation towards the working class and commoners.

PE 11/30 The Company Newsletter

You’re Bob, the new guy, right? So, how are you finding it here? Are you getting the hang of it?

* get the hang of something: to become familiar and adept at something

ex> I’m not a great swing dancer yet, but I’m getting the hang of it.

ex> You’ll get the hang of operating this machine in just a few hours.

Hi Alex! I’m doing okay, thanks. Mary Newman has been showing me the ropes. She’s the one whose husband was arrested for impaired driving last month.

* show one the ropes: to teach specific methods, procedures and systems to one

ex> You’re new here, so they’ve asked me to show you the ropes.

Uh, have you met Perry simmonds yet? I think he was still away when you signed on.

* sign on: to begin or commit oneself to something

ex> Over a million people have already signed on to the new service.

Whoa! TMI Where have you been finding all this dirt on the people who work here, Bob? Or do people you barely know typically spill their guts to you?

* TMI (Too Much Information)

ex> When Olivia started telling me about her health problems in detail, I said TMI!

* dirt: secrets or incriminating evidence against one; scandalous gossip

ex> Reporters have found some dirt on the candidate.

* spill one’s guts: to suddenly or generously confess one’s private secrets

ex> The suspect spilled his guts to police during questioning.

@ How are you finding it here?  여기서 지내기 어때요?

What do you think of it here? /What are your impressions of this place? /How are things going for you here?

PE 11/29 Paul Hamer - Park Tudor School Graduation Speech

As I bring these remarks to an end, I would be remiss if I did not tell you that it was this class that helped me recover from my bout with Empty Nest Syndrome.

* be remiss: to be negligent; fail to show enough care or attention

ex> My best man was remiss in fulfilling his duties.

* bout: a short period when something is occurring

ex> We had a bout of bad weather last month.

ex> Lisa had to stay home due to a bout of flu.

* empty nest syndrome: feelings of sadness when all one’s children have moved away; 빈 둥지 증후군

ex> My sister had a terrible case of empty nest syndrome when her son went to college.

It happened through a series of unexpected moments. For example, last February, when I was probably at my worst, I got a thank-you note from one of you for writing your college recommendations.

* at one’s worst: experiencing the lowest point in one’s behavior, health, etc

ex> You’ve seen me at my worst, and you’ve still remained loyal to me.

You said that the college application process was stressful and that it helped to know that I was writing on your behalf even though you said that, based on the way I had graded your papers, I had probably written your recommendation in red ink.

* on one’s behalf: representing one; to one’s benefit; in place of one

ex> She accepted the award on behalf of her mother.

All I can say is that, in the final analysis, this class proved to be what I had instead of Molly for his past year, and you did not let me down.

* let one down: Bruce said he was going to drive me to ther

ex> Bruce said he was going to drive me to the reunion, but he let me down.

@ As I bring these remarks to an end,  이 말을 마치면서

to a close, /to a finish, /to a conclusion,

PE 11/28 Trying a Dating App

I’m getting sick and tired of waiting in the wings while all my friends are getting married left, right, and center.

* sick and tired: frustrated; no longer willing to endure

ex> Shelila is sick and tired of picking up her kids’ toys.

* waiting in the wings: to be ready to replace someone or something in a featured

ex> Do a good job because there are lots of other candidates waiting in the wings.

* left, right, and center: everywhere; to a large degree

ex> There are new coffee shops opening left, right and center.

Wouldn’t that be the lesser of two evils?

Not if it meant that I’d be pestered by a bunch of creepy guys. I’d hate that.

* the lesser of (the) two evils: the least undesirable of two bad options

ex> I’ll dry the dishes because it’s the lesser of the two evils.

ex> Voting sometimes means having to choose the lesser of two evils.

Most dating apps allow you to weed out people who may not be up to scratch. It’s up to you who you communicate with.

* weed out: to remove someone or something that is not wanted

ex> Let’s review this list and weed out any unsuitable candidates.

* up to scratch: at the expected standard or level

ex> Your job is to get the students’ writing skills up to scratch.

@ The thought hadn’t actually crossed my mind.  그 생각은 사실 못했어.

~ entered my mind. /~occurred to me. /Actually, I never would’ve thought of doing that.

PE 11/25 Kitchen Crisis

I had too many things on the go and I guess it slipped my mind that I’d left it on “high” with all that oil in it.

* on the go: in progress or motion; happening

ex> Can I learn another instrument while I have the viola on the go?

* slip one’s mind: to be forgotten

ex> It slipped my mind that I had a dental appointment this morning.

Caroline was at the ready with the fire extinguisher before I knew what was happening. Where are the kids now?

* at the ready: present and prepared

ex> Cheryl keeps a large umbrella at the ready near the front door.

ex> I like to have a phrase book at the ready when I travel.

I guess the crew will be on their way once those huge fans have finished working their magic.

* on one’s way: leaving one place to go to another; along one’s route

ex> We’ll be on our way as soon as they announce the winners.

* work one’s magic: to do something one is accomplished at (or an item is designed for)

ex> I think I’ll let the dry cleaner work his magic on this stain.

It seems I’m a little out of practice in the kitchen.

* out of practice: no longer able, familiar or comfortable doing something

ex> Are you sure you want me in your band? I’m out of practice.

@ The kids leapt into action.  애들이 즉시 반응했다.

jumped to it. /sprang into action. /responded instantly