PE 5/28 St. John’s Co-Cathedral

This place is incredible, Ellen! From the outside it looks like a military building, but inside it’s so glittery and ornate. I thought it was going to be somber, like so many other churches.

* somber: dark, dull, gloomy

ex> The minister’s somber tone made us dread going to church every Sunday.

Whoever the Knights of Malta were, they really knew how to put on the ritz.

* put on the ritz: to display luxury in a showy way

ex> My mom always puts on the ritz when she goes to an opera.

They were a military-religious order that was originally formed to provide health and protection services to pilgrims in the holy lands. Their fortunes came and went, but their campaigns to replace their former wealth began to gain traction in the 16^th century when this cathedral was built.

* gain traction: to have an increase in effectiveness or popularity

ex> Our garden tools ad campaign really gained traction with consumers when the good weather began.

That was it, pure and simple. But eventually their greed got the better of them, and they lost sight of their original mandate.

* pure and simple: There are a few other English expressions that also imply serve to reinforce a statement that one has just made. “That’s all there is to it” and “and nothing more” are two of them that are commonly used. Why are they needed? Just for emphasis – pure and simple!

ex> Tina’s actions were the result of her jealousy, pure and simple.

* get the better of one: to defeat one; gain an advantage over one

ex> I’m sorry I ate the last of the pizza. My hunger got the better of me.

* lose sight: to forget; become unable to see something

ex> His disappointment caused him to lose sight of the reason for the expedition.

* mandate: an official order to do something

ex> Teachers have a mandate to ensure the safety of the students in their classrooms.

PE 5/27 Cleaning Up for a Tour

Why would they drop a bombshell like that just before the end of our shift? Now we have to scramble to get the place tidy in time.

* drop a bombshell: to say something important and unexpected

ex> My cousin dropped a bombshell when she told us she was going to marry her teacher.

ex> The boss really dropped a bombshell when he announced that the company was moving to another city.

* scramble: There are two other meanings for the verb “scramble.” When an air force responds to a sudden situation, you might hear that they scrambled their jets, meaning that their plans were soon airborne. However, when you scramble eggs, you mix the yolks and egg whites together in a hasty, random manner.

ex> I had to scramble, but I got everything done from the list you gave me.

Save your breath. We’ve got a lot of work to do. Hand me that rag, will you?

* save one’s breath: stop wasting time talking

ex> We should save our breath because no one is going to take our advice.

Sure thing. So why do we have to tidy up? I kind of like this little piece of organized chaos we’ve made for ourselves.

* sure thing: certainly; something that is certain

ex> It’s a sure thing that Jake will be home right after school: I made cookies.

I guess they want to show the new clients that this place isn’t a sweatshop. Hey, how about recycling that box of shavings? They’re just taking up space.

* sweatshop: a factory where workers make little money under unsafe or uncomfortable conditions

ex> Wendy was shocked to discover that most clothes are made in sweatshops.

Okay. Y’know, I’d prefer to end our day in quiet reflection of our many achievements, but I guess we just have to suck it up, right?

* suck it up: to accept an unpleasant situation

ex> We didn’t like cleaning the bathrooms, but we had to suck it up because it was part of the job.

Right. At least we get a more organized workspace out of the deal.

* out of the deal: an extra, positive result

ex> I’m glad my roommate had a dinner party because I got a bunch of leftovers out of the deal.

ex> I volunteered to help at the charity event and got several new friends out of the deal.

PE 5/26 Bill Clinton Speech – Part 4

We are – we are a great and good people. And we have an even better chance this time than we did then, with no great internal crisis and no great external threat. Still, I have lived long enough to know that opportunities must be seized or they will be lost.

* internal: situated on the inside; domestic

ex> The committee fell apart due to a series of internal disagreements.

* seize opportunities: to take advantage of temporary situations

ex> Our company has prospered because we had the courage to seize opportunities.

My friends, 54 years ago, this week, I was born in a summer storm to a young widow in a small southern town. America gave me the chance to live my dreams. And I have tried as hard as I knew how to give you a better chance to live yours.

* live one’s dreams: You might also hear that someone is “living the dream” or “living the life,” which both means the same thing: having a life of freedom, adventure, travel, luxury, tec. The opposite expression is just what you might expect: “living a nightmare” is used to describe living under very unpleasant circumstances.

ex> My granddaughter is living her dreams, teaching scuba diving in the Cayman Islands.

Now my hair’s a little grayer, my wrinkles are a little deeper, but with the same optimism and hope I brought to the work I love so eight years ago, I want you to know my heart is filled with gratitude.

* one’s heart is filled with something: one has a complete feeling of something

ex> Ken’s heart was filled with disappointment as he read the letter.

My fellow Americans, the future of our country is now in your hands. You must think hard, feel deeply and choose wisely. And remember, whenever you think about me, keep putting people first… keep building those bridges… and don’t stop thinking about tomorrow. I love you, and good night.

* in one’s hands: in one’s care or responsibility

ex> Now that your child’s education is in our hands, we will do our best to help him grow.

* think hard: to concentrate

ex> The puzzle seems impossible at first, but you can solve it if you think hard.

Note> Another variation of the phrase is “think long and hard” which means to take more time to understand something before making a final decision about something.

* put something first: to give something primary importance

ex> When you live alone, you get into the habit of putting your own needs first.

PE 5/25 Choosing a Wedding Gift

Well, our budget can be up to about a hundred dollars. We like Lauren, and I can quaff at least that much worth of free booze.

* quaff: to drink something heartily

ex> My volleyball team members like to quaff a few beer after a game.

Note> This is also a slang term used to describe ginormous hair.

Forget it, bub. I don’t want my escort to be half in the bag before the dancing starts. What about a crystal serving bowel?

* half in the bag: For some reason, English contains many expressions to describe various levels of drunkenness. this one is very informal, to be used between friends. You might drive a buddy home when he is “half in the bag,” but you would tell the police officer who pulled you over that your friend was “a little inebriated.”

ex> I’ll call a taxi for you. You look like you’re half in the bag, buddy.

Those things cost a bomb. Why not just garden-variety salad bowl?

* cost a bomb: to be expensive

ex> Lori’s new car cost a bomb, but it’s the smoothest ride I’ve ever had.

* garden-variety: common; ordinary

ex> There’s no need to buy designer linens because garden-variety sheets will do.

ex> This brand of strawberry jam is much better than the garden-variety stuff we used to get.

We can’t give them a plastic bowl for a wedding gift, honey. And even a well-made wooden salad set can cost a pretty penny.

* a pretty penny: a lot of money

ex> Our neighbors spent a pretty penny adding a deck to their house.

Well, those two are fairly non-traditional. Almost anything we can come up with would be fair game. What about a piggy bank with a hundred dollar bill in it?

* fair game: a likely or obvious target:

ex> The actor’s wild offscreen habits made him fair game for the paparazzi.

I think it’s sort of tacky to give cash, but I like the piggy bank idea. Let’s think about this some more after the movie.

* tacky: unfashionable; shabby; vulgar

ex> We all had a great time at Cheryl’s “tacky tourist” costume party.

ex> My mother used to hide any Christmas decorations she felt were tacky.

PE 5/22 Reading Private Messages

She looked through his phone? Reading someone else’s messages without their permission flies in the face of decency. People get up in arms when their governments spy on them. I can’t believe you’d connive at that.

* fly in the face of: This expression implies that the subject is being irresponsible or contrary on purpose. For example, you could say that a scientist’s bold new discoveries fly in the face of older theories. However, you wouldn't say that today’s weather flies in the face of the forecast, because the weather can’t do anything on purpose – it just is what it is!

ex> My sister’s religious ideas fly in the face of reason.

* up in arms: extremely upset

ex> Rebecca’s mom is up in arms because we used her favorite towel to dry the car.

Note> Weapons can be referred to as “arms,” hence, if a person was “at arms” or “in arms” it meant they were equipped with weapons and armor, ready to fight.

* connive: to secretly cooperate with or ignore a wrongful activity

ex> The prison guards were accused of conniving at the mass escape.

I take umbrage at that, Brian. I wasn't conniving: I was sympathizing. She was just trying to get the upper hand.

* umbrage: a state of being annoyed or offended

ex> Most people will take umbrage if you tell them they are overweight.

ex> Tammy was so sensitive that she would take umbrage at almost anything anyone said.

* upper hand: a position of advantage

ex> Jeff seems to get the upper hand every time we play tennis against each other.

ex> The battle lasted for days, but the Saxons finally gained the upper hand.

Sorry, Mel. I didn't mean to put you on the defensive. Well, I guess the moment of truth will come when she confronts him about it.

* on the defensive: ready to defend oneself

ex> My former manager’s constant accusations used to put everyone on the defensive.

ex> Whenever I try to discuss something with my husband, he goes on the defensive.

* moment of truth: a critical or decisive time

ex> She’s been practicing for weeks, but the moment of truth will come when she takes her road test.

PE 5/21 The Lascaris War Rooms

Why do we have to go to another museum? Can’t we go to that beach we saw yesterday? Museums are just dusty old rooms full of obsolete stuff.

* obsolete: no longer produced or used

ex> You can’t get a replacement battery for this phone because it’s obsolete.

Oh, I think you might like this one. It’s a secret military planning headquarters hidden beneath this very garden. I’ll bet that never occurred to you, hmm?

* occur to one: to become realized

ex> It didn't occur to me that the reason I felt cold was that I had left the window open.

ex> Does it ever occur to you to check your messages? I've been calling you for days!

Really? Are you trying to hoodwink me? Show me! How do we get in?

* hoodwink: to deceive or trick someone

ex> That salesman tried to hoodwink us into believing this car was owned by Elvis.

Wow! Incredible! This place is amazing! What exactly took place here?

* take place: to happen

ex> The play’s story takes place in a small French village during the 18^th century.

This is where the Allies planned the invasion of nearby Sicily. It was an important battle that allowed the Allies to get the jump on their enemies. This complex is exactly how it was left after World War II.

* get the jump on: to gain an advantage by doing something before someone else does.

ex> We can win this rally if we find a way to get the jump on the other teams.

Mom, I want to spend a couple of hours here, but please don’t tell Dad about this museum, okay? I don’t want to dissuade him from taking us to the beach tomorrow.

* dissuade: to persuade someone not to do something

ex> The lifeguard dissuaded the kids from running on the pool deck.

I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.

* I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.: This expression is usually said with a smile, humorously implying that the speaker would do something quite naughty if the listener promised to keep it a secret. So don’t worry if someone says this to you: they probably don’t really expect you to do anything naughty.

PE 5/20 Tension at the New Office

You seem really out of sorts this evening. Don’t you like your new job?

* out of sorts: unwell; unhappy

ex> Our cat seems to be out of sorts: she hasn't eaten any food today.

I do, but I can’t seem to please my supervisor. I really need to find a way to make her less hostile towards me, but I’m drawing a blank.

* draw a blank: to not find anything; get no response; fail at something

ex> I tried to remember the combination to my bike lock, but I drew a blank.

Hmm. You don’t want to be too obsequious, or that might seem insincere. Can you just take a break and go for a walk when things get tense between the two of you?

* obsequious: As with many English adjectives, “obsequious” tells us something about the describer’s opinion as well as what they’re describing. Someone could be described as “obsequious” (negative) by one person, and “helpful” (positive) by another.

ex> It seems the obsequious waiter wants a big tip.

Not really. I’m pretty much chained to my desk all day. Maybe I should just come out and ask her what her problem is.

* chained to one’s desk: unable to leave one’s workspace

ex> I’ll be chained to my desk until the monthly report is finished.

That might upset her, especially if she’s having problems in her personal life. You don’t want to start a catfight.

* catfight: a physical or verbal fight between two women

ex> Corrie used to have terrible catfights with her sister, but they’re good friends now.

I don’t think it’ll come to blows, but she really does seem implacable.

* come to blows: to reach the point of physical violence

ex> The two motorists were so angry that their argument almost came to blows.

* implacable: unable to be appeased; inflexible

ex> I offered to do extra work to make up for my mistake, but my boss was implacable.