Smartphones May Detect Earthquakes

* quake-prone: 지진이 자주 일어나는
* magnitude: 규모, 중요도, (지진의) 강도
* feed into: ~에 반영되다
* detect: 발견하다, 알아내다
* take cover: 숨다, 피난하다

One Year Later, Korean Ferry Victims' Families Want Ship Raised

South Korea is marking the one-year anniversary this week of one of the country’s deadliest maritime accidents. Almost three hundred passengers onboard the Sewol ferry died last year after the ship capsized in waters off the peninsula’s south coast.

An investigation found the boat was overloaded and unstable. The ferry still rests on the ocean’s floor, but the relatives of those still missing now want it raised.

* mark: (중요 사건을) 기념하다, 축하하다

* deadliest: 치명적인

* maritime: 해양의, 바다의

* capsize: (배가) 뒤집히다, (배를) 뒤집다; = tip over

* rest on: ~에 있다

Nigerian leader to UN: No need for international force to fight Boko Haram

Nigeria's leader has told the United Nations not to focus on deploying an international force to fight Boko Haram but instead help victims of its terror.

Outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan spoke at a meeting Thursday with the U.N. special representative for West Africa.

Nigeria is accused of blocking a strong U.N. Security Council mandate to deploy a regional force against Boko Haram.

Jonathan said the U.N. intervention should not be based on military enforcement but regional promotion of peace and security.

* outgoing: (책임 있는 자리를) 물러나는

ex> an outgoing president/government

* be accuse of: ~로 비난받다, ~이 혐의를 받다

* mandate: (특정 과제의 수행) 지시, 명령

G7 Foreign Ministers Meet on Key World Issues

The agenda for this meeting is daunting - Libya, Yemen, Boko Haram, Syria, Ukraine and the Islamic State group, to name just a few items. The meeting host, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said the many crises around the world are likely to persist for some time.  
 Various combinations of these same ministers meet frequently in the cross-cutting organizations of the European Union, NATO, the Group of 20 and other forums.  

* daunting: 벅찬, 주눅이 들게 하는
* to name a few: 그 중 몇 개만이라도 이름을 대자면 (그 예가 더 많이 있다는 뜻)
* cross-cutting: 교차되는, 공통 이슈를 다루는

Proverbs 7:13-23 MSG

She threw her arms around him and kissed him, boldly took his arm and said, “I’ve got all the makings for a feast— today I made my offerings, my vows are all paid, So now I’ve come to find you, hoping to catch sight of your face—and here you are! I’ve spread fresh, clean sheets on my bed, colorful imported linens. My bed is aromatic with spices and exotic fragrances. Come, let’s make love all night, spend the night in ecstatic lovemaking! My husband’s not home; he’s away on business, and he won’t be back for a month.” Soon she has him eating out of her hand, bewitched by her honeyed speech. Before you know it, he’s trotting behind her, like a calf led to the butcher shop, Like a stag lured into ambush and then shot with an arrow, Like a bird flying into a net not knowing that its flying life is over.

* throw one's arms around somebody: ~에게 달라붙다
ex> She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him warmly.

* make (give) a feast: 연회를 벌이다
ex> Guests, make a feast of the dinner I prepared for you.

* eat out of one's hand: 남의 말대로 하다
ex> He likes to eat out of his superior's hand.

* bewitched: 넋이 나간, 혼을 빼앗긴
* trot: 빨리 걷다, 속보로 가다
ex> The guide led the way and we trotted along behind him.

* stag: 수사슴

4/30 Spring Weather

Talk about spring weather in Korea.

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in Korea. The weather is mild and the temperatures are just right for outdoors activities. There are many days when we get perfect picnic weather. Among them, May is the best. People even call May the "Queen of Spring" as the climate is so ideal. Many people go on outings to enjoy the warm breeze and sunshine. Cherry blossoms bloom in the spring season as well. They create a magnificent view. The only problem with spring is the yellow sand storms that blow in from China. The contaminated particles in the air are very bad for our health. People wear masks when there are yellow sand storm warnings.

@ Speaking Tips>> warning vs. alert  경보 vs. 주의보

ex> An alert was issued first, and then a warning.

ex> The alert was upgraded to a warning.

@ A yellow sand storm warning was issued.  황사 경보가 발령되었다.

@ Related Topics>> Seasonal Weather (2012.4.30), Yellow Sand Dust (2012.6.5)

@ Homework>>

1. 봄에는 어디서 따스한 바람을 즐길 수 있다. (enjoy the warm breeze)

2. 벚꽃 피는 게 보고 싶어. (cherry blossoms bloom)

3. 주변의 산들이 멋진 장관을 이루었다. (create a magnificent view)

4. 이번 달에는 황사 경보가 많았다. (yellow sand storm warning)

4/29 Canceling an Appointment

Talk about when you canceled an appointment.

I remember a time when I was supposed to get my hair done at the hair salon. I had a hair appointment on a Saturday. However, I came down with a nasty flu the day before the appointment. I got so sick that I couldn't even get out of bed. I felt very bad about missing the appointment, but there was nothing I could do. I called the hair salon and told them that I couldn't go. I asked them to reschedule my appointment. Eventually, I made a new appointment and got my hair done a few days later.

@ Speaking Tips>> reschedule  일정을 다시 잡다

ex> I reschedule my trip to America.

ex> I reschedule the meeting in a hurry.

@ I would like to reschedule.  일정을 조정하고 싶은데요.

@ Homework>>

1. 내가 기다려야 되는 줄 몰랐어. (be supposed to)

2. 나는 오늘 4시에 미용실 예약이 있어. (have a hair appointment)

3. 다행히 예약을 놓치지는 않았다. (miss the appointment)

4. 나는 예약을 새로 잡아야 했다. (make a new appointment)

4/28 Vacuum Cleaner

Talk about how vacuum cleaners help you clean the house.

One of the home appliances that has brought about the biggest change in our lives is the vacuum cleaner. Before we had the vacuum, we used to sweep the floor with a broom. But now, we use the vacuum to clean the dust on the floors. It sucks up dust very easily. It has become a lot easier to clean the floors. Plus, these days we have robot vacuum cleaners. They have sensors that help them clean the floors automatically. You just have to turn it on and it cleans the floors for you. It even goes back to the charger by itself. Overall, vacuum cleaners have changed how we clean the house drastically.

@ Speaking Tips]>> suck up  흡입하다, 빨아들이다

ex> Water is sucked up into the pipe. 

ex> Plants suck up water underneath the surface.

@ The robot vacuum cleaner does wonders.  로봇 청소기가 정말 놀라운 일을 해.

@ Related Topics>> Household Chores (2011.10.8)

@ Homework>>

1. 그 결정은 문제만 일으킬 것이다. (bring about)

2. 나는 빗자루로 먼지를 청소했다. (clean the dust)

3. 진공청소기는 순식간에 먼지를 빨아들였다. (suck up dust)

4. 진공청소기가 자동으로 바닥을 청소했다. (clean the floors automatically)

4/27 Home Appliances

Talk about various home appliances you use at home.

There are many home appliances I use at home. There is the fridge, the washer, the vacuum, the microwave, the humidifier, etc. First of all, one of the most important appliances is the fridge. It keeps food cold and prevents it from going bad. Next, the microwave is used to heat things up. It has made our lives much easier. Since we eat a lot of instant food these days, the microwave is one of the most-needed appliances. Last but not least, the humidifier is a must-have item in the house. Korean winter is very dry and the humidifier helps to keep the house less dry.

@ Speaking Tips>> must-have  필수인, 꼭 있어야 하는

ex> It is a must-have item for the spring season. (봄철에는 그것이 필수 아이템이다.)

ex> There's a list of must-have apps for travelers.

@ That's an air purifier.  저건 공기 청정기야.

@ Related Topics>> Refrigerators (2015.3.10), Kitchen (2010.11.22)

@ Homework

1. 고기가 상한 것 같아. (go bad)

2. 이것 좀 전자레인지에 데워 주세요. (heat something up)

3. 컴퓨터는 우리의 삶을 훨씬 편리하게 만들었다. (make one's life much easier)

4. 하이힐은 여자들의 필수 아이템이다. (must-have item)

4/24 Star Audition Program

Talk about a star audition program you've watched recently.

I remember watching the final episode of KOREA STAR season 4. There were two finalists who were neck-and-neck. No one knew who would win until the last moment. They were both very talented singers. I sent a text message to support one of the contestants myself. In the end though, the other contestant won the entire contest. I wasn't disappointed because she was a great singer as well. So, that was the last episode I remember watching. I think the final episode of all talent competition programs is the most memorable.

@ Speaking Tips>> neck-and-neck  막상막하인

ex> The game was neck-and-neck. 

ex> They finished the race neck-and-neck. 

@ The contestants are so talented.  참가자들의 재능이 대단해.

@ Related Topics>> Audition TV Program (2011.6.1)

@ Homework>>

1. 마지막 회는 휴대전화로 봤어. (the final episode)

2. 그는 모든 것을 마지막까지 미룬다. (until the last momnet)

3. 나는 문자 메시지를 보내고 답장을 받았다. (send a text message)

4. 나는 그가 최종 우승하리라곤 예상치 못했다. (win the entire contest)

4/23 searching for Restaurants

Talk about how you search for places to go eat at.

I have a list of restaurants I go to pretty often. But I like to try new places as well. Because we have the Internet, it's very easy to search for restaurants. I type in a menu and an area on my cell phone. It shows me tons of places I can go to nearby. There are pictures of the menus and reviews from people who went there. So, that's how I decide where to go to eat. My family members aren't picky with food. They like to experiment with new restaurants as well. I normally do a search online and pick a menu or a place to go to. They were happy with the choices I made most of the time.

@ Speaking Tips>> picky  까다로운

ex> Are you picky with people?

ex> He's not picky with clothes.

@ I'm not good at picking menus.  나는 메뉴를 잘 못 골라.

@ Homework>>

1. 이제 새로운 곳에 가 볼 때야. (try new places)

2. 나는 이름과 주소를 입력했다. (type in)

3. 그 도시에는 가 볼 만한 곳이 많다. (tons of places)

4. 내 남자친구는 입맛이 까다롭지 않다. (be not picky with food)

4/22 Changes in Restaurants

How have restaurants changed over the years?

I think restaurants serve a larger variety of foods from other countries these days. For example, there are many more Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese restaurants in Korea. We see a lot more restaurant chains these days as well. These franchises are all over the place. Plus, we see a lot more fusion restaurants these days. They don't serve just one type of menu. They mix up menus from many cultures. People can enjoy various types of dishes at those places. Because people have become much busier than in the past, they eat out more often. That's probably why there are more kinds of restaurants out there.

@ Speaking Tips>> eat out vs. eat in  나가서 먹다 vs. 집에서 먹다

ex> Shall we eat out tonight?

ex> I'm not in the mood for eating out today.

@ Do you want to eat out or eat in?  밖에서 먹을래 집에서 먹을래?

@ Homework>>

1. 서울에는 어딜 가나 아파트가 있다. (all over the palce)

2. 내 책들이 모두 섞여 있다. (mix up)

3. 나는 여러 가지 음식을 요리할 수 있다. (various types of dishes)

4. 나는 요즘 외식을 더 자주 하는 편이다. (eat out more often)

4/2 Korean Movies

Talk about how Korean movies have changed over the years.

I used to watch Hollywood movies in the past. But now, I enjoy watching Korean movies because they have become much better than in the past. They are a lot better in quality. In fact, Korean movies are hitting the all-time record in the Korean box office. Korean movies are also being exported overseas. They are winning awards at big film festivals. Some Korean actor and actresses have successfully made their debut in Hollywood. Some Korean directors have done so as well. Meanwhile, some big-scale Hollywood movies are being shot in Korea. "The Avengers" sequel was shot in Korea actually.

@ I'm not that much of a movie fan.  난 그렇게 영화를 좋아하는 편이 아니야.

@ Speaking Tips>> in the box office / box office hit  흥행 성적 면에서 / 흥행작

ex> The film was hugely popular in the box office.

ex> The movie did very well in the box office.

ex> The new movie became a box office hit.

@ Related Topics>> Movies (2012.3.13)

4/1 April Fools’ Day

Talk about April Fools' Day.

People play jokes on one another on April Fools' Day. Some make verbal jokes to others. For instance, they would pretend that they are getting married or something. These days, many people also send prank text messages to trick others. They also post jokes on their social networking sites. Some make prank calls to various locations. Some newspapers even print bogus articles to trick their readers. Even television or radio shows are known to join in on the fun as well. When a person figures out it's a joke, you say, "April Fool!" Overall, it's important to remember that jokes should not go over the line.

@ You can't fool me.  난 못 속여.

@ Speaking Tips>> prank vs. prankster  장난 vs. 장난을 치는 사람

ex> I got a prank call from someone.

ex> I realized that it was a prank.

ex> He was such a prankster when he was young.

@ Related Topics>> April Fools’ Day (2014.4.1, 2013.4.1, 2012.4.2)

PE 2/24 Amy Poehler Speech – Part 4

My work with the upright citizens brigade led me to my work on Saturday Night Live, and when I graduated from that comedy college, I was worried about what came next.

* upright: honest; honorable; respectable

ex> Gerald is an upright citizen in our community.

Note> This also means vertical or erect.

ex> Please put your seat in the upright position.

* brigade: 단체

Then Parks and Recreation came along, a show I am proud of where I get to work with people I love. You never know what is around the corner unless you peek.

* come alone: to appear

ex> She married the first nice guy that came alone.

ex> Whatever comes alone in life is what we will live with.

* around the corner: just ahead of us; in the near future

ex> My new job is so exciting because I never know what’s around the corner.

You can blame them when things go wrong. Take your risks now. As you grow older, you become more fearful and less flexible. And I mean that literally.

* go wrong: for an event or situation to have significant problems.

= don’t work out; don’t turn out; don’t go your way

ex> With his positive attitude, Darren could not go wrong.

Try to keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters that you don’t know about. Limit your “always” and your “nevers.”

* keep one’s mind open: to not disregard or ignore

ex> Our secret to finding the right house was to keep our minds open.

PE 2/23 sharing a Solution for Frozen Pipes

What’s up? It sounded from your message that Mom and Dad are in some kind of hot water.

* be in hot water: to be in trouble, especially with an authority

= are in a jam; are in a tight spot; are in a pickle

ex> George is in hot water for having so many unpaid parking tickets.

Dad went into their crawlspace with a hair dryer and managed to get a trickle going. But it’s only a matter of time before they freeze again, and it’s not good for his back to be down there.

* only a matter of time: something will definitely occur in the future

ex> It’s only a matter of time before bananas go on sale again.

Mom said they’d been doing that, but they forgot one night, and that’s when the pipes froze. I’m just worried that if it gets really bad, they’ll have a burst pipe down there, and it’ll damage all the keepsakes they have in storage.

* burst pipe: 수도관 파열

* keepsake [^|ki:pseɪk]: 기념품

ex> keep it as a keepsake: 기념으로 그것을 보유하다

Well, if you’d be willing to chip in, I’ll get a plumber over there to wrap their pipes with that thermostatically controlled heated tape. We had it installed here a couple of years ago, and haven’t had a problem since.

* chip in: to contribute money to an endeavor

ex> Everyone at work decided to chip in and get something for Francine’s birthday.

That sound like money well spent. Please do that, tell me what the damage is, and we can settle up the next time I see you.

* money well spent: a worthwhile purchase

ex> Many people believe that a college education is money well spent.

ex> It was money well spent to have put in a backyard pool in that hot climate.

* the damage: the amount of money owed for something

ex> Our dinner was extraordinary, but you should’ve seen his face when he saw the damage.

Note> The word “damage” is commonly used to mean loss or harm resulting from injury to person, property, or reputation.

PE 2/20 Were You Talking to Me?

Well, there was a woman there who used to go to school with my sister. Remember her? She was the vegetarian who brought her own tofu wieners, and one of them fell onto the flames and made that terrible smell that we were all dying with laughter about. She thought you were a real cutup.

* cutup: a very humorous person

= crack-up; crack her up; hilarious

ex> My brother is a real cutup, but sometimes it gets him into trouble.

Anyway, she had given me the name of her chiropractor who had fixed her neck that she had been having problems with because she was into doing some kind of daredevil skiing or some such thing. Remember him? They guy with the office in that old house on Carson Avenue?

* daredevil: intentionally dangerous

ex> It’s always interesting to meet seniors who are into daredevil sports.

Note> A “daredevil” is a person who enjoys doing things that are dangerous.

Anyway, his receptionist, who had such interesting pearls of wisdom to share from having taught scuba diving in Belize, came into the shop today, the picture of health, and guess where she’s been?

* pearls of wisdom: insights gained through experience; wise remarks

ex> My grandmother like to have tea with us and share her pearls of wisdom.

* picture of health: being very healthy

ex> Our doctor told us that our baby is the picture of healthy.

What? Have you been listening to a word I’ve said? You are in the doghouse, mister. That’s the last time I waste my time telling you about my day!

* in the doghouse: in trouble; subject to temporary banishment

ex> My younger brother is in the doghouse for forgetting his girlfriend’s birthday.

ex> I’m really in the doghouse. I was late for an appointment.

PE 2/19 Showing Her Family’s True Colors

It’s so great to be hanging out with you here, Ben! I want to hear more about what it’s like to study in Scotland, but would you mind very much if we did some souvenir shopping now? This big store looks promising.

* promising: showing potential for a positive outcome

ex> The weather forecast for this weekend is very promising, so let’s make plans.

ex> Candice received some promising news from the university she applied to.

Your instincts are right on the money. Traditionally, only men wore kilts. Women wore long skirts and sashes, both carrying the family tartan.

* right on the money: accurate; very appropriate to the situation

ex> Their quote is right on the money, so we should probably sign the contract.

Family tartan? What’s the skinny on that?

* the skinny: details or background information

= the 411; the info; the background

ex> Benny called his cousin to get the skinny on their family reunion.

You never know. One of my colleagues is a top-notch researcher in the field of inherited memory. You two should probably have a chat while you’re here.

* you never know: an unlikely outcome is possible

ex> Monetary experts predict that the US dollar will remain strong, but you never know.

ex> My mom says that I’ll never find the perfect partner, but you never know.

* top-notch: of the highest level

ex> Several top-notch scientists collaborated on the research project.

PE 2/18 Good Planning Means Good Negotiations

Can I pick your brains for a minute, Trish? I want to make sure that we’re in agreement before we meet with the supplier.

* pick one’s brains: to request one’s mental assistance (for advice, information, problem solving, etc.)

ex> Whenever I get stuck in a math problem, I pick my older brother’s brains.

Maybe, maybe not. I've been getting calls on and off from a salesman from this new paper company who is eager to break into the publishing market. I’ve been telling him that we’re under a satisfactory contract, but he just sent me a few samples and a price list.

* on and off: at various times; at an uneven frequency

ex> The two coworkers had an intense rivalry on and off for several years.

* break into: to gain access or entry

ex> Moray tried for years to break into the pop music business.

ex> Thieves evidently broke into a warehouse and stole some valuable metal stock.

They’re pretty impressive. Very impressive, in fact. I’m just wondering if we can play hardball a bit with our existing supplier, knowing that we may have a plan B.

* play hardball: to be assertive in a competitive situation

ex> His overwhelming popularity allowed him to play hardball with his employer.

Note> This also means to act rough and ruthless, especially in politics or business.

ex> So you wanna play hardball?

How about this: if our current supplier’s offer is nothing to write home about, why don’t we tell them we’d like to give the matter some thought, then sit down with these new people and see what sort of commitment they’d be willing to make.

* nothing to write home about: unexciting

= nothing exciting; hardly anything special; just mediocre

ex> The pay was nothing to write home about, but he took the job anyway.

PE 2/17 Amy Poehler Speech – Part 3

Listen, say yes, live in the moment, and make sure you play with people who have your back, make big choices early and often. Don’t start a scene where two people are talking about jumping out of a plane.

* in the moment: with focus on the present time

ex> Studies show that people who live in the moment live longer, happier lives.

* have one’s back: to be watchful and ready to provide assistance

ex> It was so reassuring to know that my team captain always had my back.

If you are scared, look into your partner’s eyes. You will feel better. This advice has come in handy and it would often be something I would think about when I would perform on Saturday Night Live.

* come in handy: to be useful when needed

ex> My uncle won’t throw out anything that could come in handy.

ex> Those bags of sand sure came in handy when we had that unexpected snowfall.

Live television can be very nerve-racking and I remember one time being nervous, looking into the eyes of the host and feeling better.

* nerve-racking: distressful; unsettling

ex> Why do you spend so much time on that nerve-racking jigsaw puzzle?

See how that works? I should point out that that sketch was written by a Harvard graduate and also a graduate from Northwestern but who cares about that, am I right?

* point out: to direct someone’s attention to something

= highlight; call attention to; zero in on

ex> I would like to point out that we've had zucchini every night for the past week.

PE 2/16 Common Colds and Common Sense

Gesundheit! That was a doozy! It sounds like your cold is getting worse. How are you feeling, darling?

* doozy [^|du:zi]: slang, informal> something that is very large for its type; something excellent

ex> Brad has had a doozy of a headache ever since he fell off his motorcycle.

Note> this slang is often used in the context of troublesome, difficult or problematic, but can be used positively as well.

* gesundheit [gə^|zʊndhaɪt]: an expression used to wish good health to someone who has just sneezed

Mm-hm. It really gets my goat when people come to work sick. My boss is pretty good about sending people home so they don’t infect the whole organization, but sometimes it’s too late.

* get one’s goat: to annoy one

ex> It got Ralph’s goat every time he had to pick up litter from his yard.

I’m pretty sure I caught mine from Jason, who would've picked it up at school. A lot of parents send their kids to school even when they’re sick. I guess they don’t want them to fall behind, but that would be skewed thinking.

* skewed thinking: illogical thought

ex> The department store’s new layout is the result of skewed thinking.

Or maybe they don’t know anyone who can look after their kids on short notice. What can we do to keep Jason germ-free and to prevent him from bringing colds home?

* on short notice: with little warning

ex> The villagers left many belongings behind because they had to leave their homes on short notice.

For starters, we can remind him to wash his hands frequently, avoid kids who are sneezing, and not share food or eating utensils. Just applying some common sense ideas should be enough to keep us all healthy.

* for starters: to begin with

ex> For starters, we could move all the large furniture into the center of the room.

PE 2/13 That Restaurant Is Around Here Somewhere

And I guess we can’t phone those two because their flight won’t have landed yet. This is a disaster in the making, Randy. I’m hungry, you’re hungry, we’re in the dark as to where we’re going, and you don’t want to ask anyone for help?

* in the making: in the process of being formed

ex> From a very young age, we knew our son was a scientist in the making.

* in the dark: lacking in knowledge; unaware

= have no idea; have no clue; are clueless

ex> The manager kept his employees in the dark about the merger until the deal was signed.

I just don’t want a stranger to think that we don’t know where we are. It could be dangerous. The restaurant might be just up ahead a couple of blocks. Let’s keep walking.

* just up ahead: a location that is a short distance in a forward direction

ex> He thought he could see the lights of a farmhouse just up ahead.

You’re wasting your time. Convenience store clerks don’t go to nice Thai restaurants. They just go to some nearby greasy spoon for a quick lunch. Let’s just continue this way and I’m sure we’ll… Pam? Hey! Were’d you go?

* greasy spoon: an inexpensive, modest or poorly maintained restaurant that serves fried foods

ex> That greasy spoon where we used to have lunch made excellent milkshakes.

He said we have to backtrack three blocks and go left. The Siam Garden is next to a big hotel with fountain in front. He eats there all the time. Let’s go, Magellan.

* backtrack: to move in the opposite direction toward one’s starting point

ex> No new snow had fallen, so they were able to backtrack to their cabin.

PE 2/12 Teeing Off at Historic St. Andrews

Sorry Bruno, but I can’t help it! Just two more holes and we’ll be walking over the ancient Swilcan Bridge, in the footsteps of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. It dates back to when this was a field used by shepherds in the Middle Ages. I bought my best camera even though the forecast said it might rain.

* date back to: to originate from a particular time

ex> This wine jug dates back to the 14^th century CE.

Nick, you’re getting on my nerves. How can you be so enthusiastic about a bridge on a golf course? Bridges cross bodies of water, buddy. I need another water hazard like a hole in the head. Now let me tee off.

* get on one’s nerves: to cause emotional irritation

= trying my patience; irritating me; bugging me

ex> That dog howling next door is really getting on my nerves.

* need ~ like a hole in the head: to be completely useless or unwanted

ex> I need another errand to run today like a hole in the head.

Note> “A hole in the head” is the expected result of a gunshot to the human head.

It’s not about the score, Bruno! We’re going to remember this round for the rest of our lives! The other guys are going to be jealous big time when we show them a genuine St. Andrews score card!

* big time: very much; to a great extent

ex> We will be making money big time when the world discovers how good these pizza flavored potato chips are.

That’s part of the history! These very fairways were used as Royal Air Force runways in World War II. And look on the bright side, Bruno! The absence of trees means that your lucky little ball can sail through the heather-scented air, right into the same cup that golfers have been reaching into since the fifteenth century!

* look on the bright side: to consider the positive aspects of a situation

ex> Your life will improve in every way when you choose to always look on the bright side.

PE 2/11 Something New Is Brewing at the Office

You know, you were standing in that exact same position the last time I saw you. How do you manage to choke down the swill that comes from that coffee machine?

* choke something down: ~을 힘겹게 삼키다

* swill [swɪl]: 부엌의 구정물, 구정물 같은 것

Well, I wouldn’t call it the elixir of the gods, but it’s really not that bad, and the price is right. What’s wrong with having a little coffee? Are you saying I have no taste?

* elixir [ɪ^|lɪksə(r) ; 英 또한 ɪ^|lɪksɪə(r)]: 묘약, 특효약

Sorry, Neil. I didn’t mean to put you on the defensive. I couldn’t start my day without my double espresso. It’s just that the last time I tried the stuff you’re drinking I almost choked. I don’t know why the company bothers to provide it.

* put one on the defensive: to offend someone such that they respond defensively

ex> Allison’s comments about her husband’s driving put him on the defensive.

ex> Would it put you on the defensive if I gave some advice about your job?

Shhh! Not so loud! Don’t let them take away one of the only perks we get around here! Besides, it keeps the staff alert. This place would look like a zombie movie by 4 o’clock if there wasn’t free coffee at the ready.

* at the ready: available for immediate use

ex> The captain made sure the ship’s cannons were always at the ready.

ex> Firefighters must find ways to stay fit, alert, and always at the ready.

Well, their campaign to liven up the zombie hordes would be a lot more effective if they started providing decent coffee – something that could compete with the yummy brew I buy. But I guess you can’t have it both ways.

* horde [hɔ:rd]: 무리

ex> There are always hordes of tourists here in the summer.

* can’t have it both ways: to be unable to satisfy two incompatible conditions

ex> The investor realized she couldn’t have it both ways: she’d have to choose between growth and security.

Note> A similar expression is “you can’t have your cake and eat it, too.”

By the way, what do you spend every day on that fancy store-bought coffee of yours? The triple-frappa-macha-whatchamacallits my wife gets cost upwards of seven dollars!

* upwards of: more than

ex> A professional grade snowboard can cost upwards of five hundred dollars.

Used to spend, you mean. I can’t believe that this coffee came from the office coffeemaker. It looks like I’ll be joining you here and saving my pocket money from now on. Thanks for the heads-up, Neil!

* heads-up: information to warn someone or create new awareness

ex> Give us the heads-up when you see Mike coming, and we’ll all hide behind the curtain.

Note> If someone yells “Heads up” during a baseball game, someone is warning you about an oncoming ball.

PE 2/10 Amy Poehler Speech – Part 2

All I can tell you today is what I have learned. What I have discovered as a person in this world. And that is this: you can’t do it alone. As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own.

* navigate: to plan or conduct a journey, especially by ship or aircraft

ex> The small boat had difficulty navigating the high waves.

ex> The cat managed to navigate through all the toys our son had left on the floor.

* be open to: to be willing to consider or do something

ex> Do you think the new neighbors would be open to joining us for coffee?

* collaboration: 협력

Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life. No one is here today because they did it on their own.

* on one’s own: without any other people:

ex> I think I’ll go to the concert on my own because I know you won’t enjoy that kind of music.

Okay, maybe Josh, but he’s just a straight up weirdo.

* straight up: absolutely; truthfully

ex> She straight up told the owner what she thought of his restaurant, and stormed out.

Your formative teenage years were filled with orange alerts and rogue waves and unaccomplished missions. For my generation, it was AIDS. We all grow up afraid of something. Your generation had to get used to taking off your shoes at the airport.

* formative years: the years during which an individual or group was attaining their final form

ex> The design studio struggled during its formative years, but became highly successful.

* orange alert: 오렌지 경보

* weirdo: 괴짜

* rogue wave: 거대한 파도

PE 2/9 A New Kitchen Floor

So we've chosen the cabinets, appliances, tiles, and paint colors. All that’s left to complete our plans for the kitchen is the flooring.

* floor: 바닥을 깔다

Flooring is still up for grabs? I’m kind of glad to hear that, actually. I thought you were dead set on going with ceramic tile.

* up for grabs: available to be chosen by anyone

ex> I’m keeping the emeralds for myself, but all the other gems are up for grabs.

* dead set: determined

ex> Their father offered to help, but the kids were dead set on building the fort themselves.

Note> In hunting, “dead set” is the stiff posture assumed by a hunting dog in indicating the presence and location of game.

* go with: to support a plan, and idea, or person suggesting it

ex> I’m prepared to go with her decision.

Well, I must say you’ve caught me off guard. I thought that with your Italian heritage you’d be over the moon with having a nice tile floor in the kitchen. But carpet?

* catch one off guard: to surprise someone with something that requires their response

ex> Julie was caught off guard by the professor’s question, and couldn’t speak for several moments.

ex> The more I practice conversation, the less I get caught off guard by unusual expressions.

* over the moon: very happy; overjoyed

= on top of the world; on cloud nine; jumping for joy

ex> Max was over the moon when he found the other green sock behind the washing machine.

Hear me out. If we choose a dark color, it won’t show the stains. And it will be much nicer on our feet in winter, and better for our backs when we’re standing for a long time, like when we’re cooking or washing dishes.

* hear one out: to allow someone to provide an explanation

ex> Although it was difficult, the parents chose to hear their daughter out before deciding what to do about their damaged car.

PE 2/6 How Long Is Too Long?

I’ve just been filling out these thank-you cards, but it’s taking me forever. Who’s Suzette again? Is that your friend from college with the tarantula?

* take (one) forever: to take a very long time to do something

= taking me ages; taking me forever and a day; taking me forever and ever

ex> ex> It took forever for the renovations to be completed, but the results are fantastic.

ex> The kids took forever to complete their homework until we implemented a “no TV” rule.

Well, maybe your family would start duking it out after three days, but that’s no reason for you to single-handedly declare a house rule. Suzette and I have been as thick as thieves ever since we met. She can stay as long as she likes, as far as I’m concerned.

* duke it out: to fight with the fists; engage in an intense argument or competition

ex> The airlines are duking it out in a price war on the London-New York route.

* single-handedly: by oneself; without participation or assistance from others

ex> Janine single-handedly convinced everyone in the office to contribute to a new coffeemaker.

* as thick as thieves: loyal, very close or friendly

ex> The shoe brand became successful because the owner and designer were as thick as thieves.

* as far as one is concerned: according to one’s opinion or perspective

ex> As far as I’m concerned, the roadwork can wait until the weather improves.

PE 2/5 Taking in the Scottish Spirit

He doesn't seem to be as swept up in the spirit of this vacation as we’d hoped. I thought he’d love climbing all over that fortress yesterday, but all he did was complain about the cold.

* be swept up: to be suddenly involved in or focused on something

ex> I get swept up in all the excitement whenever the Winter Olympics are on.

Jamie’s been a little nonplussed with it all too. I wonder what we can do to get those two more into the spirit of Scotland

* nonplussed: confused by a sudden event or change; disconcerted

= taken aback; baffled; disconcerted

ex> I was nonplussed to receive such a generous birthday gift from a coworker.

ex> The expert chess player’s odd behavior nonplussed his opponents.

Well, they are teenagers. And their schoolwork has probably made them a little jaded about history in general. It’s hard for them to look at an empty castle and have its significance register in their heads. Maybe we should seek out activities that are somewhat livelier.

* jaded: tired and unenthusiastic, especially from doing too much of something

ex> Marcie’s long career as a traveling sales rep left her jaded about flying.

* register in one’s head: for information or observations to become consciously understood

ex> It didn't register in my head that the dog was trying to get my attention.

ex> The government hoped the reasons for its policies would register in votes’ heads.

Brett would be thrilled to be waited on by these serving wenches in peasant blouses. And Jamie loves to eat with her hands. This looks perfect, Heather! Today’s Thursday, right?

* serving wench: 시중드는 처녀

Well, I guess it would be all right as long as we kept a watchful eye on them. And I’ll be watching you around those serving wenches too, mister.

* keep a watchful eye: to observe something closely; to be vigilant

ex> Raymond kept a watchful eye on the clock as he quickly made his way to Platform 17.

PE 2/4 The Sweet Smell of Success

There’s got to be a way that we can take advantage of all that new foot traffic, and convert it into some cold hard cash. I’m sure the same demographic that’s spending all that money in cafes would flip over our handmade jewelry if they knew it was here.

* foot traffic: pedestrian activity

ex> The amount of foot traffic in the downtown area always increases on sunny days.

* cold hard cash: a significant amount of cash (as opposed to exchange or credit)

ex> The two students needed to get summer jobs in order to earn some cold hard cash.

Note> This phrase may be based on the fact that gold and silver coinage was cold and hard.

* flip over: to be very excited about a sudden discovery

ex> Corinne will flip over the color selection in this wallpaper book when she sees it.

Well, we have seen an uptick in sales since the whole world discovered this area, but nothing like what those swanky coffee places are seeing. What could we do?

* swanky: luxurious

ex> Most people who buy lottery tickets imagine that winning would guarantee them a swanky lifestyle.

Fight fire with fire! Why don’t we open up the front window display, put in a little counter, get some stools, put out some jewelry magazines, and start sharing that yummy hot cranberry drink you’re always making for us?

* fight fire with fire: to combat an opposing force by using its methods

ex> We decided to fight fire with fire and lower our prices to match our competition’s.

PE 2/3 Amy Poehler Speech – Part 1

So, what do the fine students of 2011 need to hear from me? If I wanted to give you advice as a Bostonian, I would remind you that: (with accent) “Just because you’re wicked smart it doesn't mean you are better than me.”

* fine: superior; of high quality

ex> Wednesday was a fine day for skiing, so my friends and I took a bus to a nearby ski resort.

* wicked smart: exceptionally intelligent

ex> The boys decided to ask Lionel, who was wicked smart, to help them solve the puzzle.

Note> “Wicked” has two contradictory meanings, If something is pure evil, then it is wicked. But as an informal slang term, it means excellent or exceptional.

And I would also like to take a moment to inform you as a New Yorker and as my cab driver did recently that Bloomberg pretends to take the subway, but we all know that’s a bunch of baloney.

* take a moment: to spend a small amount of time

ex> Staff members should take a moment to review the new parking regulations.

* (bunch of) baloney: untrue information intended to deceive

ex> The article contained a bunch of baloney about how certain herbal teas could rev reverse aging.

I have a lot of talented friends who aren't working. Sorry, no more room at the inn. I bet you are great, but just work with the human genome instead.

* no room at the inn: newcomers cannot be accommodated

ex> By the time the new graduates had applied to the company, there was no room at the inn.

PE 2/2 A New Lease on Life

Okay, as long as you can hold the fort down here and stop Tibbles from chewing on my crossword. Your knees are still giving your grief, huh?

* hold (down) the fort: to stay behind and look after any problems

ex> The boss asked Randy to hold down the fort while the staff went out for lunch.

* give one grief: to cause one trouble or dissatisfaction

= bothering you; giving you trouble; giving you a headache

ex> The upstairs neighbor has been giving us grief by practicing the piano all night.

The change could be good for us. Who knows? It might even give Tibbles a new lease on life. Tom Blake was telling me his movers came in and packed everything. He didn't have to lift a finger!

* a new lease on life: a vastly improved chance of living a healthy or enjoyable life

ex> My grandmother’s hip surgery has given her a new lease on life.

* lift a finger: to make a very small effort

ex> Elspeth is so frustrated that she can’t get her children to lift a finger around the house.

They’re over in Winslow Heights, right? We could ask those two to keep their ear to the ground in case something comes up in their building.

* keep one’s ear to the ground: to be especially alert for information

ex> Ray and Susan found their dream apartment by keeping their ear to the ground for months.

PE 1/30 The Clothing Swap

I’m gathering up my contributions for the clothing swap at Brenda’s. I told you about it, remember? It starts at five, so I’d better get going.

* contribution: 기증품

We try things on, we pick things out for each other, we talk… it’s a blast. Hey – why don’t you host a clothing swap for all your guy friends? Then you’d see how fun they are!

* swap: 바꾸기, 교환

Let’s see if I have this straight. I invite a bunch of guys over, they bring all the old clothes they don’t want, we dump ‘em on the floor, and if we see something we like, we try it on, in front of everybody else.

* have something straight: to understand something correctly

ex> Ron made his apprentice repeat the directions until he had them straight.

Yep. That’s it, in a nutshell.

* in a nutshell: in a simplified, concise manner

= in a few words; briefly; succinctly

ex> In a nutshell, she wants you to stop bothering her.

What’s so funny? I’m sure you've got things you never wear any more. That means all those other guys are probably in the same boat. Some of my most cherished items came from clothing swaps, and they didn’t cost me a dime!

* in the same boat: in the same situation as someone else

ex> You’re not the only one in trouble; we’re all in the same boat.

* not cost a dime: to have zero cost; to be free of charge

ex> A walk in the sunshine can improve your mood, and it doesn’t cost a dime.

Oh, you’re impossible! I have to go. Have a nice evening laughing your head off alone while I have a great time with my girlfriends!

* laugh one’s head off: to laugh uncontrollably for a long time

ex> We laughed our heads off through the entire movie.