PE 1/21 Something to Chew On

I just want to be certain that we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. Maybe a little sprucing up is all this place needs.

* reinvent the wheel: to change something that already works

ex> Charlie wastes so much time at work because he’s always trying to reinvent the wheel.

* spruce up: to make something (or oneself) tidy or attractive

= smartening up; spiffing up; slicking up

ex> Rebecca insisted that they spruce up their house before her parents arrived.

ex> Lorelei loved parties because it gave her an excuse to spruce up.

Is this your new menu idea? Let’s see. Hm. I like the simple design. Lots of dishes for sharing – that’s smart. And specialty coffees too. But wait a minute – are these prices for real? Why is everything so expensive?

* for real: actually true

ex> For real? We’re actually getting an extra bonus this year?

Like it or not, it’s human nature. We learned all about it in my marketing program. It’s the same reason you’re always drooling over cars that cost more than they should.

* drool over: to openly want something very much

ex> It’s hard to believe, but his grandfather can actually drool over a farm equipment brochure.

ex> Sometimes we just stand outside the expensive shoe stores and drool over everything they have in the window.

I can’t argue with that, but I’m still on the fence about raising our menu prices that much.

* on the fence: to be undecided about something

ex> I usually know how I’m going to vote, but I’m really on the fence for this election.

PE 1/20 David Foster Wallace Speech – Part 3

One such part involves boredom, routine, and petty frustration. The parents and older folds here will know all too well what I’m talking about.

* petty: insignificant; trivial

ex> The judge was known to be very forgiving for petty offenses.

Note> The adjective “petty” was derived from the French word “petit,” meaning “small.” This original meaning still exists in terms like “petty cash” and “petty officer.”

* know all too well: to know something due to unfortunate or embarrassing experience

ex> The boys knew all too well why there was paint on the car’s back seat.

The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.

* over and over: repeatedly in a tiring way

ex> Tina’s mother told her over and over to wash her hands after being out in public.

By way of example, let’s say it’s an average day, and you get up in the morning, go to your challenging job, and you work hard for nine or ten hours, and at the end of the day you’re tired, and you’re stressed out, and all you want is to go home and have a good supper and maybe unwind for a couple of hours and then hit the rack early because you have to get up the next day and do it all again.

* unwind: to relax; reverse the effects of stress

= put one’s feet up; take it easy; take a load off

ex> Gord liked to unwind by drinking hot chocolate and reading a car magazine by the fire.

ex> Why don’t we all go out for dinner after work this Friday so we can unwind?

It’s the end of the workday, and the traffic’s very bad, so getting to the store takes way longer than it should, and when you finally get there the supermarket is very crowded, because of course it’s the time of day when all the other people with jobs also try to squeeze in some grocery shopping.

* squeeze in: to incorporate with difficulty

ex> Cameron begged the dentist to squeeze in one more appointment at the end of the day.

PE 1/19 More Cold than Meets the Eye

But that window is just the tip of the iceberg. Look over here. It’s the same thing around these windows too. And the back door isn't sealing properly either.

* the tip of the iceberg: a small part of something large and problematic

ex> Kim discovered that her husband’s baseball card addiction was just the tip of the iceberg.

What if we went to the hardware store right now and bought a bunch of weatherstripping supplies? I’ll bet we could have this place sealed to within an inch of its life in just a few hours.

* within an inch of one’s life: to a very great degree

ex> Lionel squeezed out the damp rag to within an inch of its life.

ex> My mom says that my grandma used to scold her to within an inch of her life.

You’re absolutely right! A little elbow grease could save us a small fortune in heating bills over the course of the winter.

* elbow grease: effort expended to complete a physical task

ex> I used to shine my dad’s shoes with nothing more than an old rag and a lot of elbow grease.

* small fortune: a significant amount of money

= an arm and a leg; a ton of money; some major bucks

ex> I’m glad these shoes are so comfortable, because they cost me a small fortune.

* over the course of: during a span of time

ex> The Watts Towers in Los Angeles were built over the course of 33 years.

PE 1/17 Review

1. in a heartbeat: without hesitation

ex> If he ask me out, I’d say “yes” in a heartbeat.

ex> Would I relocate to Hon Kong if it meant a raise in salary? In a heartbeat!

They’re my favorite band! I would've gone with you in a heartbeat!

2. tricky: complicated; more difficult than it appears

ex> Balancing a spoon on your nose is very tricky.

ex> The defenseman made a tricky pass to set up the winning goal.

I’m just trying to fix your mother’s blender, but it’s turning out to be quite tricky.

3. out to lunch: to be unaware of or incompatible with the present situation

ex> Either I’m out to lunch or the person who wrote this manual is!

ex> I used to think the city council is out to lunch. But they've really improved.

You've been just sitting there for half an hour, looking completely out to lunch.

4. happy camper: a very satisfied person

ex> He bought Sue the bike she wanted, so she’s a happy camper now.

ex> Two hours at the playground makes my son a happy camper.

5. look sharp: to dress well, especially to impress others

ex> Cristie wanted to look sharp when she met her in-laws at the train station.

ex> If you stand tall and look sharp, no one will guess that you’re not felling well.

PE 1/16 Women Knows Best

I’m no dummy. Besides, I have a lot of job interviews coming up and I want to look sharp. Where shall we start?

* be no dummy: to be clever, especially for one’s own benefit

ex> Jake’s no dummy. He bought a huge fruit basket for his boss’ family.

* look sharp: to dress well, especially to impress others

ex> Olivia bought a new suit so she could look sharp at the convention.

Well, why don’t you show me the centerpieces of your wardrobe, like your favorite suits and ties, and we’ll see what needs to be added.

* wardrobe: 옷장, 옷

* centerpiece: 제일 중요한 항목

A brilliant plan, lovey. Okay: this blue suit is my go-to for interviews, weddings, coronations, you name it.

* go-to: one’s habitual first choice

ex> The sushi place on the corner is my go-to for quick weekday lunches.

* you name it: anything of that type

ex> This veggie stew has everything in it: carrots, corn, broccoli… you name it.

Red and blue? You’re kidding me, right? Try burgundy and moss. This tie looks like a dog’s breakfast with that suit. No wonder you haven’t found a job yet.

* dog’s breakfast: an unattractive, disorganized combination

ex> The random collection of architectural styles made our campus a real dog’s breakfast.

Note> This expression is less common in the U.S., where the equivalent terms are fun to say: “mishmash” and “hodgepodge.”

They were probably at a loss for words. Christian, have you ever been tested for color blindness? How would you describe the color of my eyes, for example?

PE 1/15 Exploring Kadavu

I couldn't tear myself away from them, especially all the indigenous marine life. Have you booked our flights already?

* can’t tear oneself away: to be very engrossed in something

ex> This detective show is so good that I can’t tear myself away from the TV!

Not yet. I guess we’d better get on it. Where’s that brochure for the inter-island airline?

* get on it: to perform a necessary task promptly

ex> Let’s get on it before all the sales racks are empty.

I guess it’s a low-altitude flight. Whoever gets the window seat for this junket will be on happy camper. Shall we draw straws?

* happy camper: a very satisfied person

ex> When Ingrid opened the lunch her mother had packed, she was one happy camper.

* draw straws: a choosing game (like rock-paper-scissors) where players each remove a piece of straw from a bundle. The longest straw wins.

ex> Let’s draw straws to see who gets to ride in the front seat.

Isn't that the bee’s knees! Now I’ll finally get to see which you prefer to look at: moi, or the million-dollar views.

* the bee’s knees: excellent or outstanding person or thing

ex> When Martin first heard the tour guide speak, he thought she was the bee’s knees.

ex> These peanut butter cookies are the bee’s knees! Did you make them?

PE 1/13 David Foster Wallace Speech – Part 2

Given the triumphal academic setting here, an obvious question is how much of this work of adjusting our default-setting involves actual knowledge or intellect. This question gets tricky.

* tricky: complicated; more difficult than it appears

ex> My uncle is about to solve tricky crossword puzzles while watching TV.

Probably the most dangerous thing about college education, at least in my own case, is that it enables my tendency to over-intellectualize stuff, to get lost in abstract arguments inside my head instead of simply paying attention to what’s going on right in front of me.

* get lost in: to become distracted or confused by something

= get absorbed in; get immersed in; get engrossed in

ex> Jason was late for school again because he got lost in watching some ants on the sidewalk.

Note> Be careful not to confuse this expression with “Get lost!,” which is a very direct way to tell someone to stop bothering you.

As I’m sure you guys know by now, it is extremely difficult to stay alert and attentive instead of getting hypnotized by the constant monologue inside your own head.

* by now: after this passage of time

ex> Don’t you think our daughter should be earning her own money by now?

* hypnotize: ~에게 체면을 걸다

It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to, and to choose how you construct meaning from experience.

* conscious: aware; having knowledge of

ex> She was conscious of the rain beginning to fall outside, but hoped it would stop soon.

Think of the old cliché about “the mind being an excellent servant but a terrible master.” This, like many clichés, so lame and unexciting on the surface, actually expresses a great and terrible truth.

* lame: feeble; unconvincing

ex> Brandon’s teacher thought his excuse was lame, so she gave him a detention.

ex> They’re only offering a five percent discount? That’s lame.

PE 1/12 Adopting a Dog

Oooo… number 53 is as cute as a button! Talyor, come here and look at these adorable puppies! There are oodles here to choose from.

* oodles: 많음

* cute as a button: very cute; very appealing

ex> Where did you get those little black pumps? They’re as cute as a button.

Note> The word “cute” originally meant “smart” or “clever,” so the British expression “bright as a button” used to mean the same thing.

Sally, this website is appalling! They’re treating these animals like they were some sort of product. They’re living creatures, not commodities.

* appalling: 끔찍한, 형편없는

* commodity: 상품

Well, how else can people see so many at once, and decide what kind of dog they want?

* at once: at the same time

ex> Look! Marissa can juggle five grapefruits at once!

That’s definitely food for thought. Okay, you've convinced me. Let’s head down there right now and see if there are any pooches we hit it off with.

* food for thought: something worth thinking about

= something to consider; something to mull over; something to think about

ex> I haven’t agreed to her business proposal, but it was definitely food for thought.

* hit it off: to become friends quickly

ex> Cheryl and Clay have really hit it off. They are inseparable these days!

Sounds great! I bet we’ll find the perfect one in a heartbeat. Turn the computer off and I’ll go get the car.

* in a heartbeat: without hesitation

ex> I would grab the opportunity to travel to New Zealand in a heartbeat.

PE 1/10 Review

1. kiss something goodbye: to discard or disregard something
ex> I'll be happy to kiss these text books goodbye and start making money.
ex> Unless he starts wearing deodorant, he'll have to kiss his friends goodbye.


2. deep down: within one's inner thoughts or beliefs
ex> Sandy realized deep down that her sculpture idea wasn't feasible.
ex> Deep down, the boys knew that they had the best chance of winning.

That's true. Deep down, I know she's very qualified to be leading the group. I just don't like being told what to do.

3. never in one's wildest dreams: unforeseen or unexpected; believed to be impossible
ex> Never in my wildest dreams did I expected to be nominated for an Oscar.
ex> Never in my wildest dreams did I think my little brother would be getting married.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd come this close to winning!
Congratulations, hon! Let's hope your lucky streak continues!

4. hold off: to delay doing something
ex> The trainer decided to hold off increasing my weights until next week.
ex> Her parents will hold off on their vacation plans until they have more money.

If we're going to bake cookies this afternoon, should I take the butter out of the fridge?
That's good thought, but let's hold off for another hour, please.

5. set in stone: irreversibly decided
ex> Nothing is set in stone, but we are considering moving to another city next year.
ex> Bonnie wondered her husband's weekend plans were set in stone.

Wednesday's going to be very busy. Is that appointment set in stone, or could we postpone it?

PE 1/9 A Nightmare Situation

Carla makes my blood boil! She’s gone ahead and invited twenty-four people to our combined birthday party, and the place only has room for fifteen.

* make one’s blood boil: to cause great anger

ex> I've stopped reading the news because it always makes my blood boil.

* go ahead and: to proceed without hesitation.

ex> My husband went ahead and invited all his buddies over on our anniversary.

Well, she’s not the brightest light on the tree. She knows we can only have fifteen, but she doesn't want to uninvited anyone now. She says it would be rude.

* not the brightest light on the tree: foolish; not as intelligent as most people

ex> I may not be the brightest light on the tree, but I’m very good at gymnastics.

Note> Interestingly, English has many expressions that refer to a person’s lack of intelligence. Another one is “a sandwich short of a picnic.”

I see her point. Couldn't the party be moved to a bigger venue? Surely the location isn’t set in stone.

* set in stone: irreversibly decided

= carved in stone; written in stone; absolutely certain

ex> Of course you can change your lunch order. It’s not set in stone.

No, it can’t. We want to have it at Ellie’s sister’s new restaurant. Ellie’s been trying to organize this for weeks, and now Carla’s gone and thrown a spanner in the works.

* throw a spanner (wrench) in the works: to do something disruptive or damaging

ex> It won’t throw a spanner in the works if I bring my mother on our date, will it?

ex> When Victor showed the plans to our competitor, it really threw a spanner in the works.

PE 1/8 Watching Fish from Above or Below

Are those the brochures we picked up in the lobby? Does anything tickle your fancy?

* tickle one’s fancy: to be appealing

ex> Would it tickle your fancy to spend the weekend in Hong Kong?

Note> The expression “strike one’s fancy” has the same meaning. As a noun, “fancy” means “imagination” or “attraction to.”

You bet. There’s a one-on-one scuba diving program that guarantees an open water certificate in only five days.

* one-on-one: 1대 1의

We can snorkel till the cows come home. But I don’t want to interfere with your plans if you’d rather spend the time learning to dive. I’ll watch, and perform mouth-to-mouth if necessary.

* till the cows come home: until a distant time

ex> Jamie’s so fit! She can jump rope till the cows come home.

Ooo! Frisky! but I think I’ll hold off on the scuba certificate until we can do it together.

* frisky: 짓궂은, 까부는

* hold off: to delay doing something

= put off; postpone; hold up

ex> Let’s hold off on making any investments until the market.

You’d do that for me? No wonder I married you. You might just get some of that mouth-to-mouth after all.

* no wonder: unsurprising; for obvious reasons

ex> No wonder I can’t stop eating these chips: they’re full of MSG!

* after all: despite prior indications to the contrary

ex> The pond is starting to freeze. We might get to go skating this winter after all.

PE 1/7 Bright Young Minds in the Office

Well, I have to work on a design for a pedestrian overpass to go over the high way by that new mall in Mapleton. Remember when we drove by there on our way back from Granny’s? But I’m afraid you might be bored to tears.

* I’m afraid: to be concerned about the possibility of an undesirable outcome

ex> I’m afraid that the package you sent won’t arrive until Thursday.

* bored to tears: extremely bored or uninterested

ex> By the end of the congressman’s’ speech, everyone was bored to tears.

Note> Curiously, the expression “bored to death” means exactly the same thing, with no difference in the severity of the boredom.

As Einstein once said, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, what are we to think of an empty desk?”

* cluttered: 어수선한

We’ll be able to see where all the additional stresses are. There – our overpass is now chock full of people. Get a load of that!

* chock full: filled to overflowing

ex> Look at his top drawer! It’s chock full of purple socks!

ex> Tom refuses to enter any subway car that’s chock full of people.

* get a load of: pay attention to (esp. something extraordinary)

ex> Kevin, get a load of this! We can see the fireworks from the balcony!

Ruthie, you are thinking like an engineer! I never in my wildest dreams imagined you’d be interested in this sort of thing.

* never in one’s wildest dreams: unforeseen or unexpected; believed to be impossible

ex> Never in her wildest dreams did Tania think she’d swim in the Olympics.

PE 1/6 David Foster Wallace Speech – Part 1

Stated as an English sentence, of course, this is just a banal platitude – but the fact is that, in the day-to-day trenches of adult existence, banal platitudes can have life-or-death importance. That may sound like hyperbole, or abstract nonsense.

* banal platitude: 진부한 이야기

* hyperbole: 과장법

* day-to-day: ordinary; occurring regularly

ex> Excavation in the vicinity of Mt. Vesuvius have given us a sense of day-to-day life in ancient Pompeii.

ex> Once the firefighters left the scene, the bystanders returned to their day-to-day business.

* nonsense: illogical or impractical ideas or statements

ex> They want to charge for entrance to a public park? That’s nonsense!

We rarely talk about this sort of natural, basic self-centeredness because it’s so socially repulsive, but it’s pretty much the same for all of us, deep down.

* self-centeredness: primarily concerned with oneself; selfish

ex> Teenagers can seem very self-centered, but they soon grow out of it.

* deep down: within one’s inner thoughts or beliefs

ex> Deep down, I think you realize that the Broncos are going to win the next Super Bowl.

* repulsive: 혐오스러운

It is our default-setting, hard-wired into our boards at birth. Think about it: There is no experience you've had that you were not at the absolute center of.

* think about it: to consider thoroughly

ex> Think about it: why would they leave the door open if they didn't want us to come in?

PE 1/5 If the Shoe Doesn’t Fit

Now wait just a minute. Who’s to say that this is the second pair? I bought two pairs of shoes for $120, so I should get $60 for returning one of them. That should be obvious, even to someone wearing a “trainee” badge.

* wait just a minute: used when one person disagrees with something that’s happening

ex> Wait just a minute. Didn't you say this was going to be a quick errand?

Are you trying to pull the wool over my eyes? My boss warned me about shysters like you.

* pull the wool over someone’s eyes: to trick someone

ex> It sounded like too good a deal, so Daphne suspected the realtor was trying to pull the wool over her eyes.

I’ll tell you what: you call your boss, I’ll call the police, and if the other unfortunate fellow with the mismatched shoes shows up first, we can all kiss this little problem goodbye, hmm?

* I’ll tell you what: used to introduce an alternative proposal

ex> I’ll tell you what: let’s just throw this omelet away and pretend it didn’t happen.

* kiss something goodbye: to discard or disregard something

ex> Just three more years and we can kiss our mortgage goodbye!

Whoa. Don’t get your shirt in a knot. Here’s your $60. Go get a coffee or something. Sheesh.

* get one’s shirt in a knot: to get upset, especially at something minor

ex> Helen gets her shirt in a knot whenever I use knives to prop the window open.

Note> A British variant of this expression is: “Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”

PE 1/3 Review

1. a clean slate: to have no prior recorded history of doing something

ex> After he got out of jail, he started over with a clean slate.

ex> She decided to start with a clean slate after changing her career.

I bet you paid an arm and a leg.

* pay an arm and a leg: 돈이 너무 들다

ex> I hate to have to pay an arm and a leg for a tank of gas.

I had to cough up a couple hundred dollars, but at least I have a clean slate now.

* cough up: (돈을 마지못해) 내놓다, 토해 내다

ex> Steve finally coughed up the money he owed us.

2. take something personally: to be overly sensitive to comments or criticisms

ex> Please don’t take this personally. But we have to let you go.

ex> Be careful what you say because she usually take things very personally.

I just told her that her dog had relieved itself on that man’s briefcase, but she took it very personally.

* relieve yourself: 볼일을 보다 (화장실에 가는 것을 정중하게…)

ex> I had to relieve myself behind a bush.

3. a social butterfly: a person who is very friendly at parties or other social functions

ex> My best friend is a social butterfly so she has lots of friends.

ex> Try to be a social butterfly at the party.

4. play it by ear: to proceed without a definite plan, and adjust as needed

ex> Nothing is written in stone so let’s play it by ear.

ex> I’m not sure if I can do lunch this Friday so let’s just play it by ear.

5. high on one’s list: a priority; a desired achievement

ex> Watching the Berlin Philharmonic this fall is high on my list.

ex> Checking out that new Italian restaurant is high on my list.

PE 1/2 Where Did You Say It Was?

Oh, are you heading out, Jack? Would you mind doing me a favor?

* head out: to temporarily leave one’s home, workplace, or usual location

= on your way out; taking off; setting out

ex> We’ll head out as soon as Owen finds his sunglasses.

Sure, as long as it won’t too long. I've got to get to the hardware store before they call it a day.

* call it a day: to declare the end of a workday, relationship, or other ongoing situation

ex> Mark and Fiona spent their entire engagement disagreeing, so they decided to call it a day.

ex> The bakery called it a day an hour early yesterday because they were completely sold out of everything by mid-afternoon.

Forgive me, but you can’t swing a cat in this neighborhood without hitting a coffee shop. What street are we talking about?

* you can’t swing a cat (somewhere) without (doing something): there is too much of something in a small area

ex> It wasn't his fault! You couldn’t swing a cat in that store without breaking a piece of expensive glassware.

ex> You can’t swing a cat on this beach without hitting a souvenir vendor.

Now we’re speaking the same language. And which corner am I looking for?

* speak the same language: to communicate effectively; = be on the same page

ex> Everyone in the book club gets along because they all speak the same language.

Becoming an overnight cartographer isn't exactly high on my list! Just go to 14^th and MacKenzie and look for the sign that says “Nelson’s” on it! Here’s the book. And don’t forget your gloves!

* high on one’s list: a priority; a desired achievement

ex> Completing my degree with respectable grades is high on my list right now.

PE 1/1 Plenty of Distractions in Fabulous Fiji

Remember The Blue Lagoon with Brooke Shields? That was shot on a little island we can get to in a jiffy by catamaran.

* in a jiffy: quickly; promptly

= in no time; in a flash; in an instant

ex> The new pizza place is just down the road, so the delivery guy should be here in a jiffy.

To me, it’s six of one, half-dozen of the other. We can just play it by ear, and check in with the activities coordinator every day to see what’s shaking.

* six of one, half-dozen of the other: both options are equal overall

ex> We could walk or drive there. It’s six of one, half-dozen of the other.

* play it by ear: to proceed without a definite plan, and adjust as needed

ex> The weather forecast kept changing, so the snowboarders decided to play it by ear.

Note> To play a musical piece by ear means to play it from memory without ever having seen the music in print form.

* what’s shaking: what’s happening at the moment

ex> Let’s go down to the plaza where those people are standing and see what’s shaking.

ex> The twins’ mother thought it was too quiet, so she went downstairs to see what was shaking.

But I don’t mind spelling you off from time to time if you just want to relax.

* spell somebody off: to do someone a favor by taking over their task or responsibility

ex> The coach sent Anderson onto the field to spell off the exhausted goalkeeper.

PE 12/31 New Year’s Eve Party – Big Corporate Blowout

Oscar! I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t know anyone at this party yet, except for Theresa from accounting. But she’s such a social butterfly, I can only talk to her for five seconds before she flutters away again.

* a social butterfly: a person who is very friendly at parties or other social functions

ex> Jill was such a social butterfly that she rarely left a party with fewer than five new friends.

Last year’s party was nothing to write home about. I think bringing all the different offices and departments together for a big shindig like this is great for company morale.

* shindig: a party

ex> The bowling league hosted a shindig at the end of the season each year.

Let me refill my wine glass. I think I’m going to need a shot of courage to do this.

* a shot of courage: an extra drink to give someone confidence

ex> Rick needed a shot of courage before he could ask the beautiful woman to dance with him.

Just follow my lead and you’ll be fine. Anyway, they look like a friendly group.

* follow one’s lead: to imitate what someone does

= leave it to me; let me handle it; do what I tell you

ex> I can teach you the dance moves, just follow my lead.

ex> If you want to learn something well, just follow the lead of the best people in that area.

Oh boy! Here goes nothing.

* here goes nothing: a way of suggesting you don’t know what the outcome will be or what is about to happen, 밑져야 본전이지, 한번 해 보지 뭐

ex> “Here goes nothing,” Tom said when he stepped into the boxing ring for the first time.

PE 12/30 Jen Lee Speech – Part 5

You will still fail a lot. In fact, people to your face will say, “that is not good enough.” But just don’t make it about yourself. If you can learn to not take it personally, you will be able to listen to the constructive criticism and find it inspiring.

* take something personally: to be overly sensitive to comments or criticisms directed toward one

= offended by; insulted by; hurt by

ex> As a singer, Celine never took anything the critics said personally.

* constructive criticism: polite suggestions meant to help improve something

ex> Professor Williams gave me constructive criticism on my writing work so I could make it better.

And it might motivate you and show you that you are capable of far more than you ever imagined. I will say if we made the first draft of Frozen, if I’d been too insecure and defensive to listen to the criticism and notes, if I wasted my time trying to prove I was good enough instead of using that time to make Frozen what it needed to be it would have been a far different movie and I guarantee you, I wouldn’t be standing here.

* first draft: the initial written version of a project

ex> The English teacher expected our first draft to be turned in for evaluation on Monday.

ex> Although it was only the first draft, the publisher agreed to buy Stephen’s book.

And get this: they say that the number one thing driving bullies is insecurity, so we ban self-doubt and we kill two birds with one stone right here.

* get this: listen to the next thing I say because it is exciting or important

ex> Get this – the price of Dubli stock has tripled in two weeks!

* kill two birds with one stone: to accomplish two things at one time

ex> We killed two birds with one stone by buying gas and getting our car washed at the same place.

PE 12/29 I Took down My Decorations Already

Maybe not, but I believe in starting the year with a clean slate, so that means a clean apartment, top to bottom.

* a clean slate: to have no prior recorded history of doing something

ex> After seven years the credit agencies remove your past mistakes and let you start over with a clean slate.

Note> Writing tables used in schools, shops and offices were made from slate, so “a clean slate” was one with no leftover writing on it.

That’s interesting, Leila. So what would you suggest to help me start off 2015 with a bang?

* with a bang: with excitement and enthusiasm

ex> The celebration started off with a bang when balloons fell from the ceiling and the band began to play.

Okay. You know I’m a big believer in feng shui, right? Well, no offense, but your apartment is very cluttered. So I would suggest you throw out or get rid of about half of the stuff you own.

* no offense: to say something that could be interpreted as an insult, but to clarify that that was not your intention.

ex> No offense, but your music is very loud and is making my baby cry.

I really do! And at the very least, you won’t have as much junk to trip over and hurt yourself on.

* trip over something: to stumble or fall because of an obstacle

ex> Millie tripped over her son’s bicycle and fell down the stairs.

I suppose starting the New Year with a broken ankle would be pretty non-feng shui, huh? I’ll start clearing out the junk today.

* clear out: to remove things from a place

= cleaning out; getting rid of; disposing of

ex> Would you please clear out all of your dirty dishes so I can cook dinner?