Phrase mix 3

1. Stand clear of the closing doors please. You're getting into a subway car. The doors are going to close in a minute, so the train driver announces this. To "stand clear of" something means to stand away from it. You "stand clear of" things like: the scene of an emergency. falling rocks. large machinery. a crime scene. In a situation in which you want people to move away from somewhere quickly, you can yell: Stand clear 让开, 闪开, 起来, 起开, 让路! Or if you want to say what people should stay away from, include "of ___": Everybody stand clear of the window. Stand clear of the closing doors please. This is a standard announcement that the train conductor makes on subways and other trains, right before the doors close. It's a warning that people should move away from the door. 2. We might as well make the most of it. You're on vacation with your daughter. You were supposed to return home, but your flight was cancelled because of weather. Now you have to stay for another day. You've rescheduled your flight and there's nothing else you can do, so you say this. (someone) might as well (do something) Use "might as well" to talk about doing something that you didn't originally want to, but is now your best choice. For example, if you wanted to wanted to go to sleep, but you can't sleep, you might think: I might as well read a book. Your first choice was sleeping, but reading a book is better than laying in bed without sleeping. Here's another example: A: There's so much work to do! B: You might as well get used to it. That's how things normally are around here. Read this lesson for a different explanation of how to use "might as well": I guess I might as well stick around and have one more. We might as well stock up. You're shopping at a grocery store with your son. You see that toilet paper is on sale there, so you think it's a good idea to buy a lot of it now. You make this suggestion. (someone) might as well (do something) Saying that you "might as well" do something means that: you think it's a good idea to do it. it's easy to do. For example, buying a lot of something while it's on sale is a good idea because it's cheaper. If the item on sale is also easy to carry and to store, then there's no reason not to buy a lot of it: We might as well buy a few more. Another example of "I might as well" is: I guess I might as well stick around and have one more. stock up (on something) 留库存 To "stock up" means to buy a lot of something, so that you'll have it ready. Use "on" to express what you're buying a lot of: Make sure to stock up on food and water before the storm hits. Cigarettes are cheap over here, so a lot of people who visit stock up on them. People usually stock up on consumable goods, like food, drinks, batteries, paper towels, etc. make the most of (a situation) When a situation is bad, but you have a good attitude about it and work to make it better, you're "making the most" of the situation. For example, if you're on a long, boring train trip, you can "make the most of it" by reading a book, taking a nap, or talking with the person next to you. 3. She makes a compelling argument 他说的很对啊, 很有说服力. You're shopping for a new car with your wife. The car saleswoman is trying to convince you to buy a car that's more expensive than you originally planned on. She's a very good salesperson so you've started to change your mind. You say this to your wife. (someone) makes an argument When you "make an argument" for something, it means that you try to convince people to do it or support it. For example: Marty made an argument for keeping the red one and getting rid of the green one instead. On the other hand, you could also make an argument for having kids while you're still young and healthy too. compelling argument A "compelling" argument is one that's convincing. It makes you agree with what the person making the argument is trying to say. In the example above, the salesperson made a compelling argument that the couple should buy a more expensive car. Other common combinations for "compelling" are: make a compelling case. Antonio makes a compelling case for sticking with our current suppliers. present compelling evidence. Most of the jury was suspicious of him, but the prosecution just wasn't able to present enough compelling evidence to convict him. have a compelling reason for (something) Unless there's a compelling reason to stay, I say we call it a day and head home. 4. Party of 6 几人组的, right this way. You're eating out at a restaurant with 5 of your friends. After you check in with the host and wait for a few minutes, the host invites you to follow him to your seats. He says this. Party of (a number) 几人桌, 几个人, 几人位, 几人组 In restaurants, the word "party" is used to describe a group of people who are eating together: How many are in your party? An automatic service charge of 18% is included for parties of 6 or more. To describe how many people are in a group, restaurant employees will use "party of ___": Hey, a party of eight just walked in. right this way This is a polite phrase to use when you're leading people or showing them where to go. Receptionists, waiters, and other service staff use this phrase when they're leading customers somewhere: Right this way, Mr. Lee. 5. Bethany is a lot quieter in real life than she is over the phone. One of the salesperson you often communicate with came to visit your office for the first time. She seemed different than you imagined her. You're talking with a co-worker who also works with her. You say this. (be/do something) in real life You can talk about the way that a person is when you meet or see with the phrase "in real life". When you know someone from seeing them on TV, talking to them on the telephone, etc., you get ideas about that person. After you meet them "in real life" you can compare your ideas about them with reality with how they really are. This phrase is very similar to "in person": He's a lot shorter in person. (be/do something) over the phone Use "over" to talk about information or emotions that get communicated through the telephone. You sound different over the phone. Most drug dealers know better than to discuss their criminal activities over the phone. 6. Don't feel obligated to come if you're too busy. You're having a party next weekend. You want to invite one of your friends, who's a very busy person. You don't want to make her feel pressured, so you say this. feel obligated to 不必勉强 (do something) "Feeling obligated" to do something means that you feel like you have to do it. You're afraid that it would be rude not to do it. People usually feel obligated to do things for social reasons, like because a friend or neighbor asked them to do it. For instance, if someone gives you a gift, you might "feel obligated" to give them a gift back in return. We usually talk about "feeling obligated" to do things that we don't want to do. You can use this phrase in a sentence like this: I feel obligated to help because, you know, he helped us out a couple of months ago. I don't really want to go, but I feel kind of obligated. You can also tell someone not to feel obligated to do something: Don't feel obligated to come if you're too busy. 7. You have to spend money to make money. She paid for the trip out of her own pocket 自掏腰包.  pay for (something) out of (one's) own pocket Paying for something "out of your own pocket" means that you pay for it yourself, rather than having it paid for by someone else. You especially use "out of ___ own pocket" when: someone pays for something that should have been payed for by someone else (like in the example above). someone pays for something that's really expensive and hard to afford. For example: No, I financed the entire company out of my own pocket. A few notes: people can only pay out of their own pocket. It doesn't make sense to talk about paying out of someone else's pocket. And it's always singular "pocket", not "pockets". I'm sorry. I just don't get what you're trying to say. I don't get (clause) Use the phrase "I don't get ___" to talk about things that you don't understand: I don't get it. I don't get this movie. You can follow "I don't get ___" with a clause that starts with a question word like "what", "why", "how", etc.: I don't get why he said that. I don't get what I'm supposed to do. I don't get how this works. 8. It's a routine procedure 例行公事. You're visiting a doctor because of a problem with your knee. The doctor recommends that you get surgery. You're worried about getting surgery. The doctor sees this and tries to reassure you by saying this. a routine procedure When a doctor says that something is a "routine procedure", it means that he or she often does it, and it's nothing new or scary. The word "routine" means "usual". You might know that "routine" can be used as a noun: So, have you settled back into the routine?. But it can also be an adjective like in the example at top. When you're talking to a doctor, a "procedure" usually means a surgical procedure. Or, in other words, some kind of surgery. In general, a "procedure" is a set of actions that follow specific steps. Here are some other common types of procedures: a legal procedure. a testing procedure. a company's standard operating procedure. 9. My mom is plump like me, but my dad is tall and wiry. You're chatting with a group of friends about your body shapes. You want to explain how you got your shape, so you describe what your parents look like, you describe your parents like this. (someone) is plump 圆润的 A "plump" person is a little bit round and fat, though not too fat. You can call someone "plump" if they are this shape. Or if someone is quite fat, you can call them "plump" as a way of being nice instead of calling them "fat" or "obese". However, "plump" isn't such a polite expression that you can freely say it directly toward a fat person. Food that is round and soft can also be described as "plump": I'm cooking a plump, juicy chicken for tonight. When you're describing food, "plump" is usually good. (someone) is wiry 精瘦 A "wiry" person is really thin, but strong. The word "wiry" is related to "wire". You can think of a "wiry" person as having strong muscles that are thin like wires. The word "wiry" usually describes men. It's usually a positive description. wiry [waɪəri] I. Someone who is wiry is rather thin but is also strong. His body is wiry and athletic. II. Something such as hair or grass that is wiry is stiff and rough to touch. Her wiry hair was pushed up on top of her head in an untidy bun. 10. Your mind's always on food! You're having a conversation about something with your boyfriend, and he interrupts to ask what's for dinner. You're annoyed that he always talks about food. You say this. (someone's) mind is always on (something) 老是想着 Use this expression to talk about a topic that someone thinks about a lot. Aside from food, here are some of the most common topics that people's minds are "always on": His mind is always on work. Your mind is always on sex. Her mind was always on other things 心不在焉的. Most of the time, when you say that someone's mind is "always on" something, it's a complaint. You want to say that they think about that topic too much. You can also use the phrase "get your mind off of ___": It's nice to take some time off and get your mind off of work for a few days. 11. People say that Detroit is long past its prime, but some still hold out hope that the city will revive itself. You're writing an essay for school about the city of Detroit. The city used to be rich and full of people, but now it's poor. You're writing about people who are trying to improve the city. You write this. People say that (clause) This is an expression for introducing an idea that you've heard from several different places.  After "People say that", use a clause, which is like a sentence that goes inside of another sentence: People say that green tea helps to reduce your risk of cancer. (something) is past its prime Something that is "past its prime" is no longer as strong as it used to be. You can use "past its prime" to talk about a country or city is "past its prime" when it is used to be economically strong but is now poor and run-down. You can also use it to talk about people who aren't as healthy and strong as they were in the past: He's past his prime now, but he was a great player at his peak. If something is still young, strong, and healthy, you say that it is "in its prime": In his prime, he was one of the strongest players in the league. Something that was in its prime a long time ago is now "long past its prime". hold out hope that (clause) To "hold out hope" means to still hope for something, even though it doesn't seem very likely to happen. For example: I sent in my application three weeks ago. They're probably not going to call me back. I'm still holding out hope, though. Kevin's family continues to hold out hope that their missing son will be returned safely to them. revive (something) To "revive" something means to bring it back to life, or to make it healthy again after it was sick. Here are some things you can "revive": a plant that was almost dead. a trend that's gone out of style. the economy of a country that's been weak for a while. In the example above, some people hope that the city will "revive itself". That means that the people of the city will make the city rich, safe, and healthy again. 13. Over time, crud starts to build up in the engine. You're showing your son how to change the oil in your car. You want to explain why you need to change it. You say this. crud 污垢 (You use crud to refer to any disgustingly dirty or sticky substance. [informal] Remember the motel with all the crud in the pool?) "Crud" is kind of like "dirt". But while "dirt" is technically stuff that comes from the ground, "crud" could be anything. "Crud" could be things like: dust. dried toothpaste. useless files on your computer. a mixture of dirt, dust, and oil on the chain of your bicycle. (something) builds up Something that "builds up" becomes stronger or thicker over time by gradually adding more and more. For example: No one cleans over there, so the grease just keeps building up. You have to gradually build up a base of clients. In the example above, the speaker wants to explain that crud gradually becomes thicker and thicker inside the car's engine. Some other things that also "build up" include: build up your confidence. build up military forces. build up tension (in a movie, book, or TV show). 14. You can hear the gas coming out when you turn the knob, but it doesn't ignite. (something) ignites To "ignite" means to catch on fire. The word "ignite" describes just the moment when something first begins to burn. For example, a match "ignites" when you strike it. You can use "ignite in the pattern "(someone) ignites (something): She ignited each of the candles, one by one. But you shouldn't use "ignite" without an object when talking about people, unless the people themselves are burning! 15. You have to keep plugging away, 不断努力 you know?  A friend of yours is an actor. He auditioned to get a part, but he didn't get it. Now you're trying to cheer him up with some friendly advice. You say this. plug away at (something) To "plug away at" something means to keep working hard on it for a long time, without expecting a quick reward. The example above uses the shorter version, "keep plugging away". The full version uses "at": Keep plugging away at your acting career, and I'm sure that one day you'll be a huge star. Although it describes working really hard, the phrase "plug away" sounds positive and friendly. 16. Kneel down on your hands and knees and arch your back. An "arch" is a circular shape. It can describe an architectural feature, like some doorways or gates that have a circular area at the top. "Arch" also describes some parts of the body that take that shape. The middle part of a person's foot is known as "the arch" of the foot. "Arch" can be used as a verb to describe raising your eyebrows when something is interesting or surprising. And you can also "arch" your back, which means to bend it backward. Confusingly, it's also possible to describe bending your back in the other direction as "arching your back". But most of the time it means to bend it so that your shoulders move closer to your hips, and your stomach stretches. 17. Toasting the nuts really brings out their flavor! You made a really delicious banana nut bread. Your sister-in-law asks how you made it, and so you explain to her the recipe. You describe one step in the recipe like this. toasting (something) "Toasting" is a kind of cooking. It means cooking something with dry heat, usually in an oven or on a grill. You "toast" things like bread and nuts. (doing something) brings out (something) To "bring out" a quality means to make that quality stronger or easier to see, taste, etc. In the example above, the speaker says that toasting the nuts "brings out their flavor". That means that it makes the nuts taste better by increasing their natural flavor. Other examples of "bringing out" something include: Difficult situations like this really bring out the best in people. This is a chance for you to go wild and bring out your inner child for a day or two. Money brings out the worst in us. "Bring out" is also used quite often to talk about flavors in food, like in the example at top. 18. We're collecting canned goods and other non-perishable items to donate to a local homeless shelter. You've volunteering for a charity organization by standing outside a supermarket and asking for donations. A customer slows down as she walks by you, so she seems to be interested, and so you explain to her this. collect (donations) You can use the word "collect" to talk about getting money or items from people for things like: a charity. buying someone a gift together as a group. The phrase "take up" is also used in a similar way: Excuse me, we're taking up donations 接受捐赠 for the Haiti Relief Fund. Do you have a moment? However, "take up" only works with money. You can't "take up" canned goods. "Collect" works with both money and physical items. canned goods "Goods" are things that people buy. However, the word is only used in a few specific situations. One of those situations is in the phrase "canned goods", which means food that's in a can. You usually use the phrase "canned goods" when you're talking about: donating canned goods to someone. stocking up on canned goods in case of an emergency. non-perishable items The word "perishable" describes something that goes bad somewhat quickly, like vegetables, fruit, meat, and other fresh food. So "non-perishable items" are things that don't go bad quickly. Examples of non-perishable items are: canned goods. cereal. dried beans. crackers. nuts. food in jars. Like "canned goods", you usually talk about "perishable items" in the context of: donating canned goods to someone. stocking up on canned goods in case of an emergency. donate (something) to a homeless shelter 救助站 A "homeless shelter" is a place where homeless people can come to get food, a place to sleep, and sometimes other services like showers, counseling, and medical care. Homeless shelters are usually run by charities, churches, volunteer organizations, etc. "Donating" something to a homeless shelter means giving the organization money, food, or other things to help them out. You can also "donate your time". 19. Can you hold it steady for me? You're trying to change a light bulb in a light fixture that's high up. You don't have a ladder, so you're standing on a stool. You're a little worried that you'll fall, so you ask your girlfriend to hold the stool, and ask her like this. hold (something) steady 扶住, 扶着, 扶稳 When something is "steady", it means that it's not changing a lot. For example: They seem to have a steady relationship. The stock market has been steady this week. Be careful stepping on that. It's not steady 稳当, 不摇晃. 不晃来晃去的. So "holding ___ steady" means holding it so that it doesn't move around. You can hold a ladder steady, a stool that someone is standing on, a piece of wood that you're nailing, etc. 20. I'll have a chef’s salad, dressing on the side please. You're ordering lunch at a restaurant. You're on a diet, so you're trying to eat healthy. You order a salad but you want to put the dressing on it yourself so that you can control the amount and you say this. I'll have (something) This is one way to order food at a restaurant. Other ways include: I'd like (something). Can I get (something). Can I have (something). Of these, "I'll have ___" probably sounds the most confident and commanding. But any of them are OK to use in most dining situations. (something) on the side When you're ordering food at a restaurant, you can ask for dressing, sauces, ketchup, cheese, etc. "on the side". The restaurant will then separate them instead of mixing them with your food or putting them on top of your food. Often the sauce or condiment will come in its own little cup. 21. This is my first time going to Europe, so I'm super pumped. (someone) is pumped 激动万分 Being "pumped" means that you're really excited about something. "Pumped" is a slang expression. It's common in situations where you're talking about sports, music, movies, or other things that make people excited and enthusiastic. 22. I'd appreciate any feedback you can give me on the content, as well as the spelling and grammar. Every so often I'll have a dream where I'm being chased by some kind of monster. You're talking with a group of friends about your dreams. There is a recurring dream that happens to you sometimes. Every so often (something will happen) You can use this phrase to talk about things that sometimes happen. "Every so often" means that something happens again and again, but not very often. For example: I run into him in the city every so often. I don't eat sweets all that much, but every so often I'll get a craving for a bowl of ice cream. (something) where (clause) You might be surprised that the speaker uses the word "where" to describe a dream. A dream isn't a place, right? Actually, there's a more formal way to say this: Every so often I'll have a dream in which I'm being chased by some kind of monster. But in normal conversation, "where" replaces "in which", "at which", "on which", "about which", and so on. Here are a few more examples: I'm at the point where I can understand most of what's going on around me. I like watching movies where you don't have to think too hard. He bought one of those expensive coffee makers where you can precisely set the temperature of the water to a certain temperature. some kind of (something) The phrase "some kind of ___" can be used when you don't know exactly what you're talking about or you don't want to specify: What's this? Some kind of stew? I hear some kind of siren in the background. 23. Please note that these dates are tentative. You're in charge of planning a release schedule for the software that your team creates at work. You're sending the schedule for the next 6 months to a large group of people. You want everyone to know that the dates might change a little. dates are tentative "Tentative" dates are ones that might change. Other things that can be "tentative" are: tentative plans. a tentative answer. a tentative agreement. take tentative steps toward (something). 24. Hey, don't sweat it. You're having a party at your house. The guests were supposed to bring some food or drink for everyone to share. One of your friends came without anything. He's apologizing for not bringing anything, but you don't want him to worry and so you say this. Don't sweat it. This phrase means "don't worry about it". That meaning comes from the fact that, when people worry, they sweat. You can use "Don't sweat it" to calm down someone who's worried: A: I'm so nervous. B: Ah, don't sweat it. You'll do fine. You can also use it as a reply when someone thanks you: A: Thank you so much for your help. B: Don't sweat it. Be a little careful using "don't sweat it" in this way, though. It sounds like something that a person says to a close friend or someone who's lower in status, like an employee. 25. Your shoulders are so tense! You're giving your girlfriend a shoulder massage. The muscles in her shoulders feel hard and you this it's because she's stressed out, so you say this. (someone's muscles) are tense. When something is squeezed tightly, you can describe it as "tense". Things that can be "tense" include: someone's muscles. a rope that's being pulled in both directions. "Tense" muscles are hard from being squeezed tightly, usually because of stress. You can also describe a person's facial expressions as "tense". It means that someone looks worried, stressed out, or concentrated. For example, this sentence might appear in a novel: She bent closer, her expression tense 表情凝重 with concentration. Stressful or worrisome situations can be described as "tense", too. A: How was it? B: It was pretty tense. Jared yelled at some of the salespeople who hadn't hit their goals. 26. It's one building over from a little playground. You've invited a new friend over to your apartment. You're giving her directions to get there. You end by explaining where your apartment building is by saying this. (something) is one (something) over from (something) In the example above, the speaker's apartment building isn't right next door to the playground. It's next to the building which is next to the playground. That means that her building is "one building over from" it. You can use this expression to describe the location of anything that's arranged in a row. For example: She lives two doors over from me. There was shooting three blocks over from my house last week. See the woman sitting two seats over from Jimmy? That's the director. You can also include the direction: See the woman sitting two seats to the left of Jimmy? That's the director. a playground 游乐场 A "playground" is an outdoor area where children can play. It has things like slides, swings, merry-go-rounds, a sandbox, etc. 27. Is it just me, or was that a bit of a letdown? Is it just me, or (question)? Use this when you're complaining about something. You start your complaint with "Is it just me, or..." to find out if other people agree with your opinion: Is it just me, or is it hot in here? Is it just me, or has the writing on this show gone downhill this season? (something) was a letdown A "letdown" is something that wasn't as good as you expected it to be. Here are some things that might be letdowns: a movie that looked good in previews, but was boring when you watched it. an album by a singer that you used to like, but who has now changed her style. a restaurant that you read good reviews of, but didn't like when you went there. The phrase "___ was a letdown" is a little casual. A more formal alternative is "___ was disappointing." 28. There is a hurricane warning in effect 生效, 有效 throughout Delaware and southern New Jersey. a hurricane warning Some branches of the government monitor the weather, and release warnings when dangerous weather is likely to occur. If you watch or read the news, you might find out about: tornado warnings. tsunami warnings. flash flood warnings. By the way, "hurricanes" are big storms that happen in the Atlantic Ocean. In the Pacific Ocean, they're called typhoons. (something) is in effect The example above says that a hurricane warning "is in effect". That means that there is currently an active hurricane warning. Other things that can be "in effect" are laws, policies, rules, etc.: There's a new "no-bag" policy in effect at Spartan Stadium. It's supposed to prevent people bringing weapons into the stadium. Several states have laws in effect banning cell phone usage while driving. When a rule, law, or warning first begins to be in effect, you say that it was "put into effect": A ban on indoor smoking was put into effect in New York in 2003. (something is happening) throughout 全省, 全国, 全州, 全县, 里里外外, 全包括 (a location) If something happens "in" Delaware, that might mean that it's only in one specific city or one part of the state. But something that happens "throughout" Delaware is all over the state, or in several different locations spread across the state. Things can happen "throughout" a country, a state, a region, a company, an industry, a building, etc. You can also talk about things that happen "throughout" a time period: England and France repeatedly warred with each other throughout the Middle Ages. 29. His resignation definitely marks the end of an era for Ample. It sounds vaguely familiar 模模糊糊有点耳熟. You and a friend are going to have lunch together. She asks if you've heard of a restaurant called "Pedro's Cafe". The name reminds you of something, but you don't remember what kind of restaurant it is, and you can't remember if you've eaten there. You say this. (something) sounds vaguely familiar You can use the phrase "That sounds vaguely familiar" when someone mentions something that you've heard of, but don't know much about. For example, A: Have you heard of the term "cognitive dissonance"? B: That sounds vaguely familiar. The word "familiar" describes things that you know about or have experienced. "Vaguely" means "a little bit" or "kind of". Some other phrases that use "vaguely" include: (someone) is vaguely aware of (something). (something) seems vaguely threatening. 30. I don't think I'd be able to endure that kind of pain. "Enduring pain" means feeling the pain, but continuing on even so. If you can't "endure" a painful feeling, you might pass out, die, start crying, or ask for medicine to stop the pain. Other things that people might "endure" include: a boring class. hardships (like being poor). humiliation. 31. Hi. You've reached Misty. I'm not available to take your call right now, but please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. You call a client at her office. She doesn't answer the phone. Instead, you get sent to her voice mail. This is her recorded message. You've reached (someone). Use this phrase to identify yourself on a telephone voice mail message. When you answer the phone in person, don't use this; it's too formal. Instead, say "This is ___." Hi Amy. This is Zack. (someone) is not available to (do something) When someone is "not available" to do something, it means that they can't do it; they're too busy, they have another appointment, or they're not allowed to do it. In telephone messages, the phrase "I'm not available to take your call" just means "I can't answer the phone now." 31. I'd like to cash this. Do I need to fill out a deposit slip or anything? You have a paycheck from your part-time job. You'd like to get cash instead of putting the money into your bank account. This is what you ask the teller at the bank. fill out (a form) A "form" is a document with blank lines or boxes that you write information into. Forms were originally printed on paper, but now forms are common on the Internet. You can see them whenever you sign up for a new website and have to enter your name, email address, and other information. To "fill out" a form means to write answers into the blank lines or boxes. Here are some words that you can use after "fill out": fill out an application. fill out paperwork. fill out a registration form. fill out a survey. cash (a check) "Cashing" a check means giving it to a bank, and getting the cash value of the check from them. You can "cash" a paycheck, a personal check, a tax-return check, etc. a deposit slip. A "slip" is like a form, but it's usually smaller than a full sheet of paper. Some examples of "slips" are: permissions slips (for school field trips, etc.). deposit slips. wire transfer slips. a pink slip (which is a piece of paper telling someone that they've been fired or laid off). "Deposit slips" are pieces of paper that you have to fill out when you're depositing money into a bank account. You write your name, the amount of money you're depositing, your account number, and so on. 32. He throws a mean curveball! You have a nephew who's in high school. You're proud of him because he's a good athlete, and the pitcher on his school's baseball team. You say this, bragging about him to a friend. He throws a mean curveball! (someone does) a mean (something) In the example above, the speaker wants to say that his nephew can throw curve balls really well. You can use the phrase "___ a mean ___" when you want to talk about something that a person is quite good at: I bake a mean apple pie! He plays a mean game of chess! She does a mean James Brown impression. You can't use this for everything. For example, "he drives a mean car" sounds really funny. It's usually used with "makes a mean ___", "does a mean ___" or "plays a mean game of ___". "A mean ___" sounds kind of tough and cool. That's because the word "mean" in this phrase is the version that means "not nice" or "cruel". throw a curve ball A "curve ball" is a kind of pitch in baseball. When you throw a curve ball, the ball doesn't travel in a straight line; it curves downward as it gets close to the batter. That makes the ball hard to hit. There's also a metaphorical meaning of "curve ball". People use it to talk about anything that was unexpected: Don't be surprised if they throw you a curve ball 冷枪暗弹 in the interview; they just want to see how well you respond under pressure. In this example, a "curve ball" means an unexpected question. 33. That's a drag 太糟糕了, 太不幸了, 太烦人了. You're talking to your friend on the phone. He tells you that he lost his wallet. You can imagine how annoying and difficult that is, so you say this, sympathetically. "That's a drag" means "That's too bad" or "That sucks". You say these expressions when someone tells you about bad things that have happened to them. You can use "That's a drag" to talk about situations that are kind of bad, but not too horrible. For example, here are some situations where "That's a drag" is a good response: Your friend says that she wasn't able to get tickets to the concert that she wanted to go to. Your coworker's car broke down, and he has to pay a thousand dollars to get it fixed. Your son's homework was deleted because his computer crashed. Now he has to do it again. For more serious situations, use a different expression. For example, if someone's father has passed away, you should say something like this: Oh, Steven. I'm so, so sorry to hear that. be a drag on somebody/something to make it hard for someone to make progress towards what they want. to slow down or limit the development of someone or something: She didn't want a husband who would be a drag on her career. Moreover, the excessive resort to public ownership is a drag on economic development. Maggie thinks marriage would be a drag on her career. Any slowdown in the economy is going to be a drag on the president's re-election campaign. a drag I. something or someone that is boring Don't be such a drag! Come to the party. II. 烦人事. 讨人厌的事. 缺点. something that is annoying and continues for a long time It's a major drag having to share a bathroom with four people. It's a real drag having to travel so far to work every day. 34. I don't want to burn any bridges. You've been offered a new job, but your new boss wants you to start immediately. You think that you need to give at least 3 weeks' notice at your old job. This is your explanation why. burn bridges 断了后路 "Burning bridges" is a metaphor for ruining your relationship with someone. Think about it this way: if an army crosses a bridge, and then burns the bridge when they're finished crossing, it's impossible for them to cross back over it later. In the same way, you might think it's OK to make your old bosses and coworkers angry when you leave a job. But one day you might need to ask a favor of them, get a job recommendation, or even get another job at that company again. If you've "burned bridges" with them, they won't help you in the future. People mostly talk about "burning bridges" when discussing coworkers, professors, business partners, and other professional relationships: They asked me to start immediately, but you know, I didn't want to burn any bridges with Logicorp, so I asked to give them a standard three weeks' notice. 35. Do not use if seal 封印 is broken. You're looking at a bottle of pain medicine in a drug store. It has plastic wrapped around the cap. You read this in the instructions on the side of the bottle. Beware of dog. Do not close. Please flush. Falling rocks ahead. Notices like these leave out objects ("this medicine"), "be" verbs ("are", "is", etc.) and articles ("the", "a"). break a seal A "seal" is something that keeps something closed. There's actually a wide range of things that can be called "seals": When you install something like a window into a new home, you have to use a substance to seal the area around the window. If you go diving in the ocean, there's a seal around the area of your mask where it touches your skin and doesn't allow any water to get in. In the Middle Ages, kings used to use wax to seal their letters. There are seals on lots of products. The seals show when someone has opened the product. "Breaking a seal" means opening up something that was closed and sealed. So, for example, if you open a sealed letter, you've "broken the seal". There's also a funny meaning to "breaking the seal". You can read about it on Urban Dictionary. 36. Fortunately the judge ruled in my favor. You once got sued by a customer of your home business. You're telling someone the story of what happened. You've explained all of the background information, and this was the result. (a judge or jury) ruled in (someone's) favor In a court case, a judge or jury decides who wins. To talk about the result of that decision, you say that they "ruled in (the winner's) favor". In the same way, an official decision by a judge or a committee is called "a ruling". The opposite of "ruling in someone's favor" is "ruling against" someone. 37. I'll warn you - It's still pretty damp. You and a friend are at a swimming pool. Your friend is about to get out of the pool, but he doesn't have a towel. You have one, but it's wet. You offer him the towel with this caveat. I'll warn you - (sentence) Use this phrase to let people know about a problem or weakness before they find it themselves. For example, if you're going to play on a softball team but you're not a good player, you can tell the other team members: I'll warn you - I'm not very good. You use this phrase so that people won't get disappointed or complain. a damp towel. The word "damp" means "a little wet", but it's more specialized. It's only used with a few other words. Here are the main ones: damp hair. damp air. a damp cloth. the ground is damp 潮湿的, 湿湿的. "Damp" also sounds a little literary, so you're more likely to read this word in a book than to hear it in daily conversation.