phrase mix 4.

1. I'm finally making a go of it. You've wanted to open your own restaurant for a few years. Recently, you've decided that you're actually going to open it. You're talking to a friend about your new plans, and you say this. make a go of it 试一把 To "make a go of it" means to try something that seems a little challenging and will have a major effect on your life. For example, you can use this phrase when: you're moving out of your parents' house for the first time. you're going to move to a new country. you're getting married. you're quitting your job so that you can change to another, more interesting, career. After I graduated, I wasn't sure what to do, but I always wanted to try acting. So I moved out to Hollywood and made a go of it. 2. I can tolerate the heat 热劲儿, but what I can't stand is this humidity! It's a hot day and the air is really humid, so you're sweating a lot. You say this while walking outside. I can tolerate (something) To "tolerate" something that you don't like means that you put up with it. You let it happen, even though you don't like it. If there's something that you don't like, but you're able to accept it reluctantly, say "I can tolerate ___": A: Do you eat shrimp? B: I can tolerate it 可以忍受, 可以吃, but I don't love it. I can tolerate a long commute as long as I'm able to get a seat on the train. When you use the word "tolerate in a negative sense, though, it has a stronger meaning. You use "can't tolerate ___" to talk about things that you not only dislike, but also make you angry: I can not tolerate laziness. I can't tolerate people who brag. As in these examples, "can't tolerate ___" often describes people's behavior. (someone) can't stand (something) Talk about something you don't like at all with the phrase "I can't stand ___": I can't stand olives! I can't stand being apart from you for so long. I can't stand people who make racist jokes. I can't stand to see an animal in pain. You can talk about other people with this phrase as well: Some people can't stand losing. She can't stand it when people talk while they're chewing their food. It's not that common to use "stand" this way in positive sentences. Instead of saying that you can stand something, say that you can "tolerate" or "handle" it: A: Do you like rap music? B: Yeah, it's not my favorite but I can usually tolerate it. heat / humidity "Humidity" is the amount of water that's in the air. People like to compare the "heat" and "humidity" of the air, because air that's hot but dry isn't as bad as hot and humid air. 3. There you go. You should be up and running now. You work as a computer tech support specialist. You're installing a piece of software on someone's computer. Now the software has finished installing, so you're ready to let him use the computer again. You say this, giving him use of his computer again. You say "There you go" when you're giving or handing a person something: A: Can you pass me a napkin? B: There you go. More generally, you use it when you're doing something for another person. For example, say "There you go" when: you stand up to let someone sit down. you've finished tying someone's necktie for them. you clear a space on the kitchen counter for someone to set a hot dish on. You can also say "Here you go" in the same way. There are no absolute rules for when to use one or the other, but I would use "Here you go" if I brought something to them from far away, and "there you go" if I'm sitting in one place and handing them the object. (something) is up and running Use this expression to talk about things that are now working and ready to use. Here are some things that you can describe as "up and running": a computer. a website. a factory. a new government program. In the example above, the speaker says "You should be up and running." However, what he means is: The software should be up and running now. "You should be..." sounds more casual and friendly. There you go! You're teaching your daughter to swim. You told her to kick her legs. She's doing a good job, so you say this to praise her. This is what you say to someone who you're trying to teach, while they're doing something good. This is useful when you're coaching sports or teaching someone to cook, for example. When you pronounce this phrase, the stress is placed on "there": There you go 这就对了, 就是这样! 4. He said it so matter-of-factly, I didn't know what to make of it 懵逼了, 懵了, 完全大脑空白, 不知道如何说, 不知道如何回答, 不知道如何是好, 晕了 at first. The guy you've been dating told you that he's moving away to another country. You're shocked because you thought the relationship was serious, but he didn't seem to care. Now you're telling a friend the story of what happened., you say this about how he delivered the news. (say something) matter-of-factly 平铺直叙的, 面无表情的, 平平淡淡地 Saying something "matter-of-factly" means that you say it without much emotion, the way that you would say a simple sentence like "It's five o'clock". (someone) didn't know what to make of (something) This phrase means that a person didn't understand something or didn't know what it was. In the example above, the speaker didn't know whether the guy was serious or joking, whether he really didn't care about her or whether he was trying to hide his true feelings. Other feelings that you might have when you "don't know what to make of" something are: You're not sure whether something is good or bad. You can't decide what something is. You don't know why a person said something the way that they said it. 5. It's a nasty habit — bad for your health, expensive, not to mention the odor. You quit smoking a few months ago, and you're really happy not to be a smoker any more. You're talking to a friend who's not a smoker. You say this about how bad smoking is. a nasty habit 臭毛病, 坏习惯, 不良习惯 Usually people call habits "good" or "bad". But sometimes bad habits can be called "nasty". The word "nasty" sounds worse than "bad". Here are some "nasty habits": biting your fingernails. leaving dirty dishes in the sink. chewing tobacco. (something) is bad for your health If something makes you unhealthy, it's "bad for your health". Use this especially when you're talking about habits and things that you do often: Chronic stress is bad for your health. A recent study shows that sitting for long periods of time could be bad for your health. an odor 气味, 臭味, 味道 An "odor" is a smell. The word "odor" is not as common as "smell", and it's most often used in these phrases: body odor. a strong odor. a pungent odor. a faint odor. a foul odor. an unpleasant odor. a strange odor. "Odors" are usually bad, although it is possible to describe an odor as "sweet" or "pleasant". For good smells, use "scent" or "fragrance". 6. It's crooked. It's tilting to the right. Your husband is hanging a new picture on the wall of your new apartment. You say this because the picture doesn't look straight. (something) is crooked 歪了, 斜了, 不平了 The word "crooked" means "not straight". Specifically, people use the word "crooked" to talk about things that are: supposed to be straight, but are leaning to one side instead: Your tie is crooked. bending in different directions with different angles: They followed a crooked path  弯弯曲曲的 蜿蜒的 through the woods. Things that are bent smoothly, like a rope, aren't usually called "crooked". Things like that are called "curving" or "winding". (something) is tilting to (a direction) The word "tilting" also means "not straight". But "tilting" refers to things which are not going straight up-and-down, or not flat across the top. Here are some examples of things that can "tilt": a table. a chair. a tree. a building which has gone through an earthquake. 7. After shaping it on his wheel, the artist trims off the excess clay to form an angular shape. You work at an art gallery. You're describing a piece of pottery to a customer. You say this about the artist's process. shape (a sculpture) The word "shape" can be used as a verb to talk about forming a certain shape out of something like clay. trim off the excess (something) 砍掉, 削掉多余的( noun. [ɪkˈses] adj. [ˈekˌses] adj. I. 作为形容词不能做表语, 只能作定语. 多余的. an excess amount of money is an extra amount that you pay. Passengers traveling on to Buffalo will be required to pay an excess fare of $30. II. 过量的. more than is usual or necessary Drain off any excess liquid. Excess is used to describe amounts that are greater than what is needed, allowed, or usual. After cooking the fish, pour off any excess fat. Excess is used to refer to additional amounts of money that need to be paid for services and activities that were not originally planned or taken into account. ...a letter demanding an excess fare of £20. Staff who have to travel farther can claim excess travel expenses. noun. I. [singular/ uncountable] 多余的. a larger amount of something than is usual or necessary. An excess of something is a larger amount than is needed, allowed, or usual.An excess of house plants in a small flat can be oppressive. [+ of] Polyunsaturated oils are essential for health. Excess is harmful, however. Cover both sides of the meat with flour, shaking off any excess. excess of: an excess of oxygen in his bloodstream. II. excesses [plural] formal cruel or violent actions, especially when committed by a government, army, or police force. the worst excesses of the regime. a. 过分. 极致. behavior that you consider to be wrong because it is too extreme. the usual excesses of the rock-star lifestyle. III. [uncountable] formal a way of behaving in which you do dangerous or extreme things. Excess is behaviour that is unacceptable because it is considered too extreme or immoral. She said she was sick of her life of excess. ...adolescent excess. ...the bloody excesses of warfare and empire-building. The rest of the family led a life of excess. IV. [singular] business British an insurance deductible. The excess on an insurance policy is a sum of money which the insured person has to pay towards the cost of a claim. The insurance company pays the rest. The company wanted £1,800 for a policy with a £400 excess for under-21s. excess fare 补差价 an extra amount of money to pay, such as for traveling first-class with a second-class ticket or for traveling farther than you originally intended. excess baggage I. tourism bags that weigh more than the official limit that each person is allowed to take on a plane. You have to pay money to take them with you. II. informal something that you want to get rid of. in excess of In excess of means more than a particular amount. Avoid deposits in excess of £20,000 in any one account. The energy value of dried fruits is considerably in excess of that of fresh items. to excess 过量 If you do something to excess, you do it too much. [disapproval] I was reasonably fit, played a lot of tennis, and didn't smoke or drink to excess. Red meat, eaten to excess (in moderation), is very high in fat and calories.) The word "trim" something means to cut it a little bit: You need to trim your beard. Use "trim" by itself to describe the thing that you're cutting. But you "trim off" the part that has been cut away. For example, I trimmed the branches. means that you cut the branches of a bush or tree a little bit to make them shorter. However, this sentence: I trimmed the branches off. means that the branches have been totally cut off, and aren't attached to the bush or tree any more. "The excess ___" means something that you don't want or need any more. In the example at top, the artist uses some of the clay to make the pottery. But there's also some "excess" clay which is not needed. That excess clay is "trimmed off". form (a shape) 塑形, 造型 Use the word "form" when you're making a shape out of something: The big crowd of students formed a circle. His mouth slowly formed the word "no". an angular shape An "angular" shape is kind of sharp, not smooth. Triangles, squares, and octagons are all "angular". Circles are not. 8. How do you describe a photo, painting 构图, or song 作曲 that's arranged well? That's a really strong composition [kɒmpəzɪʃən] 构成, 作曲 ( I. When you talk about the composition of something, you are referring to the way in which its various parts are put together and arranged. Television has transformed the size and composition of audiences. [+ of] Forests vary greatly in composition from one part of the country to another. II. The compositions of a composer, painter, or other artist are the works of art that they have produced. Mozart's compositions are undoubtedly amongst the world's greatest. III. A composition 作文 is a piece of written work that children write at school. IV. Composition is the technique or skill involved in creating a work of art. He taught the piano, organ and composition. The course is designed to help students with colour and composition. V. Composition is the act of composing something such as a piece of music or a poem. These plays are arranged in their order of composition. ). Who are you leaning towards 倾向于?" hindsight is 20/20 回看的视力是1.5 (idiomatic) In hindsight things are obvious that were not obvious from the outset; one is able to evaluate past choices more clearly than at the time of the choice. twenty-twenty hindsight (idiomatic) Perfect understanding of events only after they have happened. Etymology: From the term 20/20 referring to normal visual acuity. wise after the event to know what you should have done after something has happened, but not while it was happening. to realize what you should have done in a situation after it has happened. It's easy to be wise after the event. It doesn't help to be wise after the event. It is easy to be wise after the event. Prov. After you see the consequences of a decision, it is easy to tell if the decision was good, but it is also too late, since the consequences have already happened. Jill: I should never have invited Aunt Betsy to stay with me; I haven't had a peaceful moment since she got here. Jane: Well, it's easy to be wise after the event. Monday-morning quarterback 事后诸葛亮 To criticize from hindsight. Etymology: Professional football games in the United States are often played on Sundays. back-seat driver 光会指挥的人, 瞎指挥的人, 站着说话不腰疼 I. A person sitting (typically) in the back seat of a car issuing (unsolicited and usually unwanted) instructions to the driver. II. (figuratively) An opinionated person who offers (unsolicited and often unwanted) advice on the best way to handle a situation. Usage notes: The figurative definition is far more common. I woke up this morning to the smell of coffee and the sound of birds chirping 欢唱, 鸟鸣, 鸟叫. coarse-grained 粗颗粒的. fine-grained 细细的, 细粒的. 9. It seems like it was only yesterday that we first met here. You've been living in the U.S. for 6 months as an exchange student. Now it's time for you to go back home. Your host mother is dropping you off at the airport. You feel nostalgic because this is the same airport that she picked you up in 6 months ago. It seems like it was only yesterday that (clause). Use this phrase when you feel like time has passed by quickly. It seems like it was only yesterday that I was changing your diapers and watching you take your first steps, and now here you are, going off to college. The first time I saw Martha, it was love at first sight. It seems like it was only yesterday. It seems like it was only yesterday that I started writing short English lessons and posting them here. (some people) first met 初遇 When you want to talk about the first time you met someone, use this phrase: We first met back in 1992. When we first met, I was a lifeguard and he was one of the swimming instructors. I can't remember exactly when we first met. a rough day A "rough" day is one in which you have a lot of problems, or feel tired and stressed. People especially talk about having a "rough day" at work: A: Rough day? B: Yeah, my boss yelled at me for something that wasn't even my fault. If you want to talk about more than one day, you don't say "rough days". You say "a rough few days" or "a rough couple of days": Sorry I didn't call you back earlier. I've had a rough couple of days. The word "rough" can mean "difficult" or "filled with problems" in some situations. Here are some things that people often describe as "rough": a rough part of town 问题多多的. (a company) is going through a rough period. (someone) is going through a rough time. we got off to a rough start. 10. My infant is running a fever of 高烧多少度 a hundred and two. Your baby is sick. You took his temperature, and it's higher than it should be; he has a fever. You call a doctor, and explain the problem. An "infant" is a young baby that's under about a year old. Parents don't usually call their kids "my infant". They usually call them "my son", "my daughter", or "my baby". But when you're talking to a doctor, you may want to specify that your child is an infant, since health problems for infants are very different from those that older children have. (someone) is running a fever The phrase "running a fever" means that you have a fever. A "fever" is when your body's temperature is too high. When you want to say the temperature of a person's fever, say "running a temperature of ___". You can also put the word "degrees" at the end of the temperature: I was running a temperature of a hundred and five degrees. 11. Don't let their pettiness and negativity get to you. Your husband has been having trouble with some of his coworkers. They gossip about him to other colleagues and try to make him look bad in front of his boss. Your husband is upset about them, so you say this to reassure him. Don't let (something) get to you 干扰. If something bothers you, worries you, frustrates you, angers you, and so on, then you can also say that it "gets to you". "Don't let ___ get to you" is a common piece of advice. It means that you shouldn't get too upset. Tell your friends or family members this when they have some kind of problem and seem to be in a bad mood about it. (someone's) pettiness 小心眼 A person who is "petty" is mean to other people for small and unimportant reasons. Here are some examples of "petty" behavior: a teacher gives a student a failing grade on a test because the student wrote it in ink instead of pencil. one of your children complains because his brother got a slightly larger piece of cake than he did. a neighbor calls the police to complain about the volume when you listen to music on a weekend afternoon. "Pettiness" is the noun form of "petty". Use "pettiness" when you want to comment on this quality: Pettiness is one of the least attractive qualities a man can have. I'm tired of his pettiness and jealousy. (someone's) negativity "Negativity" is the quality of someone who criticizes things too much, acts suspicious of people, gets depressed easily, and so on. In other words, "negativity" is bad emotions. "Negativity" is a noun that's based on the adjective "negative", so you use it like this: Don't let that kind of negativity into your life. Negativity spreads like a disease. I've had enough of your negativity! 12. I would have guessed that 我还以为 you were in your mid-twenties. You're talking to someone who you don't know very well at a cookout. He tells you that he's 36 years old. He looks about 10 years younger than that. Surprised, you say this. I would have guessed that (clause) When you don't know something for sure, you can make a guess about it. But once you've been told something, you can't guess about it any more. However, you can talk about what you would have guessed, if you had made a guess before you were told: A: He's from France. B: Really? I wouldn't have guessed that. Wow. I would have guessed that it would be a lot more expensive than this. I would have guessed that they would have had difficulty beating Amazon's prices. The grammar for this is a little difficult, so let's look closely at it. The part that comes after "that" is phrased as something that is in the past and imaginary. 13. This is the Cougars' fifth straight losing season. You're watching a sports news show. The announcers are talking about a basketball team which has not been very good for the past few years. One announcer says this. the Cougars' (something) Words that are plural end in "-s": a foreigner / some foreigners. Words that are possessive end in "-'s": the foreigner's wife. And words that are both plural and possessive end in "-s'": the foreigners' wives. This is all in written English. In spoken English, all of these variations sound the same. the fifth straight (something) 五连败, 五连胜 The "fifth straight" losing season means that the team had a losing season 5 seasons in a row. In other words, they had five losing seasons, one after another, with no winning seasons in between. This phrase is very useful for talking about numbers and records which are interesting and unusual. It's most common for sports- and economics-related discussions. This is their third straight national championship. The stock market fell for the 20th straight day today. When you're talking about something that's no longer current, use "___ straight" instead of "the ___th straight": They've had four straight losing seasons, but they're hoping that this year will be different. a losing season Sports are played in "seasons". A season starts and ends at certain times of year. For example, in the U.S., the Major League baseball season starts in April and ends in October. Teams keep track of how many games they win and lose in each season. A "losing season" is a year in which the team loses more games than they win. The opposite is a "winning season". 14. I'm all for moderation, but this is ridiculous! You're eating out at an expensive restaurant with some close friends. When your meal comes, you make this complaint about the portion size. I'm all for moderation, but this is ridiculous! I'm all for (something), but (sentence) In the example above, the speaker is OK with small meals, but this meal is too small. The phrase "I'm all for __, but ___" is good for talking about which things you're OK with, and which things you're not OK with. Here are some other examples: I'm all for saving, but sometimes you have to spend money to make money. I'm all for helping out the poor, but I don't see why we should be forced to support people who are too lazy to work with our tax dollars. moderation "Moderation" means not doing too much of something. In the example above, it means not eating too much food at a meal. People most often talk about: eating in moderation 适度吃喝 (to excess 过量). drinking in moderation. This is ridiculous! The word "ridiculous" means "silly or unreasonable". People often use "ridiculous" to complain about things that make them angry: This is ridiculous! Why the hell is it taking so long? Their prices are ridiculous. These ATM fees have gotten ridiculous! 15. When was the last time you got a haircut? In many ways, people are worse off now than they were 10 years ago. Here – let me adjust the seat 调整座椅 for you. You're going on a bike ride with a friend. She doesn't have a bicycle, so you let her borrow yours. You're taller than she is, so the seat is too high for her. You offer to lower the seat for her. adjust (something) "Adjusting" something means making small changes to it to make it better. Some other good examples of "adjusting" something are: You can "adjust the temperature" in a room on the thermostat. Comparisons of money between the past and present are often "adjusted for inflation". That means that the older amounts are multiplied by the amount that the value of money has risen by over time. So $400 in 1980 might be equal to $900 today, for example. Before you start driving, you're supposed to adjust the mirrors on your car so that you can see behind the car easily. You adjust the settings of a machine, a computer program, or an appliance. seat: What's the difference between a "seat" and a "chair"? A chair is one specific kind of seat. The chair sitting at your desk is a "chair" and a "seat". However, a bench is also a "seat" but is not a "chair". We usually use the word "seat", not "chair", for seats in cars, on planes, bicycles, trains, motorcycles, and so on. 16. The next thing I know, I'm sprawled out on the floor. You're at a party. You're telling a funny story about a time when you tripped on your son's toy car. You've described what you were doing before you tripped on the toy, and how you tripped on it. This is how you end your story. The next thing I knew, (sentence) "The next thing I knew" or "The next thing I know" is a phrase that people use when they're telling a story. It's used when there is a blank period in your memory. For example, if you went to sleep or passed out, you can use "the next thing I knew": I was riding in the back seat. I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, we were stopped at a rest stop and Celine was tapping me on the shoulder. Eddie and I were doing tequila shots at the club. The next thing I knew, I was laying on Eddie's couch with a splitting headache. You can also use "the next thing I know" if you decided to do something, but now you don't really remember why or how: Jimmy and the boys called me from Las Vegas and told me to come down. So the next thing you know, I'm on a plane to Vegas, and all I've got with me is one change of clothes and a tooth brush. I (do something) / I'm (doing something) When people tell stories about events in the past, they sometimes use the present tense instead of the past tense 描述事件的时候时态转变. This is mostly used in spoken storytelling, not in writing. When people tell stories this way, it sounds more dramatic: I wanted to get a meeting with the vice president, so I called him at his office. His secretary answered the phone, and I told her why I wanted to meet with him. She says, "I'm sorry, but Mr. Liebowitz isn't taking any sales meetings right now." So I tell her, "No, this isn't a sales meeting. I just want to get his advice on a new product that my company is building." sprawled out 四脚八叉的, 大马趴 Being "sprawled out" means that you're laying down with your arms and legs stretched out wide. It looks like your body is in an "X" shape. People can "sprawl out" on the floor, on a couch, on a bed, etc.: A: Last night you were sprawled out all over my side of the bed. B: Oh yeah? A: I tried to roll you over, but you wouldn't move. B: Sorry! 17. Sweetheart, it's 2011. Get with it! Your coworker says that she's never used Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking services. You can't believe it. You think that she needs to try out these services, so you say this. "Sweetheart" is a common way to address your children, your boyfriend/girlfriend, or your husband/wife. But it's less common to use this with other people. When you do, its sounds friendly and a little like you're pretending to be that person's mother, father, aunt, etc. It's mostly women and gay men who use "sweetheart" with strangers and friends. In the past, men used to use "sweetheart" to address younger women, but now a lot of people think it sounds sexist. Get with it 跟上时代吧, 跟上时尚吧(to allow oneself to respond to new ideas, styles, etc. to know about what is happening or things that are fashionable at the present time If you've never used the Internet, you need to get with it. get with it/the program to pay attention to what is happening and start doing what you should be doing. He's not doing very well in school – it'll be too late if he doesn't get with it soon. get on with sth to start or continue doing something, especially work: Stop talking and get on with it. I like to be left to get on with the job. I suppose I could get on with the ironing while I'm waiting. OK. Let's get down to business 干正事. This is a set phrase which people say when they're leading a group of people and want to get started with the main topic of discussion. Here are some other situations in which someone might say "Let's get down to business": a teacher has been taking attendance and making announcements, and now wants to start his lesson. a boss has called one of her employees into her office for a yearly performance review, but started off by asking about a problem that they've been dealing with that day. Now she wants to start the performance review. You can see that "Let's get down to business" can be used not only in business situations, but in any situation where you have one important thing that a group of people has come together to talk about. )! When someone isn't up to date with current technology, fashion, or news, you can tell them to "Get with it!" This means that they should catch up with what's happening now. Of course, this phrase is extremely useful when talking to your parents, because parents are always out of fashion: Mom, no one buys CDs any more. You just download the singles. Come on, get with it! Dad, cargo pants went out of style five years ago. Get with it! The stress in this phrase is on "with": Get with it! 18. God forbid we go a single day without it raining(There's not a single day goes by that I don't think of it. This ... not a single day goes by without me thinking of you. 没有一天不想你. not a single day goes by where you don't cross my mind. ). Today you woke up to see that the sky is dark and it's raining again, as it has been all week. You're in a bad mood because you wanted to go out to play soccer with some friends today. You say this to yourself, sarcastically. God forbid (something happens) "God forbid ___" is a way of saying "Please don't let ___ happen" or "I hope ___ doesn't happen". You can use this for things that you really don't want to happen: Please remember to take your phone with you. God forbid something bad happens to you and you can't contact us. However, there's another popular use of "God forbid". People often say this sarcastically, to talk about something that they really do want to happen, but which doesn't seem likely to happen. For example: God forbid you get off the couch and help out around here! (talking to your lazy child) We're having Thanksgiving at Millie's again this year, huh? God forbid we ever mix it up a little and have it at someone else's house. When you use "God forbid" in this way, you sound angry and resentful. This is the way that the speaker used "God forbid" in the example at top. Grammatically, notice that the part which follows "God forbid" is always in the simple present tense: God forbid we go. God forbid something happens. God forbid we have it. You might also hear this phrase with "should": God forbid we should go a single day without it raining. The meaning is the same with "should" or without it. go (a length of time) without (something happening) 哪怕有一天 This expression describes a period of time in which something doesn't happen. You can't go all day without eating! When I was younger, I went for eight years once without seeing a dentist. In the example at top, "go a single day without it raining" means that there would be no rain for at least one day. a single (something) Saying "a single ___" isn't much different from just using "a" or "one". But "a single ___" emphasizes the point that you're talking about one thing, rather than more than one. It's mostly used in negative sentences, like "not a single ___": I haven't made a single mistake all day. We've never said a single word to each other. But sometimes "a single ___" can be used in positive sentences with "even": If we have the opportunity to save even a single life, we have to do it. Please donate. Even a single dollar helps. Although the example at top doesn't include the word "even", it falls into this category. You could include "even" in the sentence without changing its meaning: God forbid we go even a single day without it raining. 19. Everything is really blurry. I can't even make out what that sign over there says. You're chatting with a friend in a cafe. You start to talk about your glasses. Your friend asks how well you can see without them. You take off your glasses and say this. (something) is blurry 模模糊糊的 When something is "blurry", it means that you can't clearly see the edges of it. Things might look blurry in situations like these: when you're looking at a photo that was shot out of focus. when you've just woken up and it's too bright. when you're looking at something that's too far away. make out (something)/make (something) out "Making out" something means being able to see or hear it, even though it's difficult to see or hear. "Make out ___" is often used in the negative form: I heard them talking about me, but I couldn't quite make out what they were saying. I can't make out your handwriting. What does this say? "Make out" is often followed by a clause that starts with "where", "how", "who", "what", "when", or "why": Can you make out how many of them there are? It was really dark out, but Ralph was able to make out what they were doing. When you're using "it", "them", "one", or other short words like these as the object, "out" comes afterward: I can't make it out. Be careful. When you just use "make out" without any object, it means to kiss someone heavily! 20. You should have seen the look on his face. It was priceless! A "priceless" thing is something that is extremely valuable. For example, "priceless" jewels are so valuable that you almost can't buy them for any amount of money. When it comes to people, we talk about a "priceless" reaction when someone reacts in an extremely funny way to something. You can imagine that people use the word "priceless" to describe a funny reaction because they get such high entertainment value from seeing it. It's the kind of entertainment that you can't buy, no matter how much money you try to spend. Here are some examples of "priceless" reactions: You see a friend who's reading a book on a bench. When you walk up behind him and put your hand on his shoulder, he gets extremely frightened and drops his book on the ground. You both laughed about it afterwards. Your high school English teacher was really strict and mean. One day you noticed a mistake that he made on a test and pointed it out in front of the class. He got really angry, and his face turned red. You thought it was funny and joked about it later with your friends. On the count of three. One, two, three! 21. Sales have been steadily increasing 销量增长 since the launch. You're giving a presentation about the sales results of a product which your company recently started selling. The say this because the company has been selling more and more of the product each week. sales (are doing something) "Sales" are the number of items you sell or the amount of money you make from selling things: Sales this quarter are strong. Sales are down this month. Sales can be "strong" or "weak", and they can: increase decrease rise fall be up be down. (something) is steadily (changing) To "steadily increase" means to keep increasing by the same amount, again and again. Here's an example of some steadily increasing numbers: 20 > 25 > 30 > 36 > 41 > 45. Here are some numbers that are increasing, but not steadily: 20 > 29 > 27 > 28 > 40 > 40. Numbers can also steadily decrease or fall, which means to go down little by little a launch When a rocket "launches", it shoots up into the air. But to "launch" 发布新产品 a new product or business means to create it and release it to customers. When you're talking about this event, you call it "a launch". 22. It's just gathering dust in a closet somewhere. Can you go gather some kindling? In casual speech, you say "go (do something)" to mean "go (somewhere) and (do something)". For example: Do you want to go see a movie? This means to go to a movie theater and watch a movie. Could you go find me a screwdriver somewhere? This means to go to the place where tools are kept and find a screwdriver for the speaker to use. gather (something) "Gathering" things means going somewhere, getting the things, and putting them all together in one place. But it's actually more common to talk about gathering information. The idea is similar; you search in different places, find information, and put it all together. For example: I did an Internet search and gathered some information about different models that we could go with. We were able to gather names of over 50 different companies in the area that we can approach about advertising with us. kindling [ˈkɪndlɪŋ] 引燃, 引火柴 "Kindling" is small pieces of wood that you can use to start a fire. You start a fire by lighting the kindling on fire. Then, once the kindling is burning, you can add larger sticks and pieces of wood. 23. Do you take this man to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and for worse, 'till death do you part? You're at a wedding. The minister has completed most of the ceremony, and now he's at the part where the couple exchange their vows and say "I do". This is what the minister asks the woman. This is a standard and well-known sentence that ministers or judges use at a wedding ceremony. They ask this question to each of the people who are getting married, and each one is supposed to answer "I do." By answering "I do", they are making an official promise to their husband or wife. These official promises are called "vows". Couples can choose to use a slightly different format for their vows. Some other common phrases that you can include are:    Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold... ...to honor and obey... ...for as long as you both shall live? Some couples even write their own personal vows to each other. But a lot of couples still choose the traditional version above. to have and to hold This combination is pretty much only used together in wedding vows. It means that you are going to kind of own this person as your husband or wife. from this day forward This is a very formal way of saying "from now on". In other words, it means that you're going to start doing something now, and it will continue on into the future. "From this day forward" is mostly used in official ceremonies. for better and for worse The phrase "for better and for worse" is mostly used in wedding vows. However, "for better or for worse" is more common. Use it to talk about something that has to happen, regardless of whether it will have good or bad effects. For better or for worse, the newspaper industry is changing dramatically. For better or for worse, we're being forced to cut our budget by 15% this year, and that's probably going to mean layoffs. In reality, when someone says "for better or for worse..." it usually means that the situation is going to be worse, not better. love and cherish "Cherishing" something means that you love it very much and treat it as something very valuable. People "cherish" things like: cherish the memories that we had together. cherish the time that you spent together. cherish your friendship. The phrase "love and cherish ___" is usually used to talk about a person's feelings about their family. till death do you part This is a very well-known part of the wedding vows. It means "until we die". This is supposed to mean that people who marry each other are going to stay married for their entire lives. People sometimes use this phrase when they're talking about how long a marriage is supposed to last: The rate of divorce continues to rise in this country, and that's really disappointing for those of us who still believe in "'till death do you part". Are women who are being abused supposed to just stay in the relationship and put up with it until death do them part? 24. Can I get a sip of that? a sip of (a drink) A "sip" is a small amount of a drink. It's less than one mouthful. When you're asking to drink someone else's drink, it's common to ask for "a sip". That's because you don't want the person to think that you're going to drink a lot of their drink! If you want to talk about drinking a large amount of a drink all at once, use the word "gulp". It means a full, large mouthful of a drink. To describe swallowing a medium amount of a liquid, call it "a mouthful" or "a swallow": Hey, give me a swallow of that. 25. I shall destroy all who dare to oppose me! You're writing a fantasy novel. There's a character in the novel who is an evil king. He hears that the hero of the story has attacked his army, so he says this. I shall (do something) "I shall ___" means "I will ___". But "I shall" sounds very formal. Most people only use "I shall ___" in a few specific situations: When making a promise during some kind of ceremony, like in a wedding. When speaking poetically. Here is a line from the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, as an example: He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again. In a political speech. On TV shows and in movies, books, and comic books, superheroes and villains sometimes use "shall": No matter the odds, no matter who tries to stop me, I shall prevail. Have no fear! I shall rescue you. In most cases, use "I will ___" to announce things that you're going to do. Use "I'm going to ___" to talk about things that you've already planned to do. destroy (someone) To "destroy" someone can mean a few different things: to kill them to ruin their reputation to make them horribly sad and depressed. In the example above, the evil king means that he will kill the people who fight against him. Are we there yet? (present-tense question) yet? You can use "yet" with present perfect questions like these: Have you seen "The Hangover 2" yet? Has she called you back yet? It's not considered correct in formal, classroom English, but in speech people also ask simple past tense questions with yet: Did she call you back yet? But "yet" can also go after a present-tense question: Are you finished yet? Is dinner ready yet? 26. There's a bug buzzing around my head! You're hiking in the woods. A fly keeps flying around your head while making a noise. Annoyed, you say this. a bug 虫子 A "bug" is an insect, like a fly, mosquito, ant, grasshopper, etc. What kind of bug is that? I don't like the country. Too many bugs. The word "insect昆虫" is more formal and a little more scientific-sounding than "bug". (something) buzzing around "Buzz" is a word that describes a sound. "Buzzing" is a kind of medium- to high-pitched noise that is made by:   flies bees a broken fan a cell phone that's ringing while in silent mode a far-away helicopter. In addition to describing a sound, "buzz" can also describe the action of an insect flying around while making a buzzing noise. 27. I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on it. You recently started a blog for your photography. Some readers have commented on it, and told you that they really like your pictures. Now a friend is asking you how the blog is going, this is your reply. get feedback on (something) "Feedback" is information that you get from people about something that you did. In the example above, the people who read the speaker's blog told him what they thought of his photos. Some other examples of "feedback" include: results from a survey of your customers. classmates giving you advice on how to improve your writing. the noises that an audience makes when you're performing a play. People use feedback to help them improve a product, performance, etc. which they made. positive feedback When feedback is "positive", it means that people are saying that they like something. "Negative" feedback is when people complain about something or say that they don't like it. Note that you can also call feedback "good", but the meaning of "good feedback" is different from "positive feedback". "Good feedback" is anything that helps you to understand the thing that you made. "Good feedback" can be positive, negative, or a mixture of both. For example: I showed the film to a few friends of mine who are directors, and got some good feedback from them. Most of them thought that it was too long, and one of them said that I needed to improve the audio quality. So "good" and "bad" describe the quality of the feedback, while "positive" and "negative" describe what the feedback is. 28. They're a bad influence on him.  You have a teenage son. Recently he's started hanging out with a group of friends who are rough and like to get in trouble. You think that he's recently started smoking because of these friends. You think this to yourself. (someone) is a bad influence on (someone) If you're a "bad influence" on someone, it means that you cause or encourage them to do bad things, or make bad decisions. People usually talk about someone being a "bad influence" on other people of the same age (especially young people) and the same social status. "Bad influence" can be used in a couple of different ways: Dolly was undoubtedly a bad influence on her younger sister. Listening to that kind of music had a bad influence on them. In addition to "bad", you can also "be" or "have": a good influence, a huge influence, a positive influence, a negative influence. I don't like you running around with that crowd. Your teenage son has been hanging out with a group of older guys who you don't like: they're rude, lazy, and like to start fights with people. You say this to your son. running around (with someone) 鬼混, 混在一起 "Running around" with people means spending time with them or hanging out with them, but it's associated with doing bad things: He ought to be ashamed of himself — running around with a girl who's young enough to be his daughter! I never got very good grades in school. I spent all my time running around with my buddies, getting into trouble. You can also use "run around" to talk about doing bad things, without talking about who you're "running around" with: It seems dangerous to have all these people running carrying loaded guns. Nancy's been running around, talking trash about me to everyone. I'm gonna kick her ass! that crowd 那帮人 When you call a group of people "that crowd", it sounds like you don't like them very much. 29. So were you transferred 调过来 here, or did you move voluntarily? A new person just started working at your office. You've heard that she came there from another branch of the same company on the other side of the country. You've introduced yourself, and now you want to know if she chose to move to your branch or was told to come there. You ask her this. (someone) was transferred (to somewhere) To "be transferred" means that you are sent to work in a new department or location. For example, if you work at an office in San Francisco, but your boss asks you to go work in the Atlanta office instead, you can describe it by saying: I was transferred from San Francisco to the Atlanta office. Being transferred usually means moving from one city to another while working for the same company or organization. People in the military especially get transferred a lot. But sometimes it can mean moving from one department to another while staying in the same office: She was transferred to Central Production. And there's also the case of athletes. When they're "transferred 转会", it means that they have to go to play for a whole new team. Being transferred is a decision that's made by a person's bosses. If you ask to move to a new office or department, you can say that you got a transfer. (do something) voluntarily 自愿的, 主动的 Doing something "voluntarily" means that you do it by your own choice, rather than being forced to do it. That can either mean that you wanted to do it, or that you accepted someone's request. For example, in the situation above, if the new employee asked to move, she would say that she "moved voluntarily". But she could also say that she "moved voluntarily" if her boss offered to transfer her and let her choose whether to stay or go. Here are some other examples of how to use "___ voluntarily": Officials today expanded the evacuation area around Fukushima from 12 to 19 miles, urging residents to leave voluntarily. There's been some speculation as to whether Griffin resigned voluntarily or was forced out of the company. 30. You have pretty obscure taste 口味 in music. You're on a date with a guy. He lets you listen to his music player. You say this because he has a lot of music on there from bands that you've never heard of. have (adjective) taste in (something) You can use this phrase to comment on the kind of things that a person likes. For example, if someone always buys fashionable clothes, you can say: Rob has always had great taste in clothes. On the other hand, if he buys strange things, you can describe it this way: He has odd taste 品味, 口味 in clothes, don't you think? Mostly we just say that people's taste in things is "good", "bad", "excellent", "horrible", or something simple like that. But you can also give a more specific description of someone's taste like in the example at top. Here's another example of a specific description of someone's taste: Stark was notorious for his expensive taste in women, wine, and automobiles. obscure (something) "Obscure" things are not very well-known. They're only known by a few people: I dropped out of graduate school because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life researching some 不为人所知的, 没有人知道的, 不著名的 obscure writer from the 18th century. You can especially use "obscure" to talk about art, music, film, etc. 31. You have to fill out a bunch of paperwork 天无数的表, 无数的文件. You moved to the U.S. a few years ago from another country. You had to apply to get a green card, and it was difficult. Now you're talking to a coworker whose friend is also applying for a permanent residence card. You say this to dedcribe how difficult it is. "Paperwork" describes forms, applications, records, contracts, and other documents which a person has to deal with. We often use the word like this: You wouldn't believe how much paperwork I had to fill out in order to get them shipped here. I thought about doing it myself, but then I realized that there was way too much paperwork involved and so I got an accountant. In other words, "paperwork" is something that people often complain about. The Immigration office makes you jump through all kinds of hoops 重重关卡, 重重困难 to get a green card. You moved to the U.S. a few years ago from another country. When you came there, you had to get a permanent residence card. It was difficult to get. Now you're talking to a coworker whose friend is applying for a permanent residence card. You say this to describe how difficult the process was. jump through hoops To understand this phrase, imagine a little dog which has been trained to do circus tricks. In order to get its food, it has to jump through several hoops or rings: one big one, one small one, some very high up, and maybe one that's been set on fire. When people make you do a lot of unnecessary work, you can say that they're "making you jump through hoops". For example, when you're applying for a green card you have to: Fill out an application Sign the application in front of a licensed "notary public" who confirms that you signed it Make copies of your documents like your passport, marriage license, etc. Get a medical checkup and vaccinations Get confirmation that you have no police record Get all documents translated into English Have an interview. These steps are complicated and annoying, so you can call it "jumping through hoops." Another example is when you try to cancel your telephone bill. The telephone company doesn't want you to quit easily, so they make you "jump through hoops." 32. It must be clogged 厕所堵了. (something) is clogged When something gets "clogged", it means that there's something stuck inside of it, and things like air or water can't get through it. Here's a list of things that can get clogged: pipes, tubes, filters, hoses, a person's veins or arteries 栓塞, 堵塞, 堵住, roads. Notice that you use "stuck" and "clogged" differently. In the example of a toilet, you say: The toilet is clogged. Something is stuck in the toilet. Fold it yourself! You just finished doing a load of laundry. Your live-in boyfriend comments that you need to fold the clothes quickly or else they'll get wrinkled. You're annoyed that he expects you to fold the laundry instead of helping, so you say this. fold (laundry/clothes) After you wash and dry your clothes and other laundry, you fold them and put them away. You can use the word "fold" for "clothes", or for "laundry". Notice that "clothes" is plural, but "laundry" is singular. So in the example above, if the boyfriend said: You should fold those clothes quickly. ...then the correct response would be: Fold them yourself! Notice that "___ yourself" is different from "___ by yourself". Doing something "by yourself" means doing it without other people helping or joining you: Sometimes I like to go out to see a movie by myself. Eating lunch by yourself in middle school or high school is really sad and embarrassing. I recorded the album myself 自己做事, but I didn't do it completely by myself. I got some help from Ronnie and a friend of his who's worked at a recording studio. 33. We're very pleased with the initial results. the initial (something) "Initial" is a formal word that means "at first" or "beginning". The "initial results" of an ad campaign means the results in the first few weeks or months. Here are some nouns that often appear together with "initial": (someone's) initial reaction My initial reaction was, "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." But then I heard about it some more, and it started to make a bit of sense. the initial stage of (something) In the initial stage of the disease, you may notice a bit of memory loss and lower coordination. the initial cost of (something) 原始成本, 初始成本, 成本 The money you'll save over the lifetime of the machine will more than make up for the initial cost. (one's) initial impression What's your initial impression of her? initial results The "initial results" of an experiment, an advertising campaign, an election, etc. are information about how the experiment, campaign, election, etc. will turn out, which you get before they're finished: Initial election results show a strong lead for the Republicans. The fundraiser is still going on, but the initial results suggest that we may not be able to reach our $100,000 goal. 34. Aw, you're just saying that 你不是真心的, 你只是说说罢了! You don't usually cook dinner, but tonight you did. Your wife says that the food is really good. You're happy that she said so, but you don't really believe her. You think she's just trying to be nice to you. You're just saying that. This means "You don't really think that; you're only trying to be nice to me." Say this when someone compliments you, but you don't believe them or if you want to seem humble: A: You're one of the smartest people I've ever worked with. B: Whatever! You're just saying that. A longer version of "You're just saying that" is: You're just saying that to be nice. You can also use this phrase in negative form and in questions: A: You look great! B: Really? You're not just saying that? 35. I'm not really into the whole cutesy thing. the whole (something) thing People use this kind of expression when they want to talk dismissively about something. Speaking "dismissively" means talking about something in a way that shows that you don't think it's important. In the example above, the speaker doesn't like cutesy women, so he calls that way of behaving "the whole cutesy thing". You usually use a noun in this phrase: I don't know much about the whole politics thing. Don't come to me with the whole "Oh, poor me!" thing. I don't want to hear it. (someone looks/acts) cutesy 装可爱 When something is attractive in an innocent and childlike way, you can call it "cute". Being "cute" is usually a good thing. But sometimes people try to be cute, and it ends up being annoying instead. The word for this is "cutesy". A person can "act cutesy": Don't try to act all cutesy. I'm not lending you my car, and that's that. You can also "put on a cutesy act". This means to suddenly pretend to be cute. She puts on that cutesy act whenever she wants something from me. And some people have a "cutesy look". This means that their style of dress, makeup, hair, home decor, etc. are annoyingly cute: I want the nursery to look nice, but I want to avoid the cutesy look. You know what I mean? 36. Word crashed while I was working on it, but luckily I was able to retrieve the file. Earlier today, you were writing a resume for applying for a job. While you were writing, the computer program shut down and you were worried that your file would be lost. You say this when telling a friend about what happened. (a computer program) crashed The word "crash" describes a computer program which stops working suddenly. The program suddenly closes or disappears. Your entire computer can also "crash". retrieve a file To "retrieve" something means to get it back after it's been lost, hidden, or stored. One common way to use "retrieve" is to talk about information on a computer: New solid state hard drives are able to retrieve files much more quickly than traditional ones. Human beings also "retrieve" memories. 37. New York-bound local train, now boarding on track three. a (somewhere)-bound (bus/train/airplane) This phrase expresses the direction that something is traveling in: There's a Hong Kong-bound flight leaving in an hour and a half. No, don't take the south-bound train. You can also say "bound for ___": Is this bus bound for New Jersey? a local train 慢车 A "local train" stops at every stop on its line. Some trains, called "express trains", skip some stops. They do this to get to the destination faster. (a train or airplane is) now boarding When a train, bus, or airplane is "boarding", it means that passengers are being let onto it. When airport or train station employees are making announcements, they say: Now boarding. But when you want to talk about the flight or train that you're taking, you say: My flight's boarding 在登机, 开始登机 now, so I've got to go. I'll call you later. I think our train is boarding. track three Different train tracks in a train station are usually identified with different letters or numbers. 38. I don't know. Too baggy, if you ask me. baggy (clothes) 太肥了 "Baggy" clothes are very loose, so that there is extra fabric hanging down in places. An example of baggy clothes is the jeans and shirts that hiphop musicians and fans wear.