1. I hear that it's a likely Oscar contender. You're talking with your friend about movies that you've seen recently. Your friend says that he saw a movie which you heard might win an Academy Award. You say this in agreement. I hear that (clause) For something that you've just been told one time, you'd say: I heard that it's a likely Oscar contender. But if you've heard the same thing from multiple people, you can use "I hear that..." instead. a likely (something) "Likely" means "probably". So in the example at top, "a likely Oscar contender" means a movie that is probably going to be nominated for an Oscar award. There are a few words that "likely" is most often used with: I know it's technically possible, but is that really a likely scenario? That sounds like a likely explanation. She's a likely candidate for governor in 2012. a contender 竞争者 A "contender" is someone that might be able to win something. This is a little different from a "contestant". A "contestant 参赛者" is anyone who enters a competition. But the real "contenders" are only the people who have a good chance of winning. The phrase "Oscar contender" is commonly used to talk about movies and actors who might be nominated, or might win, an Academy Award. Here are some other common types of "contenders": a presidential contender, a playoff contender (for a sports championship), an Olympic contender. And here are some adjectives that describe contenders: the leading contender, a serious contender, a strong contender. 2. I'll have one once in a blue moon. A friend offered you a beer, but you told him that you don't drink beer. You say this to explain that you do have beer sometimes, but not very often. I'll (do something)(how often) This phrase describes a situation that sometimes happens. It uses the future tense "will", but it doesn't describe something that happens in the future. Instead, it's something that has happened in the past several times and might happen again. In the example above, it means that the speaker drinks beer on very rare occasions - for example, once a year. Here's another example of "will" used to describe something that sometimes happens: But sometimes you'll be flipping through the channels and come across something really interesting. (do something) once in a blue moon "Once in a blue moon" is an English idiom that means "rarely" or "not often at all". It's a phrase that's used every now and then in friendly casual conversations to add some color or interest to the conversation. The phrase "once in a blue moon" comes from an old expression that most English speakers don't actually know. A "blue moon" is when the moon is completely full twice in the same month. Since the moon becomes full about every 28 or 29 days and the calendar month can be 30 or 31 days, sometimes there are two full moons in one month. The second one is technically called the "blue moon". This happens a little less than once a year. These days, most people only use the phrase "blue moon" in the expression "once in a blue moon", meaning "rarely". It can mean anything from a few times a year, to only once or twice in a person's lifetime. 3. Look at this place! They completely trashed it! Your young nieces and nephews came over to your house during the Christmas holidays. They were playing with toys, eating and drinking, and opening gifts. Now they've left and your house is really messy. You say this to your husband. (someone) trashed (something) 糟蹋 To "trash" something means to mess it up. Here are some examples of "trashing" things: If you got in a car accident, you can say: I trashed my car. When teenagers in movies have a party at someone's house, they usually trash the house by breaking things, dropping trash everywhere, and spilling drinks on the rugs and furniture. 4. It's strictly confidential 绝对保密. You work at a doctor's office. At work, you have access to a lot of your patients' personal information. You're explaining your job to an extended family member who doesn't know much about it, and you want to explain that you can't share any information about the patients. When you're talking about the private information, you say this. (something) is strictly confidential 保密的 If something is "strictly confidential", it means that you absolutely can't tell anyone. The word "strictly" means "completely" or "absolutely". "Confidential" means "secret", in the sense that you're not allowed to tell anyone. Information that is described as "confidential" is: Military information or secrets, Patients' medical information, Conversations that you have with your lawyer. "Confidential" is an adjective, so you can use it to describe ideas: I'm not allowed to share any confidential information. You said this was supposed to be a confidential conversation. "Strictly" isn't used very much. It mostly fits into a few set phrases, including the one above and: Strictly speaking, we're not actually married. Smoking is strictly prohibited. I'm sorry to do this to you. It's strictly business, you know. 5. If there are any issues that require immediate attention, I can be reached on my mobile at 646-469-XXXX. You're going on vacation. You're leaving an e-mail out-of-office message to let people know that you won't answer their e-mails. But you include this line because you want people to call you if there's an emergency. issues that require immediate attention 需要我知道 "Issues" are problems. To "require" something means that you need it. "Immediate" means right now or very soon. And "attention" means noticing and dealing with something. So the meaning of this phrase is "problems that someone needs to deal with quickly". In the example above, the writer wants people to call her if they have a problem or question that they need her to take care of quickly. Use this phrase in formal e-mails and written business documents. "Attention" is the most common thing that people require. Other words that often follow "require" are: require approval for something, require treatment, require assistance with something. (someone) can be reached at (a telephone number) This is a formal phrase for giving out a telephone number: I can be reached at 919-690-XXXX. Use it in written English, especially in business situations. To "reach" someone means to contact them and communicate with them. You can use the word "reach" to ask someone for a phone number or e-mail address: Where can I reach you? 6. Try not to draw attention to yourself. You're from a small town. You're visiting a big city in a foreign country with your fiance, and you're a little intimidated. You're worried about getting robbed or scammed, so you want to try to act like someone who lives in that city. You tell your fiance this. draw attention to (something) To "draw attention to" something means to do something that will make people notice it. For example, if you are visiting a foreign city and carrying a big camera, a map, and looking around like you're lost, you will definitely "draw attention to yourself". You can "draw attention to" something with what you say. For example, a political candidate might draw attention to her opponent's weak points by talking about them in a speech. You can also "draw attention to" something with your actions: I didn't have my driver's license with me, so I tried to drive slowly and carefully so as not to draw attention to myself. People usually try not to "draw attention" to themselves. When someone does want people to notice them, it's called "getting attention". 7. Oh really? I was/am an Architecture major, but I minored in Political Science. You're at a friend's party. You're talking to someone who you just met for the first time. He tells you that he studied Political Science in college. You say this because you have some similarities with him. a (something) major Architecture is a field of work and study that deals with designing buildings. An architect creates plans, called blueprints, which tell workers how to build a building. You should notice that: an architect is a person. "Architect" is a job title that people have. Architecture is a field. It's something that architects study. In American universities, students choose a "major", which is the main subject that they study. Students usually have to take a few classes in a variety of different subjects: science, math, English, social sciences, etc. But most of their classes are within their major. So if you're an Architecture major, you might have to take 10-15 classes (which equals 30-45 "hours" in the American university system) on different Architecture-related topics. You can say that you "are" or "were" a certain major: I was an English Literature major. You can also say that your major "is" or "was" something: What's your major? Biochemistry. minor in (a subject) A "minor" is like a "major" in college, but it takes fewer classes to complete. It usually requires that you take about 5-6 classes in one subject. You can use the words "major in" and "minor in" as verbs: I majored in Art History. I considered minoring in French, but I would have had to stay an extra semester to finish it up. Because a college minor is not as important as a major, it's not as common to say that you "are" a (something) minor or that your minor "is" something. People usually use the verb form instead. 8. That burrito I ate didn't agree with me. You're out with a friend and your stomach started to feel upset. Your friend asks you about it, and you explain what's happening. (some food) didn't agree with (someone) When food gives you an upset stomach, you can say that the food "didn't agree with" you. It's a way of saying that the food made you feel sick. You can say that something "didn't agree with" you even if it just makes you feel a little bit sick. It doesn't have to be a very strong negative reaction. 9. Yeah, he's a real stickler for following the proper chain of command. At work, your coworker is complaining because she got yelled at by the manager of the tech support department. She sent an e-mail to one of the tech support staff directly instead of going through the manager. You've been yelled at by this person in the past, so you have some experience dealing with him. But you don't want to say anything too bad about him. So you say this. a stickler for (doing something) 坚持 A "stickler" is someone who insists that everyone follow the rules. You can express what kind of rules the stickler makes people follow with the phrases "stickler for ___" or "stickler when it comes to ___": My boss is a stickler when it comes to correct spelling and grammar. She's a stickler for punctuality. The correct preposition to follow "stickler" is "for", but sometimes people use "about": I'm a real stickler about keeping the kitchen clean. The word "stickler" sounds a little negative, but it's not rude or offensive. follow the chain of command The "chain of command" is the rules for who's in charge of who in a company, a government department, the army, etc. In other words, it's the structure of relationships between superiors and subordinates, like bosses and their employees. The phrase "chain of command" comes from the military, where there are strict rules about who is higher up (generals, etc) and lower (privates, sergeants) in the organization. The order is supposed to be like a chain from lowest to highest: Private > Sergeant > Lieutenant > Major > Colonel > General. To "follow" the chain of command means to follow the rules about who is allowed to make different decisions in an organization. the proper (something) "Proper" means "correct". "The proper chain of command" means "the official rules for who to ask for help". Use the word "proper" to contrast with doing things in a messy, unprofessional, or untraditional way. For example, if you just eat a piece of pastry for breakfast, someone might tell you: You need to eat a proper breakfast. A "proper breakfast" might be something like eggs, toast, juice, and bacon in the U.S. 10. My glasses are fogging up. It's a cold day outside. When you come inside your warm house, the glasses that you're wearing get moisture on them and it's hard for you to see through them. You say this to your sister, who's sitting on the couch. (something) is fogging up When a piece of glass gets moisture on it, you say that it's "fogging up". Some things that often "fog up" in day-to-day life include: bathroom mirrors, people's glasses, the windshield of your car. "Fog" is a kind of cloud that appears close to the ground and makes it hard to see things. When fog appears, you can say that "it's getting foggy". But you only say "___ is fogging up" for objects that you can see through. There's also a scientific word for the water that appears on something when the air changes temperature. It's called "condensation". So to explain something "fogging up" in a scientific way, you can say: When a cool object is exposed to humid air, water vapor in the air turns to liquid water, and condensation accumulates on the object. 11. You know, nothing really comes to mind. Your friend is visiting from out of town. You're getting ready to go out to eat together, and you're deciding where to go. Your friend asked if you knew of a good hamburger restaurant. You say this because you don't eat hamburgers often, so you don't really know of anywhere good. nothing comes to mind 想不起什么来 This expression means "I can't think of anything." Use it when you're trying to remember something or come up with ideas but can't: Have you seen any good movies lately? Hm... Not really. Nothing comes to mind. 12. The bottom line is that you have to reduce your calorie intake to lose weight. You're commenting on an online discussion about ways to lose weight. A lot of commenters are suggesting complicated diets that involve eating only certain kinds of food. You don't think those diets are effective or necessary. You feel strongly that you are correct, so you write this. The bottom line is that (clause) Use this phrase when you're in a discussion or debate, to introduce an idea that you think is: completely true, the most important idea to keep in mind in the discussion, impossible to argue against or disagree with. In the example above, the writer thinks that reducing your calorie intake is the only way to lose weight. Some other diets might work, but only if they cause dieters to eat fewer calories. To really understand how "The bottom line is that..." is used, you need to see it used in a real discussion or debate. I suggest doing a search for "The bottom line is that" on the Internet to read some examples. reduce (one's) calorie intake To "reduce your calorie intake" means to eat and drink fewer calories. "Calories" are a measurement of the amount of energy food contains. You should be aware that what Americans call "calories" are actually kilocalories. So if someone says that a cookie "has 400 calories", that really means that it has 400 kilocalories, or 400,000 calories to be technical. Most Americans don't know the scientific definition of a "calorie", though. To "reduce your intake" 减少摄入量 of something means to lessen the amount of something that you put into your body. This phrase is used when you're talking about the human body in a technical or scientific way. "Calorie intake" is an example of using a noun (calorie) to modify another noun (intake). You could also use the adjective version of "calorie" instead: You must reduce your caloric intake in order to lose weight. This version seems more formal than the example given at top. 13. Not that other modes of communication aren't useful, of course. You're having a discussion with a friend about the ways that young people communicate these days. You've said that you think face-to-face communication is the best way to communicate with people. But you don't want your friend to think that you dislike email, text messages, and telephone calls. So you say this to reassure them. Not that (clause) When you want to clarify something that you just said, you can begin your sentence with "Not that..." For example, if you say that you don't like a certain director's movies, you might want to add that you haven't seen all of his movies: Not that I've seen all of his movies or anything. When you say this, listeners will understand that you really meant that you don't like the movies by that director which you have seen. "Not that..." is useful when you say something that might make other people angry at you, or that they might have misunderstood. Dude, your girlfriend is absolutely gorgeous. Not that I've been looking at her. modes of communication 通讯方式 A "mode" of communication is one way of communicating with people. Cell phones, email, face-to-face conversations, and writing are all examples of "modes of communication". The word "modes" means "ways" but it's only used for a couple of topics. One of those topics is communication. Another one is transportation: Trains are far more energy-efficient than cars, planes, and other modes of transportation 交通模式. The phrase "of course" is useful to show that you're saying something that's obviously true. It's also useful in situations like the one above, where you think that people might misunderstand something that you said. For example, imagine that you made a general comment about people from a certain country. You might worry that listeners will think you're racist. So you can say: I'm not saying that's true for all Japanese people, of course. 14. You're able to convey subtle nuances. You and a friend are having a discussion about the way that young people tend to prefer text messages, email, and social media instead of direct conversations. You told your friend that you think face-to-face communication is best. This is how you explain why. convey [kənˈveɪ] (messages) 传达 The word "convey" means to "carry". But it's usually used to talk about getting across messages, information, feelings, etc. between people: Her eyes conveyed a sense of loneliness and despair. I think the movie was meant to convey the idea that, no matter how hard you try to be independent, everyone needs to rely on the people around them from time to time. subtle nuances [ˈnuˌɑns or ˈnjuˌɑns] 细微不同 "Nuances" are very small differences between things. A good example of this is a person's facial expressions. When someone is happy, they smile. But people also smile when they're nervous. The difference between the two kinds of smiles is an example of a "nuance". The meaning of "subtle" is very similar to "nuance", but "subtle" is an adjective. So when you put together "subtle" and "nuance", it means really, really small differences between things. So what can kinds of situations do you talk about "subtle nuances" in? This phrase is useful for talking about communication, ideas, art, and so on: There was a subtle nuance in the way that she said it that made me think that something was wrong. Our English teacher does a really good job of explaining the subtle nuances between words. Looking at a painting in person is a totally different experience. You're able to pick up on lots of subtle nuances in the color, the brush strokes, and so on. 15. Security was super tight. "Security" means guarding or protecting things. For example: "Airport security" is guarding an airport. "The Department of Homeland Security" is a government department in the U.S. which is in charge of protecting the country from terrorism. When you describe security as "tight", it means that officers or security guards are watching something really carefully. When security is tight at an airport, it means that the security guards do extra checks like searching through people's bags and making them take their shoes off. You sound horrible! This is what people say to you when you're sick and your voice changes. The word "horrible" means "really bad". So telling someone that they sound "horrible" can be taken as an insult. If you say that your friend sounds horrible after she sings karaoke, it's really mean. But when someone is sick, telling them "You sound horrible!" expresses your sympathy for them. That's a fancy-looking new camera you've got there. You're with a friend of yours in a park. You notice that he has a new camera that looks expensive. You want to say something about it in a playful way. fancy-looking "Fancy" things are high-quality, expensive, and sophisticated. People who aren't rich or sophisticated tend to use the word "fancy". It sounds like a word that someone from the country uses when talking about things that rich people have. For example: I may not have fancy clothes or an expensive car, but I work hard for my money. In the example above, the speaker might have used the word "fancy" as a joke. You can put "-looking" on the end of an adjective to show that it's specifically talking about how something looks: We went out to a really trendy-looking restaurant. That's a (adjective)(noun) you've got there. When you want to start a conversation about something that a person has, use this phrase. It sounds casual and fun: That's an awfully big hat you've got there. That's a nice car you've got there. 16. I could barely keep a straight face 板不住脸, 忍俊不禁. Your daughter made a big mistake on her science homework. It was a really funny mistake but you didn't want to make her feel bad by laughing at her, so you tried to control yourself. Later, you tell your husband this about the awkward situation. To "keep a straight face" means to avoid laughing. You try to "keep a straight face" when something is funny but you're not supposed to laugh. This happens in situations like: when you're in a serious meeting but someone makes a mistake. when you're trying to play a trick on someone. when you're scolding a child who's been bad but they say something funny. We mostly talk about not keeping a straight face or trying to keep one: When he was talking, I tried to keep a straight face but I just couldn't. (someone) can barely (do something) If you "can barely" do something, it means that you are able to do it, but you almost can't do it. For example: if you need to move a heavy piece of furniture, but it's hard for you to pick up, you can say: There's no way I can move that! I can barely lift it. Say that you "could barely ___" for continuous actions and situations that you had trouble with in the past: When I first moved to Mexico, I could barely speak Spanish. 17. He's still better than the rest of them put together 其他人加起来. You and a friend are talking about soccer. You're discussing a player who used to be really, really good, but now he's older and not as good as he used to be. However, he's still a lot better than the other players on his team. You say this. better than (some group) put together This phrase is used to exaggerate how good someone is compared to other people. Imagine that you could compare people's skills and talents mathematically. People use the phrase "better than ___ put together" pretty often. You can use it to compare someone's abilities, intelligence, wealth, beauty, etc.: Sometimes it seems like she's smarter than the rest of the entire family put together. You can also use it to compare objects as well: The sun is many times larger than all of the planets in the solar system put together. 18. Stick it in the microwave on 'defrost' for a few minutes. Your husband is going to cook dinner tonight, but he doesn't cook much so he doesn't know what to do. He has a frozen steak that needs to be thawed out. These are the instructions you give him. stick (something) (somewhere) To "stick" something in a place means to put it there. "Stick ___ ___" is more casual than "put" and also gives the impression of putting something quickly. For example, if someone is helping you move into a new house, you can tell them where to put a piece of furniture: Just stick it over there in the corner. In the example at top, the speaker says to "stick" the steak in the microwave because she's talking to her husband in a casual situation. on defrost "Defrost" is one of the settings on a microwave oven. It's a setting that warms up frozen food slowly so that it doesn't get too hot and start to cook. There's also a "defrost" setting on car heating settings. This color really goes well with your skin tone 肤色. (something) goes well with (something else) This phrase means that two things look good together. It's a similar idea to "matching". You could also say in this situation: This color really matches your skin tone. But the word "match" can also mean that two things look the same as each other. If your shirt and shoes "match", it might mean that they're the same color. But if you say that they "go well" with each other, it just means that they look good together: Those shoes go well with that shirt. Another variation of "go well" — "go well in ___" — can be used to talk about decorating a room: Do you think this will go well in the study? (someone's) skin tone Your "skin tone" is the specific color of your skin. This phrase is often used when talking about makeup or clothes. People try to match their makeup and clothes to their skin tone and hair color. The word "tone" is interesting because it can be used for: a range of colors: I mostly wear neutral colors and earth tones. "Earth tones" are colors like brown, dark orange, and dark red. a sound: At the tone, please leave your name and a detailed message. (This is the automatic message that you hear on people's voice mail when they don't answer their phone.) I can tell by the tone of your voice that you're angry. the social atmosphere: The tone of their meeting was extremely tense. The tone of the conversation suddenly shifted. That sounds a little too intense for me. You're talking with a friend about a movie that he saw. He says that a man cuts off his own arm in the movie. You say this because you think it would be too uncomfortable for you to watch. The word "intense" means "strong" or "extreme". You use intense with words like these: It has an intense flavor. It was an intense 刺激的 experience. She has a really intense personality. In the example above, the speaker doesn't want to see the movie because it's too "intense". That means that the emotions that such a story will make him feel are too strong. He's worried that watching the movie will make him feel uncomfortable. based on a true story This describes a book, movie, TV show, or play that's about something that really happened. This is different from a documentary, which is a movie that shows a real situation as it's happening. It's also different from a nonfiction book, which is a book that presents facts or discussions instead of a story. Unlike documentaries and nonfiction books, a movie or book that's "based on a true story" is presented in a story format. Some details of the story may be imagined by the writer or changed from how they originally happened. Only the main idea or plot of the story matches something that happened in real life. What do you have to lose? Your friend is trying to decide whether to send an application to a graduate school that he wants to get into. He really wants to go there but doesn't think that he'll be accepted. You say this to convince him to apply. What do you have to lose? This is a phrase that you tell people when you want them to try something new. For example, if your friend has never been skiing before and can't decide if he wants to go on a ski trip with you, ask him: Come on! What do you have to lose? If you don't like it, you can just hang out in the hot tub. Asking "What do you have to lose?" is a way to suggest that the things your friend is worried about aren't very big problems. So it's like saying "Don't worry about it!" You can also say "What have you got to lose?". It means the same thing, but is a bit more casual. have (something) to lose When you're thinking about trying something new and risky, you might think of the negative consequences that might occur if it doesn't work out. For example, if you try a new restaurant that you've never been to before, the food might not be good. But eating bad food isn't that big of a problem, so you don't have a lot to lose in that situation. On the other hand, what if you're thinking of starting your own business but you have a house and 5 children. In this case, you might lose all your money and your children might suffer if your business doesn't succeed. So in this case, you do have a lot to lose. There's a famous saying in English: "Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose 光脚的不怕穿鞋的." This means that people who are already poor, powerless, or lonely are dangerous to fight against because they will take the biggest risks. When you pronounce "have to" meaning "must", the words blend together and sometimes sound like "hafta". But "What do you have to lose?" should always be pronounced with a clear "v" sound in "have". That lets people know that "have" and "to" are separate. 19. My coach used to tell us, 'You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.' Your friend is trying to decide whether to send an application to a graduate school that he wants to get into. He really wants to go there but doesn't think that he'll be accepted. You want to convince him to apply, so you say this. take a shot / miss a shot In sports like basketball, soccer, and hockey, "a shot" is when you try to get your ball or puck into the net to get a point. Here are some things that you can do with "a shot": You can "take" a shot, which means that you try to get some points. You can "miss" the shot, which means that your shot didn't succeed. You can "make" the shot, which means that you did succeed and got the points. "Taking a shot" is a common metaphor for things that you try to do in life. For example, if your friend asked a girl out on a date but she said no, you can say: Well, at least you took a shot. The quotation in the example at top means "You can't be successful in life if you don't take risks and try to get the things you want." 20. He's an old childhood friend of mine. a childhood friend 儿时伙伴 A "childhood friend" is someone who you were friends with when you both were young, like 10 years old or younger. It's usually someone who lived nearby, whose parents were friends with your parents, or whose house you stayed over at a lot. It sometimes sounds strange to say "my friend" when you're telling people about someone who's your friend. That's because it can make it sound like you only have one friend. So we also use the phrase "a friend of mine": I'm meeting a friend of mine for dinner at around eight. Here's a general guideline for whether to use "my friend" or "a friend of mine": If the person you're speaking to already knows which friend you're talking about, use "my friend". If the person you're speaking to hasn't met your friend, or probably doesn't know which friend you mean, use "a friend of mine". And to help you remember, here's an example that uses both — first "a friend of mine" and then "my friend": I went out to a bar with a friend of mine from college. We were talking at the bar and my friend asks me, "Hey, what's that black spot on your forehead?" 21. I'm totally obsessed with Glee. To be "obsessed with" something means to think about it constantly. For example, if a guy is "obsessed with" a girl, he will think about her all the time. He might talk about her a lot, or try to find out information about her. Other things that people can be "obsessed with" are: ...obsessed with sex. ...obsessed with your weight. ...obsessed with your appearance. The word "obsessed" doesn't have a very positive meaning when you use it to talk about someone else. But in the past few years people are using it more and more to talk about themselves. When you admit that you're "obsessed with" something, it means that you're really interested in it, and you don't stop thinking about it. For example, the PhraseMix profile page on Twitter says: Obsessed with finding the best way to learn language. If a person really likes a T.V. show, a comic book series, a fashion designer, etc., they might tell you that they're "obsessed with" it. 22. She got tied up at work 脱不开身, 走不开. Your friend invited you and your wife out to dinner. Your wife couldn't come because she suddenly had something important that she had to do at work. You say this to explain why your wife didn't come. get tied up (with something) To "get tied up with" something means to become really busy with something that you aren't able to stop doing. People usually "get tied up" at work. They get a lot of work that needs to be done quickly. People can also "get tied up" with their kids, doing home repairs, or other things: Oh, is it eleven o'clock already? I got so tied up with sending out these invitations that I didn't even notice. If you tell people that you're "tied up", they'll understand that you're too busy to do anything else. For example, if you call someone and they say: Sorry, I'm kind of tied up at the moment. Can I call you back? ..you should understand that they're too busy to talk now. at work There are lots of different ways to talk about a person's job. Here's an explanation of when to use some of them: "at work" - use this when you're talking about something that's happening while someone is working: I got yelled at today at work. Mark's still at work. "in my job" - use this to talk about things that you have to do for work on a daily basis: I have a lot of problems that I have to deal with in my job. "at my company" - use this to talk about large-scale things that are happening to the organization of the company you work for. The management at my company seems to change every year. make it to (somewhere) 要是你能来 The phrase "make it to ___" means to come to somewhere. You use this to talk about attending events or meeting people. There are a few situations that you can use "make it" in: When you're telling someone that you won't come to an event, party or meeting: I'm really sorry, but I won't be able to make it to New York next month. When someone comes to an event that you didn't expect them to come to, you show that you're surprised and happy: "Oh, you made it 你竟然来了, 你来了!" When you ask someone if they're going to come to a meeting, party, or event: "We're going to have some people over for dinner on Saturday. We'd love it if you could make it." 23. What'd you do, just pick people randomly? You were talking with your friend about voting in the recent election. He said that when he voted, he didn't know anything about the candidates. You wonder how he decided who to vote for, so you ask him this. What'd When you're pronouncing "What did" in casual conversation, it's often shortened. This is written as "What'd" when you want to represent casual speech in writing. But in the sentence above, the words "What did you" can be pronounced "Wuhju" or "Whuhdid you". (do something) randomly Doing something "randomly" means doing it without a plan or a reason. In the example above, "picking people randomly" means voting for candidates based on things like their names, their location on the ballot, and so on. Some other examples of doing things "randomly" include: I randomly decided to drive to the beach on Saturday. Police aren't allowed to just go out and randomly search people's homes and vehicles. They have to have a warrant. 24. So the work we did was all for nothing 没有意义, 白费了, 一钱不值? You have been working on a project for a few months at work, and it's almost finished. Your coworker just told you that a high-level director in the company wants to change part of the project, which means that you will have to re-do several weeks of work. You say this because you're annoyed that the work you did won't be used in the final project. (something is) all for nothing "All for nothing" describes work that you did, which didn't have an effect or won't be used. In the example above, the speaker did a lot of work that won't be used in the final version of the project. Here's another example: They banged and banged on the door for hours, but it was all for nothing. There was no one there to hear them. There's no point in buying a costume if you're not even going to wear it out. You and your husband don't have any plans to do anything for Halloween. You were just going to stay home. But your husband sees a costume that he wants to buy while you're out shopping together. You don't think he should buy it because it's a waste of money, so you say this. There are two meanings of "there's no point in ___ing": If you try to do something, it's not going to work. There's no point in 没用, 不会管用 cramming the day before the test. If I don't know it by now, an extra day of studying isn't going to help. If you try doing something, it will work but there won't be any benefit from it. That might be because you already have what you need, or because you'll get the same effects whether you do something or not. There's no point 没有意义, 没有好处 in studying for Professor Clint's exam. His tests are always so easy. The first definition of "there's no point ___ing" can also be expressed with "It's no use ___ing." The second definition can't: It's no use cramming the day before the test. wear (something) out The phrase "wear ___ out" has two meanings. One meaning is to use something until it's worn out: I love this jacket. I'll keep wearing it until I wear it out 穿破, 穿旧. But the meaning of "wear ___ out" that's used in the example above means to wear something to go out somewhere. In the situation at the top, wearing the costume out means going to a party or parade. Notice that for the first meaning of "wear ___ out", you can also say "wear out ___": It takes a long time to wear out a nice pair of shoes like those. But you can't say "wear out ___" when you mean "wear something to go out". 25. The music industry has been completely crushed by piracy. You read a news article about how much money record companies are losing because people steal music on the Internet. In the comments, some people are saying things against the record companies. You don't agree, so you write this in the comments. the (something) industry An "industry" is the complete collection of businesses that do something similar to each other. When you're talking about all these businesses (and the people who work in them) together, you use the phrase "the ___ industry". (something) has been crushed 摧毁 by (something) When something "has been crushed", it means that it has been damaged or hurt quite a bit. The word "crush" literally means to squeeze or press something until it breaks into little pieces. For example, "crushed ice" is ice that's been crushed into little pieces. But "crushed" is also used to talk about an industry, an army, or even someone's dreams. In these cases, it means "destroyed" or "badly damaged": The American auto industry has been crushed by competition from overseas. The British forces were nearly crushed, but they managed to hold on until reinforcements 救援, 援军, 增援 arrived. I don't mean to crush your dreams, but it's extremely hard to get into the film industry. You might want to think of something more practical. 26. Do you know whether that would be covered by my insurance? Would (something) be (adjective)? Use "would" in questions when you're asking about something that's not sure to happen yet. In the example above, the speaker isn't sure whether he will get the mouth guard yet. So he asks "Do you know whether that would..." If the speaker had already decided to get the mouth guard, whether his insurance will pay for it or not, he would ask: Do you know whether that'll (that will) be covered by my insurance? I can never tell whether he's joking. You have an uncle who has a strange sense of humor. He tells jokes, but his face always stays serious. You get confused by this. Now you're talking about your uncle's personality with your mother. This is how you explain your confusion. I can't tell (clause) In this case, "tell" doesn't mean "say". It means "decide" or "figure out". The phrase "I can't tell ___" is used to talk about something you're not sure about: I can't tell whether it's finished or not. I can't tell whether she's being shy or just doesn't want to talk to me. You can use "can't tell" with any question word like "how", "what", "who", and so on: I couldn't tell what they were saying. For the life of me, I can not tell how he did it. 27. I had chocolate cake for dessert, which was good but nothing special. You went out to eat at a restaurant, and now you're writing a review of your meal on a restaurant-review website. You write this about a piece of cake that you ate, which wasn't very bad or very good. (something) is nothing special The phrase "nothing special" describes something that is not bad, but not particularly good either. Use this when you wanted or expected something to be good, but it wasn't. We split a couple of appetizers — the grilled octopus and the eggplant dip with pita. You went to a restaurant with a group of friends and now you're writing a review of it on a restaurant-reviews website. You say this describing what you ordered. appetizers At a restaurant, "appetizers" are small dishes that are brought out before your main course. People often split appetizers with each other. Salads are usually not considered to be appetizers. The dishes that come out after the appetizers are called the entrees. These are larger dishes that people usually don't share with each other. grilled (something) 烤鸡, 烤鱼, 烤玉米 A "grilled" dish is cooked on a metal grill that's laid over flames. You call food that's cooked this way "grilled ___". For example: grilled chicken. grilled corn. Other styles of cooking that are sometimes included in the name of a dish include: "Roasted" things are cooked in an oven. roasted red pepper hummus, roasted peanuts. "Sauteed" food is cooked in a pan on high heat. steak with sauteed mushroom. "Stir-fried" food is cooked in a Chinese-style pan called a wok. The ingredients are cut thinly and cooked quickly. stir fried vegetables. "Steamed" food is cooked in a container that sits over boiled water. steamed broccoli, steamed dumplings. (something) dip A "dip" is a kind of food that you scoop up with crackers, chips, bread, or sometimes vegetables. Dips are usually creamy, and have a half-liquid, half-solid texture. split (something) To "split" something means to share it equally between people. It's often used in a restaurant setting. Things that people often "split" include: split an appetizer (at a restaurant), split a dessert, split the check. You can split something with another person: Do you want to split this with me? Or you can split something between a group of people: We'll just order a few salads and split them between us.
reinforce VS fortify VS boost VS enhance VS revamp: reinforcement extra people, esp in the military, police, etc, sent to help. the despatch of police and troop reinforcements. They desperately need reinforcements 援军, 援兵, 驰援, 支援, 增援. reinforce [riːɪnfɔːrs] (strength) I. If something reinforces a feeling, situation, or process, it makes it stronger or more intense. A stronger European Parliament would, they fear, only reinforce the power of the larger countries. This sense of privilege tends to be reinforced 强化 by the outside world. II. If something reinforces an idea or point of view, it provides more evidence or support for it. The delegation hopes to reinforce the idea that human rights are not purely internal matters. III. To reinforce an object means to make it stronger or harder. Eventually, they had to reinforce the walls with exterior beams. Its windows were made of reinforced glass 加强玻璃. IV. To reinforce an army or a police force 补充扩员 means to make it stronger by increasing its size or providing it with more weapons. To reinforce a position or place means to make it stronger by sending more soldiers or weapons. Both sides have been reinforcing their positions after yesterday's fierce fighting. Troops and police have been reinforced in the city. fortify [fɔːrtɪfaɪ] (on steroid) I. To fortify a place means to make it stronger and more difficult to attack, often by building a wall or ditch round it. The knights had fortified the main town on the island. He remains barricaded inside his heavily-fortified 重兵把守的, 重点防御的 mansion. ...fortified castles and villages. II. If food or drink is fortified (on steroid), another substance is added to it to make it healthier or stronger. It has also been fortified with vitamin C. All sherry is made from wine fortified with brandy. ...fortified cereal products. In some countries, iron fortification of foods is carried out to reduce iron deficiency. III. If you are fortified by something such as food, drink, or an idea, it makes you feel more cheerful, determined, or energetic. The volunteers were fortified 坚定了信心, 坚定了意志 by their patriotic belief. I was taken to a recovery room and given tea and toast to fortify me. Would you care for a light meal to fortify yourself before your adventure? They drove on, fortified with still more black coffee. IV. To fortify something means to make it more powerful and more likely to succeed. His declared agenda is to raise standards in schools and fortify parent power. A regular expression (regex or regexp for short) is a special text string for describing a search pattern. You can think of regular expressions as wild-cards on steroids 高级版, 进阶版, 高阶版, 增强版, 加强版((usually
after the name of a place or thing), to a greater degree, exaggerating
the characteristics of the previously named object. used to say that
something is much bigger, stronger, more impressive etc than something
else that is similar to it – used humorously They sell cinnamon rolls on steroids. "Panic
is anxiety on steroids". "Iceland is like Scotland on steroids". Jeremy
Clarkson, motoring writer. NASA's New Moon Plans: 'Apollo on Steroids',
Space.com article headline.). It is similar to wild-card notations such as *.txt to find all text files in a file manager. A jumping jack (Canada & US) or star jump (UK and other Commonwealth nations), also called side-straddle hop in the US military, is a physical jumping exercise performed by jumping to a position with the legs spread wide and the hands touching overhead, sometimes in a clap, and then returning to a position with the feet together and the arms at the sides. More intensive 加强型的, 加强版的 versions of this jump include bending down (over) and touching the floor
in between each jump. We have reported this to South East Sydney Local
Health District and while docked in Sydney, the ship and terminal will undergo an enhanced [US & AU ɪnˈhɑːnst; UK ɪnˈhænst] 更严格的, 更全面的, 加强版的 cleaning and sanitisation(enhance 增强, 加强, 更突出 To enhance something means to improve its value, quality, or attractiveness. They'll be keen to enhance their reputation abroad. The beiges and creams of its suites are enhanced by splashes of warm colour in the cushions and throws. enhanced I. better than before: We continue to create new and enhanced 改进版的 versions of our products. II. greater in value than before: The measures to encourage investment include enhanced capital allowances. boost I. If one thing boosts another, it causes it to increase, improve, or be more successful. It
wants the government to take action to boost the economy. The move is
designed to boost sales during the peak booking months of January and
February. It would get the economy going and give us the boost that we
need. The proposal received a boost on Sunday when The New York Times endorsed it in a leading article. II. If something boosts your confidence or morale增强自信心, 提高士气, it improves it. We
need a big win to boost our confidence. Do what you can to give her
confidence and boost her morale. It did give me a boost to win such a
big event. revamp [riːvæmp] 改善, 改进 If someone revamps something, they make changes to it in order to try and improve it. All Italy's political parties have accepted that it is time to revamp the system. ...the chef at the newly revamped 新装修过的 Albion. The revamp includes replacing the old navy uniform with a crisp blue and white cotton outfit. Expected changes include a revamping of the courts. ) to prevent any illness affecting future cruises. dial up 强化, 加码 进一步加剧, 进一步强化 I. to increase something. to increase the amount, degree or power of a quality. She gradually dialled up the pressure on the rest of the team.We are going to dial up our marketing efforts. By targeting Draghi directly and responding in real time to an overseas central bankers' policy pronouncement, Trump was dialling up the heat. to make something more forceful or extreme: With talks at a standstill, each side had dialled up the rhetoric 措辞变强硬. Hurricane Ivan dialled up its ferocity as it squeezed through the narrow channel that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. II. to increase the noise, heat, etc. produced by a piece of equipment by moving its controls. turn something up Dial up the volume. dial down to reduce or become reduced to dial down an argument.
