Phrase Mix 14

They still use printed ballots in my district. There was an election recently. You're talking with a friend about voting. She says that she had to use a computerized voting machine. You didn't, so you say this. People often use "they" to mean the people who are responsible for something. For example: They should clean up the sidewalks here. In this example, you don't know or care who exactly is supposed to do this; you just think that the people or department which takes care of the sidewalks should do it. If you didn't know who the speaker was talking about, you would ask: Who did? But when "they" means "the people in charge", you don't need to explain who you mean. printed ballots A "ballot" is a form that people use for voting. Ballots include the names of each of the candidates in an election. Voters fill out the ballot to cast their vote. Traditionally, all ballots were printed on pieces of paper. In recent years, "electronic ballots" on voting machines have been developed. So the term "printed ballot" now describes a traditional ballot made of paper. a (voting) district 区 Governments divide areas in different ways: into provinces, states, counties, towns, etc. One small area is called a "district". There are different kinds of districts. There are "police districts" which are each served by a different police department, "fire districts" which each have their own fire station, and "voting districts" which determine what local elections residents will vote in. Voting districts are usually numbered (like "District 19", "District 41", etc.). Other kinds of districts can be numbered or named for their location ("Wellington Falls Fire District"). Don't shy away from conflict; embrace it! Someone is asking for advice on an Internet forum. They have a coworker who's making them feel uncomfortable. You write that this person should directly complain to this person. Now you want to end by giving some more general life advice. shy away from conflict "Conflict" means struggling or fighting. The word "conflict" sounds clean and neutral. It's the word that a psychologist might use to talk about fighting with people, for example. If you "shy away" from something, it means that you try to avoid it. For example, if a friend of yours often says controversial things, you can say this about him: He's never been one to shy away from controversy. That's for sure! When you "shy away from" conflict, it meant that you try to avoid arguing or disagreeing with people directly. The phrase "shy away from" makes this sound a little weak and cowardly. embrace conflict "Embracing" something means hugging it or holding it close to your chest. For example, lovers "embrace" each other. We use the word "embrace" to talk about physically hugging things, but we also use it metaphorically. Whenever you "embrace" something, you completely and happily accept it. People "embrace" things like: embrace change, embrace life, embrace new ideas, embrace diversity. Someone who "embraces conflict" is happy to get into an argument or disagreement with people. Although arguing is usually a negative thing, "embracing conflict" sounds very positive. Someone who embraces conflict is able to solve problems quickly by having difficult conversations with people. Why would you put an empty milk carton back in the fridge? You've made a cup of coffee. You take the milk out of the refrigerator, but there's nothing in the container. You complain to your husband, who used the last of it. Why would you (do something)? When someone asks "Why would you ___?" they usually don't want an answer. It's not really a question; it's a criticism. It means "You shouldn't ___!" For example: Why would you invite someone out to lunch and then expect them to pay for it? Why would you spend money on a new pair of headphones when you already have a pair sitting unopened at home? a milk carton A "carton" is a container made out of thick paper. The most common kind of carton is a milk carton, which is a tall rectangular box with a triangular top. Other things that come in cartons include: eggs 蛋托, orange juice, chinese food, cigarettes 一条烟 (There are multiple packs of cigarettes in one carton.) beer 啤酒箱 (6 bottles of beer fit in one carton. Larger containers for beer are called "cases".). These are all different shapes, but all classified as "cartons". the fridge English speakers usually call their refrigerator "the fridge". For example:  I have some beers in the fridge. You want one? The word "refrigerator" sounds a bit formal. You say "refrigerator" when you're talking about it as a machine. For example, when you're calling a repairman: Can someone come out and take a look at my refrigerator? It's not staying cool like it's supposed to. Your nose is runny. Come here and let me wipe it. Your son has a runny nose. He's playing a few meters away from you. (someone's) nose is runny Saying that someone's nose is "runny" means that there's liquid coming out of it. The slang word for this liquid is "snot 鼻涕", and the formal word is "mucus". This happens when someone has a cold. You can either say that a person's nose is "runny" (an adjective) or "running" (a verb). wipe (someone's) nose "Wiping" someone's nose means cleaning it with a tissue. You clean away the liquid ("snot") by wiping it with the tissue. There's another method of cleaning your own nose, which is "blowing" it. You blow your nose by quickly pushing air out of one side of the nose into a tissue. I was thinking something a little more upscale 高级一点的(地方, 高级一点的物品用high-end). You and a friend are going out to eat together. She suggests going to a nearby Korean restaurant. That restaurant has good food, but it's old and not decorated very nicely. You'd like to go to a more expensive place. This is your response. I was thinking something a little (more+adjective / adjective+er) When someone makes a suggestion which you don't agree with, you can suggest something different with this polite phrase:A: What about this one? B: Um... I was thinking something a little cheaper. A: Where should we go this weekend? B: How about the beach? A: I was thinking something a little closer. You can also use "a bit" instead of "a little": I was thinking something a bit more low-key. an upscale (place) A restaurant, club, gym, apartment building, or other place that's really nice and expensive-looking can be called "upscale". "Upscale" is mostly a positive term. People use it to compare a luxurious and expensive place to other places that are "down-market" or "low-rent". So calling a place "upscale" can sometimes seem snobby because it seems that you're looking down on places that aren't as nice. English speakers use "upscale" to describe an expensive place, but usually not an item like a coat, a watch, or a bottle of liquor. For those things, you can use the phrase "high-end" instead. Fine, we'll go to the Korean place. You and your friend can't decide where to go out to eat at tonight. You really wanted to go to a vegetarian restaurant that you like, but your friend doesn't want to go there because it's expensive and always busy. She wants to go to a Korean restaurant that you've been to together many times. You give in and say this. a place You can call a restaurant a "place" in casual conversation: There's a place on 6th Street that's pretty good. You can also describe what kind of restaurant it is: Have you been to that new pizza place up on 83rd Street? There's this amazing Italian place we go to sometimes. I have to take you there. And you can call a bar or dance club a "place" as well: Do you want to have a drink? I know a place nearby. Fine! People say this word after arguing or debating with someone. This word shows that you're letting the other person win the argument. You're going to do what they say, although you're not happy about it. Here are some examples: Fine, I'll cook. A: Come on, please come with us! B: OK, fine. But I'm riding in the front seat. A: I'm sick and tired of this! I'm leaving you! B: Fine! Leave then! The stronger you stress the word "fine", the angrier you seem. In the middle of a big argument, you can shut down the discussion by saying "Fine!" and then suggesting some extreme action: You don't like how I'm dressed? Fine! Go by yourself then. "Fine" really means "good", so when you use this word to end in an argument, you're saying the opposite of what you really think. If you want to say that something really is "fine", meaning good or OK, use "That's fine" instead of "Fine!". Before we get started, I have something to tell everyone. I wanted to let you all know that I'm pregnant. You're 3 months pregnant. You haven't told your coworkers yet, but now you're ready to announce it. You say this at the beginning of a meeting. I wanted to let you know that (clause) Use this expression to tell people something that's kind of important, and maybe a little emotional: I wanted to let you know that I've decided to retire at the end of this year. I wanted to let you know that I really appreciate all the hard work you put into this. This phrase makes your sentence seem a little bit important and formal. Before we get started... You can hear this English expression in a meeting. If there are announcements to make, people to introduce, or other things to talk about before the main topic of the meeting, someone will say "Before we get started...": Before we get started, I wanted to introduce everyone to a new member of our team. This is Hyejin Lee. The host of a TV or radio talk show sometimes uses this expression as well. Many, many years ago, it was impolite to directly say that a woman was pregnant. People found ways to avoid saying it like "She's expecting" or "She's with child." But these days, it's completely normal and acceptable to say that a woman is pregnant. I'll be there bright and early! You've got a new job that you're starting tomorrow. Your new boss has called you to confirm that you're starting tomorrow. You want to sound enthusiastic, so you say this. bright and early "Bright and early" means "early in the morning". You use it to talk about waking up early, starting work early, exercising early in the morning, and so on: We're going to get started bright and early tomorrow! "Bright and early" sounds energetic and positive. Hey there buddy! Daddy missed you. You were away for a few days on a trip for work. You've just come home. Your four-year-old son is glad to see you, and you're glad to see him too. Hey there! "Hey there" is one casual and friendly way to say "hello". Here are a few situations in which you can say "Hey there" to greet someone: You're at a concert. You see someone that you work with, but you can't remember her name. You say "Hey there" when you walk by her. You're fishing on a small lake. A family rows by you in a row boat. You say "Hey there" and smile at them. You're friendly with one of the people who works at the local market. When you see him working there, you say "Hey there." "Buddy" is a name that you can call someone instead of their real name. The word "buddy" means "friend". English speakers mostly use "buddy" when talking to a younger man. Here are some specific relationships in which someone might call someone else "buddy": Fathers, uncles, grandfathers, etc. often call their sons, nephews, and grandsons "buddy" from young childhood until their teenage years, and sometimes longer. Male friends who are similar ages sometimes call each other "buddy". When you call a stranger "buddy", it's just a little bit rude and aggressive. For example, if a man is taking a long time to get a ticket at an automatic ticket machine in front of you, you might say this if you get really frustrated: Hey buddy, can you speed it up? "Daddy" is the name that many young children call their fathers. They start to use the name "Daddy" at about 2-3 years old and keep using it until about age 10-13. As children get older, they start to use the name "Dad" instead of "Daddy". When parents speak to very young children, from 0-5 years, they often speak about themselves as "Daddy" or "Mommy" instead of using "I" and "me". For example: Daddy doesn't like it when you throw your toys. Of course, there's a lot of variation from family to family in what children call their parents and how parents refer to themselves. Can you just trim the back and sides? You're getting your hair cut at a barber shop. You don't want the barber to cut very much, so you say this. This is a way to ask someone to do something. It's appropriate for: a boss to use with the people who work for him or her, a customer to use with a store employee, a parent to use with his or her children, asking a friend to help you with something. "Can you ___" is more direct than asking "Could you..." Sometimes a person will include "maybe" in this question: Can you maybe call him and tell him to meet us there? Can you maybe turn the volume down just a little? just (do something) You use this phrase when the action you're describing seems easy, simple, fast, unimportant, or unexciting: I just googled "new york florist" and that was the first shop that came up, so I called them. A: What did you do this weekend? B: I just sat at home and watched T.V. trim (someone's hair) "Trimming" something means cutting it just a little to make it look nice. When you "trim" someone's hair, you just cut it a little bit. You can talk about what part of a person's hair is being cut: She trimmed the bottom. Can you trim the sides and leave it long in the back? Aside from hair, you can also "trim": a beard or mustache, a hedge (a wall of bushes), fat from a piece of meat. It's running out of juice. You're on a long car trip with a friend. You've been watching the directions on your phone, but now the battery power is getting low. You tell your friend. (an electronic device) is out of juice When an electronic device's battery is low, you can say that it has "run out of juice". "Juice" is a slang term for electrical power. You can also say things like: It's almost out of juice. It doesn't have enough juice. Other phrases for talking about a low battery are: My phone is dying. My battery is almost out. (something) is running out of (something) When the amount of some kind of supply becomes low, you can talk about it like this: The printer is running out of ink. Or you can say that you are "running out of" something: We're running out of toilet paper. What do you have on tap? You're at a restaurant. The waitress asks what you want to drink. You'd like a beer, so you ask this. have (a brand of beer) on tap A lot of restaurants and bars have beers "on tap", meaning that they have big kegs 啤酒桶 of beer that they can pour glasses from. To get the beer out, they "tap" the keg, which means that they attach a special beer-dispensing hose to it. If you want to drink a beer from a glass or mug instead of from a bottle or can, you can ask the server or bartender what they have "on tap". Shop staff here are a lot more nonchalant 漠不关心的, 漠然的 about how they behave and speak to you. You're visiting the U.S. In your home country, people who work at shops are very polite to customers. You've noticed that they're a lot less polite in the U.S. You're talking to an American friend about this. shop staff 店员 The "staff" of a business is the collection of people that work there. Offices, shops, and schools all have 'staff'. The phrase "shop staff" means the salespeople, cashiers, and other people who work at a store. "Staff" is a tricky word because it can be either singular or plural: Their staff is extremely helpful. The staff went out to an Irish pub for their holiday party. If you want to talk about just one person on the staff, you can use the phrase "staff member 员工". (someone) is nonchalant When someone is "nonchalant", it means that there's something big happening, but they're acting like everything is normal. Here are some examples of people acting "nonchalantly": Your friend is winning a prestigious award, but he keeps saying that it's not important. A soldier is standing on the street with a big gun, but has a bored look on his face. A guy wants to ask a girl out and is really nervous about it, but he tries to start a normal, casual conversation with her. Being "nonchalant" can be bad if you're in an important situation but it seems like you're not taking it seriously. how (someone) behaves If you want to talk abstractly about someone's actions, you can use the phrase "how ___ behaves": I can't believe that this is how you behave in front of guests! You should be ashamed. People can tell a lot about us by how we behave, speak, and dress. They're a little bland, don't you think? You're having dinner at a restaurant. You and your friend ordered spicy chicken wings, but when you taste them they're not as spicy as you'd like. You comment on them to your friend. (food) is bland 淡的, 索然无味的, 寡淡无味的. "Bland" food doesn't have much flavor. Use "bland" to describe food that's supposed to be: spicy, salty, flavored with spices 香料. ...but isn't. You probably shouldn't describe simple foods like bread or fruit as "bland". "Bland" is always a negative description. If you want to describe food that doesn't have much flavor positively, you can say things like: They're mild 清淡的. They have a really subtle flavor 味淡的. Whoa! Look at the size of that rock! Your friend just got engaged. She shows you her engagement ring, which is really big. You and your friend joke with each other a lot, so you make a funny comment about the ring. Look at the size of that (thing)! Say this when you see something really big: Look at the size of those teeth! Man, I wouldn't want to come across one of those out in the wild. Look at the size of that guy's shoulder muscles! He looks like the Incredible Hulk! This phrase expresses feelings of surprise and admiration. In casual English, you can call a diamond a "rock". This is a slang term. but it's commonly known across most English speakers. Yeah, it adds up. You have a habit of buying coffee at a café every morning. You mention this habit to your brother. He points out that it's expensive to buy coffee at a café instead of making it at home. You agree. "Yeah" is a more casual way of saying "yes". Say this to agree with something that a person said: Yeah, no problem. Yeah, I actually did it myself. You can also say "yeah" when you're going to disagree but you want to make your disagreement sound a little softer. Yeah, but then it'll be blocking one of the outlets. "Yeah" sounds less formal than "yes." (an expense) adds up 积少成多 Use the phrase "it adds up" to talk about something that eventually costs a lot of money because you have to pay again and again. Here are some examples of expenses that you can say "add up": groceries, rent, cable subscriptions, fees that your bank charges. English speakers usually say "it adds up" to complain about the high price of something. But you can also use this expression to talk about making money. I tutor kids in math on the side. It's not a lot of money, but it adds up over time. Americans have a lot of misconceptions about us. You get annoyed because your friends in the U.S. ask you silly questions about your country's culture. You're explaining your frustrations to a friend. (someone) has misconceptions 误解 about (a topic) You have a "misconception" when you think that you know something, but you're actually wrong about it. To explain the topic of a misconception, say "___ has some misconceptions about ___." For example: I think that people who aren't in this business have some misconceptions about what we do. When I first started out, I had a few misconceptions about what computer programming was all about. You might also notice that it's normal to include "some", "a few", or "a lot of" to explain how many misconceptions there are. It's also common to say that "there are" misconceptions: There are a lot of misconceptions about how colds start. As you leave the train, please watch the gap between the train and the platform. You're riding a train. When the train stops at a station, this announcement plays. As (something happens) 随着, (something else happens) Use this kind of grammatical structure to describe two things that happen at the same time. It's most commonly used for two continuing processes that happen together: As you get older, you learn what your own strengths and limitations are. "As ___, ___" is good for describing how things work. Here's a technical description of how water boils: As the temperature of the water rises, some of the water molecules begin to go into a gaseous state. You can also give formal instructions using "As ____, ____": As you leave the auditorium, please pick up one of the yellow brochures from the table by the exit. As you begin your job search, keep in mind that there are a lot of opportunities out there; you don't have to take the first job that you're offered. watch the gap A "gap" is a hole or blank area between two things. There can be gaps between: the rooftops of two neighboring buildings, the doorway of a train and the station platform, a person's teeth, rich people and poor people, what someone remembers and what really happened 差距, 记忆鸿沟. When you ride a train, you'll often hear announcements that say "watch the gap". This means that you have to be careful when you're getting off of the train, because there's some empty space between the station platform and the door of the train. It's very dangerous if you fall in this gap, so you have to be careful of it. You may also hear the phrase "mind the gap", which means the same thing. the (train station) platform At a train or subway station, the "platform" is the area where people stand in order to get onto the train. You'll see the word "platform" used on elevator buttons at a train station. The battery life is pretty pathetic 电池不经用. You bought a smartphone recently. You're unsatisfied with it because it loses battery power too quickly. Someone asks what you think of the phone, so you complain about this. (a electronic device's) battery life The "battery life" of a mobile phone, tablet computer, laptop, or other device means how long you can use it before you have to recharge the battery. "Battery life" is one of the important characteristic that customers think about when buying an electronic device, so it's discussed in device reviews and advertisements. (something) is pathetic You were dating a guy, but he cheated on you. Now he's trying to get back together with you by sending messages to a lot of your friends. You don't like him at all, so you call him "pathetic" to your friends. You competed in a 10K race. On the day of the competition, you ran a lot slower than you normally do. You're angry at yourself, so you say that your performance in the race was "pathetic". In general, calling someone else "pathetic" means that you're disgusted by them. Calling yourself "pathetic" means that you're disappointed in yourself. Calling a product "pathetic" means that it's much worse than it should be. It says not to take it on an empty stomach 空腹吃. Your girlfriend broke a bone in her hand, and got a prescription for pain killers from her doctor. She asks you to give her a pill, but you read the instructions and find out that she's supposed to take the medicine after eating. take (medicine) In English, we use the word "take" to talk about medicine: Take this three times a day with your meals. Are you taking any medication? You "take" medicine by eating or drinking it. It's usually incorrect to use "eat" or "drink" to talk about medicine. It says to (do something) When you read some instructions and then report them to another person, use the phrase "It says to ___." For example: It says to add the onions and celery and simmer for five minutes. For warnings, say "It says not to ___": It says not to touch the connectors. You can also specify where the instructions came from: The sign says not to go in there. It might seem strange to use "says" with written instructions since the instructions don't actually speak. But English doesn't have a separate verb to describe information that's written down, so we use "says". (do something) on an empty stomach The phrase "on an empty stomach" means "without eating". For example: I can't think on an empty stomach. I've heard that exercising on an empty stomach causes your body to burn more fat. It's better not to take it on an empty stomach. Dear Lord, we thank you for this food that we're about to receive. You and your family are having a Thanksgiving day meal together. You've been asked to say a blessing before everyone starts eating. This is how you start it. To "receive" something basically means to get it from someone. We received over a hundred submissions. The word "receive" is pretty formal. It's used in official documents or in business communication. In normal conversation, "get" is more common: We got over a hundred submissions. "Receive" is often used in a pair with the word "give" - there's a famous saying "It's better to give than to receive." He's not exactly what you'd call a "team player". You get a call from a company that's considering hiring one of your ex-coworkers. They want to know if you would recommend him for this new job. This ex-coworker was very opinionated and hard to work with, so you say this about him. not exactly (something) This is an example of understatement. If you're talking about someone and say: She's not exactly poor. ...it means that she actually has a lot of money. Instead of simply saying "She's rich", you might use this expression in order to sound witty and intelligent. Here's another example: if your husband is overweight, but made fun of you for being a little heavy, you can say: You're not exactly in the best shape 体型完美, 标准体型 yourself, you know. "Not exactly" can be followed either by an adjective, or by a noun: A: You're dumb. B: You're not exactly a rocket scientist yourself. (something) is not what you'd call (something) "Not what you'd call ___" means "not exactly ___" or "not really ___". This expression is used for understatement. Instead of directly describing something in an extreme way, you introduce your description with "not what you'd call ___". For example, if you're a very bad dancer, you can say: I'm not what you'd call a great dancer. (someone) has stubble 胡子茬 "Stubble" is facial hair that's grown out just a little bit. When a man hasn't shaved in two or three days, he has "stubble". Once the hairs grow for a week or two, it's no longer "stubble"; it's a beard, mustache, goatee, etc. Remember that sketchy neighborhood we used to live in? You're talking with an old college friend. You're remembering old times together. In college, you and your friend were poor so you lived in a cheap house in a dangerous part of town. You remind him of this. Sometimes you can use "live on" for explaining which side of a city you live in: I live on the South side of Chicago. You live at a specific address: I live at 112 West Crescent Street. a sketchy 瘆人的 neighborhood A "sketchy" neighborhood looks like it might be dangerous. Often a sketchy neighborhood has old buildings that need to be repaired. There might also be people there who look violent or sneaky. If you're sure that a neighborhood is dangerous, you usually don't call it "sketchy". Instead, call it "a bad neighborhood" or "a rough neighborhood". Other things that you can describe as "sketchy" include: a hotel, a bar or night club, a person. Do you want the aisle seat? You're boarding a plane on a business trip with your coworker. You want to be polite, so you let your coworker choose the seat. Do you want (something)? This is a casual way to offer something to someone: Do you want some pizza? A more formal way to make an offer is "Would you like (something)?" the aisle seat When seats are arranged in rows, like on an airplane, in a theater, in a sports stadium, etc., there are open spaces called "aisles" where people can walk to get to the correct row. A seat which is next to the aisle is called an "aisle seat". In an airplane, the seat next to the window is called the "window seat". The seat on the outside is the "aisle seat". If there are three seats next to each other, the one in the middle is the "middle seat". Some people like the window seat because they can see outside of the plane. Others like the aisle seat because it's a little easier when you sit down and stand up. Your balance is $2,154. You're at an ATM. You're seeing how much money is in your bank account. This is the message on the ATM screen. (someone's) balance The "balance" of a bank account is the amount of money that you have in the account. So your account balance is a number. The action most commonly associated with a bank balance is "checking": When's the last time you checked the balance 查余额, 查询余额? She's trying on a pair of pants. You're shopping for clothes with your sister and her boyfriend. He was walking around the store and has just found you again. He asks where your sister is, so this is your answer. try on (a piece of clothing) To "try on" clothes means to put them on in order to see how they look on you. You "try on" clothes when you are shopping. You can also "try on" your clothes at home when you want to decide what to wear. When you replace the noun with "this", "these", "it", "them", and so on, you say "try ___ on": Did you try them on? I base my tips on how good the service is. You're eating at a restaurant with friends. You get into a discussion about how much tip to leave. One of your friends says it should be 15% of the bill, but you like to be more flexible. I can't believe how wet it is. Another example is when you meet someone who's famous and seems unfriendly, but he is actually a nice guy when you meet him: I was surprised by how down-to-earth he was. base (something) on (something) Your choices and opinions all come from somewhere. When you want to talk about the reasons for your ideas, you can say that you've "based them on" something. For example, when a teenager decides which university to go to, she might choose "based on" the school's reputation, the cost, which school her friends are going to, the school's website, etc. Here are some other examples: I based this recipe on a dish I had at a barbecue restaurant in Texas. I don't see why they awarded it to this one. What did they base their decision on? I base my opinion of a person on how they treat the people around them, not on how much money or education they have. good service "Service" is the experience that you have when you go to a store or restaurant and communicate with the employees or owners. When the experience is good, you call it "good service". Good service means that the employees were polite and friendly, answered your questions, and worked quickly. I would... I guess I would set up a trust fund for my kids... and stick the rest in savings. A friend asks you what you would do if you won a million dollars in a lottery. The first thing you think about is supporting your children, so you say this. set up a trust fund A "trust fund" is a kind of financial account that you can create. It keeps money safe for someone and pays money out to them according to certain rules. A lot of wealthy parents create trust funds for their children, so that the children will have money but won't be able to spend it all immediately. To describe someone creating a trust fund, use the phrasal verb "set up": My folks set up a trust fund for me back in the 1980's. You can also use "set up" for: starting a company, organizing a meeting, making an appointment. stick (money) in (an account or investment) 丢进, 扔进 If you put money into an account without thinking very much about it, you can say that you "stuck" your money into that account. You can also "stick" money into investments like stocks or bonds. While saying that you've "stuck" your money into an account suggests that you did it without much planning, this phrase is not too negative. Sometimes it's OK just to "stick" your money in a bank account or a fund. I would (do something) (in an imaginary situation) "Imaginary situations" are things that are not possible, or not likely to happen. "I would ___" can be shortened to "I'd ___." You know what would be great is if I could take a few months off work and travel the world. A friend asks you what you would do if you won a million dollars in a lottery. You think it would be fun to spend the money on traveling, so this is how you answer. You know what would be (adjective)? When you've thought of an interesting idea, you can introduce your idea with the expression "You know what would be ___?" You know what would be fun? What if we all got together this winter and went skiing? You know what would be horrible? Imagine what would happen if we lost the original files. You know what would actually be the best way to get there is if you took 540 and got off on the Highway 50 exit. You say "You know what would be ___?" when you think that your idea is interesting, and you want other people to become interested in the idea with you. You can specify how long your vacation or unemployed period is like this: I've decided to take a few months off work. You know, honestly, it probably wouldn't even be that much money after taxes. A friend asks you what you would do if you won a million dollars in a lottery. You're a practical person, and you know that the government takes a lot of money from prize money for taxes. This is your first answer. When you start a sentence with "Honestly..." it sounds like you're telling your listeners a secret that you wouldn't tell other people. For example: Honestly, I don't think I ever want to have kids: Honestly, I don't regret quitting at all. People usually use "Honestly..." to share things that some other people would disagree with. It can help you and your listeners to feel closer to each other.' Another way to use "Honestly..." is to introduce an idea that you just thought of that has surprised you a little: Honestly, I don't think I even need this jacket today. (something) probably (does something) The word "probably" expresses a more than 50% chance that something is true or is going to happen. You use it in front of a verb: I probably won't wake up until noon tomorrow. This is probably the best beef stew I've ever had. He's just insecure 没有安全感, and he tries to drag other people down to compensate. You have a coworker who often says rude and insulting things to people. He insulted your friend, so she's upset. You want to make her feel better, so you explain why this coworker is always insulting people. (someone) is insecure 不自信(I. If you are insecure, you lack confidence because you think that you are not good enough or are not loved. In effect she is punishing her parents for making her feel threatened and insecure. Most mothers are insecure about their performance as mothers. She is always assailed by self-doubt and emotional insecurity. His behaviour is an attempt to cover up his insecurities. II. Something that is insecure is not safe or protected. ...low-paid, insecure jobs. Cellular phones are inherently insecure, as anyone can listen to and record conversations. Crime creates feelings of insecurity in the population. ...the harshness and insecurity of agricultural life.) An "insecure" person is not confident. An insecure person might get angry and suspicious of other people because of this lack of confidence. drag (someone) down 拉下水, 拉下马 "Dragging someone down" means making them unhappy, angry, frustrated, unsuccessful, or other bad things. People who are in a bad mood or have bad personality traits themselves sometimes "drag down" others. For example: His constant complaining is starting to drag down the entire team. Another way to use this phrase is in the expression "drag ___ down to (your/his/her/my) level". You can't let them drag you down to their level. compensate for 弥补 (a weakness) To "compensate" means to add something in order to reach a balance. For example, if you injure one of your legs, you can use the other leg more in order to "compensate for" your injured leg. People do a lot of things to "compensate" for their weaknesses. For example, a man who is short might "compensate" by lifting weights a lot and getting big muscles. Someone who doesn't feel confident might "compensate" by spending a lot of money on expensive clothes. How are you fellas? Your teenage son has brought some of his friends over to your house to play video games. You've met them all before but don't remember all of their names. You say hello this way. "Fellas" is an alternative way to spell the word "fellows". It's a slang word in American English for talking about a group of boys or men. When you call a group of guys "fellas", it sounds like they're a relaxed, fun group of guys. You use it like this: Chase is out watching a game with the fellas tonight. Hey, what's up fellas? The spelling of "fellas" is not officially correct, but it's somewhat common in casual writing like in text messages and social media posts. Those were the days 怀念旧时光, huh? You're hanging out with an old college buddy. You've been remembering funny stories of things that happened in college. It's made you feel nostalgic. Those were the days. People often have fond memories of the past. When you're with old friends and talking about good memories from the past, you can express your feeling of nostalgia by saying: Those were the days. This means "That was a really great time in our lives." A similar expression is "the good old days".: Those were the good old days. If you want to talk about a period that was difficult or negative, use "tough times": Those were tough times, weren't they? He's a guy from my apartment complex. You run into someone at a shopping mall who lives near you. You're with your friend, who asks how you know this person. You explain. an apartment complex 小区 Sometimes a single company builds and manages a group of apartment buildings. The buildings might have some shared facilities like a pool, laundry room, or fitness room. This group of apartment buildings is called an "apartment complex". Other similar examples of "complexes" include: an office complex, a warehouse complex. It was nice and all 还算不错, 是算不错了, 也算不错了, but it didn't quite live up to the hype 名不符实, 言过其实. A new restaurant opened recently in your city. It's gotten very positive reviews and you've heard several people talk about it. You went there this weekend and didn't like it as much as you expected. You're telling a friend what you think of the restaurant. It's nice and all, but... Sometimes you want to complain about something that wasn't bad, but didn't match your tastes or interests. To do this, use the phrase "It's nice and all, but..." For example, you can say this to talk about going to the opera: It's nice and all, but I'm not sure that I would go again. It's just really expensive. Or you can complain about a restaurant that was highly recommended to you: It was nice and all, but it didn't quite live up to the hype. Adding "...and all" makes this expression sound a little more negative than just saying "It's nice, but..." You can use this expression in spoken English, but probably not in writing. live up to (something) "Living up to" something means meeting or matching an expectation that someone has. Here are a few things that something can "live up to": live up to someone's expectations, live up to someone's standards, live up to a positive review, live up to one's potential. You can use it like this: My parents set really high standards for me, and I haven't always lived up to them. "Hype" means really strong positive reviews or positive opinions about something. But "hype" itself is a negative word. So when you call positive reviews or opinions "hype", it means that you don't believe them. Don't believe the hype. There was a bunch of hype recently about this new social networking app. I can't keep up with all that. I'd like to think that I would donate most of it to a worthy cause 值得的事, 公益事业. A friend asks you what you would do if you won a million dollars in a lottery. You'd like to use it to help other people, although you're not sure how you would spend it if that really happened to you. donate (something) To "donate" something means to give it to a person or group that needs help. People donate things to individuals whose houses have burned down, to churches, to homeless shelters, and to thrift stores. Things that people can donate include: donate money, donate blood, donate used clothes, donate food. a worthy cause A "worthy cause" is a project or charity that helps people in need or improves society. Some specific "worthy causes" include: a school fundraiser, a soup kitchen for homeless people, a foundation which funds research to look for cures to cancer. You can hear this phrase in these contexts: donate (something) to a worthy cause. (something) is going to a worthy cause. Probably just pay off my credit cards and student loans. pay off 清偿, 结清 (a bill) When you "pay something off", it means that you completely pay for it. This is mostly used to talk about bill and loan payments. When you "pay off" a loan, it means that you have completely paid all of the money you borrowed, plus the loan's interest. To "pay off" a credit card means to pay off all of the money that you spent on that credit card for the month. Credit cards in the U.S. have a minimum payment that you have to pay each month. However, if you only pay the minimum, you will be charged interest for whatever amount hasn't been paid. If you "pay off" your credit card each month by the deadline, you won't be charged for interest. I can't tell what that word's supposed to be. Any ideas? A patient at the doctor's office you work at filled out an information form. His handwriting is messy, and there's a word that you can't read. After trying to figure it out yourself, you turn to a coworker and ask for her help. 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. what (something) is supposed to (do/be) One of the ways to use the phrase "supposed to ___" is to talk about what a person intended, or what they were trying to communicate. For example, if you see a number written down, but it's not clear, you can ask: Is this supposed to be an 8? Or if your friend says something that might be critical of you, you can angrily ask: What's that supposed to mean? This means something like "Why did you say that?"