1. dividend [ˈdɪvɪˌdend] I. 红利. A dividend is the part of a company's profits which is paid to people who have shares in the company. The first quarter dividend has been increased by nearly 4 per cent. a share of the profits of a company, paid once or twice a year to the people who own the company's stock. II. maths 被除数. a number that is going to be divided by another number. wiki: A dividend is a distribution of profits by a corporation to its shareholders. When a corporation earns a profit or surplus, it is able to pay a proportion of the profit as a dividend to shareholders. Any amount not distributed is taken to be re-invested in the business (called retained earnings). peace dividend money that a government saves by reducing the amount spent on weapons and military forces. The peace dividend is the economic benefit that was expected in the world after the end of the Cold War, as a result of money previously spent on defence and arms becoming available for other purposes. The peace dividend has not materialised despite military spending going down in most countries. to pay dividends If something pays dividends, it brings advantages at a later date. Steps taken now to maximise your health will pay dividends later on. If something pays dividends, it brings advantages at a later date. Steps taken now to maximise your health will pay dividends later on. 2. teetotaler 不喝酒的人 (US spelling) A person who completely abstains from alcoholic beverages. teetotal [tiˈtoʊt(ə)l] 戒酒的 adj. Abstinent from alcohol; never drinking alcohol. alcoholic, dipsomaniac, drunkard 酒鬼. 醉鬼. on the wagon 戒酒 I. (idiomatic) Abstaining from drinking any alcoholic drink, usually in the sense of having given it up (as opposed to never having partaken); teetotal. not drinking alcohol any more. II. (by extension) Maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from some other undesirable habit. He's been on the smoking cessation wagon for two weeks now. straight-edge 烟酒不沾的, 酒色不沾的, 清教徒式的 Living one's life opposing or eschewing the use of drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. not indulging in any kind of drug-taking or sexual activities. eschew [esˈtʃu] 规避 to avoid doing something, especially for moral reasons. If you eschew something, you deliberately avoid doing it or becoming involved in it. Although he appeared to enjoy a jet-setting 四处飞的 life, he eschewed publicity and avoided nightclubs. dipsomaniac [ˌdɪpsoʊˈmeɪniˌæk] noun. any person who has an uncontrollable and recurring urge to drink alcohol. someone who cannot control their feeling of wanting to drink alcohol. adj. relating to or affected with dipsomania. dipsomania [ˌdɪpsəʊˈmeɪnɪə] noun a compulsive desire to drink alcoholic beverages.
1. The real key is establishing a relationship with the client. You're having lunch with a junior salesperson who's just starting her first sales job at your company. You give her this advice on how to be successful as a salesperson. the key (to success) is (doing something) An idea, a person, a technique, or anything that's very important for making something successful is called "the key": My key to success has always been getting out there and practicing harder than anyone else. Dalton's hard work was really the key to the success of the entire event. Publishing so much content is a constant struggle. The key is not to spend too much time on any one part of it. There are some other phrases that use the word "key" in this way: The key factor in my decision was the cost. The Panasonic was a hundred dollars cheaper. Senator Donnely was a key player in getting the bill passed. establish a relationship with (someone/some group): When you're talking about starting a business relationship, you use the word "establish": We're hoping to establish an ongoing relationship with a manufacturer in Ireland. It's a little strange to use "establish" to talk about starting other kinds of relationships. Use "start" instead: I'm sorry. I'm just not ready to start a relationship. A business relationship can be formal, meaning that there's been a specific agreement for two companies to work together. Or it can be informal, which means that companies do business together because it seems like a good idea at the time. You can also establish a personal relationship with a business contact. That might include getting to know things about their family, their hobbies, and their tastes. "Clients" are similar to "customers". But the word "customer" suggests someone buying things at a store or directly on the Internet. The word "client" is used in business-to-business sales: I have a meeting with a client this afternoon. People have long meetings with their clients, take them out to lunch, and try to sell them products or services for large amounts of money. When a client buys something, they usually use their company's money, not their own personal money. The word "client" can mean the person that you do business with, or it can also mean the company that they belong to: Microcorp is a client of ours. 2. Is your back getting stiff 僵硬? You're having a picnic with a group of people and have been sitting on the ground for a while. The person next to you keeps changing his position and looks uncomfortable, so you ask him this. a stiff back "Stiff" is the opposite of "flexible". It describes when something doesn't bend easily. "Stiff" can be used to describe body parts that aren't flexible because of injury, posture, or not enough exercise. Some body parts that often become stiff are: back, shoulders, legs, knees, neck. (something) is getting (adjective) "Getting __" means "becoming ___". You use this phrase to talk about a process that started in the past, has a certain goal or end point, but hasn't finished yet. For example, when you sit on the ground for a long time, your back will eventually get very stiff. When you ask someone: Is your back getting stiff? ...you're asking whether they are starting to have a stiff back. You're assuming that their back wasn't already stiff at the beginning. Some other examples: I'm getting tired. It gets a lot easier if you stick with it. 3. You know what helps me is as soon as the pain starts, I take an aspirin or something to stop the inflammation 发炎, 炎症. You're talking to a friend who often has sinus pain. You have the same problem, so you share how you usually deal with it. (do something) as soon as (something happens) The phrase "as soon as" expresses something that happens immediately after something else: He called as soon as he heard the news. I went straight to sleep as soon as I got home. Another way of expressing a similar idea is "when": I'll start dinner when I finish writing this e-mail. But you use "as soon as" to emphasize that you're doing it as quickly as you can. So this phrase is useful in situations where you're making an excuse for being late. You know what (does something) is (something). This is an expression that people sometimes use in spoken English: You know what makes them even better is to mix a little salt in with the chocolate. You know what's interesting is that she didn't even start playing until she was in her late teens, which is almost unheard of. You know what I miss most about living there is how easy it was to walk everywhere. This form isn't exactly grammatically correct, so in written English you would write something like: Do you know what makes them even better? Mixing a little salt in with the chocolate. What I miss most about living there is how easy it was to walk everywhere. (something) helps (pain) Use the word "helps" to talk about something that reduces pain: Here, take this. It'll help. It helps to put some ice on it. aspirin Aspriin was one of the first kinds of pain medication. Because of that, the word "aspirin" is still sometimes used to talk about pain relievers in general: Take an aspirin or something. inflammation "Inflammation" is a condition in your body. It happens when muscles and other parts of your body swell, become warm, itch, become painful, and show other symptoms. Inflammation can be caused by injuries, infections, and even by what you eat. 4. Hey, um, you've got something stuck in your teeth. um English speakers use the sound "um" when they don't know what to say next. Here's an example from a TV talk show: Well, my daughter in this show is very strongly liberal, and she's a very — she's a — she went to, uh, um, Stanford Law School, and she graduated from Stanford with honors. But people also use "um" when they're talking about a topic that is uncomfortable. Using "um" shows the listener that you're being careful about a topic that is very sensitive. So you might use "um" when you're talking seriously about: money, sex, a death in someone's family, a decision at work that you disagree with. For example: Listen, um, I know that you're having a hard time financially right now, but I really need your rent check. By the way, you might hear or read somewhere that you shouldn't use "um". That's a rule that English speakers are taught in school, because some people think that using "um" too much makes you sound unprofessional. But almost everyone uses it from time to time. As an English learner, it actually makes your English sound more natural when you use hesitation sounds like "um". you've got something (somewhere) "You've got something ___" is a phrase that you use to tell people that there is food or another substance somewhere on their bodies that it doesn't belong. For example: Hey, you've got something on your lip. You've got something in your hair. "You've got something ___" is similar to "you have something ___". Both are OK for normal conversation, but I would usually say "got something". "Have something" sounds just a little more formal. (something) is stuck in (somewhere) To be "stuck in ___" means that something is in a place and isn't coming out very easily. A person can be "stuck in" a room: The door wouldn't open, and I was stuck in the bathroom for 20 minutes. Hey, um, you've got something stuck in your teeth. ...the speaker says "stuck in your teeth". Obviously, the food isn't inside of the actual teeth. Instead, this sentence means that the food is in between some of her teeth and isn't coming out. Some other common places where things get stuck include: I was stuck in traffic for over an hour. There's something stuck in my throat. Our car got stuck in the mud. I feel like I'm stuck in a rut. It's common to say "Hey" before you ask someone a question, or when someone has done something that's wrong or unfair: Hey, you're taking up the whole bed 占了整个床! Use "hey" with people you know or are familiar with. When you're talking to people you don't know as well, "Excuse me" is more polite. 5. Life's not all fun and games 人生非坦途, 一帆风顺. Your daughter made some bad grades on her progress report at school. You ask her why, and she complains that her homework is boring. You say this because you're annoyed that she would complain about this. This is a set expression. When someone complains about doing something difficult, boring or unpleasant, you can tell them this. The meaning of the phrase is that you can't have fun all the time; you have to work hard sometimes. fun and games 寻欢作乐 The phrase "fun and games" is used in a few other expressions as well. When they're used together like this, it's usually meant to criticize the idea of people doing things that aren't careful or serious enough. For example, you can say this to some children who are playing too roughly: It's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. You can say this if someone invites you to do something fun but you're busy and stressed out: I appreciate the offer, but I don't have time for fun and games. I have work to do. This last example would sound a little rude, though. 6. There's a seating chart 座位表, 座位图 in the back of the roll book. You're a teacher. You had to take a day off of work because of a family issue. You're writing a note for the substitute teacher, explaining what to do. One of your instructions is about where the students should sit: There's a seating chart in the back of the roll book. a seating chart: A "seating chart" is a chart or drawing which shows where certain people are supposed to sit. Seating charts are used: in classrooms, at weddings, at very formal meetings, like at the United Nations. in the back of (a book) When something is printed in the last few pages of a book, you can describe it as "in the back": There's an index in the back of the book. Try looking there. The answers are printed in the back of the book. a roll book 点名册, 点名表 A "roll book" is a book that a teacher uses to keep track of which students attended each class. The teacher marks who's missing each day in his or her "roll book". The word "roll" means an attendance list. You may also hear the phrase "take the roll 点名, 查勤": Guys, let me take the roll and then we'll get started. 7. That kind of behavior is not appropriate in public. You and a friend saw a teenage couple making out on the street. You say this to your friend because you don't think they should do that. that kind of behavior "Behavior" is a person's way of acting. But the word "behavior" is mostly (but not always) used to talk about someone's negative actions: That kind of behavior would be totally unacceptable where I come from 我们家那里, 我们那里, 在我家里. What's going on with your behavior lately? So the phrase "that kind of behavior" describes someone doing something wrong. appropriate behavior "Appropriate behavior" means doing what's socially correct. It means following rules of politeness. Things that are not appropriate behavior in the U.S. include: Burping in public. Talking during a movie in a theater. Telling a woman that she's fat. Some things that people do wrong are too serious to be called "not appropriate". For example, you don't describe beating someone up as "not appropriate". (do something) in public "Public" places are places where people who you don't know can see what you're doing. Some public places include: restaurants, on the street, at school. There are other places which might be considered public or private depending on the situation. For example, someone else's house is private for them, but might be public for you. On the other hand, if it's a close friend's house, you might not think of it as being public. Describe things that you do in front of strangers as "in public": I'm a decent singer, but I hate singing in public. 8. Can you squeeze one more in there? You're going on a vacation with two of your friends. You're riding in your friend's car. He's putting suitcases in the trunk of his car, but there doesn't seem to be enough space. You're not sure if your suitcase will fit in there with all the others, so you ask this. squeeze (something) in (a place) The word "squeeze" can be used in a few different ways: If you "squeeze" something, it just means that you push on it on both sides to make it a little smaller (at least for a short period of time). For example: When you shake hands with someone, you're supposed to squeeze firmly, but not too tightly. Another way to use "squeeze" is "squeeze in (somewhere) 塞进". This means to fit yourself into a place that's really small and tight. For example, if you have 3 people already in the back seat of a taxi, you can say: Can I squeeze in between you guys? In the example at top, the speaker says "squeeze ___ in ___". This is used when you're putting something into a tight place: I think I'll be able to squeeze everything all in one bag. You can also talk about "squeezing" something into someone's schedule 加塞进去: Hi Patricia, could you squeeze me in this afternoon? 9. Believe it or not, she made the first move. You've told your friend before about a girl in one of your classes who you really like. Today she asked you out on a date, so you told your friend that you're going out with her. Then you say this. People mostly use "believe it or not" to talk about something that's surprising to the listener. But sometimes people also use it sarcastically. For example, if your spouse tries to give you advice while you're driving, you might say: Believe it or not, I do know how to drive, you know. Your spouse isn't surprised to hear that you know how to drive, but since they're giving you instructions, it's almost like they think you can't drive. So this sentence is a kind of joke. (someone) makes the first move 主动地 When you're talking about dating, relationships or sex, "making a move" can mean asking someone out, trying to kiss them, or trying to have sex with them. It's usually obvious which one a person means based on the situation: Oh, you like her huh? Why don't you make a move? I walked her home, but I was too shy to make a move. The person who acts first is the one who "made the first move". In most cultures, men are expected to make the first move. 10. I don't like my personal information being out there for everyone to see. You're talking with a coworker about social networking sites like Facebook. You don't like to use them because you're worried about your privacy. "Personal information" is information about you such as your phone number, address, age, photos, bank account number, and so on. People usually want to keep their personal information secret. "Information" is one of the most common words to use together with "personal". Other common combinations are: in my personal experience (use this when talking about things you've learned in the past). have a personal life (the things that you do which aren't related to work). (something) being (something) In the example at top, the speaker says "I don't like my personal information being out there..." This sentence doesn't specify whether her information is out there now, was out there in the past, or has never been out there. The speaker is saying that she doesn't like the idea of her information being available. (something) is out there for (people) to see Something that is "out there" is in public, where people can see or hear about it: I've started to try to put my artwork out there more instead of just keeping it locked away at home. All of this information is out there for people to see, but no one wants to pay attention to it. 11. Would it be possible to push our meeting back 延后, 推后, 拖后 to 3:00? You're scheduled for a meeting with a coworker at 2:00. You need to do something else at that time, so you send an email to move the time. Would it be possible to push our meeting back to 3:00? Would it be possible to (do something)? This is a formal and polite way to ask for something: Would it be possible to make an appointment for later today? If you need to express who you're talking about, do it using the form "Would it be possible for (someone) to (do something)?: Would it be possible for me to take next Monday off? Would it be possible for you to fly down for an in-person meeting with them, some time next week? push (an event) back Changing an event to a later time can be called "pushing it back": Sorry, I had to push the meeting back. A lot of people weren't going to be able to make it at that time. You can also use the phrase "push (something) back to (a new time): Could I push my appointment back 改期, 改时间 to later that afternoon? The opposite is "pushing (something) up": Originally we were going to do it on the 21st, but I decided to push it up to 提前到, 前提了 the 19th. 12. All that hard work and determination really paid off. Your sister won a prize in a ballroom dancing competition. You're really excited and happy for her because she's been practicing hard for it for years. You congratulate her, and then you say this. hard work and determination 毅力 "Hard work" means doing work that is difficult. "Determination" is a personality trait that some people have. Determination allows a person to continue to work hard on something, even though they might want to quit. An example of determination is an athlete who wakes up at 5:00 in the morning every day to train for two hours before going to school. "Hard work and determination" often appear together. (something) paid off When you spend time or money on something risky, you hope that there will be a good result. If so, you say that it "paid off". For example, the father of a professional musician might say: I'm glad to see that all those years of piano lessons I put him through finally paid off. You can talk about investments and projects at work with this phrase: We're spending over fifty thousand dollars on these improvements. That may seem like a lot of money at first, but I'm confident that it will pay off down the road 迟早有回报. One other example of a situation you can use "pay off" in is when talking about trusting someone who might not be very trustworthy: My trust in her paid off in the end, though. She ended up doing the right thing. "Really" means "very" but is better for casual conversation. "Very" is correct in written English, but can sound a little formal and old-fashioned in spoken conversation. I thought it was a really original take on the story. Also, "very" can only be used to modify an adjective: It's very small. I'm very tired. 13. We disagree over whether or not to send her to private school. You and your wife have different opinions about where your daughter should go to school. Your wife thinks she should go to a public school, but you would prefer a private school. You say this when describing this disagreement to your wife's parent. disagree over (an idea) The word "disagree" means to have different or opposite opinions. You use the word "over" to tell what topic the disagreement is about. What follows "over" can be a topic: We often disagree over politics. Or it can be a longer noun phrase: Martha and Paul have always disagreed over where they first met. You can also hear "disagree about" sometimes, which is a little more casual. whether to (do something) or not When you have a yes-or-no choice, and you want to describe and talk about that choice, you can use "whether or not to ___". We talked for hours about whether or not to redecorate the kitchen. This can also be used in the order "whether to ___ or not". This version is a little more formal. We talked for hours about whether to redecorate the kitchen or not. send (a child) to (a private school) "Sending" a child to a school means paying for the child to study there. For example: I wish we could afford to send them to a better school. private school In the U.S., a "private school" is a school that you have to pay money to attend. "Public schools" are payed for by the government. In the case of elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, they are free to attend. Public universities are not free, but usually cheaper than private schools. 14. What's with the yawning? Were you out all night partying? Your coworker is yawning and looks tired. You are friends with this person, so you want to tease him 开玩笑, 取乐. You smile and ask this. What's with the yawning? Were you out all night partying? What's with (something)? "What's with ___?" is a casual way to ask why something is happening. For example, if you come into work and your boss has a big vase [veɪs] of flowers sitting on her desk, you can ask: What's with the flowers? This means "Why do you have flowers on your desk?" "Yawning" is what people do when they are sleepy. When you yawn, you open your mouth wide and take in a deep breath. out all night (doing something) People sometimes use the phrase "out all night drinking" or "out all night partying" to describe someone not coming home because they are drinking or at a party. You can also use "out all night" by itself: I was out all night. 15. I think I get the gist. You've just started at a new job at a restaurant. A coworker has been training you in how to enter customers' orders into the computer system. She asks if you understood. You say that you mostly understood. get the gist (of something) 大概明白了, 大概懂了 To "get the gist" of something means to understand it a little bit, or to understand the general idea of something. Use it like this: A: Do you understand? B: Yeah, I get the gist. You can "get the gist" of things like: the idea of a T.V. show. how to play a game. how to do a task at work. It doesn't make sense to say that someone "gets the gist" of a large subject like mathematics or psychology. If you want to name the topic that a person understands, use "of ___": He got the gist of how to do it with just a couple of minutes of explanation. 16. We rented a little cabin in a remote area of the mountains. Last week you took a vacation with your family in the mountains. You stayed in a small house in a quiet, far-away area. You're telling a client about it at a business lunch. rent a cabin A cabin is a small house that people stay in on vacations. Cabins are usually in natural areas, like at beaches or in the mountains. People rent them to stay in for a few nights, but unlike hotels, there's not usually maid service. Instead, you stay there and use the cabin as if it were your own house for a few days. "Remote areas" are places which are far away from cities, and hard to get to. Places in the mountains, or in thick jungles, are "remote areas". Other remote areas include the North Pole and South Pole. the mountains 山区 When people talk about living in or visiting a mountainous area, they call it "the mountains": I went camping in the mountains. Notice that you use the word "the", even if the person you're talking to doesn't know which mountains you're talking about. A: I grew up in the mountains. B: Oh, really? Where? A: In Switzerland. 17. Have these been run 洗过了吗? You open the dishwasher and you can't tell if the dishes are clean or dirty. You ask your husband this question. run (a machine) When you use a dishwasher to clean dishes, you say that you "ran" the dishwasher. For example: A: Are the dishes in the dishwasher clean? B: Yeah, I ran it this morning. Some other machines that you "run" include: Run the washing machine. Run the coffee maker. Usually the machines that you "run" should have a process with a clear starting and ending point like the ones above. But some people also use "run" for other machines that don't have a clearly defined process, like: Run the vacuum. Run the fan. People also "run" computer programs. You can think of this as having a similar meaning to "running" a dishwasher: you start the program, and then it does some work and stops when it's finished. Sometimes you can also use "run" to talk about the thing that a machine processes: The towels smelled bad, so I ran them a few times. 18. From now on 从今往后, you need to bring any discrepancies to my attention immediately. There was an error in the records showing how much money one client owed your company. One of your employees found out about the problem but didn't tell you about it for a few days. He should have told you about it as soon as he found out, so you yell at him. "From now on" means "starting now and continuing in the future". You use this to talk about doing something differently than before: I think I paid too much. I'm definitely going to shop around for a better price when I buy a car from now on. When you tell someone else what to do "from now on", it sounds a little angry or stern. You can speak this way to your employees, your family members, or someone who you have authority over: From now on, I want you to call me if you're going to be out past ten o'clock. Do you understand me? From now on, can you check with me before you do something like that? A softer-sounding (and more formal) phrase for work situations is "going forward" 以后: Please refer any payroll-related questions to Jared going forward. Some English learners use the expression "from now", but that's incorrect. bring (something) to (someone's) attention "Bringing ___ to ___'s attention" is a formal phrase that means telling someone about something important: Ms. Tamaki has brought a serious issue to my attention. It seems that some of the students have been leaving school during their lunch break to use drugs and engage in other inappropriate behavior. A "discrepancy" [dɪˈskrepənsi] 差异, 不一致的地方 is a difference that might be a mistake. For example, if an event is listed in one place with a date of July 16th and in another place as July 17th, that's a discrepancy. You can also have discrepancies in calculations, or in people's descriptions of something that happened. The word "discrepancy" sounds a little technical or academic. 19. I'll give you a ring next week to work out the details. You've been making plans to meet a woman that you met on an online dating site. You've both agreed that next Wednesday is the best day, but you haven't chosen the exact time or location. You're writing an email to her to confirm the day. You write this to say that you'll call her to decide on the details. work out the details To "work out the details" means to discuss, think carefully about, and then make a decision about details of a plan. Here's another example that you can use in a business situation when you're trying to plan a sales pitch: OK, I'll work out the details and get back to you later this week. 20. I could use (something) You say "I could use ___" to indicate that you really want or need something, like a drink, but for some reason you haven't been able to get it yet. In the example at top, you say "I could really use a cup of coffee" because you're very sleepy and need some coffee, but there's no coffee nearby. Here's another example - when you're struggling with something, and there's someone nearby who isn't helping you, you can say: I could use a little help. A similar phrase is "I could go for ___." Only use this to talk about things that you suddenly want, like food or drinks: I could go for a beer 忽然想要 right now. You want one? 21. Let's all take a step back 退一步, 让一步 and remember that it's about what's best for the kids. You're a teacher. You're having a meeting with some colleagues to decide how to spend some money that's in the school's budget. People are getting really angry and emotional as they debate how to use the money. You say this to calm everybody down. When can you say "Let's ___"? You usually use it when you're suggesting something that you're sure the listener will accept. If you're meeting a friend for lunch, then you're sure that they will agree to eat with you. So you can say: I'm starving! Let's eat. In situations where you're not sure how the listener will respond to your suggestion, you can use other phrases like "Would you like to ___?", "Why don't we ___?" or "We should ___": Would you like to go out to dinner with me some time? Why don't we meet at 7:30? We should get together some time and have a drink. take a step back and (do something) To "take a step back" means to think about a topic in a more complete, less emotional way 冷静下来, 冷静想想, 好好想一想: I was extremely upset when I got laid off, but after a few weeks I was able to take a step back and realize that I still had what was important - my health and my family. If you take a step back and think about it, college doesn't really last that long. It's just four years out of your life. Do you ever take a step back and wonder why so many people wear glasses in modern times? Our ancestors wouldn't have had glasses, so how were people able to see back then 那个年代? it's about (something) This is a way of telling people what the goal, purpose, or key to something is. To use this, the topic needs to be understood by everyone. As an example, if you're talking with someone about learning English, you can say: It's about building up your vocabulary to the point where you feel confident talking to people about any given topic. If you're talking about cooking, you can say: It's about getting the freshest 新鲜的 ingredients. what's best for the children Raising children is very important for a lot of people. So teachers, politicians, parents, and other people often talk about "what's best for the children". They think about "what's best for the children" when making decisions. 22. That's really cool how you made it look like they're flying. Your brother is editing a music video for his band. There is a scene in the video in which the band members look like they're flying. You like that scene a lot. You say this to praise your brother. "Cool" started off as slang, but has been used for so long that it's OK to use in most situations. A normal adult can use the word "cool" in any of these situations: talking to a friend or family member, in a business meeting, talking to someone they just met, in an email message, in an advertisement. Situations in which it would be (just a little) strange to use "cool" are: if you were born before 1940. in a written essay. (It's/That's)(good/cool) how you (did something) In spoken English, people often use this kind of expression to praise something good. You can use different phrases that mean "good": It's great how you were able to finish so quickly. It's nice how you always remember people's birthdays. And the sentence can start with "It's" or "That's": That's really neat how the design repeats itself again and again. make (something) (do something) To "make" something happen is to cause it to happen, by doing it yourself or telling someone else do it: Do you know how to make a rock skip on the water when you throw it? She made Jason bring her a coffee.(something) looks like (clause) When something "looks like" it is happening, that means that it seems to be happening. You use "it looks like (something is happening)" when you're not sure if it's real: It looks like Jenna and Phillip might be interested in each other. Or you can use it when you know something isn't real, but it "looks like" it is. In the example at the top, you know that the band members aren't flying, but on the video it "looks like" they are. 23. To be honest, I'm kind of looking to branch out into something different. You're talking with someone you just met at a dinner party. You told this person about your job. He's interested in it, but you don't really like your current job. You want to move to a different field. kind of (do something) "Kind of" means "a little" or "somewhat". All of these words are most commonly used before an adjective: I feel kind of obligated to go. You look a little sick. Are you OK? It's somewhat smaller than I thought it would be. But only "kind of" sounds right before a verb, and only in casual conversation: I kind of wanted to go with them. We want to move, but we're kind of waiting for him to finish school. People sometimes pronounce "kind of" in a way that sounds like "kinda". I'm looking to (do something) This phrase means that you want to do something: We're looking to buy a house some time this year. When you say "I'm looking to (do something)", it sounds like you are just starting to make your decision. It also sounds like you are going to take your time. You use this phrase when talking about making large decisions like buying a house or car, or changing your career. To be honest, (sentence) Use this phrase when you're not really sure that you should share an opinion, but you share it anyway: To be honest, I don't really agree with the direction the company is going in these days. You can also include words like "completely" and "perfectly": To be completely honest... I think that he's a creep and he's just using her for her money. You can also put "to be honest" at the end of a sentence: I've never really liked action movies, to be perfectly honest. branch out into (something) "Branching out" means doing something new and different. For example, if an actor has mostly made serious dramatic movies in the past, but now he's starring in comedies, you can say that he's "branching out". You can also say: He's starting to branch out into 涉足 comedy. You can "branch out" in your studies, in your work, in the kind of food you eat, and in other ways: I've always just done aerobics classes at the gym, but I thought, "Hey, I should branch out and do some other stuff." So I've been going to the pool and stuff like that. 24. I feel like I've hit a plateau. You're learning to play the guitar. For a while, you were getting better and better, but now you feel like your skill level isn't improving. You tell this to your friend who plays guitar. I feel like (clause) You use "I feel like ___" to express your opinions. When you state your opinions this way, it sounds more personal than when you say "I think ___": I feel like kids these days don't have the same sense of respect that they used to when I was growing up. You can also use "I feel like ___" when you're not quite sure of something. For example, if you lost your credit card: I feel like I might have left it at the bar I went to the other night. I've (done something) One way to use "I've ___" is to talk about something that recently happened to you, and hasn't changed yet. In the example above, "I've hit a plateau" means that you first hit a plateau at some point recently and still aren't improving. Here's another example: I've decided to quit smoking. hit a plateau 遇上瓶颈 A "plateau" is a kind of mountain with a flat top. But there's another meaning of "plateau" that comes from its shape. On a graph, if you show something growing quickly and then staying the same for a while, it looks like the shape of a plateau. So, to "hit a plateau" means to stop growing or improving at something. You usually use this phrase to talk about things you're learning: A: How are your English studies coming along? B: Uh, I've kinda hit a plateau. You can also use "plateau" as a verb: I was making gains for a while, but I've started to plateau. 25. If payment is not received by January 15th, you will be charged a $150 penalty. You work in the management office of an apartment building. One of the tenants hasn't paid his rent yet for this month, and the payment is 10 days overdue. You're writing a letter to warn him to pay his rent. This is how you explain what will happen if he doesn't pay soon. If payment is not received by January 15th, you will be charged a $150 penalty. if (something) is not (done), (something) will be (done) In the situation above, the person writing the letter is explaining what consequences the tenant will face if he doesn't pay his rent by a certain date. This is a kind of threat. People can get really angry, frightened, or offended if they feel like they're being threatened in a direct way. For example, writing the sentence above this way would probably start an argument: If you don't pay us by January 15th, we're going go charge you a $150 penalty. This version is too direct for communicating with a customer or tenant. Instead, the person in the example explained the consequence of not paying in a more indirect way: Here are some other examples: If it isn't completed by the end of the month, someone is going to get fired. If all the steps are not followed in the correct order, the results will be ruined. charge (someone) a penalty A "penalty" is money that you have to pay because you didn't follow a set of rules, or because you did something wrong. When a company "charges" you a penalty, it means that they make you pay it. Here are some reasons that you might be charged a penalty: If you spend more money with your debit card than you actually have in your account, your bank will charge you a penalty. If you are late sending a payment (like in the example above), you will be charged a penalty. If you sign a two-year contract with a mobile phone company, and then want to change your service to another company after one year, they will charge you a penalty. The word "penalty" isn't usually used for talking about money you're forced to pay by the police or by a judge. That's called a "fine". (do something) by (a certain time) You use the word "by" to indicate a deadline. You would use "by" in this way: We're presenting this on Monday morning, so remember to get Henry's approval by Friday afternoon. "Before" is similar in meaning to "by", but "before" doesn't carry the same meaning of "deadline". Instead, it's used when you need to do things in a certain order: Remember to get Henry's approval before you present it to the client. This is something you would say if a coworker is going to make a proposal to a client, but she is supposed to ask Henry, who's the Director, for permission first. receive (something) 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." 26. It's getting harder and harder to earn a living as a photographer these days. You're a professional photographer. Websites that sell amateur photos for low prices are making it harder for you to make enough money. You say this while talking to an acquaintance who's not a photographer. "These days" means "recently". But "recently" is used to talk about things that have happened over the last few weeks or months. "These days" is a longer time period, usually from the last 6 months to the last 20-30 years. You use "these days" to talk about major changes in your life or in society. I don't watch much TV these days. Kids these days don't even remember what life was like before mobile phones and the Internet. It's getting harder and harder to earn a living as a photographer these days. get (adjective)-er and (adjective)-er / get more and more (adjective) When you want to describe something that continues to increase or decrease over time, you use the phrase "get ___er and ___er" or "get more and more ____". For example: You just get more and more beautiful every time I see you! Technology is getting easier and easier to use. it's hard to (do something) When an action is difficult to do, you say that "it's hard to ___": It's hard to believe that we've already been married for five years. It seems like we just met. It's hard to hear what you're saying with all the noise in here. earn a living 谋生 as a (job title) To "earn a living" means to make enough money to pay for your food, rent, car, and so on. You tell what job you're talking about with the phrase "earn a living as ___". Do you think it's realistic to hope to earn a living as a musician? The phrase "earn a good living" means to make more than just the basic amount necessary. A person who "earns a good living" isn't rich, but isn't poor either. It used to be that you could earn a good living as a driver, but these days it's hard. 27. Thanks for coming. Let's go ahead and get started. You're leading a meeting at work. You say this to start the meeting. go ahead and (do something) People use this phrase in casual conversation to express doing something soon, instead of waiting: You guys go ahead and eat — I'm not hungry. Let's go ahead and pick a day and time for our next meeting. "Let's get started" means "Let's start." Is everyone here? OK, let's get started. It somehow sounds friendlier and more natural to use the phrase "get started" instead of just "start". People use this phrase a lot at work, at conferences, at meetup groups, and so on. 28. How'd you manage to pull that off? Your friend got four free front-row tickets to a big rock concert. You're surprised that he was able to get them, so you ask this. How'd (someone) (do something)? "How'd" is a contraction of "How did". Some contractions are commonly accepted in written English, such as "can't", "won't", and "I'm". But "How'd" is still not completely accepted. You can use it when you're speaking, or when you're quoting what someone says. For example, in a novel: "How'd she get out of the house?" Bobby asked, accusingly. (someone) managed to (do something) The phrase "managed to ___" means that someone succeeded in doing something, even though it was difficult. For example, if the industry you work in has been going through a bad period, but you've continued to make money, you can say: I've managed to do OK. I was a horrible student. I just barely managed to pass 11th grade. pull (something) off Use "pull it off" or "pull that off" when you're talking about trying something difficult or risky, but succeeding. For example, you can "pull off": a dangerous skateboarding trick. getting a really beautiful woman's phone number. passing a test that you only started studying for the night before. For example: I know that it's a bit of a risk, but I really think we can pull it off. 29. It's supposed to clear up 晴开 by Friday. It's been raining for a few days. You're making small talk with a coworker. She says that she hopes it doesn't rain on the weekend because she has plans to go out with a relative who is visiting. You heard from the weather report that the rain will end on Thursday or Friday, so you say this. (something) is supposed to be (adjective) "Supposed to" can be used to express facts or predictions that other people have made and you have heard. A weather forecast is a good example. The newscaster has predicted what the weather will be like. You have heard this prediction, so you repeat it to another person as "it's supposed to ___": It's supposed to clear up by Friday. Another example is renting a movie that's gotten good reviews: This one's supposed to be good. "Supposed to" also has other meanings in other situations, like when you're telling someone what they should be doing: You're supposed to call if you're going to be late. it (is) clear Use "it" to talk about the weather (or the temperature of a room): It's a sunny, clear day. It's a bit chilly, isn't it? clear up This phrase means to become completely clear. You can use "clear up" to talk about weather: If it doesn't clear up soon, we're going to have to cancel the game. In this case, "clear up" means for the clouds to go away, and for any rain or snow to stop. "Clear up" can also be used to discuss an illness: I hope your cold clears up 病好, 病愈 soon. 30. I have a desk job at an insurance company. You're at a party. Another guest at the party asks what you do. You answer this. (someone) has (a job) Talk about someone's work situation with the phrase "have a job": Does she have a job? When I was in college, I had a job in an ice cream shop. He has a great job. a desk job A "desk job" is a job in an office. It involves doing things on a computer or involving paper. This phrase "desk job" sounds boring: I don't want to just grow up and get a desk job in some huge corporation. I want to make a difference in the world! an insurance company An "insurance company" sells insurance, which is a kind of protection against bad events. For example, a health insurance company will pay for your medical bills if you get sick or injured. Common types of insurance include: health insurance, car insurance, homeowner's insurance, life insurance (money that gets paid to someone's family if they die). People talk about "insurance companies" like this: The damn insurance company said that my policy didn't cover flood damage, so I didn't get anything.
