shoot for/at something 目标定在, 力求做到, 力求达成 American English informal to try to achieve a particular aim, especially one that is very difficult. We are shooting for a 50% increase in sales in the next financial year. to try to achieve a particular aim. It's worth taking chances when you're shooting for a chance of fame and wealth. The media group is now shooting for annual growth rates of between 8% to 10%. OK, let's shoot for next Wednesday. make (someone's) head spin/swim to confuse or overwhelm someone, to make someone dizzy. To make one feel very dazed, bewildered, or shocked. If you try anything, I'll sue you so fast it'll make your head spin! Looking at all the legal mumbo jumbo in these contracts always makes my head spin. The speed of the day's events made my head spin. somebody's head is spinning (also the room is spinning 天旋地转) if your head or the room is spinning, you feel as if you might faint (=become unconscious) because you are shocked, excited, or drunk I was pouring with sweat, and my head was spinning. The room started to spin. rat on sb/sth to not be loyal to someone, especially by giving away secret information about them, or to fail to do something that you said you would do: He ratted on us. They ratted on the deal. rat somebody out American English informal if someone rats you out, they are disloyal to you, especially by telling someone in authority about something wrong that you have done You can't rat out your teammates.
1. I made the equivalent of 等同于, 相当于 about three bucks an hour. You're talking to a friend about a part-time job that you had when you were younger and lived in a different country. You tell her how much money you made, but it was in a different currency. make (an amount of money) To "make ___" means that you get paid that much for your job. If you say: I make fifty thousand. It means that you get paid 50,000 dollars, euros, yen, or whatever form of money is used in your country. You can tell what the time period is for this amount using "per ___": I make fifty thousand dollars per year. A more casual way of saying the same idea is "make ___ a ___": She only makes ten bucks an hour. the equivalent of (something) Things that are "equivalent" are more or less equal. We use this word to compare things that can't be compared exactly. For example, you can compare the amount of nutrition that's in two different kinds of food: One serving of broccoli is equivalent to two oranges when it comes to Vitamin C. You can use the phrase (do) the equivalent of (something): I probably slept only the equivalent of eight hours during the entire trip. 2. Well, I appreciate your honesty. A friend told you something negative about yourself, but you're glad because now you know how she feels. You say this to her. When you "appreciate" something, it means that you notice it and are thankful for it. You say "I appreciate ___" or "We appreciate ___" when you want to thank someone for their actions. This phrase sounds more clear and explicit than just saying "Thank you for ___". We really appreciate all of your hard work and effort. I appreciate everything you've done for us. You've been so helpful. This is a set phrase that people say when someone tells them something bad. You say this to show that, although you don't like to hear that, you are glad that the person was honest. 3. We have it so easy these days 得来太容易. You're talking to your friend about your grandfather, who was a hard worker and woke up at the crack of dawn every day to work on a farm. You don't think that most people work that hard in the current generation, so you say this. (someone) has it easy This phrase means that someone has an easy life, doesn't have to work hard, doesn't have to suffer, and so on. Older people often say this about younger people who have an easier life than they remember having: You kids have it easy! Back when I was in high school, the teachers all used to carry big paddles around and if we got out of line, they'd whack us with them( whack I. to hit someone or something with a lot of force. I whacked my knee getting out of the car. Some kids were whacking the tree with sticks. He whacked his little sister on the head with a spoon. II. American very informal to charge someone a lot of money. Then they whack us with a 12% hotel tax. ). People don't think of "having it easy" as a very good thing. When you say this about someone, it makes them sound weak and undeserving of all the good things that have happened to them. 4. I'm very sorry that it didn't meet your standards 没达到你的要求. You are a waiter at a nice restaurant. A customer complains that her food wasn't good, but she's already eaten all of it. You want to apologize, but you can't bring her another meal, so you say this to smooth things over. meet (someone's) standards The example at top, "I'm very sorry that it didn't meet your standards," means "I'm very sorry that it wasn't good enough for you." To meet someone's standards means to be good enough for them. Your "standards" are the basic level of quality that you expect and require. Some people have very high standards, while others have lower standards. Another example of the word "meet" used this way is to "meet (someone's) expectations" 满足预期. This means to be as good as someone expected: After waiting for so long to get one, I was disappointed to find that the iPhone didn't really meet my expectations. 5. You'd never guess they were related 虚拟语气. You know two guys who are brothers but don't look or act the same at all. You're talking about them with a friend who just met them. You say this during your conversation. You'd never guess (clause) 永远都不会想到, 永远都想不到, 永远都猜不到, 你不会猜到( I/you/she etc would never guess used for showing that you think something is not at all obvious. Looking at her now you'd never guess she'd been so upset. I'd never have guessed that they were married. you'll never guess used for introducing something interesting or exciting that you want to tell someone. you'll never guess who/what/how etc: You'll never guess who I sat next to! Hello, Mother. Hi there, Shelly. You will never believe who I ran into at the barbecue festival. I am right in the middle of some very important work. I don't have time for this right now. Then why did you answer the phone? Because you raised me to be polite. Now stop bothering me. Hello again. Who did you see at the barbecue festival? Mr. Watkins. Really? You called me and interrupted my work to tell me that you ran into somebody you could plausibly run into? I'm sorry, Mother, I really need to focus here. I will speak to you next week. Okay, sweetheart. I'll talk to you then. I thought Mr. Watkins moved to Florida. He did. He was back visiting his son. Oh, gosh darn it, that is interesting. Was it Tommy or Joe? I bet it was Joe, 'cause he and Tommy had a falling out over that time-share. ) The meaning of "You'd never guess ___" is "You would never know or guess ___ if someone didn't tell you." In other words, this isn't easy to guess on your own. Here are some examples: Look at this gorgeous pair of shoes! You'd never guess that they were only $30. You'd never guess that she's 60 years old. She looks like she's in her 40s at most. "You'd never guess" is followed by a clause, which is kind of like a sentence inside of another sentence. That clause is usually written in the past tense ("they were related" instead of "they are"). In written English or more formal speaking, you'd begin the clause with "that": You would never guess that they were related to each other. You can also use other words like "know" and "think" instead of "guess": You'd never know that this neighborhood was once one of the roughest parts of town. You'd never think that such a tiny amount of water could cause so much damage. (some people) are related (to each other) People who belong to the same family by birth "are related to" each other: I grew up calling him "grandpa", but we're not technically related to each other. You can say that people are "related to" each other, or you can just say that they are "related". But you can't just say that one person is related: A: Johanna is related. B: Huh? What do you mean? Related to who? A: I mean, she's related to me. 6. They did just a phenomenal job on this event. In a meeting for the entire staff, the Marketing Director is complimenting how well her employees put together an event. She says this because she is extremely pleased. do a good job on (something) This means to do something, like an assignment or task, well. You explain what the task was using "on___" You can use other positive adjectives instead of "good": They did a great job. She's doing a fantastic job. We're doing a pretty good job on this. (something) is phenomenal "Phenomenal" means "really, really good". You can use it to talk about, for example, an amazing meal that you ate: Susie, that was phenomenal. Thank you so much! "Phenomenal" is not as common as other similar words like "great", "amazing", or "outstanding". So you can use it when you want to praise something in a way that sounds new and fresh. 7. The average life expectancy there is something crazy like 82 years. You read an article about a small island where people live a long time. You're describing this place to a coworker who didn't read the article. average life expectancy 平均寿命 The "average life expectancy" is the average age that people live until. You can find out the "average life expectancy" for a country or region, or an overall average life expectancy for the world: The average life expectancy for a baby born in South Korea today is over 80 years! If the life expectancy for a country is 70 years, that means that some people will die when they are much younger than 70, but many people will live to be older than 70 as well. something crazy like (a number) Use this phrase to talk about a number which is very high or very low, but which you don't know exactly: They say it's going to get up to something crazy like 102 degrees this week! The distance to the nearest star is something crazy like 40 million million miles. His commute to work used to be something crazy like two and a half hours. In general, "crazy" can describe something that's surprising: That is crazy expensive! I found a crazy number of mistakes in my earlier calculations. 8. Next up is Steve. He's going to walk us through the new homepage redesign. You're in charge of a meeting at work. One of your coworkers is going to give a quick presentation for everyone. You say this to introduce him. Next up is (someone) This phrase introduces the next person who's going to speak at a meeting, the next performer in a theater, or the next set of athletes who are going to compete in a sports tournament: Next up is a man who needs no introduction. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for Trey Faust! walk (someone) through (something) When you "walk through" something, you talk about it step-by-step. In the example above, the speaker says that his coworker is going to walk everyone through a new home page. That means that he's going to show them each new feature of the site. Some other examples of "walking through" something include: When you're preparing for a wedding, you usually walk everyone through what to do during the ceremony. You should walk your children through what to do in case of an emergency like a fire. a home page redesign The "home page" of a website is the first page that you see when you visit that site. A "web page redesign" is when someone changes how a web page looks or works. 9. You can't just sit around feeling sorry for yourself 叹息感伤, 自怜自艾, 自哀自怜, 顾影自怜 forever. Your roommate broke up with his girlfriend two weeks ago. Since then, he's been at home every day and seems depressed. You don't want to see him being depressed any longer. So you say this to try to encourage him to go out and have fun with other people. sit around (doing something) To "sit around ___ing" means to do something lazily. Here are some of the best examples: sit around watching TV. sit around on the Internet. sit around talking to your friends (when you're supposed to be working or studying). sit around waiting for something. This is a negative phrase. You usually use it when you're complaining about someone who seems lazy. feeling sorry for yourself/myself This means to think a lot about your own problems. A person who is "feeling sorry for" him- or herself is not only sad, but also thinking things like: "Why did this have to happen to me?" "It's not fair!" "No one loves me." "Everything is ruined now!" "Feeling sorry for yourself" is never a good thing. Saying that someone "is feeling sorry for" him- or herself makes it seem like they're childish and immature. You can also say this about yourself: After that, I started to feel even more sorry for myself. 10. Sylvia, where do you stand on this 你的立场? You're leading a meeting at work to discuss a major business decision. Most of the people in the meeting have given their opinions and there is some disagreement. You want to ask one of the people who hasn't given an opinion yet, so you ask this. Where does (someone) stand on (an issue or debate) English speakers often compare opinions to positions or locations in an imaginary space. For example, you can call a person's official opinion their "position": What's your position on 你的立场, 你的观点 health care reform? Debates and disagreements have "sides", which you can imagine as people standing on opposite sides of a room to show which idea they agree with: Why are you taking her side? A. Whose side are you on? B. I'm not on either side. I'm staying out of it. And when you ask someone "Where do you stand?" it means "What's your opinion?" or "What side of this debate are you on?" You identify the question or the topic with "on": Where do you stand on gun control? It's hard to tell where she stands on this topic. There's also a noun for talking about where someone stands on a topic. It's "stance". Your "stance" is similar to your "opinion" or "position": What's her stance 立场 on the topic of immigration? We use "stance" and "Where do you stand?" in business discussions, political discussions, academic debates, and other formal situations. When people are discussing a problem or situation, they commonly refer to it as "this": What are we going to do about this? How long do you think this is going to last? 立场: position VS stance VS where do you stand on VS standing: standing I. Someone's standing is their reputation or status. the status or reputation that someone or something has. This latest scandal will undoubtedly have affected his standing with his colleagues. of high/great/considerable etc. standing 身居高位的人, 有很高地位的: We are delighted to be working with a company of such high standing. a research center of international standing. ...an artist of international standing 国际地位. He has improved his country's standing abroad. She had the wealth and social standing 社会地位 to command respect. a. used about people's social status. People's jobs are an important measure of social standing. The owner of this house would have been a man of standing 有社会地位的人 in Roman society. II. A party's or person's standing is their popularity. someone's success or status as measured in numbers, for example in an opinion poll. The president's current high standing 受欢迎程度, 人气高, 高人气, 民调排行 in the polls is not likely to last. The opinion poll shows the party's standing has never been so low. The Prime Minister's standing was much higher in the U.S. than at home. III. In a contest or competition, the list of competitors which shows their places during the event is called the standings 排位表, 排行榜 (UK table). a list of teams or players put in order according to how many points they have won in games or competitions against each other. Britain is 11th in the team standings 排位表, 排行榜. adj. You use standing to describe something which is permanently in existence. Israel has a relatively small standing army 军力, 兵力 and its strength is based on its reserves. Elizabeth had a standing invitation to stay with her. ...the finance standing committee. of many years' standing 多年来的 You can use the expression of many years' standing to say that something has had a particular function or someone has had a particular role for many years. For example, if a place is your home of ten years' standing, it has been your home for ten years. ...a Congressman of 24 years' standing. My girlfriend of long standing left me. In the case of long standing stains 老的印迹, 旧的, 长期存在的, 一直就有的, it's best to soak the item. free-standing adj A free-standing piece of furniture or other object is not fixed to anything, or stands on its own away from other things. ...a free-standing cooker. standing joke something that happens regularly that a particular group of people find funny. They always spell his name wrong. It's a standing joke. standing charge 固定费用, 月费 a flat rate or charge always paid for electricity regardless of whether you use more or less electricity than you pay for. a fixed amount of money that you pay for being provided with a service such as gas, electricity, water, or a telephone line. With energy, the standing charge is the cost of having a gas and electricity supply – then you pay usage charges on top. Therefore the standing charge is the fee you pay to your energy supplier simply because it gives you access to energy. outstanding payment: In layman's language, outstanding payment is the payment that has not yet been paid. position I. The position of someone or something is the place where they are in relation to other things. The ship was identified, and its name and position were reported to the coastguard. This conservatory enjoys an enviable position overlooking a leafy expanse. II. When someone or something is in a particular position, they are sitting, lying, or arranged in that way. Hold the upper back and neck in an erect position to give support for the head. Ensure the patient is turned into the recovery position. Mr. Dambar had raised himself to a sitting position. III. Your position in society is the role and the importance that you have in it. ...the position of older people in society. IV. A position in a company or organization is a job. He left a career in teaching to take up a position 就职 with the Arts Council. Hyundai said this week it is scaling back its U.S. operations by eliminating 50 positions 职位. V. Your position in a race or competition is how well you did in relation to the other competitors or how well you are doing. Agassi and Sampras resumed their battle for the world's No. 1 position, both winning their opening matches. By the ninth hour the car was running in eighth position. VI. You can describe your situation at a particular time by saying that you are in a particular position. He's going to be in a very difficult position indeed if things go badly for him. Companies should be made to reveal more about their financial position. It was not the only time he found himself in this position. VII. Your position on a particular matter is your attitude towards it or your opinion of it. It (让游客在疫情期间回国) is likely a difficult position 态度, 立场 for Mr Morrison to take, given his previous role as director of Tourism Australia, where he famously hired Lara Bingle to help lure travellers in. He could be depended on to take a moderate position on most of the key issues. Mr Howard is afraid to state his true position 立场 on the republic, which is that he is opposed to it. VIII. If you are in a position to do something, you are able to do it. If you are in no position to do something, you are unable to do it. The U.N. system will be in a position to support the extensive relief efforts needed. I am not in a position to comment. verb. I. If you position something somewhere, you put it there carefully, so that it is in the right place or position. Position trailing plants near the edges and in the sides of the basket to hang down. Place the pastry circles on to a baking sheet and position one apple on each circle. in position 就位, 各就各位 If someone or something is in position, they are in their correct or usual place or arrangement. This second door is an extra security measure and can be locked in position during the day. Some 28,000 U.S. troops are moving into position. be in no position to do something 凭什么, 没有资源, 没有能力, 没有本事
to be unable to do something because you do not have the ability,
money, or power to do it. You're unemployed and in no position to
support a family. Ned says I'm always late? He's in no position to talk (=should not criticize because he does the same thing). Shocking pictures this week showed large groups of backpackers flagrantly 公然无视规定 disregarding strict social distancing rules,
designed to stop the virus spreading. 'These (student) visas, and those
who are in Australia under various visa arrangements, they are obviously not held here compulsorily,' he told reporters on Friday. 'If they are not in a position to support themselves 没有办法, 不能够, 做不到 then there is the alternative for them to return to their home countries. not sb's place to do sth 不合适, 没有资格, 没有权利, 没有责任, 没有立场 If you say that it is not your place to do something, you mean that it is not right or appropriate for you to do it, or that it is not your responsibility to do it. if it is not your place to do something, you do not have the duty or right to do it It's not your place to criticize me! He says that it is not his place to comment on government commitment to further funds. It's not my place to do their job. have no place to not be suitable or right in a particular situation. She believed that religious teaching had no place in the school curriculum. there is no place for...: There's no place for sentiment when you're negotiating a business deal. 11. I didn't bring any workout clothes. You're visiting a friend who lives in another city. He likes to run for exercise, and he asks if you want to go running with him. You'd like to, but you don't have the right clothes to wear. workout clothes "Working out" means "exercising". Clothes that you wear for exercising can be called "workout clothes". Workout clothes include things like: gym shorts, yoga pants, t-shirts, tank tops, sports bras, sneakers (also known as "tennis shoes" or "running shoes"). 12. Oh my goodness. It was so moving, by the end I was tearing up. You're talking with your friend about a book that you read. You say this because the book was very emotional and dramatic. Oh my goodness. This is something you say when you're slightly surprised, scared, happy, or feel some other emotion. It's like "Oh my God": Oh my God, that's wonderful! But "Oh my goodness" sounds more mild. The emotion doesn't sound as strong as it does when you say "Oh my God." Also, there are some people (mostly older, conservative women) who don't say "Oh my God" for religious reasons. (a story/song/movie) was moving A "moving" story is one that makes you feel strong emotions. The emotions that are associated with feeling "moved" are: sadness, hope, joy, nostalgia, gratitude (being thankful). Another way to describe it is that a "moving" story, photograph, song, or movie makes you feel empathetic 感同身受 to other people's feelings. It makes you imagine other people's pain, happiness, and dreams. Use "moving" in these forms: (something) is so moving What did you think of it? I thought it was so moving! a moving 感人的, 动人的 (something) "Adagio for Strings" is such a moving piece of music. (someone) is (adverb) moved by (something) I'm deeply moved by your generosity. (something) was so (adjective), (clause) Here are a few more examples of this structure: She was so tired, she went straight to bed when she got home. It happened so fast, I couldn't tell what was going on. It might help to know that you can also put "that" in the sentence: It was so moving that I was tearing up by the end. by the end (of something) In this example: Oh my goodness. It was so moving, by the end I was tearing up. ...the speaker started to feel moved by the book as she was reading it. As she got closer to the end of the book, she continued to feel more emotional. The phrase "by the end" explains that she didn't just suddenly tear up while she was reading the last few pages of the book; she slowly started to feel that way as she was reading it. (someone) tears up 眼泪汪汪的, 泪眼婆娑的 To "tear up" means to start to cry. Sometimes people "tear up" without completely crying. This happens a lot when people watch sad movies or read dramatic books. 13. OK, well, I’ll let you get settled in 收拾停当, 安顿下来, 安顿一下. There's a new employee working under you. It's her first day at work. You've been explaining things to her for a while. Now you need to go back to your office to do some work. You say this so that you can leave. get settled in "Getting settled in" to a place means becoming comfortable there. You "get settled in" to: a new city, a new home, a hotel, a new job. In order to "get settled in", you might need to look around, figure out where everything is, organize some of your things, and so on. 14. You ought to go ahead and book it soon. Your younger sister is coming to visit you. She hasn't bought her plane tickets yet, and she's waiting to get the best price. You think it's cheaper to buy your tickets early, so this is how you advise her. (someone) ought to (do something) There are lots of different ways of giving advice. "You ought to ___" is one form of advice that's used in casual conversation, when the advice isn't that serious or important. For example, you can use "ought to" when suggesting which dry cleaner to use: You ought to try Lucy's on 9th Avenue. They do a really good job. 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. book (a flight) To "book a flight" means to buy or reserve your tickets to ride on an airplane. Notice that you use "buy" with "tickets", but "book" with "flight": Have you bought your tickets yet? Have you booked your flight yet? Other things that you can "book" include: book a room (in a hotel), book a hotel, book a car, book a table (in a restaurant). 15. Images on this site may not be used without my express written permission. You have a website where you post photographs that you've taken. You don't want people to take your photos and use them on other web sites without asking you, so you write this at the bottom of the page. "Images" means "pictures". But while "pictures" suggests photographs specifically, "images" can mean photos, illustrations, charts, etc. as well. To "use" images means to publish them, put them in a website, print them, and so on. (something) may not be (done) This is a formal way of telling people something that they can't do: School computers may not be used for playing games or surfing the Internet. Items may not be returned after 30 days. You speak or write this way if you're the one in charge of something (someone's) express written 明确同意, 明确的允许 permission Getting someone's "express permission" means clearly and specifically getting their permission to do something. Sometimes it's OK to do something without getting express permission for it. For example, if you are renting an apartment you can probably hang a small picture on the wall without asking your landlord. But if you want to install new kitchen cabinets 橱柜, you will need to get your landlord's express permission. This is a formal and legal-sounding phrase. The word "express" is also used as an adjective to mean "specific" in this phrase: I came here for the express purpose of finding a job. 16. You may be wondering why I called this meeting 召集会议, 召集开会. Your company has just made some big changes to how it is organized. Not all employees know about the changes yet. You call a quick meeting to tell the people who work under you. You didn't explain what the meeting was about when you invited everyone, so when it starts you say this. You may be wondering (wh- clause) You can talk about what you think someone might be thinking with this phrase. For example: You may be wondering why we changed it. Well, to be perfectly honest, it was a cost-cutting decision. You may be wondering what this number over here means. That's the percentage of people in our survey that said that they only watch TV shows over the Internet. People usually say "You may be wondering..." in speeches, essays, or other situations in which the audience can't speak back easily. In a one-on-one conversation with someone, you can ask a direct question: Are you wondering how much it cost? call (a) meeting "Calling" a meeting means telling or asking a group of people to have a meeting. You usually "call" a meeting to talk about something important and unexpected. Mike called a meeting this morning to tell us about Lana getting fired. I wanted to call a meeting because we've recently had a bunch of errors slip past us, and we need to make sure that that doesn't happen. For meetings that are on a regular schedule, you don't use this phrase: We have a regular meeting every Monday morning. 17. Uhh... I'm blanking on her name (drawing a blank). You're talking to the mother of one of the other children at your child's daycare. You want to tell her something about the head teacher at the daycare, but you can't remember the head teacher's name. I'm blanking on (something) Use the phrase "blanking on ___" to talk about forgetting something temporarily. You can "blank" on something like the name of a person or thing even when you usually know it well. Here's an example for talking about the name of an actress on a TV show that you like: I'm blanking on the name of the actress. Who's the one with the red hair? 18. Worst case scenario, I can always move back in with my folks. (someone's) folks "My folks" can mean your parents. This is a casual way to talk about your parents: My folks moved here from China before I was born. You can talk about other people's parents too: How are your folks? 19. But sometimes you'll be flipping through the channels and come across something really interesting. You're in a conversation with a group of friends about your TV-watching habits. You like having cable on your TV because you can find interesting shows to watch. You explain this to your friends like this. come across (something) This phrase means to find something without really trying to look for it. Aren't these great? I came across them at a thrift shop a couple weeks ago. 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. Here are some other examples: Sometimes I'll be sitting in my office and Nadine will yell out a question to me from the office next door. You know how sometimes you'll be driving along and another car will pull out in front of you all of a sudden? That makes me so annoyed. flip through (something) To "flip through the channels" on your TV means to change the channel again and again to search for something you want to watch. You can also "flip through" other things: the pages of a book. CDs in a music store. 20. We have a really vibrant art scene. You have a friend visiting you from out of town. You're telling her about the good qualities of the city that you live in. You tell her this. a vibrant (something) 有活力的, 有生气的 Something that is "vibrant" is exciting and energetic: "Vibrant" colors are bright and strong. A "vibrant community" has a lot of interesting activities going on all the time. an art scene A city's "art scene" is all of the art shows, galleries, events, artists, art buyers, and so on that happen there. A "scene" includes both the events and the people. It centers around a particular city or neighborhood, and also a certain period of time. In addition to "the art scene", here are some other kinds of "scenes": the 1980's San Francisco punk rock scene, the club scene in Miami, the New York fashion scene. People who belong to a scene tend to talk, dress, and act alike. Some people fit in really well within the scene. These people can be called "scenesters", although that's a little bit of a negative term. 21. We all had to huddle together 抱在一起 for warmth. One time you went on a camping trip with some friends and it got much colder than you expected at night. Now you're telling a story about the trip, and you explain how you all slept in your tent. huddle together 拥在一起 When people (or animals) "huddle together", they put their bodies into a ball-like position and get very close to each other: Look at the kitties huddled together in the corner. How cute! cuddle (与人), cuddlesome = cuddly I. A cuddly person or animal makes you want to cuddle them. He is a small, cuddly man with spectacles. ...these cuddly creatures from South East Asia. II. Cuddly toys are soft toys that look like animals. snuggle (多在床上) snug: adj.
I. if you are snug, you feel warm, comfortable, and safe. a, used about
a room or a building that is small, warm, and comfortable. a row of snug little cottages. II. fitting closely to your body, or fitting closely into a space. 词源: To snuggle is to cuddle with someone. Snuggling is a little like hugging, and it often takes place in bed. This is a cutesy word for cute behavior: nestling or nuzzling someone. People snuggle to warm each other up or to be affectionate.
People dating or married often snuggle. Close friends or siblings might
snuggle, and people definitely snuggle with their pets. Snuggling is
only likely to happen with people who are close; if you try to snuggle a
stranger, you'll probably get arrested. canoodle [kəˈnuːd(ə)l] kiss and cuddle amorously. "she was caught canoodling with her boyfriend".
词源: To canoodle is to embrace and fondle. Romantic couples canoodle.
When people are getting a little physical romantically, they're
canoodling. This somewhat silly-sounding word applies to somewhat
innocent physical affection. For some reason, this word is used
frequently by celebrity reporters who love to write about who a hunky actor or sultry starlet is canoodling with at a cafe. However, anyone can canoodle as long as you have a date. smooch [smuːtʃ] kiss and cuddle amorously. to kiss, hold, and touch someone in a sexual way: Didn't I see you smooching with Mark at Kim's party? "the young lovers smooched in their car". II. UK 拥吻. When two people are smooching, they are dancing slowly and very close together to slow, romantic music: The dance floor was full of middle-aged couples smooching to slushy ballads.
词源: A smooch is a big kiss, and to smooch is to kiss someone. People
express affection by kissing each other — so you may give your dog a
smooch on the nose, or smooch your sister's cheek. You might, on the
other hand, refuse to watch romantic comedies if you don't enjoy seeing
the characters smooch. (do something) for warmth 取暖 When it's really cold, you do things "for warmth": We all used to sleep right next to the heater for warmth. Do you remember that scene in "The Empire Strikes Back" where Han had to put Luke inside his Tauntaun for warmth? 22. OK. Let's go with that then. You're leading a meeting at work. You've been discussing a project that you're planning. Everyone in the meeting has agreed on a plan. You say something to end the discussion. 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. go with (something) 选择 To "go with" something means to choose it. For example, you can say this when shopping for something like shoes: I think I'll go with the red ones. You can ask someone: Which one are you going to go with? And you can also talk about the past: We went with the second suggestion. 23. It's made a noticeable difference 明显区别. You are discussing your exercise routine with a friend who's also interested in exercise. You recently started doing a new type of weight lifting exercise. Your friend asks you if it's been successful. Positively, you respond like this. make a noticeable difference Something "makes a difference" when it causes a situation to change. We usually use this to talk about positive changes: Having an extra person around to help out has really made a difference. Painting the living room really made a difference. It used to be so dark and depressing in there. A "noticeable" difference is a change that's big enough for you to see and notice. It's not as big as a "big difference" but maybe a little bit bigger than a "slight" difference. 24. I saw you checking out that lady in there. When you were at a restaurant with your dad, an attractive woman was sitting at a table nearby. You noticed that your father was looking at her a lot. After you leave the restaurant, you say this to tease him for looking at the woman. see (someone)(doing something) This means to see someone when they're doing something: I just saw Judy talking to Tom in the hallway. check (someone) out To "check (someone) out" means to look at a person's whole body to see how attractive they are. You can check yourself out in a mirror, or check someone else out. You can also "check out" a certain part of a person's body: Were you checking out my ass? This is very casual English, of course. You can also "check out" an object, an e-mail message, a video, and so on: Check out these shoes I bought. Nice, huh? But this just means to look at something, and doesn't have a negative sexual meaning. "Lady" is another word for "woman". The word "lady" sometimes sounds more respectful than "woman". You can use it to talk about someone who you don't know: I met a lady on the bus who said that she was a physical therapist. It's not very polite to use the word "lady" to directly address someone. It can actually sound rude: Get out of my way, lady! "Miss" or "ma'am" are more polite: Excuse me, miss. I think you dropped something. But it's OK to call a group of women "Ladies": Right this way, ladies. Follow me. 25. A fugitive has been apprehended after attempting to escape from a Durham county jail. You're watching the news on TV. There's some news about a prisoner who escaped, but has now been caught again. The news anchor (TV announcer) says this. a fugitive 逃犯 A "fugitive" is a person who escapes from a jail, runs away when the police are trying to arrest them, or hides from a government agency that is trying to find them. Since "fugitives" are people who are hiding and running away, here are some common phrases that the word "fugitive" is used in: the fugitive escaped, the fugitive is on the run from the police, the fugitive was apprehended by the police, the fugitive has surrendered to the police, the fugitive was captured, the fugitive has been arrested. attempting to (do something) To "attempt" to do something means to try: We attempted to reach him earlier in the week, but were not able to contact him. This example means that you tried to call someone, but you weren't able to talk to him. The word "attempt" is pretty formal. Here are some situations where people use it instead of "try": You can use it in writing. It's common in legal writing and in court. Magicians use this word when they're performing a magic trick on stage: For my next trick, I will attempt to make this woman disappear! TV news shows and newspaper articles use it. (name) county jail In the U.S., counties are government units that are smaller than a state, but larger than a city. Each state typically has about 50-60 counties, with some states having more and some having less. So a "county jail" is a jail which is operated by that unit of government.The phrase "county jail" brings to mind the image of a small jail where people stay for a short time after they are arrested. (a criminal) was apprehended 抓获, 抓住, 逮住 The word "apprehend" means to catch. We use it to talk about police catching criminals, suspects, fugitives, and so on: Police have apprehended a man suspected of robbing a couple at gunpoint in the waterfront district. This is a somewhat formal or technical-sounding word. It's mostly used by police officers, government officials, and in the news. In normal conversation, use "catch" instead: Have they caught the guy who did it yet? 26. I do think that you sometimes come across as a bit aggressive. You're evaluating one of your employees. He often seems angry when speaking to you and other employees. You criticize him in a very soft, polite way. "A bit" is used for adjectives that are negative. So you wouldn't say that an event was "a bit fun" or that a person is "a bit nice". But you can say that the event was "a bit boring" and the person is "a bit rude". "A bit" is slightly formal. It's more formal than "kind of" or "a little", but more casual than "somewhat": kind of > a little > a bit > somewhat. come across as (something) The way that you "come across" to people is how they see you and think about you. This phrase is a way to explain what people think of you, which can be different from how you think of yourself. So although you may think of yourself as cool and sophisticated, you might come across as unfriendly instead. You can follow "come across as" with a noun phrase that describes a person: He came across as a really friendly and sweet guy at first. Or you can follow it with an adjective phrase that describes someone's personality, like in the example above. Here's another example: Do you think I come across to people as kind of boring? But it sounds strange to just have a single-word adjective after "come across as", like "come across as boring" or "come across as needy". (someone) is aggressive Someone who is "aggressive" is forceful and quick to attack. "Aggressive" behavior threatens people: Man, he's so aggressive all the time. He needs to just chill out. You can talk about animals as being "aggressive": You can pet her. She's not aggressive. Being "aggressive" is usually bad, but in certain situations, the word "aggressive" can have positive associations, like in sports or in sales: You've got to be aggressive and go for the win. 27. People will say almost anything to get out of jury duty. Your coworker got a notice in the mail saying that he had to go to court to serve on a jury. He doesn't want to stay for a whole trial, so you have a conversation about different ways to avoid it. (someone) will say anything to (do something) When someone really wants to do something, they will try hard to convince other people to let them do or not do that thing. They might even be willing to lie or cheat. To describe this, we say that that person will "say anything" to accomplish their goal. For example, say this about someone who really doesn't want to wash the dishes: She'll say anything to get out of washing the dishes. Someone who's truly addicted will say anything to get their fix. You can also talk about people who will "do anything": I wouldn't trust him. He's the kind of guy who will do anything to get ahead. get out of (doing something) "Getting out of" doing something means avoiding a responsibility that you don't want to do: I was able to get out of taking the final exam because I had a good grade up to that point and perfect attendance. A: What are you doing on the 28th? B: I've got a wedding I'm supposed to go to that weekend. I wish I could get out of it, but everyone I work with is going. jury duty I just found out that I have jury duty in two weeks. In countries where jury duty is required, a lot of people find it inconvenient and boring. So it's common for citizens to try to avoid jury duty by making the judge and lawyers think that they won't be able to make a fair decision. 28. What's the deal with this soup 是干什么的, 是做什么的, 是要怎样? You come home and your wife is watching TV. You see that there's a pot of cold soup on the stove, but you don't know whether it's good to eat or whether it needs to be thrown out. You ask this to find out. What's the deal with (something) 怎么回事 (What's the go)? This is a question that you can ask to get general information about something. "What's the deal with ___?" isn't a specific question, so the person who you ask can give whatever answer is appropriate. In the situation above, the wife can give any of these answers: Oops, I made that for lunch but I forgot to put it away. It's an Italian recipe I came across the other day. It's still good. Just heat it up a bit. Ask "what's the deal with ___" for things that are a little strange or unexpected, when you want to find out information about them but you don't know what exactly to ask. You can also ask about people this way if they're acting strange: What's her deal? The word "deal" in this phrase is not used as a verb. It's a noun which means "situation" or "story". 29. Some creepy guy was hitting on me. You're at a dance club with your friend. She left to go to the bathroom, and while she was gone a guy started talking to you and asked you out on a date. You didn't like him. Now you're telling your friend about it. a creepy (person) A "creepy" person is someone who makes you feel uncomfortable. They might do things like: staring at you a lot, standing too close when they talk to you, calling you too often. This kind of "creepy" behavior makes you feel like this person is strange and unsafe. It might make you think that the person is going to stalk you or attack you. People who ask you out on dates can be "creepy", but it's also possible for your coworkers, boss, or uncle to be "creepy" as well. It's a lot more common for men to be called "creepy" than women. (someone) hit on (someone) "Hitting on" someone means trying to create a sexual or romantic situation with them. Here are some ways to "hit on" someone: asking them out on a date. asking for their phone number or email address. complimenting their appearance. You can't really "hit on" someone who you're already in a relationship with. People usually "hit on" people who they've just recently met. The phrase "hit on" doesn't sound especially negative. You can say that someone "hit on" you, whether you liked it or disliked it. 30. Has anyone gone over our policy on sick days? You're a manager at a bank. There's a new teller who just started today. You're explaining company policies to her. You ask if she knows what to do when she gets sick. go over (something) 仔细阅读 "Going over" something means discussing or reviewing it. You can "go over" things like: plans, lists of rules, someone's work. You can "go over" things that have already been done or discussed. You can also "go over" things that are new. For example, say this to someone who's going to participate in your wedding ceremony: Let's go over what you're supposed to do on the day of the ceremony. (an organization's) policy on (a topic) Companies and other organizations have "policies". A "policy" is like a rule. The difference is that the word "rule" sounds a little more strict and unbreakable. You can talk about an organization's different policies using the phrase "policy on __": What's our policy on customer complaints? You can also talk about a "___ policy": They have a strict cancellation policy. Policies can apply to the members of an organization, as well as to other people, like customers. sick days 病假 (sick leave) "Sick days" are days that you stay home from work or school because you get sick or injured: I took a sick day. You can talk about the number of days that employees or students are allowed to take off: How many sick days do we get here? This is a casual phrase. A more formal phrase is "sick leave".
Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Phrase Mix; (It's/That's)(good/cool) how you (did something); push back/up 提前, 推后;
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.
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.
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