month3 Flashcards
You coach a kids’ soccer team. The players are practicing, but they’re not running as fast as they can. You want them to run faster, so you say:
Pick up the pace, ladies!
pick up the pace
To “pick up the pace” means to go faster. You can use this to talk about running, working, reading, and other things. However, you probably wouldn’t use “pick up the pace” to talk about the speed of a car.
ladies
You can call a group of girls or women “ladies”. It’s common in a situation like the one above: when a teacher or coach is talking to a group of girls or women. It sounds polite, but authoritative.
Your name is complicated to pronounce for English speakers. You’re introducing yourself to someone that you just met, and explaining how to pronounce your name. You say:
I know; it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.
I know
Say this when there’s something that’s annoying or difficult for other people, but you can’t fix it.
> I know; you don’t want to be here. But there’s nothing we can do about it, so we might as well enjoy it.
not exactly
This is an example of understatement. In the example above, the speaker’s name is really hard to pronounce. But instead of saying “it’s really hard”, she says “it doesn’t exactly…” in order to sound witty and intelligent.
Here’s another example: if your husband is overweight, but made fun of you for being a little heavy, you can say:
> You’re not exactly in the best shape yourself, you know.
(something) rolls off the tongue
When a name or word is easy to pronounce, we say that it “rolls off the tongue”. You can use it in a positive sense like this:
> His last name is Lane, huh? So you would be Lisa Lane? I like it; it kind of rolls off the tongue.
A coworker is trying to create a spreadsheet to calculate some information. He can’t figure out how to calculate it, so he asks you for help. You can’t immediately fix it, but you’d like to try a few different options. You say:
I’ll fiddle around with it for a while.
When you want to offer to do something, and you’re sure that the listener will accept your offer, say “I’ll ___”:
> I’ll call you next week and we can settle on the time and place.
> I’ll go pick up all the stuff we need.
> I’ll print out a few copies of that for people to refer to.
If you’re not as sure that your offer will be accepted, you can say “I can ___ if you want.”:
> I can fiddle around with it for a while if you want.### fiddle around with (something)When something isn’t working correctly, you might “fiddle around with” it. Fiddling around with something means trying different things to see what works. Here are some things that you might “fiddle around with”:
- a computer program that you don’t really know how to use correctly
- a part that’s fallen off of your bicycle
- a new music player that your wife can’t figure out how to load songs into
###
You’re on a car trip with your son. He says that he has to go to the bathroom, but you just stopped at a gas station 10 minutes ago. You don’t want to stop again so soon. You ask him:
Can you hold it in for a few more minutes?
hold it in
When you have to use the bathroom, but you need to wait, you “hold it in”.
Something else that people “hold in” is a secret:
> She told me not to say anything about it, but I just couldn’t hold it in!
So you might say that people “hold in” something that’s inside of them but pushing to get out.
(do something) for a few more minutes
This is an easy expression to understand, but it might be helpful to remember it all together. Here are some other examples:
> Stir it for a few more minutes.
> Let’s wait for just a few more minutes.
You’re eating dinner with a friend at a restaurant. You’re eating an appetizer that comes with a dipping sauce. It tastes really good, so you want to encourage your friend to taste it. You say:
You’ve got to try this sauce. It’s amazing!
You’ve GOT to (do something)
One way that people use the expression “You’ve GOT to ___” is to make enthusiastic recommendations of things.
In the example above, the speaker says that her friend “has got to” try the sauce because it’s really good. Here’s another example:
> You’ve never been to the Met? Oh my gosh, you’ve GOT to go there! They have the most amazing exhibits.
This is similar to using “got to” to beg for something:
> Please! You’ve got to help me!### (something) is amazingThe word “amazing” means “really, really great”.In American English, words like “amazing” and “awesome” have been slowly losing their strength over recent years. It might seem like exaggeration to call a tasty sauce “amazing”, but it’s a common way of speaking.
One of your employees looks sick. You ask her why she came to work, and she says that she has a lot of work to do. You’d rather she go home so that she doesn’t make other people sick. You say:
If you’re feeling under the weather, by all means go home and get some rest.
(someone) is feeling (adjective)
It might seem a little mysterious why the speaker uses “If you’re feeling” instead of “If you feel…” in this sentence. When people are talking about someone’s health, it’s common to use the progressive form (“feeling”) instead:
> How are you feeling?
> I’m feeling a lot better lately.
(someone) feels under the weather
“Feeling under the weather” means that you feel sick. This phrase usually describes someone with cold or flu symptoms.
by all means, (do something)
When you introduce a suggestion with “by all means”, it shows that you completely think that the listener should take your suggestion. It’s a way of showing that you’re serious about what you’re saying:
> A: Can I sit and watch you work for a few minutes?B: By all means.
People use “by all means” in arguments as well:
> A: I’ve had enough of you! I don’t have to put up with this, you know.B: If you want to leave, by all means, go right ahead.
Another way to explain “by all means” is that it’s like saying “Don’t hesitate.”
go home and get some rest
People say this to sick people.
You’re checking one of your students’ essays. One of the sections of the essay isn’t very convincing because the student didn’t explain himself very well. You want him to write more. You say:
Try to flesh out that first point a little bit more.
try to (do something)
You may have heard that there’s a difference between “try to (do something)” and “try (doing something)”. In general, you should state a goal after “try to ___”:
> Try to get there by 10:00.
> I try to make everyone feel comfortable when I host a party.
And state methods with “try ___ing”:
> I can never sleep on an airplane. I’ve tried listening to relaxing music, taking sleeping pills, staying up the night before. Nothing seems to work.
flesh out (something)
“Fleshing something out” means adding details, explanations, information, etc. to make something more complete.
Here are some of the main things that you can “flesh out”:
- flesh out a character (in a story)
- flesh out a decription
- flesh out an idea
- flesh out a point
a point
When you’re writing or speaking to convince people of something, you “make points”. A “point” is basically one idea that you want people to believe or understand. Communicating one of these ideas is called “making a point”.
In one speech or essay, there are usually several points. Traditionally, people try to make three or more points which all support one “main point” of the writing or speech.
For example, if I write a blog post about why memorizing English phrases is a good way to learn, I might make a few points:
- you can learn how different words fit together
- it’s easier to picture and remember words in phrases than by themselves
- it’s a good way to avoid mentally translating words into your native language
Each of these “points” might contain smaller points as well.
This is why, when someone says something smart, people say”
> Good point.
Your close friend has been dating a girl for only two months. Now he tells you that they’re engaged. You’re worried that it’s too fast and they don’t know each other well enough yet. You say:
Don’t you think you’re rushing into things?
Don’t you think (something)?
This is a way to introduce an opinion carefully. If you’re worried that your opinion might make the listener angry or that they might disagree with you, ask this way:
> Don’t you think we should go back now?
(someone) is rushing into things
“Rushing into things” means making a big decision too quickly. You can tell people not to “rush into things” when they quickly decide something like:
- buying a house
- moving to a new country
- quitting their job
People use this phrase in sentences like:
> Let’s not rush into things.
> Don’t you think you’re rushing into things?
> No need to rush into things.
Your son made a rude gesture, so he got in trouble at school. Now he’s not allowed to ride the school bus for two weeks. You’re explaining what happened to your brother. You say:
He got suspended for flipping off the bus driver.
(someone) got suspended (from school)
“Getting suspended” from school means that you can’t come to the school for some specific length of time. Schools sometimes suspend students to punish them for bad behavior.
You can also “get suspended” from some other things:
- students can get suspended from a school bus if they do bad things on the bus
- police officers can get suspended from work if they do something wrong.
flip (someone) off
This phrase refers to a certain rude gesture
One of your employees looks sick. You ask her why she came to work, and she says that she has a lot of work to do. You’d rather she go home so that she doesn’t make other people sick. You say:
If you’re feeling under the weather, by all means go home and get some rest.
(someone) is feeling (adjective)
It might seem a little mysterious why the speaker uses “If you’re feeling” instead of “If you feel…” in this sentence. When people are talking about someone’s health, it’s common to use the progressive form (“feeling”) instead:
> How are you feeling?
> I’m feeling a lot better lately.
(someone) feels under the weather
“Feeling under the weather” means that you feel sick. This phrase usually describes someone with cold or flu symptoms.
by all means, (do something)
When you introduce a suggestion with “by all means”, it shows that you completely think that the listener should take your suggestion. It’s a way of showing that you’re serious about what you’re saying:
You’re a new mother. You’re complaining to your husband that you don’t have enough time to rest because your son always needs to be fed or have his diaper changed. You tell him about something that happened this evening:
>
Just as I started to think that I was going to get a few minutes to relax, the baby woke up and started crying at the top of his lungs.
Just as (someone) started to think (something), (something happened)
You can use this expression when:
- There’s a bad situation.
- It seems like the situation is going to get better, BUT…
- Something else bad happens.
For example,
You can always use it in the opposite situation, when it seems like something bad is going to happen, but then you get saved:
> Just as I started to think that we were lost, Samantha found the trail again.
get (some time) to relax
Busy people use this expression to talk about the times when they can relax and not work. Here’s another example:
> Ah! It’s nice to finally get a few days to relax.
(do something) at the top of (one’s) lungs
When a person makes a noise as loudly as they can, you can say that they’re making the noise “at the top of (their) lungs”.
Noises that people make “at the top of their lungs” include
- screaming
- yelling
- crying
- calling out to people
- singing
You’re trying to read a book. Your boyfriend is whistling a song loudly while he reads something on his computer. It’s annoying you, so you say:
Do you mind?
Do you mind?
When someone is doing something rude or annoying, you can ask “Do you mind?” in an angry way. For example, you can use this phrase in situations such as:
- Someone is making noise when you’re trying to concentrate.
- You’re trying to watch a show on television, and someone in your family sits right in front of you so that you can’t see.
You can also ask “Do you mind?” in a more friendly way when you’re asking to use something that belongs to another person. For example:
> A: You can use the shower here if you want.B: Do you mind?A: Not at all! Go right ahead.
You’re trying to have a quiet conversation with your friend, but your children are running around and yelling. They’re starting to make you angry. You say:
They are testing the limits of my patience!
test the limits of (something)
If you want to see how loud a pair of stereo speakers can get, you turn the volume knob up as far as you can. Similarly, if you want to see how quickly your car can speed up, you might push the gas pedal down as hard as you can. These are both examples of “testing the limits” of something.
The “limit” of something is be largest, strongest, farthest, hottest, etc. possible. When you “test the limits” of something, you’re trying to find out what the limit is.
Here are some expressions with “test the limits”:
> test the limits of my endurance
> test the limits of human potential
> test the limits of the law
> test the limits of credulity
(something) is testing the limits of my patience
When people (or things) are really annoying, you can say that they’re “testing the limits of your patience”.
It’s like you’re imagining that the annoying things are trying to be as annoying as possible, so that they can find out what will finally make you angry.
You’re interviewing a candidate for a job. You want to hear some general information about him. You say:
>
Tell me a bit about yourself.
Tell me a bit about yourself.
This is a common first question in job interviews in English. An interviewer asks this to get general information from the job applicant.
If an interviewer says this to you in an interview, you should answer by telling them:
- your name (if they haven’t already heard or read it)
- a short history of your most recent jobs
- why you want to work at this company
ell me (something)
You can ask for information from a person this way.
“Tell me ___” is very direct, so you should probably use it when you’re in a more powerful position than the person you’re talking to. For example, a police officer can say to the witness of a crime:
> Tell me what happened.
A teacher can say to a misbehaving student:
> Tell me why you did this.
If you’re not in a position of authority, you should find a more indirect way to ask for information.
One of your employees made a big mistake that cost the company a lot of money to fix. You need to find out what caused the mistake so that it doesn’t happen again, but you don’t want to blame the employee personally. In a staff meeting, you say:
We need to take an in-depth look at our process to determine how this managed to happen.
take a look at (something)
The word “look” is very general. It can mean to look for a long time, a short time, carefully,absent-mindedly, or in many other ways. “Take a look” is more specific. It means to look at something for a short period, usually for a specific purpose.
You can ask someone to take a look at something that needs to be fixed, or for something that’s important for them to see. Here’s another example from a science classroom. The teacher tells the class to look at something in the text book:
> Everybody take a look at the picture on page 46. This is a model of what a
an in-depth (something)
Doing something “in-depth” means that you do it in a really careful and detailed way. Here are some things that you can do “in-depth”:
- write an in-depth explanation
- listen to an in-depth description
- conduct an in-depth scientific study
a process
A “process” is a repeatable series of steps or actions. For example, a doctor might have a specific “process” for doing a surgical operation.
Businesses often have processes for each of the different things that they do. Workers are supposed to “follow” the processes.
determine (something)
To “determine” something means to figure it out. You “determine” facts or conclusions. For example:
> Police have not yet determined the cause of death.
> I’ve determined that the next camera I buy should be a Canon T3i
The word “determine” is more formal than “figure out”.
(something) managed to (do something)
People use the phrase “manage to ___” to talk about things that weren’t likely, but happened anyway. In the example above, the boss doesn’t understand why the mistake happened, so she asks how it “managed to happen”.
Here’s another example of using “managed to” to talk about doing something which wasn’t likely:
Yesterday, you and a friend were talking about a TV singing competition you both like. Your friend predicted which contestant would win. She was right. So today, you tell her:
You totally called it!
(someone) called it
One of the meanings of “calling” something is to make a correct guess or prediction. When someone correctly guesses a future event, you say “You called it!”
In the example above, the speaker’s friend correctly guessed who the winner of the singing competition would be. So she “called” it.
This is an expression that’s used in casual English. In more formal English, you can say that someone “predicted” something instead:
> She accurately predicted who would win.
(someone) totally (did something)
The word “totally” can intensify a verb the same way that “really” does. For example:
> Dude! You totally nailed it! (This means that someone did something exactly right.)
> We totally wanted to come, but Maxine had to work.
This way of using “totally” is very casual and a little slangy. It sounds a little like something that a surfer would say.
You’re a mentor for a college student who wants to get a job in your industry. You’re giving him some advice on how to act in a job interview. You say:
You have to convey not only what your skills are, but how you can benefit their organization.
You have to convey not only what your skills are, but how you can benefit their organization.
convey (an idea)
“Conveying” an idea means making someone understand it. You can “convey” an idea by saying it. Or you can convey an idea in writing, with your facial expressions, or with your actions. So “convey” is similar to “communicate”.
This is a pretty formal word.
not only (something), but (something)
Use this expression when you want to talk about two different things. The first thing is big or important enough. However, the second thing is even bigger and more important. Here are some examples:
> She’s not only super smart, but also hard-working and easy to get along with.
> Kids who learn martial arts gain not only strength and fighting skill, but confidence as well.
The sentence doesn’t always need “but”:
> I’ve not only been there, I’ve actually lived there for three years.
skills
Use the word “skills” to talk about what things you’re able to do in a job. Here are some examples of skills that people might have:
- negotiation skills
- computer skills
- people skills
- machine repair skills
- research skills
benefit (someone)
To “benefit” someone means to help them or improve their situation.
In job interviews, people often talk about how a potential employee can benefit the company or team.
an organization
An “organization” can mean a company, a club, or any other organized group of people.
When you use the word “organization” to talk about a company, it sounds academic. In other words, it sounds like something that you might read in a textbook. Here are some examples:
> We’ve made improvements throughout the organization.
> When an organization lacks clear leadership, it’s bound to suffer in terms of revenue.
You’ve just boarded an airplane. Everyone is now on the plane, but people are still putting away their bags and other things. The flight attendant says:
All baggage must be stowed in the overhead container.
baggage
The word “baggage” means suitcases, bags, and other things that people take on trips.
Airline and airport employees use the word “baggage”. Passengers don’t usually call it “baggage”, though. They call it “luggage” or “bags” or “suitcases”.
(something) must be (done)
This is a form that people use for giving formal instructions. It means that everyone has to do this. For example:
> Seat backs and tray tables must be placed in their upright and locked positions.
> All reimbursement requests must be submitted by Dec. 8th.
stow (something)
The verb “stow” means “put”. You “stow” something in a place when you want to keep or hide it.
The word “stow” is especially used on boats and airplanes.
overhead container
A “container” is a thing that you put stuff in. These things are all “containers”:
- a box
- a tub
- a drawer
- a jar
An “overhead container” is the place on an airplane that people can put their suitcases and other baggage in.
You’re on an airplane that is about to land soon. The flight attendant is making announcements. She says:
Seat backs and tray tables must be placed in their upright and locked positions.
seat backs and tray tables
These terms are pretty much only used in airline announcements.
“Seat backs” are the back part of a seat.
“Tray tables” are the little folding tables that are connected to the back of each seat. They’re called that because you’re supposed to use them for holding a food tray.
(something) must be (done)
This is a form that people use for giving formal instructions. It means that everyone has to do this. For example:
> All trash must be separated into recyclable and non-recyclable material.
> All reimbursement requests must be submitted by Dec. 8th.
place (something) in a position
“Place” is very similar in meaning to “put” but usually sounds more formal.
an upright position
Being “upright” means standing up. For example, a person that is “upright” is standing on two legs.
The word “upright” is more formal than the phrase “standing up”.
You said that it took you “forever” to get your food at a restaurant. Your son says that it didn’t really take you forever, because you’re not still in the restaurant. You’re annoyed because it’s obvious that you were just exaggerating. You say:
Don’t be a smart ass.
someone) is being a smart ass
You call someone a “smart ass” in a very specific situation:
- You say something that’s not supposed to be taken seriously. For example, you exaggerate something or speak sarcastically.
- The other person knows that you’re not being serious.
- However, they act like you were being serious anyway.
In this situation, you can say that they’re “being a smart ass”. Here are some examples:
> A: I love this restaurant!B: You love it? Why don’t you marry it then?A: Don’t be a smart ass!
> A: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!B: Oh really? Do you want me to butcher one for you?A: Whatever, smart ass!
You can also call someone a “smart Aleck”. The meaning is the same, but it’s a little more polite.
Your teenage daughter is starting to go on dates. She hasn’t been talking to you much about it. You kept asking her about it, and she finally told you about some trouble she’s having with a boy that she likes. You don’t want her to feel embarrassed about talking about this topic with you, so you say:
The last thing I want is for you to feel like you can’t open up to me about this kind of stuff.
the last thing I want is for (something) to (do something)
Use this expression to talk about something that you don’t want.
You tell someone “The last thing I want is for…” when you want to make sure that they don’t misunderstand you. In the example above, the speaker is worried that the daughter thinks that she can’t talk about her love life with her parents.
You can also say “The last thing I want is to (do something):
> The last thing I want is to cause an argument on your birthday, but this is a serious problem.
open up to (someone) about (a topic)
To “open up to” someone means to tell them your personal thoughts.
“Opening up” usually means that you tell someone an emotional story or a secret about your life. English speakers think of “opening up” as a good thing. It’s something that you’re supposed to do in order to deal with problems in your life.
People that you can “open up to” include:
- a family member
- a friend
- a counselor
stuff
“Stuff” can mean almost any physical items or material. It’s similar to the word “things”, but “things” are countable and “stuff” is not.
You got a telephone call from your ex-boyfriend. You had a bad breakup with him, so you don’t want to talk to him. Your friend asks if you are going to call back. You say:
I’m not even remotely interested in hearing what he has to say.
(someone) is not even remotely interested in (something)
“Not even remotely interested” means “not interested at all”. Use this phrase to emphasize that you really, really don’t care about something.
The word “remote” means “far away”. So “not even remotely” means “not even far away”. If you’re “not even remotely interested”, it means that you don’t have any interest, not even a small, far-away interest.
Some other words you can use with “not even remotely”:
> Aren’t you even remotely curious as to what he’s been doing all these years?
> Don’t you think it’s even remotely possible that there could be intelligent life on other planets?
(someone) is interested in (something)
Use “in” to express the topic of someone’s interest:
> Are you interested in going back to school?
> If you’re interested in learning more, please visit our website.
what (someone) has to say
People use the expression “what ___ has to say” when there’s an argument. The words that someone “has to say” are usually an excuse, an apology, an explanation for why they did something, etc.
All of these examples would be used in an argument:
> I don’t care what he has to say. I’m finished with him!
> Is that all you have to say for yourself?
> Don’t interrupt! Just listen to what I have to say.
Be careful not to misinterpret this phrase: usually “has to” means “must”. For example:
> He has to pass this test or else he’ll fail the class.
But in “what ___ has to say”. the words “has” and “to” are separate. Think of it like this:
> what he has | to say
Your company has started to advertise your product in stores. You’re getting more sales as a result. You’re announcing this at a meeting. You say:
We’re seing our retail marketing efforts really pay off.
We’re seeing (something happen)
People use this expression when discussing trends in a business meeting or presentation:
> We’re seeing a rise in demand for electronic devices this quarter.
our efforts
This is another expression that people use in business. “Efforts” means the things that your company or group is trying to do. For example, “efforts” might mean a sales strategy, an advertising campaign, etc.:
> We’re going to continue our efforts in the northern regions, and also start to branch out to some of the southern markets.
retail marketing
“Marketing” is a part of business. It means trying to figure out how to sell stuff to customers. It can include how you design products, how you advertise them, and how the company communicates to customers.
“Retail” means stores. So “retail marketing” is advertisements or other promotions that you do in a store. Examples might include signs, people giving out samples, and so on.
The phrase “retail marketing” probably wouldn’t make sense to a lot of English speakers unless they work in a large company with dedicated marketing staff.
(something) pays off
When something “pays off”, it means that there’s a benefit or profit from it. In the example above, the marketing efforts “paid off”. That means that the company made more money because of it.
Here are some other examples using “pay off”:
> All that hard work and determination really paid off.
> I’m putting a lot of time and money into this business, but hopefully it’ll pay off down the road.
You’re on a trip with your daughter. You were supposed to return home, but your flight was cancelled because of weather. Now you have to stay for another day. You’ve rescheduled your flight and there’s nothing else you can do, so you say:
We might as well make the most of it.
(someone) might as well (do something)
Use “might as well” to talk about doing something that you didn’t originally want to, but is now your best choice. In the example above, the speaker wanted to go home. But now she can’t so her best choice is to stay and have a good attitude about it.
Here’s another example:
> A: There’s so much work to do!B: You might as well get used to it. That’s how things normally are around here.### make the most of (a situation)When a situation is bad, but you have a good attitude about it and work to make it better, you’re “making the most” of the situation.For example, if you’re on a long, boring train trip, you can “make the most of it” by reading a book, taking a nap, or talking with the person next to you.
Your daughter is crying because she doesn’t like what you cooked for dinner. She wants pizza instead. You’re angry that she’s not satisfied with the meal you cooked. You say:
You’re acting like a spoiled brat!
(someone) is acting like a (something)
When you want to describe how someone is acting, use this expression:
> She’s acting like a helpless little princess.
> You’re acting like an asshole!
You usually only say negative things about people this way. If you want to say something nice about a person, it’s easier:
> He’s a nice guy.
> You’re a saint.
(someone is) a spoiled brat
A “brat” is a child who is selfish and badly behaved. When someone is “spoiled”, it means that they get anything they want. So a “spoiled brat” is a kid who has a bad personality because they get whatever they want.
You can call someone a “spoiled brat” when they selfishly demand to get what they want and don’t think about what other people want.
You’re presenting awards at a company-wide end of year party. You have to call out someone’s name that’s written down, but the spelling is very tricky. You don’t think you’ll be able to pronounce the name correctly. Before saying the name, you say:
I know I’m going to mangle this…
mangle (the pronunciation of something)
The word “mangle” means to mess something up by cutting, ripping, beating, or crushing it. For example, imagine what would happen to an animal that was attacked by a pack of wolves. The wolves would “mangle” the animal.
However, “mangle” is even more commonly used to talk about pronouncing something really badly. “Mangling” the pronunciation of a name, word, or sentence means pronouncing it really, really badly.
You can also “mangle” a song by singing it badly - singing it out of tune, forgetting lyrics, etc.
You’re at a Christmas party. You’re dressed up as Santa Claus. You see your girlfriend, so you walk up and ask her:
Have you been naughty or nice this year?
(someone) has been (adjective) (time period)
To describe someone’s behavior or characteristics during a certain time period, use “have been ___”:
> She’s been really sick for the last few days.
> Why have you been so moody this week?
naughty or nice
There’s a famous song about the character of Santa Claus:
> He’s making a list,Checking it twiceGonna find outWho’s naughty and nice.Santa Claus is coming to town.
The word “naughty” means “bad”, in the sense of doing something that you’re not supposed to.
In the past, “naughty” was used to describe children who did bad things or didn’t listen to their parents.
These days, people rarely use “naughty” to talk about kids, except in the case of Santa Claus. Because the song above is so popular, people still think of Santa asking children whether they’ve been “naughty or nice”. Children who have been “nice” get presents from Santa. “Naughty” children don’t get any presents. (Or at least that’s the threat that parents make!)
However, the word “naughty” is still used in a different sense. These days, it has a kind of sexual meaning. It means that you’re doing something sexually that you’re maybe not supposed to do. Couples who are doing role playing in bed will sometimes say things to each other like:
> A: Have you been a naughty girl?B: Yes, I’m so naughty! I need to be punished!
The word “naughty” itself isn’t really a bad or controversial word, though. You can use it with most people; just keep in mind its sexual connotations!
Your friend’s company is hiring a lot of new employees. You’re surprised because the economy is bad now. You’re discussing it with him over lunch. You respond:
That seems pretty risky, given the current economic climate.
(something) seems risky
The word “risky” means “dangerous”.
Specifically, something that is “risky” has a high chance of going badly. People especially use the word “risky” to talk about money and investments.
(sentence), given (something)
The phrase “___, given ___” is pretty complicated! It’s used to introduce an idea that provides a reason for part of your sentence:
Here’s an example:
> It’s surprisingly fast, given how big it is.
In this example, “given how big it is” explains why it’s surprising for it to be fast.
And here’s another example:
> We probably shouldn’t invite both of them at the same time, given their romantic history.
the economic climate
The “economic climate” just means the situation that the economy is in. It includes:
- How many people have jobs
- How much money businesses are making
- How well the stock market is doing
Although the phrase “economic climate” isn’t negative, people mostly use it when the economy is bad. When people want to carefully talk about a bad economy, they often say things like:
> The economic climate these days is tough.
> In this economic climate, we can’t afford to spend any additional money on staffing.
the current (something)
“Current” means “now”. But “now” can’t be used as an adjective. So we use the word “current” instead. For example:
> Their current President is a former business executive.
In this example, the “current President” is the person who is President right now. Here’s another example:
> He had two kids with his ex-wife, but he doesn’t have any with his current wife.
