month4 Flashcards
You’re going to apply to a school in the U.S. You’re reading the rules for applying on the school’s website. There’s a sentence on the page which says:
Please note that all applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation.
Please note that (sentence)
This is a formal way to direct people’s attention to some information. For example, if you’re selling something on the internet that has to be mailed, your site might have this sentence:
> Please note that delivery may take up to three weeks.
One reason to use “Please note that…” is because it can sometimes seem rude if you say or write things directly without any introduction. For example, if you’re making a short introduction at the beginning of a conference, you might announce:
> Food and drinks are not allowed in the auditorium.
But that could sound a little too strict. This sounds nicer:
> Please note that food and drinks are not allowed in the auditorium.
(something) must be (done)
Use “must” to tell people things that they have to do. “Must” is more formal than “have to” and is also stronger. It gives the impression that you are really serious and won’t allow anyone to disobey you. Teachers, politicians, and other authority figures use it a lot. It’s also common in written instructions, like in the example above. Another example is:
> All reimbursement requests must be submitted by Dec. 8th.
(something is) accompanied by (something)
In the example above, the application must be “accompanied by” two letters of recommendation. That means that the letters have to be included with it.
The word “accompany” means to go somewhere together with. For example, one of the most common uses of this word is in this sentence:
> All children must be accompanied by an adult.
You can see this on signs at places that are dangerous for kids, like swimming pools.
The word “accompany” is quite formal, so it’s mostly used in writing.
letters of recommendation
When you apply for a school, you often need to get “letters of recommendation”. These are letters written by a teacher, boss, coach, or some other authority. They’re supposed to be about how great you are. The letters are usually sealed in a closed envelope and sent along with the application.
Letters of recommendation are commonly needed for getting into college, graduate school, getting a scholarship, or for winning certain awards. They’re not usually needed in the U.S. for getting most jobs.
You had to call your cable company because of a problem with your bill. They made you wait on the phone for a long time. You’re complaining about this experience to a coworker. You say:
They had me on hold for like 20 minutes!
put (someone) on hold
When you call a company, they sometimes have to “put you on hold”. When you’re “on hold”, you can’t hear the other person. Sometimes music will play while you’re on hold. After you’ve waited for a while, the other person will pick up the call again.
In the example above, the speaker says that the company “had” him on hold instead of “put”. The word “had” instead of “put” communicates the feeling of being forced to wait.
like (a number or amount)
“Like” sometimes means “about”. Use it this way before a time or a number:
> He went on for like twenty minutes about how his neighbor is putting in a swimming pool.
> There were like well over 500 people there.
Some older people don’t like it when people use “like” in this way, but it’s a pretty well-established part of spoken language for a lot of English speakers now. It’s not used in formal writing or speeches.
You’re quitting your job at the end of this year. Your company hasn’t started interviewing people to fill the job yet. You’re talking to a friend who asked you about the job. You say:
They’re not actively searching for a replacement yet.
(someone) is actively (doing something)
Doing something “actively” means that you’re working on it and directly trying to do it. In the example above, the company isn’t trying hard to find a new employee yet.
The opposite of “actively” is “passively”. To understand the difference, think about two ways that you can search for a new job:
- actively searching for a new job means responding to job postings, sending your résumé to lots of companies, attending networking events, and so on
- passively searching for a new job means doing something like posting your résumé on an Internet job board, and waiting for interesting companies to contact you
search for a replacement
When someone leaves a job or gets let go, you have to “search for a replacement”. This means interviewing and hiring a new person to take the job.
You can call the new person who takes a job a “replacement” for the old person. A “replacement” is permanent. If an employee is gone temporarily but is going to come back later (like because of a pregnancy), you hire a “fill-in” or a “temp”.
Your brother’s car ran out of gas, so he called you to ask if you’d come pick him up. You’re annoyed, so you say:
You’re a real pain in the neck, you know?
(someone) is a (real) pain in the neck
Use this expression to talk about a person who causes problems for you. For example, use it on a person who asks a lot of favors from you.
There are some other related expressions that people also use:
> You’re a real pain in the ass.
> You’re a real pain in the you-know-what.
“Pain in the ass” is more rude than “pain in the neck”. But it expresses the feeling of frustration more clearly. “Pain in the you-know-what” is a way of saying “pain in the ass” without using the rude word “ass”.
When you say that someone is “a real” pain in the neck, it just means that they’re really annoying.
(sentence), you know?
You can add “you know?” to the end of a sentence. One occasion to do this is when you’re criticizing someone. Specifically, this is the situation:
Someone has a bad quality, like being “a pain in the neck”.
- You’ve always known about this bad quality, but tried no to say anything about it.
- They do something that makes you even more annoyed or mad than usual.
- You feel like you have to complain, so you say “___, you know?”
For example:
> You’re a real jerk, you know?
> You’re really not a very good listener, you know?
You’re visiting the office of one of your clients. He has a huge photo of himself on the wall, which he seems really proud of. You think to yourself:
What an egomaniac!
what a (something)
When you say “What an ego-maniac” it means “You are really an ego-maniac.” You can also use “What a ___” for positive things:
an egomaniac
An “ego-maniac” is someone who is very, very interested in themselves. They’re proud of themselves and have high confidence. They may also like talking about themselves.
There are several words that are similar to “ego-maniac” but with slight differences:
- A conceited person is really proud of themselves, but maybe not as much as an “egomaniac”.
- A vain person is specifically very proud of how they look. (Same for “narcissist
- A self-absorbed person is only interested in their own life and problems. However, being “self-absorbed” doesn’t include as much confidence as being an “egomaniac”.
- A selfish person takes things for themselves and doesn’t think about other people’s feelings.
Your young son is crying while you’re talking on the phone with your brother. You think it’s because he hasn’t slept yet this afternoon. You explain:
He gets cranky when he doesn’t have a nap.
get (adjective)
The word “get” can sometimes mean “become”:
> Don’t get angry at me!
> Oh no, it got wet!
(someone) is cranky
The word “cranky” is mostly used to describe young children who are in a bad mood because they need to go to sleep. When kids are “cranky”, they cry, yell, and get angry.
You could also use the word “cranky” to describe an adult who’s in a bad mood. If you do this, it’s a little bit of an insult because it means that they’re acting immature, like a little baby.
have a nap
A “nap” is when you sleep for a short time during the day. Young children take naps a lot. Some adults would like to take naps too if they could.
The most common verb to use with “nap” is “take”:
> I’m going to take a nap.
But “taking” a nap sounds like something that a person does on purpose. When people talk about children, they use the phrase “have a nap”:
> Has she had a nap yet?
> Oh, you’re so sleepy! Why don’t we have a nap?
Your cousin is dating a guy who seems a little dishonest and dangerous. You think he might be a criminal of some kind. You’re gossiping about them with a friend who knows your cousin. You say:
That guy she’s seeing is a bit of a shady character.
guy
“Guy” is a casual word for a man.
If you’re talking about someone who’s between late teens and early 30’s, “boy” can sound too young and “man” can sound too old. So it’s often best to call him a “guy” instead.
(someone) is seeing (someone)
“Seeing” someone means dating them or in a romantic relationship with them. For example:
> Are they seeing each other?
(someone) is shady
A “shady” person is someone who seems bad, dangerous, or dishonest. For example, if you are suspicious that someone sells drugs or cheats on his girlfriend, you can call him “shady”.
If you know that a person does bad things, don’t use “shady”. Only use it if you think they do bad stuff.
You can also say that a person “is acting shady”:
> What’s up with you? You’ve been acting awfully shady lately.
a (adjective) character
The word “character” marks a person who’s not exactly normal. They seem more like a character in a book or movie than a normal person. Here are some common expressions that use “character” this way:
> He’s a real character. (He’s really unusual.)
> She’s quite a colorful character. (She’s loud, talkative, opinionated.)
> I saw a suspicious character lurking outside your door.
Your girlfriend is singing a silly children’s song and dancing in the kitchen. You think it’s funny, but also a little embarrassing. You say:
You’re such a goofball!
(someone) is such a (something)
The word “such” is similar to “so” except it’s used with nouns instead of adjectives:
> He’s so handsome.
> I used to be so lazy.
> He’s such a good-looking man.
> I used to be such a procrastinator!
a goofball
A “goofball” is someone who does dumb, silly things. For example, if your friend stands up and dances in a restaurant where no one else is dancing, you can call him “a goofball”.
The word “goofball” is a little bit of an insult, but it also sounds sweet and affectionate. It sounds like you think the person is silly and embarrassing, but like them anyway. You’re secretly happy that they’re acting silly.
You have a neighbor who always wants to know about you. She often looks into your yard to see what you’re doing. You’re describing this situation to some people at a party. You say:
There’s this nosy lady next door who’s always in our business.
this (person/thing)
In casual conversation, you use “this” instead of “a” when you want to start telling a story about something. Using “this ___” suggests that you’re going to say something else about the subject.
For example:
> I’ve had this song stuck in my head for two days!
If someone says this, they’re probably going to continue by saying the name of the song, or singing part of it.
(someone) is nosy
A “nosy” person is someone who wants to know private information about other people. It has a negative association, because “nosy” people are annoying.
People that are often “nosy” include neighbors and family members.
(someone) next door
A person who’s “next door” lives in the house or apartment right next to yours.
> Have you met the guy next door?
(someone) is in (someone’s) business
Being “in someone’s business” means getting involved in their personal lives.
For example, if you’ve tried to learn or give advice about a person’s:
- finances
- love life
- health issues
…then you’re “in their business”.
This is why, when someone is getting too personal, you say:
Get out of my business!
Your birthday is in one week. Your girlfriend bought you a gift. She shows you the box and asks if you want to know what it is, but won’t let you see it. You say:
> You’re such a tease!
(someone) is such a (something)
The word “such” is similar to “so” except it’s used with nouns instead of adjectives:
> He’s so handsome.
> I used to be so lazy.
> You’re so goofy.
> He’s such a good-looking man.
> I used to be such a procrastinator!
(someone) is a tease
“A tease” is a person who plays with other people’s desires. They offer something that you want, but then don’t give it to you.
For example, “a tease” very often describes a woman who acts like she’s attracted to a man, but then won’t go out with him or sleep with him.
Despite its meaning, the word “tease” doesn’t really sound very negative. It sounds kind of fun and playful.
Your daughter has told you that she’s going to quit school. Your wife gets really upset and says that your daughter’s life will be ruined. You’re not happy either, but you don’t think she should get so upset. You say:
OK, OK. No need to get all melodramatic.
OK, OK
Say “OK, OK” when you want someone to calm down. For example:
> A: Selena, we’re ten minutes late! Let’s go, right now!B: OK, OK. I’m coming.
You especially use “OK, OK” when someone is really worried or angry.
People often say “OK, OK” in an angry tone of voice.
No need to (do something)
This means “You don’t need to…” or “We don’t need to…” It’s pretty common in spoken English:
> No need to apologize. It was an honest mistake.
> No need to explain. I understand completely.
get all (adjective)
In casual speech, putting “all” in front of an adjective can make it sound more negative. Use it to talk about things that you don’t like or that annoy you. For example:
> Don’t get all impatient.
> She likes to act all shy when you first meet her, but within ten minutes she’ll be talking your ear off.
> No thanks. Sunscreen makes my skin feel all oily.
You can even make positive descriptions sound negative using “all”:
> Why are you being all nice to me today? Do you want something from me?
(someone) is melodramatic
A “melodrama” is a kind of story that has very dramatic, extreme events and emotions. Characters in a melodrama do things like
- fight to the death
- go insane
- fall very deeply in love
- scream at each other
Calling a real person “melodramatic” means that you think that they’re acting too emotional. A “melodramatic” person acts like they’re on stage in a play, even when they’re living a normal life.
“Melodramatic” sounds negative. In fact, even calling someone “dramatic” sounds negative.
You and your girlfriend are shopping in a glasses store. She tries on a pair of glasses. She looks smart with them on. You say:
Ooh, those make you look so intellectual!
Ooh
This is a noise that people make when they’re interested in something, or when something makes them feel good.
> Ooh, pretty!
> Ooh, I like this!
(something) makes (someone) look (adjective)
When people wear different clothes and accessories, they look different. You can talk about how clothes “make” a person look:
> Do these jeans make me look fat?
> That shirt makes me look taller.
Makeup and hair cuts can also “make” people look different ways:
> Her new haircut makes her look a lot older, if you ask me.
(someone) is intellectual
The word “intellectual” is different from “intelligent”. An “intelligent” person is smart. But an “intellectual” person loves being smart, thinking about philosophy and literature, reading long books, discussing deep topics, and so on.
Not all intelligent people are intellectual. However, most intellectual people are smart.
You’re presenting awards to your employees at a year-end party. You’re introducing one of the winners, who’s very helpful. You say:
She’s a tremendous asset to the team, and we’re lucky to have her.
(something) is an asset to the team
An “asset” is something useful or valuable that you have.
When you call a person “an asset”, it means that they’re really useful, helpful, or valuable. A person can be an asset to a company, a team, or a community.
In a company, people often call groups of people that work together “teams”.
For example:
> Ideally, I’d like to be responsible for managing a small team of my own.
> Well, I think you’d be a great fit for our team.
Sports-related terms and phrases are actually really common in business.
a tremendous (something)
The word “tremendous” means “very large”. Here are some of the most common combinations that you can use “tremendous” in:
> These donations have had a tremendous impact.
> This is a tremendous opportunity for me.
> She’s been doing a tremendous job.
> Having great, well-qualified teachers makes a tremendous difference.
We’re lucky to have (someone)
This is a common compliment to give to an employee or coworker.
You can also say this in other situations. For example,
> “Prince Charles movingly described Kate Middleton as the daughter he had never had yesterday and admitted: ‘We are lucky to have her.’”
You’ve been complaining to a friend about your neighbors’ children, who play outside loudly in the afternoon while you’re trying to relax. Now you feel guilty for complaining about that. You say:
Gosh, I feel like I’m turning into a grumpy old man.
Gosh
People say “Gosh” when they feel a strong emotion that they don’t know how to express. For example, you can say “Gosh” in situations like these:
- Your boss just offered you a promotion.
- Your friend just told you that she’s moving to another country.
- You just realized that it’s been over 15 years since you graduated from high school.
turn into (something)
The phrase “turn into ___” means “become” but is more casual:
> I’m becoming a grumpy old man.
There’s another difference between “turn into” and “become”. You can follow “become” with a noun phrase or an adjective phrase:
> It’s becoming a huge project.
> They’re becoming smaller and smaller.
But “turn into” can’t be followed by an adjective phrase. It has to be followed by a noun phrase:
> It’s turning into a huge project.
a grumpy old man
“Grumpy” people complain a lot, and get annoyed or angry easily. They’re hard to please.
People especially imagine old men as being “grumpy”.
Being “grumpy” can be a permanent personality trait, or a temporary mood.
You won a small award, so you’re being interviewed for an article in the local newpaper. The reporter asks who has motivated you. You say that you think your older brother has motivated you. Then you say:
I’ve always looked up to him as a role model.
look up to (someone)
To “look up to” someone means to respect them and want to be like them. You “look up to” someone who’s more experienced, more skilled, or older.
(think of someone) as (something)
You can talk about how you think of someone with this phrase:
> I think of him as a brother.
> I respect her as an artist.
> I look up to him as a friend and a mentor.
a role model
A “role model” is someone who you try to be like. They’re a great example of how to live.
People who can be seen as “role models” include:
- parents
- older brothers and sisters
- famous people like athletes, actors, or musicians
- successful businesspeople
You coach a high school baseball team. You’re talking to the father of one of the players. This player tries really hard to improve in practices. You say:
He’s got a great work ethic.
(someone) has got (something)
There’s no difference in meaning between “has got ___” and “has ___”. You could also say:
> He has a great work ethic.
The choice between “has got” and “has” depends on where you’re from. “Has got” is more common in British English. In American English, “has ___” is more common but “has got” is also used in more casual speech.
(someone) has a good work ethic
A person with “a good work ethic” works very hard. This can be for school, sports, or a job.
An “ethic” is a philosophy or set of rules that a person decides to follow. So when you say that someone “has a good work ethic”, it really means that they have a good attitude or philosophy about work. They believe that it’s important to work hard.
Having “a good work ethic” is a good thing, so you shouldn’t use this phrase to talk about someone who works too much. To talk about a person that works too much, say:
> She’s a workaholic.
You’re at a restaurant with a close friend. The prices were high, and when you get your meal, the portion sizes are small and the food is not very tasty. You say:
This place is a complete ripoff.
his place
“This place” means “this restaurant” in the example above.
You can call a restaurant a “place” in casual conversation:
> Do you know of a good burger place around here?
> Have you been to that new pizza place up on 83rd Street?
(something) is a ripoff
Call something “a ripoff” when it’s way too expensive. If it’s even more expensive, call it “a complete ripoff”.
The phrase “rip (someone) off” means to charge too much money for something.
You can call a store, a restaurant, or a single product “a ripoff”.
You’re watching a political debate on TV with a friend. He asks if you understand the debate. You understand it a little bit, but not completely. You say:
I understand the general sentiment, but it’s hard for me to concisely summarize what they’re saying
the general sentiment
The “sentiment” of a conversation or discussion is the general feeling of the people who are talking. A “sentiment” can be positive, negative, or neutral.
The word “general” often comes before “sentiment”. The “general sentiment” is how most of the people in a group feel about something.
it’s hard for me to (do something)
When a lot of people can’t do something, say “it’s hard to ___”:
> It’s hard to find a job in this economy.
But if you have trouble with something on your own, say “hard for me to”:
> It’s hard for me to understand what they’re saying when they talk so fast.
concisely summarize (something)
To “summarize” means to explain something in a short form. For example, you can summarize the plot of a movie or what was said in a meeting.
The word “concise” means “short” when you’re talking about writing or explaining things. It’s a positive word, so being “concise” in writing or speaking is good.
“Concisely summarizing” something means that you explain it in a very short form.
what they’re saying
The word “what” turns this expression into something like a noun.
Some people make mistakes like:
> summarize they’re saying
But you can’t do this. You need to include “what” or “that which” or “the thing that”.
You’re bowling with some friends. You’re playing really well and just got your third strike in a row. You’re excited, so you say:
I’m on a roll! No pun intended.
(someone) is on a roll
When you have many successes, one after another, you’re “on a roll”.
Here are some situations in which you can be “on a roll”:
- correctly guessing answers to a question
- scoring points in a game
- making sales at work
You usually use “on a roll” to talk about positive things.
No pun intended.
A “pun” is a kind of joke. It’s a joke that’s based on two words that sound the same but have different meanings. For example, here’s a pun from the website SillyPuns.com:
> I used to be a doctor, but then I lost patients.
The word “patients” sounds like “patience”. “Losing patience” means to get annoyed and not being able to wait. “Losing patients” means that the people the doctor was treating died.
Sometimes you say something that might have two meanings on accident. In the example above, the speaker said “I’m on a roll” to mean that he was doing well. But “rolling” could also refer to rolling a ball. He didn’t mean to make a joke, so he said “No pun intended.”
You’re considering getting a tattoo. You’re not sure exactly what you want to get, but you have some ideas. A friend asks you what tattoo you want, and you say:
I was thinking a shark or something along those lines.
I’m thinking (something)
Talk about a decision with this phrase:
> A: Which one are you going to get?B: I’m thinking the blue one.
You say this when you’re not completely sure of your decision yet.
something along those lines
This phrase means “something like that”.
> I think you’d be good as a fitness instructor or something along those lines.
> He said “Never let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do,” or something along those lines.
This phrase is just a little more intellectual-sounding than “something like that”.
You’re buying a house. Today you paid part of the money for the house. You’ll pay the rest with a loan from a bank. You’re excited, so you write a message to your friends on Facebook about it:
We made a down payment on a house today!
make a down payment on (something)
When people buy expensive items like cars and houses, they often borrow money from a bank to pay for them. However, they can’t borrow all of it. They have to pay for part of it with their own money first. This money that you pay at the beginning is called a “down payment”.
The verb “make” goes with “payment”:
> We’ve always made all our payments on time.
The preposition “on” labels the thing that you’re paying for:
> How many more payments do you have on your house?
> I bought it three years ago, but I’m still making payments on it.
You’re talking with a friend about an upcoming election. You think that one of the candidates is a lot more popular than the others. You say:
I predict that she’ll win by a landslide.
I predict that (clause)
“Predicting” something means saying what’s going to happen, before it happens. For example, meteorologists try to predict the weather, and stock brokers try to predict the prices of stocks.
“I predict that ___” is a way to formally announce what you think is going to happen in the future. For example:
> I predict that 2012 is going to be our best year ever!
> I predict that he won’t even show up to the first meeting.
When you start a prediction with this phrase, you seem confident.
win by a landslide
In an election or other voting situation, “winning by a landslide” means winning by getting a lot more votes than the other sides. The number of votes that constitute a “landslide” depends on the situation.
A “landslide” is what happens when rocks or dirt roll down the side of a mountain and cover things up. The phrase “win by a landslide” comes from this idea. You can imagine someone getting so many votes that the votes cover them up.
The opposite of “winning by a landslide” is “just barely winning” or “winning by a tiny margin”.
You want to talk to one of your coworkers. You go to talk to him, but he’s not at his desk. You ask another coworker to give him a message:
Can you tell him to swing by my office when he gets a chance?
swing by (somewhere)
“Swinging by” a place means visiting it quickly before going somewhere else. It’s very similar to “stopping by”:
> Can we stop by an ATM on the way there?
But when someone says “swing by”, it’s even more casual and the visit sounds even shorter. You can tell someone to “swing by” a place when you want the trip to sound short and easy.
when (someone) gets a chance
When you ask people to do something, this phrase lets them know that they don’t have to do it immediately. They can do it at a time that’s convenient for them.
Here’s an example:
> Can you help me with this when you get a chance?
If you leave “when you get a chance” off, it sounds like you want immediate help:
> Can you help me with this?
Your daughter is trying to tell you something, but she seems nervous. She’s hesitating, but you’re in a hurry. You tell her:
Come on, spit it out.
Come on
People say “come on” when they want someone to hurry up:
> Come on! We’re going to be late!”
> Come on, let’s get going before it closes.
There are some other uses of “come on” too, like in these examples:
> Come on, stay for one more round.
> Come on. I didn’t mean it that way.
spit it out
“Spit it out” means “Say it more quickly!” You can tell someone this when they are speaking too slowly and it’s annoying you.
“Spit it out” is a little rude, so you usually say it to people that you’re close to and who are lower-status than you.
Your dog has another neighborhood dog that she’s friends with. You set up a time with your neighbor for the dogs to play together. Your dog was excited about it when you came. You’re telling your neighbor about it:
She kind of perked up when I mentioned Hannah’s name.
(someone) perked up
When someone suddenly sees or hears something that interests them, they “perk up”: they open their eyes more and pay closer attention to what’s happening.
You might “perk up” in a conversation when someone talks about a topic that you’re interested in.
mention (something)
This means to talk about something briefly. Even if a person says only a few words about a topic, that would be considered “mentioning” that topic. Other words like “say”, “talk about”, etc. sound like they require a longer period of discussion.
You can use “mention” with a simple noun:
> Did she mention me in the article?
Or you can use a dependent clause:
> Did he mention where he was going?
You can also use the structure “mention (doing something)”
> He mentioned going to the gym earlier in the day.
Your boyfriend said that he wasn’t going to get you a present for your birthday. He said it as a joke, but you don’t think it’s funny. You say:
Very funny.
Say this when someone makes a mean or teasing joke about you. “Very funny” actually means that you don’t think the joke is funny.
This is an example of sarcasm.
When you really do think that a joke is funny, don’t say “very funny”. Instead, say something like:
> That’s funny!
> That’s hilarious!
> That’s pretty funny.
You’re having your first meeting with a personal trainer. You want to start lifting weights, but you don’t want to get really big muscles. You say:
> I don’t want to get all bulked up; I just want to get toned.
get all (adjective)
In casual speech, putting “all” in front of an adjective can make it sound more negative. Use it to talk about things that you don’t like or that annoy you. For example:
> Don’t get all impatient.
> OK, OK. No need to get all melodramatic.
> No thanks. Sunscreen makes my skin feel all oily.
You can even make positive descriptions sound negative using “all”:
> Why are you being all nice to me today? Do you want something from me?
get bulked up
When a person “gets bulked up”, they get large and muscular like a bodybuilder or an American football player.
Being “bulked up” doesn’t sound very good to most people.
Use “get” to describe someone becoming more bulked up. Use “be” to descibe someone continuing to be that size:
> He was pretty bulked up back then, but he’s slimmer now.
get toned
A “toned” body is in good shape: muscular but not too muscular. A professional dancer or swimmer probably has a “toned” body.
Use “get” to describe becoming toned. Use “be” to describe someone continuing to be toned:
> I’m pretty toned right now, but I’d like to work on sculpting my abs a little more.
(“Abs” are stomach muscles, and “sculpting” muscles means exercising until you can see each muscle clearly.)
You just saw a horror movie with a friend. You’re talking about parts of the movie that scared you. You say:
That look she gave him sent chills up my spine.
give (someone) a look
“Giving someone a look” means looking at someone with a certain emotion. You can “give someone a look” when you’re angry at them, when you think they’re being silly, when you’re scared, and so on.
send chills up (someone’s) spine
Things that are scary can make you feel cold and make you shiver a little bit. So when something is frightening, you can say that it “sends chills up your spine”.
This phrase is usually for talking about scary things. However, in some situations you can also use it for things that make you really excited in a positive way. For example:
> The chorus of that song is so beautiful. When I hear that, it sends chills up my spine.
You and your boyfriend want to go on an overseas trip together. You’re debating whether you can afford it. You don’t agree on how much plane tickets will cost, but you want to continue to talk about the other expenses. You say:
OK, so for the sake of discussion, let’s say that the flight is a thousand bucks each.
for the sake of discussion, (sentence)
When you don’t agree with someone in a discussion or debate, this expression can be useful. You use it to continue the discussion, even though you don’t agree about one point.
For example, you can use it if you and a friend disagree about whether to fly or take a train to travel to another city. You think the train is faster, but your friend thinks it’s faster to fly. You can’t agree about this, so you don’t want to argue about it. But you have other points to make too, so you say:
> For the sake of discussion, let’s say that flying is faster. The train is still about half the cost.
In this example, you don’t really think that flying is faster. You think it’s slower, but you want to move on to another reason why the train is better.
let’s say that (clause)
When you’re discussing a topic, sometimes you have to imagine a situation and then describe what would happen in that situation. You can do this with the phrase “Let’s say that…” Here’s an example:
> Let’s say that I hire you at my company and you do a bad job. Should I have to keep paying you, or should I be allowed to fire you and hire someone better?
In this example, the speaker isn’t really hiring the other person. In fact, the speaker might not even have a company! The speaker and listener are just imagining what would happen in that situation.
Here are some more examples:
> Let’s say that someone breaks into your house and tries to attack you. What would you do?
> Let’s say you go up on stage and completely bomb. So what? What’s the worst that can happen?
This expression is really useful for debating or explaining things.
(number) bucks
“Bucks” is a slang term for “dollars”. It’s used in casual conversation.
