my American friend

M- Today we’re talking about “ON and OFF”

M- Cindy, how are you today?

C- Eh, not so great. I’m FEELING A LITTLE “OFF” today. I think I’m coming down with a cold.

M- Oh no! Really?

C- No, I’m fine. I was just kidding with you. I feel great!

M- Oh Good! So, if someone says they’re feeling…

C- a little bit off today- that means they’re not feeling well for some reason.

M- This leads us to our topic today: some common uses for the words ‘’ON & OFF’’.

C- My husband reminded me of this subject. His first language is Italian and he is great about reminding me of all the little oddities of English that, frankly, I would never notice at all!

M- Sounds useful! Let’s get started.

C- Ok, did you know you can use “off” when referring to someone who has suddenly become angry?

M- Like...an explosion?

C- Exactly- an explosion of anger! I’ll give you an example: Yesterday, we were listening to a lecture in my Chemistry Class when all of a sudden… a student’s cell phone began to ring!

M- Oh no! That’s so rude! What happened?

C- The professor WENT OFF! He lost his temper and started yelling at everyone in the auditorium!

M- Cindy, I know that’s a fake story- but I totally agree with your imaginary professor!

C- I know, right? I can’t stand it when people forget to silence their mobile phones! Okay, how about this one…listen carefully…

M- I’m ready.

C- Marta, shut the alarm off before it goes off.

M- What?

C- Marta…

M- That part I understood.

C- SHUT THE ALARM OFF… that means to turn off the alarm, or shut it down…before it GOES OFF. Shut the alarm off before it begins to ring.

M- Useful. Have another one for us?

C- Yes, for example, when the siren of an ambulance or a fire truck begins to sound we say ‘’THE SIREN HAS GONE OFF’’.

M- But it hasn’t gone off- it has actually turned on!

C- Precisely…and that’s why you and I are here to help clarify. Do you have an ambulance sound effect for us, Miss Sound Engineer?

M- Yes. I think so. Hang on a minute. Here you go.

C- Thank you, can you hear it? We would say ‘’the siren has just gone off’’…and now the siren has stopped. Thank you.

M- How about the word “off” used in relation to food?

C- Oh, that’s important! Ok, if I were to say: The milk’s gone off. Don’t drink it, just throw it away. That means the milk has spoiled and it’s no longer drinkable, if THE MILK HAS ‘’GONE OFF’’ that means it’s rotten.

M- Ok. We can also use “off” in more ways to relate to food, right?

C- Yes, we can also use “off” to say we are avoiding something. Here’s an example: My brother is trying to lose weight. For now, HE’S “GONE OFF” CHEESE AND PASTA. That means he’s avoiding, or not eating, cheese & pasta in an effort to lose weight. Hey Marta, speaking of cheese- do you like Taleggio cheese?

M- Oh no! Just the smell of it “puts me off”!

C- THE SMELL “PUTS YOU OFF”? That means the smell is unappealing and unappetizing to you. And just so you know, my husband loves that stuff! He’ll gladly take all your unwanted Taleggio cheese!

M- Good, I’ll hand deliver it to him!

C- All right, let’s talk a little about ‘’turn on’’.

M- Turn off the lights. Turn on the lights. We’ve all got that.

C- Probably the most common use of ‘’turn on’’ is of a sexual nature. If something is A “TURN ON” that means it is sexually attractive to you.

M – (Singing the song “Kiss” by Prince): You don't have to be beautiful, to turn me on...

C - But we can also use ‘’turn on’’ to mean ‘’you’ve brought something to my attention” …you've “TURNED ME ON TO” it.

M- Can you give us an example?

C- Sure…I could say something like: Hey, thanks for turning us on to that new restaurant in town! We ate there last night! The food was fantastic! Or : Thanks for turning us on to that new band! They’re awesome!

M: Or: We hope that our podcast has helped to turn you on to English!

C- Well said, my friend. Well said.

C - Thanks for listening everyone! We wish you all a great day ahead!

M: Thank you for listening and remember that you can find us on www.myamericanfriendblog.com. We're also on facebook, twitter, podomatic, youtube, iTunes. Thank you, bye bye!

C – Bye bye!

***********************

Let's sum up:

I’m FEELING A LITTLE OFF today (I'm not feeling well)

The professor WENT OFF! (explosion of anger)

SHUT the alarm OFF before it GOES OFF! (turn off the alarm before it begins to ring).

The siren has GONE OFF (it has turned on, it's ringing)

THE MILK HAS GONE OFF (it’s rotten)

He's GONE OFF cheese and pasta (he's avoiding cheese and pasta)

The smell PUTS ME OFF (it's unappealing)

TURN ON (sexually attractive)

You've “TURNED ME ON TO” something (you're brought something to my attention)

M – This episode is about TIME.

C - OK, in our previous episode we talked about the clock and about Time Zones in the States.

M – Right.

C - We also mentioned a few idioms regarding the clock, such as: “a race against the clock” or “around the clock”.

M – On preparing that episode we thought of a bunch of time-related expressions.

C – So here we are with an episode about these idioms. First off, have you ever heard this one: “SHE GETS UP WITH THE ROOSTERS''.

M – Roosters?

C – A rooster is a male chicken. Roosters are known to sing very early in the morning, at sunrise. So: “She gets up with the roosters” means she wakes up very early in the morning.

M – You're definitely not talking about me!

C – Don't you get up with the roosters Marta?

M – Only under death threat! Or if I have to catch an early flight to the States. But I prefer singing at sunrise when I've been up all night and I'm about to go to sleep.

C – Oh, you're a rockstar. Got it, so I guess we could describe you with another time-related expression: “SHE'S A NIGHT OWL”.

M – owl?

C – It's a bird of prey and it's nocturnal. So “she's a night owl” means: she stays up very late at night.

M – Clear. So, Cindy, are you a rooster or an owl?

C – well, I was born an owl and I’ve tried to be a rooster- believe me I have- but being a ‘’night owl’’ just comes naturally to me.

M – Ok, let's move on. I guess everyone knows “to have a great time”.

C – That's common, but there's also “TO HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE”, to express that you're really enjoying something. For example: “it's been an unforgettable vacation, we've had the time of our lives!”

M – Or (singing) : “I've had the time of my life ...”

C – Dirty Dancing soundtrack. And speaking of songs, Marta, think of the Rolling Stones, with the song: “TIME IS ON MY SIDE”

M – (singing) Time is on my side.

C – That means I have lots of time, time is working to my advantage. For example: “I have a big paper to write for Chemistry class, but I’m not worried because it isn’t due until the end of semester. I’ve got time on my side.’’

M- Good. And back to the Rolling Stones…they’ve really STOOD THE TEST OF TIME haven’t they?

C- They are survivors! They’ve endured what like 50 years in the music business?

M- And they are still relevant today. They’ve stood the test of time.

C- …and I think My American Friend will stand the test of time as well!

M- I think so too!

C- Now what could we use to mean the opposite of time is on your side?

M- Oh, we could say “We’ve got NO TIME TO WASTE!”

C- Perfect. The expression “no time to waste’’ means there is little time available and you must act quickly.

M- Can you give us an example?

C- Sure…. “Marta, hurry up and buy those concert tickets! They sell out fast, there’s no time to waste!”

M- Oh wow…now I feel like I need to call someone now!

C- Go ahead, call someone. Just please don’t call Barb, “I’VE GOT NO TIME’’ FOR that woman. She irks me.

M- Cindy, I think the feeling is mutual.

C- Call Ashley. I’ve heard she’s got her own credit card now.

M- Oh no! I hope she’s paying the bill on time! Oh...

Ashley- Hello?

Marta- Hi Ashley! It’s Marta, dear.

Ashley- ...Hello?

M- Ashley, DO YOU HAVE TIME TO TALK? it’s Marta!... Turn the music off or I’m hanging up!

Ashley- Marta!!!!!!!!! Oh my God! Yes, I HAVE TIME TO TALK! IT’S NEVER A BAD TIME FOR YOU! I saw you on Youtube! You look soooooo pretty! Where did you get those shoes? I told all my friends! Oh my God! Will you take me to New York City? I want those shoes!

M- What? …Ashley, I’m not taking you anywhere. You’re a liability.

Ashley- No, I’m not Marta! I’m 18! I’m an adult now! I have my own credit card!

M- Ashley, just being 18 and having a credit card does not make you an adult. This goes for you especially! Ashley, are you paying the credit card bills ON TIME?

Ashley- Yes...I am…actually, I haven’t gotten a bill yet. So don’t worry about it.

Marta- Ashley, when did you get that credit card? That bill absolutely must be paid BY A SET TIME each month, without fail!

Ashley- I dunno, like before my trip to Cancun last fall.

M- Ashley, you got your credit card last year and you still have not made a single payment???

Ashley- Yes…because -like- I only have to pay like once a year!

M- Whoa! TIME OUT! Wait a minute! once a year???

Ashley- Yes!

M- Ashley, I know you’re going TO HAVE A HARD TIME understanding this but you must pay your bill without fail each month or you will ruin your credit?! It’s TIME FOR YOU TO CHANGE and be more responsible, my dear.

Ashley- Oh my God, Marta…. you’re so right. I have to change. These shoes…. They like totally do not match with my shirt. I have to change. How could I be seen out in public like this?!

M- Oh my goodness! Ashley!

Ashley- How could I have been so stupid?

M- (whispering)… Cindy, what should I say? Help me out!

Cindy- (whispering)…Break it down for her. Put it in terms she can understand.

M- Ashley. Listen to me.

Ashley- I look like a skank!

Marta- I’m sure you don’t look like a skank. Dear, listen to me: If you don’t get online right now and make a credit card payment you are never ever going to be able to buy eye shadow or shoes or sunglasses or purses ever again!

Ashley- Never?

Marta- Ever!

Ashley- I have to go!

Cindy- Now that she could understand! Good work, Marta!

Marta- I think our work is done here. TIME FOR US TO RUN!

Cindy- We hope you’ve all had a great time listening today!

M- Come visit us on www.myamericanfriendblog.com

we're also on twitter, facebook, podomatic, iTunes, and youtube.

C – We are available for private lessons via skype, just send us an email at [email protected]

M – See you soon!

C – bye bye!

*****************

Let's sum up!

Time-related expressions we've used in this episode:

- SHE GETS UP WITH THE ROOSTERS

- SHE'S A NIGHT OWL

- TO HAVE A GREAT TIME

- TO HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE

- TIME IS ON MY SIDE

- TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME

- NO TIME TO WASTE !

- I’VE GOT NO TIME’’ FOR...

- I HAVE TIME TO TALK!

- IT’S NEVER A BAD TIME FOR YOU!

- TO PAY ON TIME

- TO PAY BY A SET TIME

- TIME OUT !

- TO HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING SOMETHING

- IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO CHANGE

- TIME FOR US TO RUN!

M – This time we're going to talk about the CLOCK.

C - First of all, I guess everyone knows that in America we use a 12 HOUR CLOCK, so for example you may say: “yesterday I had lunch at 1” and that would mean it’s 1 p.m., 1 o’clock in the afternoon, while : “I went to bed at 1”, that would be 1 a.m., 1 o’clock at night.

M – 12 hour clock, clear. Speaking of 12, that's “NOON”, right?

C – Noon is 12, that's the reason for the word: afternoon, it's after noon.

M- Noon, but also: MIDDAY. While 12 at night is: MIDNIGHT and that's when the fun usually begins.

C – or when the CURFEW begins. Oh, this might be a new word. Curfew. It's a regulation about specified hours for people to remain indoors, especially at night. Curfew, for example, can be “from DUSK till DAWN”.

M – From dusk …

C - ...till dawn.

M - Ok.

C – It means from sunset to sunrise, so: all night long.

M – Ok, back to the clock. By the way, WHAT TIME IS IT?

C – It's 5 o'clock, or, I could say: it's 5 SHARP.

M – Sharp, ok. Cindy, what time did you go to school yesterday?

C – at ABOUT 8, that means it was a couple minutes to or past 8.

M – And what time did you come home from school?

C – It was NEARLY 12.30, nearly, that means it was 12.20 or 25. That also means that I had 4 classes in a row and by the time I got home I was dead tired, but that's another story.

M – Oooh, I guess so.

C – IT TOOK ME two hours to relax and unwind.

M – It took you two hours, that reminds me that we use the verb to take when talking about time.

C – Yes, for instance: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE to become fluent in English?

M – Oh, it doesn't take a long time if you work hard and ….

C - ...listen to our podcast, of course.

M – Right.

C – Everyone, don't miss the transcript of this episode, so that you can read a lot of examples about how to express time. Now, let's talk about something you really need to be aware of when traveling around the States.

M – What is it?

C – TIME ZONES. Well, each region on Earth has its own standard time, whenever you travel around the globe you need to adjust your clock to the local time, according to which time zone you are in. In the States we have 4 different time zones.

M – Ok, let's imagine we are in San Francisco.

C – California is in the PACIFIC TIME ZONE (PT) otherwise known as the “WEST COAST” TIME.

M – Let's move to Connecticut.

C – Connecticut, where I was born and raised. That would be the EASTERN TIME ZONE (ET), or the “EAST COAST” TIME. There is a 3 hour difference between the two American coasts.

M – That means it's 3 hours earlier in California than in New York.

C – Exactly, for instance when it's midnight in New York it's still nine o'clock in Los Angeles. When announcing a live event being broadcast on TV such as a football game or an award ceremony you may hear something like: “next Sunday, starting at 6 p.m. Eastern Time / 3 p.m. Pacific Time.”

M – How about the other two time zones?

C – MOUNTAIN TIME and CENTRAL TIME. And, of course, Alaska and Hawaii have their own different time zones. Marta, have you ever had any problems with Time Zones when traveling in the States?

M – Well, I had to adjust my clock many times, not only because of the different time zones but also because of the DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.

C – Uh huh, that's true! That may be confusing to some people. Ok, for example: Mountain Standard Time. That's 7 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, but in the summer, when Daylight Saving Time is observed, it changes into Mountain Daylight Time, that is only 6 hours behind Greenwich.

But, watch out, not all the States adopt daylight saving time, you need to pay attention when scheduling appointments around America! Remember to check Time Zones and Daylight Saving Time.

M – So true, I remember arriving EARLY at an appointment in Michigan only to find out that everyone had been waiting for me for almost 1 hour.

C – How did that happen?

M - I had adjusted my clock when landing in Chicago, then I drove directly to Michigan. I didn't realize that Illinois and Michigan are not in the same time zone. And I hate BEING LATE!

C – Aww it’s an honest mistake. You didn’t know.

M- No… but now I know!

C- Hey, there is a great idiom to describe someone who is always late…and frankly, it’s been said about me more than once…SHE'LL BE LATE FOR HER OWN FUNERAL! or : he'll be late for his own funeral, of course. But women are more likely to be late, because it takes us hours to decide what to wear.

M – (singing) It's late in the evening, she's wondering what clothes to wear...

C – Eric Clapton, isn't it?

M – Right. Ok, before we go, can you think of any other clock-related expressions?

C – Yes : “A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK”

M – a race against the clock, it sounds like an emergency to me.

C – Right, for example: World leaders are racing against the clock in an attempt to solve this economic crisis. Or: The oil spill is spreading, we need to act before it's too late, it's a race against the clock.”

M – ok, clear. What about “AROUND THE CLOCK” ? I know there's a song that goes like “we're gonna rock around the clock tonight”. So, around the clock?

C - That means all day and all night. For example: We've worked around the clock to help the earthquake victims. Or: That TV channel broadcasts news reports around the clock. Or: He's very ill, he needs assistance around the clock.

M – Ok, IT'S TIME TO GO now.

C – I hadn't noticed how late it is! Oh, that reminds me of another sentence: “ “TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN.’’…isn’t that the truth!

M – Time flies when you're having fun, right. We hope it flies when you're studying English as well!

C – Thank you for listening everyone. And we'd like to send a special hello to Igor, his wife and their beautiful two daughters Nastya and Ann, listening in Moscow, Russia.

Everyone, come visit our blog at www.myamericanfriendblog.com . You can find “my American friend” on iTunes, podomatic, twitter, facebook & youtube. We are also available for private lessons via Skype, just send us an email at [email protected]

And remember, your donations and support help us in making this podcast bigger and better, thank you.

M – See you soon!

C – bye bye

***************

What's the time? What time is it? It's...

5.00 It's five o'clock / It's five sharp

2.15 It's a quarter past two / it's two fifteen.

4.30 It's half past four / it's four thirty.

7.45 It's a quarter to eight / it's seven forty-five

11.58 p.m.: it's two minutes to midnight.

12 = noon = midday

What time....?

What time do you usually have breakfast? At half past seven.

What time does your train leave? At 7.35 (seven thirty-five).

What time can I pick you up tomorrow? ANY TIME BETWEEN 3 and 4 is ok for me. Ok, I'll pick you up SOME TIME AFTER 3, then.

What time did you get up yesterday? It was NEARLY 6.30.

What time did you go to bed last night? It was ABOUT midnight.

Lunch is served at HALF PAST NOON (= 12.30)

Dinner is served promptly at 8.

The restaurant begins serving breakfast “at the break of dawn” or “at daybreak”. (when the sun first rises in the morning)

It TAKES TIME. (not quick. time is needed to accomplish something) EXAMPLE: It takes a long time to drive from Texas to Florida. They are very far apart.

How long does it take to ...? (how much time is needed?) EXAMPLE: How long does it take to fly from Los Angeles to New York?

BEING LATE / BEING EARLY / BEING ON TIME

“from dusk till dawn”: from sunset to sunrise, all night long. EXAMPLE: On New Year’s Eve we danced from dusk till dawn! It was a great night!

TIME ZONES in America:

- PACIFIC TIME (EAST COAST TIME) (California)

- MOUNTAIN TIME

- CENTRAL TIME

- EASTERN TIME (EAST COAST TIME) (New York)

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME (observed in the summer)

“SHE'LL BE LATE FOR HER OWN FUNERAL”: she's always late

“it's A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK” : it's an emergency

“AROUND THE CLOCK”: all day and all night

“TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN!” or just: “Time flies!”

“DO YOU HAVE A MINUTE?” (Do you have a few minutes to talk?) EXAMPLE: Do you have a minute? I would like to discuss our presentation for tomorrow’s meeting.

“Time is of the essence!” (time is very important. Time must be used very efficiently) EXAMPLE: We have a deadline tomorrow and we must complete this project as quickly as possible! Time is of the essence!

M- Today, we’re talking about “American Holidays!” ... Cindy, today we’re going to discuss American holidays.

C- Our friend Laura suggested that topic didn’t she? Hi Laura!

M- Yes, she did! Hi Laura!

C- Ok, that’s a fun topic…let’s do it!

M- Now Cindy, we all pretty much know about the big holidays like Christmas and Halloween…

C- Oh, I love Halloween!

M- But could we talk about some of the other holidays as well?

C- Sure, let’s take it month by month then, beginning with January 1st- New Year’s Day.

M- What do Americans do on New Year’s Day?

C- Recover from New Year’s Eve.

M- …besides that…don’t you celebrate with family and make ‘’NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS”?

C- That’s true. Some families have lunch together on New Year’s Day and specific foods are prepared to bring things like good luck, health and prosperity in the coming year.

M- Which foods are those?

C- Well, it depends on the individual family traditions and the region you live in, but just to name a few: cabbage, black eyed peas, and fish.

M- And what about those New Year’s resolutions?

C- Many of us make 1 or 2 ‘’New Year’s resolutions” at the beginning of every year. These are promises we make to ourselves or loved ones to better ourselves in some way.

M- Can you give us some examples?

C- Oh sure, the most common would be to commit to taking better care of yourself in the form of a healthful diet and exercise. Many people would like to quit smoking too, that’s a very popular New Year’s resolution.

M- And it’s a very good idea too.

C- Or your focus could be on family. You might want to make a commitment to work less and spend more time with your loved ones.

M- That’s nice, so a New Year’s Resolution is a promise to improve your life in some way?

C- Exactly.

M- How many holidays do you have in America?

C- That’s an interesting question. In doing my research for this podcast, I learned that there are no national holidays in America and that each of the 50 states has jurisdiction over its own holidays.

M- Oh, that’s interesting!

C- Isn’t it? But, there are ten days in the year that are proclaimed as holidays for federal government employees. Most states do observe these holidays and they are called ‘’legal’’ or ‘’public’’ holidays. In other words- no mail will be delivered and most likely the banks will be closed as well.

M- TEN LEGAL HOLIDAYS. Can you go over the list for us, with a brief explanation for each one?

C- Sure, no problem. First off, we have NEW YEAR’S DAY. That’s January 1st and it’s a day of relaxation, recovery (if you’ve celebrated too much the night before), renewal…and football- there's always football games televised on New Year’s Day!

Second: MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, that’s in honor of slain African American civil rights activist Reverend Martin Luther King. He’s honored on the 3rd Monday in January.

Number 3: PRESIDENTS DAY in honor of George Washington. He was the first President of The United States of America. We celebrate Presidents Day on the 3rd Monday in February.

Number 4: MEMORIAL DAY in honor of our fallen soldiers who have died in all wars. Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. It’s also known as the ‘’kick off’’ to the start of summer vacation.

M- In other words, hotels in tourist destinations (like the beach) are more expensive after Memorial Day?

C- You got it!

M- Ok, that’s four holidays, there are six more.

C- Number five: Independence Day…

M- or as it’s more famously known : The 4th of July!

C- I love the fourth of July! THE 4TH OF JULY or INDEPENDENCE DAY commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence and our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. If any listeners are lucky enough to be in America on July 4th, it’s a lot of fun. We celebrate with picnics, parades, fireworks, music, family & friends. It’s one of my favorite holidays.

M- And holiday number six?

C- Number 6 would be LABOR DAY, that’s the first Monday in September. Labor Day honors the American worker. Labor Day is bittersweet for a lot of us because it signals the end of summer. If you’re vacationing in The States during Labor Day weekend then you should know that hotels (especially those at the beach) are going to be more expensive during Labor Day weekend.

M- Good advice.

C- Also, airline tickets will cost more and traffic on the highways will be jam packed with travelers. Everyone will be trying to capitalize on that very last weekend of summer.

M- So maybe it’s a good idea to plan your vacation for just a week before or after Labor Day Weekend?

C- Personally, I think it’s an excellent idea. You’ll save money, tourist areas won’t be quite as crowded and the traffic will be less likely to give you a headache. I’ve gotten some lovely hotel rooms at the beach for a fraction of the cost by reserving after Labor Day.

M- Smart. How about holiday #7?

C- Holiday# 7 is October 12th- Observance of Marta Innocenti’s Birthday!

M- Cindy, thank you- although I am flattered, I don’t think my birthday is a federal holiday in America.

C- No, not yet, but I’m sure it will be one day. Ladies & Gentlemen, not only is October 12th the birthdate of our lovely & talented host, Marta Innocenti, but it is also the day CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS arrived in the Americas back in 1492. And Marta, since Columbus was a fellow countryman who landed in the Bahamas on your birthday, I will ask you to give everyone the proper pronunciation of his name…

M - Cristoforo Colombo.

C- Grazie mille. (=Thank you very much – in Italian)

M- Prego. (= you're welcome - in Italian)

C- Holiday #8 is VETERANS DAY, observed on November 11th. This is a day where we honor all American Armed Service Veterans.

M- Holiday #9?

C- Number 9 is THANKSGIVING, observed on the fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is a non-religious holiday. It’s generally shared at home with family members, but you can celebrate it any way you like-with family or friends, at home or in a restaurant. It’s a day to be reminded and thankful for all that we have. Thanksgiving is a holiday with humble origins and the most common foods shared at the Thanksgiving table are: Roasted Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Dressing (or Stuffing) a kind of casserole made with bits of vegetables and cubed bread, Cranberry Sauce (similar to jam or jelly), Gravy (a sauce made from the roasted turkey juices), Corn and Bread.

M- Sounds delicious, I’m getting hungry!

C- Well, you’re in luck because we only have one holiday left to talk about!

M- Let me guess…Christmas Day!

C- You’re right! CHRISTMAS DAY, celebrated on December 25th!

M- if I’m not mistaken you spent last Christmas on an airplane, right?

C- …I did! Three planes, actually! But for all normal Americans, who prefer to spend their holiday on the ground, it’s a great time of the year. In fact, it's so great we think it deserves an episode all on its own.

M- At Christmas time.

C – Well, that's it for now, we're finished with American holidays but before we go we have some very special people to thank.

M – Yes, some new followers on podomatic : Ishi, Giantsun Juu, Sirinapa, Mywjch. Our friends on facebook : Olfa, Krewa, Kirshan, Omed, Karolina, Irina, Blerta, Helena Maluluka, Zhipeng Li, Key Cee, Sarah Rose, Maria, Sergio, Gertraud, Gilberto, Soha. And on twitter: Andrea, Ana Paula, Chantha Seng, Vanesa, Tamara, Jarvin, Anna Loseva, Carl Pierre, Kotova, Joseph Yu, Yuliya. I'm sure I have mispronounced your names and I'm sorry.

C – But believe us when we say our sentiments are heartfelt : thank you.

M – And again a big thank you to our friend Laura who is now in Australia. Go check her blog at : www.mydestinationaustralia.wordpress.com

Thank you so much for listening and see you soon, bye bye!

C – Bye bye!

******************************

Some Additional American Holidays:

Valentine’s Day, February 14th- celebrated by giving flowers and candy. Some couples may choose to celebrate with a special meal or by exchanging small gifts.

Easter Sunday, (springtime) date varies- celebrated by giving baskets of chocolate to small children, coloring Easter Eggs, going to church, enjoying a meal with family, giving flowers to your mother or grandmother.

April Fool’s Day, April 1st- Be careful! Someone may play a trick on you today! Children LOVE this holiday!

Mother’s Day, second Sunday in May- celebrate your mom by taking her to lunch and giving flowers or a sentimental gift.

Father’s Day, 3rd Sunday in June- in honor of Fathers. Gifts vary greatly- it just depends on the dad! Give a small gift according to your dad’s preferences.

Halloween, October 31st- celebrated with costumes and candy. Kids dress up in costumes (either scary or not, depends on the kid) visit homes in their neighborhoods, knock on the door and yell ‘’Trick or Treat!’’ The owner of the home gives candy to all the ‘’trick or treaters’’. Adults celebrate Halloween by dressing in costume and attending parties in homes or pubs.

M – We're back !

C - Yes, we are! We've survived the snow, the flu and sub-zero temperatures! And now we're happy to close the door on old man winter and welcome spring with open arms.

M – I love March!

C - ...and this particular March is very special, isn't it?

M – Yes it is!

C – Happy Anniversary, Marta!

M – Happy Anniversary Cindy!

C – the “my American friend” podcast has just reached its one year anniversary.

M - “My American friend” has evolved so much over just one year. First, the podcast, then the blog, facebook, twitter and now...

C – Drum roll please..

M - ...a brand new YOUTUBE CHANNEL !

C – Come check us out everyone. Go to youtube and type in myamericanfriendblog. No spaces, all one word.

M – We'd be happy if you celebrated with us our first anniversary by promoting “my American friend” on facebook, or twitter, or youtube and on your blog pages as well.

C – Your donations and support help us to make the “my American friend” podcast better than ever.

M – And in fact, a very special thank you to Fede and Jaroslaw who used the DONATE BUTTON on www.myamericanfriendblog.com

C – Marta, we've recently been contacted by some of our listeners about PRIVATE LESSONS via SKYPE and we would be happy to help you too. Just send us an e-mail at : [email protected]

M – Right, and for those of you who are on podomatic.com, show your love by pushing the “we want more” button. Thank you.

C - We have a new episode in the works now about American holidays, available for download in just a few days. See you soon everyone!

M – Happy anniversary!

*************************

for private lessons via SKYPE contact us at :

BLOG:

http://MYAMERICANFRIENDBLOG.COM/

PODCAST:

http://info40650.podomatic.com/

TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/#!/mAf_podcast

FACEBOOK PAGE:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/my-American-friend-English-language-podcast/161895283863943

YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

http://www.youtube.com/user/myAmericanfriendblog

M- Today, we’re talking about “Weather”.

M- It’s positively FRIGID in here!

C- Ok, I'll turn up the thermostat in here. I know, today’s a cold one isn’t it?

M- I’m FREEZING!

C- Ok, there you go. It’ll warm up in here soon.

M- Thank you! I can’t stand winter! I want to move to a place with palm trees!

C- Well…. wait until we finish this episode before you book your plane ticket!

M- Speaking of plane tickets… that reminds me that you’ve just returned from The States. How was the weather? I hope it was warmer than here?

C- Well, when we left Italy it was like totally overcast and I was so happy to be leaving. Then we landed in Amsterdam and it was like kinda drizzling. But when we got to Atlanta it was raining cats and dogs and by the time we landed in North Carolina….

M- Hang on. Wait a minute, Cindy….I haven’t been able to process a thing you’ve said.

C- Oh, has your brain frozen over?

M- Maybe so. Now what were you talking about?

C- I was talking about the weather on our trip.

M- All I heard was something about cats and dogs.

C- Tell the truth. All you heard was the word ‘’cats’’!

M- Okay, maybe so, everyone knows by now that I love cats …but you also used the word ‘’drizzling’’, you’d better explain yourself a little better.

C- Ok, you’re right. I was saying that when we left Italy (and for those of you who are just joining us- Marta and I both live in the north of Italy)… when we left Italy, the sky was OVERCAST.

M- And when the sky is ‘’overcast’’ that means it’s cloudy and gray outside.

C- Right. Then we caught a connecting flight in Amsterdam and it was DRIZZLING outside.

M- And that means…?

C- Drizzling means a light rain. That’s just enough precipitation for you to have to take your umbrella with you.

M- And what about the cats and dogs in Georgia?

C- IT WAS RAINING CATS AND DOGS in Atlanta, Georgia.

M- that sounds serious!

C- It is! If someone says “it’s raining cats & dogs outside” that means it’s raining quite hard.

M- And maybe you should use a little extra caution while doing things like driving a car.

C- Yes! And be extra careful if you’ve just spent a lot of money in the salon to have your hair styled! If it’s raining cats & dogs outside then you’ve just wasted a whole lot of money!

M- We’re accustomed to rain here in the north of Italy.

C- And fog! Sometimes, THE FOG IS SO THICK YOU COULD CUT IT WITH A KNIFE!

M- Well not literally, Cindy, that’s just an expression meaning that the fog is very dense and visibility is severely restricted.

C- Yeah, whatever…do you remember how foggy it was when you performed in Rovigo recently?

M- Oh yes! I remember! You could cut that fog with a knife!

C- I rest my case. Let’s see, what else can we talk about?

M- How about just this morning?

C- Oh yeah, I woke up really early and noticed that we had a DUSTING overnight.

M- I want to move to Florida.

C- You can’t move to Florida until we finish this podcast. Now explain what a dusting is.

M- A dusting is a light coating of snow.

C- It’s kind of pretty really, it looks like everything’s been coated with powdered sugar! It also hides the fact that I need to wash my car!

M- Cindy, how about the expression ‘’A BLANKET OF SNOW’’?

C- Right. A blanket of snow is a heavy coating. I have some family in the state of Vermont and some friends in northern New York where it’s quite cold and they’re often ‘’BLANKETED IN SNOW’’. Sometimes they’re BURIED IN SNOW.

M- And can you explain what SLEET is?

C- Sleet is the enemy.

M- I was thinking something more specific, Cindy.

C- Sleet is awful. Sleet is exactly what you don’t want to find when you’re on the road. Sleet is that halfway point between snow and rain. It’s soft ice.

M- Oh you mean like Italian sorbetto?

C- Exactly! But much less appealing! Sleet is common in my region of North Carolina and in winter it causes all kinds of damage. I live midway between the mountains and the sea. Too cold for rain and too warm for snow- and the result is sleet and ice and broken trees, power outages and perilous driving conditions.

M- Wow! I didn’t know you felt so passionately about sleet?

C- I do! And you want to know why? Because one Christmas, an ice storm had knocked out power in my town for 3 days! In the country that means no lights, no running water and no heat!

M- Merry Christmas!

C- Thank goodness I had a wood burning stove in my living room, so we cooked Christmas dinner on that stove. One learns to be very resourceful when living in North Carolina.

M- And what about HURRICANES?

C- Oh, those are nasty too! Hurricane storms are common on the Gulf Coast, East Coast, the Caribbean and Mexico. Hurricanes can be mild with just rain and high winds or they can destroy everything in their path like Hurricane Katrina did in 2005. Can we talk about something happy now??

M- You’re right. What about springtime, that’s a lovely time of the year.

C- Springtime! My favorite season! But you know, Marta that reminds me of another season- a mysterious 5th season!

M- 5th season? I thought there were only 4. Spring, summer, winter and fall (autumn).

C- There’s another- a fifth season.

M- A fifth?

C- Mud Season! Mud season is that mysterious hidden season between winter and spring! It’s when all the ice and snow melts up north and turns the ground into water puddles and brown mud!

M- Lovely. Let’s talk about spring now.

C- Oh, I love springtime. It’s so beautiful. It’s my favorite time of the year here in Northern Italy.

M- It’s also allergy season…

C- It’s true!

M- But it is beautiful around here when the clouds and rain finally go away and flowers begin to bloom.

C- Don’t worry, Marta. We’re halfway through winter now, spring is just around the corner. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

M- I can’t wait!

C- It can get very hot & dry here in the summertime.

M- July and August are BLISTERING HOT.

C- I gave up years ago on my hopes of ever having a garden. It’s too damned hot, everything is wilted by noontime- including me! I just buy my vegetables now from the nice fruit & veg people on the corner!

M- Good idea. We need to support our local farmers!

C- By the way, Marta, are you feeling warmer now? Is the heater starting to kick in?

M- Yes…I’m warmer…it’s still not Florida, but I’m happy.

C- Well, go ahead and book your flight now. I think we’re about done here.

M- Thanks for listening everyone! And be sure to check the transcript for more useful weather- related words and definitions.

C- Thanks for listening everyone! And wherever you are, we hope the sun shines brightly on you today! And for you too, Marta…hey, are those ICICLES hanging off your nose?.....

M- Stop horsing around and turn the heat up again!

C- You’re crazy! It’s a sauna in here…

M- I’m still cold!....

C- Then go to Florida!....

M- I will! Right now….

C- I’ll book your flight. Ugh! What are you a reptile??

M - thanks for listening everyone! Bye bye!

C- Bye bye!

*******************

FRIGID: very cold temperatures. EXAMPLE: ‘’Be sure to wear a warm winter coat today, as well as a scarf & thick gloves. The temperature is below zero degrees and it’s positively FRIGID outside!’’

FREEZING: The temperature at which water turns from liquid to solid ice. 0 degrees Celius. 32 degrees Farenheit . Commonly used to describe the feeling of being very cold. EXAMPLE: ‘’Turn up the thermostat! It’s freezing in here!’’ or ‘’ I’m going to put on another sweater, I’m freezing!”

OVERCAST: A cloudy, gray sky. EXAMPLE: ‘’We wanted to watch the solar eclipse yesterday, but it was impossible due to an overcast sky.’’

DRIZZLING : Light rain. EXAMPLE: “It’s just drizzling outside right now but maybe it’s better to take your umbrella with you just in case the rain becomes heavier.

TO RAIN CATS AND DOGS: Very heavy rain. EXAMPLE: ‘’The airplane delayed its departure due to heavy rain. It had been raining cats and dogs all day and the bad weather had caused many airport delays.’’ or ‘’Be very careful while driving- it’s raining cats & dogs outside!”

THE FOG IS SO THICK YOU COULD CUT IT WITH A KNIFE: An expression to describe very thick fog with limited visibility. EXAMPLE: ‘’It took me 2 hours to drive home from work! I had to drive very slowly because the fog was incredibly thick- you could cut it with a knife!’’

DUSTING: A light coating of snow. ‘’Pay attention and drive slowly on your way to work this morning, we had a dusting of snow last night and the roads may be slippery.’’

A BLANKET OF SNOW / TO BE BLANKETED IN SNOW: A thick covering of snow. EXAMPLE: ‘’School is delayed 2 hours this morning. The entire city received a blanket of snow last night and maintenance crews are working hard to clean, plow and spread salt on the roads.’’

TO BE BURIED IN SNOW: Completely covered in snow. EXAMPLE: ‘’The little town at the base of the mountain was buried in snow due to an avalanche that occurred overnight.’’

ICICLES: Spikes of solid ice that occur from melting snow (off the edge of a rooftop for example). The snow melts, drips, re-freezes and causes a build-up of solid ice in the shape of a pointed spike. Icicles can be quite dangerous when they become long, heavy and dislodge themselves from great heights. Be careful not to be standing under icicles when they begin to melt!

HURRICANES: Powerful cyclonic destructive storms that form over warm seas.

BLISTERING HOT: Extreme heat.

M - Our topic today is JEWELRY!

C – Hey, Marta, why have you decided to talk about jewelry today? Have you had Breakfast at Tiffany's lately, like Audrey Hepburn?

M – No, I love that movie, but I prefer having breakfast at the Waffle House!

C – Oh, ok then…Grits instead of gold? Bacon in favor of BAUBLES? Toast in trade of TIARAS? So what have you been up to?

M – Last week another American friend came to visit me here in Italy. We talked all about jewelry because she works as a rep (=sales representative) for a brand of silver jewelry.

C – Does she? You definitely need to introduce me to her! Jewelry collecting is one of my favorite hobbies!

M – Well, even better, I will introduce her to you & our listeners in just a little while.

C – Great! So have you discussed jewelry-related vocabulary with your friend?

M - Sure: BRACELET, BANGLE, NECKLACE, EARRINGS, RING and also SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES & GEMS.

C - Like TURQUOISE, AMETHYST, EMERALD, RUBY, SAPPHIRE or DIAMOND.

M – And someone would say : (singing) Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.

C – Is it true?

M – Well, I'd still prefer the Waffle House menu when hungry in the morning...

C – Ok, you made it clear, Marta, you must be starving today, you just can't get those waffles out of your head!! We'll have a sandwich as soon as we're finished recording this episode, ok? Now, back to your friend...what's her name?

M – Michelle.

C – Ok, back to Michelle, have you learnt anything about jewelry and accessories that you didn't know?

M – yes!! I eventually got to know the name of that sort of strange bracelet I had seen in the movies.

C – Which bracelet?

M – The one made of flowers...

C – Oh, you mean the CORSAGE !

M - Exactly!

C - Yeah, girls wear corsages around their wrists or pinned to a dress for special occasions, like prom or homecoming dances for example. And mothers and grandmothers usually wear a corsage for weddings as well.

M – Is it really like in the movies? Is the guy supposed to buy the corsage for the girl he's dating?

C - Uh huh, I mean- not out for a burger or anything...- but for special occasions and dances, yes. That's how it usually works, and he will wear a BOUTONNIERE matching her corsage or dress. A BOUTONNIERE is just a smaller version of a corsage, maybe with just one rose and a bit of greenery.

M – That's sweet.

C - Hey, another word our listeners should know about is BLING.

M – Bling, yes.

C – It's an American slang word used to define the kind of big, excessive, showy jewelry encrusted with diamonds and big gems. It’s worn by rappers or hip hop stars...even Hollywood actors can rock a little ‘bling’ from time to time.

M – And making reference to our episode about Superstitions, some people choose to wear a special jewel because they think it brings them good luck.

C – That's an AMULET. A protective charm. Do you have one?

M – Not really. And you?

C – Not now, but when I was younger I used to wear a charm in the image of a smiling, shining sun. I didn’t necessarily wear it to bring good luck, but it was cute and it made me happy just to wear it.

M - Now it's time to introduce our guest, hey, Michelle, welcome to my American friend!

Michelle: Well, hello everyone! This is Michelle, here, and I'm on line now from Ludington, Michigan. I'm an independent rep with Silpada Designs Jewelry.

C - Michelle, could you tell our listeners something about the different types of rings we have in America?

Michelle : Here in America we have a lot of rings, when it comes to relationships we have a lot of rings that we give. Well, the first ring would be the PROMISE RING. That is a promise that's made, that you're committing yourself to the relationship, to that other person.

M – Ok, promise ring. What's next?

Michelle - An ENGAGEMENT RING, the next stage in moving towards wedding or, you know, that type of commitment. Then you move into the side of the world where the WEDDING BAND would come into play, on that special day: your marriage. The wedding band will of course fit on the same finger as your engagement ring. This is very special and very sentimental.

M – Yeah, sure.

Michelle – Later down the road, you know, we look for an ANNIVERSARY BAND which is just a token of love. You could be anywhere, from one year, five years, ten years... Well you can accumulate all kinds of rings, you know, during that course of lifetime.

M - So...

Michelle - ….so several different rings to wear and symbols of love, that's for sure.

M – Wow, it seems you end up collecting a lot of rings over a lifetime... Oh, that reminds me of FAMILY JEWELS, Cindy, is that what you call the collection of jewels a family inherits from grandparents and other relatives?

C – Yes, but watch out, you are treading a thin line, Marta... there's also a double meaning to the term ‘family jewels’. It can also refer to the external male sex organs.

M - Ooooh really ??

C - Yep! Let's move on, Michelle, since you are an expert in silver jewelry and accessories, do you have any special suggestions for our listeners?

Michelle: When it comes to jewelry I would definitely say you need to accessorize!

Accessorizing anything that you're wearing will bring out the best of you. You could be wearing just a simple T-shirt and a pair of jeans and adding that little bit of accessory would bring it out and would bling you up. Eventually you could make your way up to, you know, an extreme amount of layers: earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets... Men and women, that's for sure. So, I would say, definitely, shine like a rockstar!

M - Thanks for being our guest Michelle!

Michelle: Thank you, ladies, so much for having me on line with you!

C - Bye Michelle, come visit us again!

Michelle - Bye everyone! Bye bye!

C - I know I say it every time, but it's great having guests here at my American friend.

M – Yes, again a big thank you to Michelle. One last thing, Cindy.

C - One last thing and then we go out for a sandwich, right?

M – I couldn't agree more. I've heard an idiom related to jewelry.

C – Which one?

M - “to BE THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN”.

C - Oh, when someone is the jewel in the crown it means they are the best among a group. For example: Marta, you rock. You are a jewel amongst chicks that make the Rock world go round. We salute you!

M – Oh, come on, Cindy! Don't make me blush! :) give us another example.

C – Ok, since you mentioned it before, Marta, we know that for you the Waffle House restaurant is the jewel in the crown of American breakfast establishments.

M - Yeah!

M – Ok, folks, that's it for now!

C - Thank you for listening! Check out the transcript of this episode either on our blog or on our facebook page or on podomatic.com and you can also follow us on twitter!

M – We await your comments and feedback on www.myamericanfriendblog.com

C - Marta... there is one idiom I didn't tell you about... it goes like this: “Speech is silver, silence is golden”.

M - Do you mean it's time for us to shut up?

C - yes, it's time for that sandwich! Bye everyone!

M - Bye bye!

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the spelling : JEWELRY (Am.E.) or JEWELLERY (Br.E.)

jewelry-related vocabulary used in this episode:

BAUBLES= costume (fake) jewelry

TIARAS= a delicate and ornate crown worn by women, for example, in a beauty pageant. Tiaras can be made of real or fake stones. Some brides enjoy wearing a tiara for their wedding ceremony.

BRACELET, BANGLE= jewelry worn on the wrist. Can be made of anything from plastic to metal.

NECKLACE= jewelry worn around the neck

EARRINGS= jewelry for the ears. Earrings that require a hole in the earlobe are called "pierced" and earrings worn without requiring a hole in the earlobe are called "clip ons" or " clip" earrrings.

RING= jewelry for the fingers

SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES= stones of lower value but still of great beauty for example: turquoise, amethyst, topaz

GEMS: stones of high value (still varying much in price according to clarity, color, cut..etc...) like diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald.

CORSAGE= flowers worn by a girl or woman, pinned to her dress or worn bracelet-like, for a special occasion like a wedding or dance.

BOUTONNIERE= small bouquet of flowers (just one flower and a bit of greenery) worn by a man or boy for special occasions. The boutonniere is worn pinned to the lapel of the suit jacket.

BLING= excessive, big, sparkly, showy jewelry. Often worn by rappers, hip hop stars

AMULET= a protective charm usually worn on a necklace

FAMILY JEWELS (watch out!!!)= a DOUBLE meaning here!

1. inherited jewelry passed down from generation to generation.

2. A slang term referring to the external male sex organs.

PROMISE RING= a ring given as a "promise" of the future. For example, teenagers may exchange promise rings as a commitment to eachother with a "promise" of marriage in the future.

ENGAGEMENT RING= when a man (or woman) asks their partner to marry them, an engagement ring is given to symbolize they are commited to marriage. In America, an engagement ring usually has at least one diamond in the setting and is made of either white or yellow gold.

WEDDING BAND= the simple band slipped onto the bride & groom's ring finger of the left hand during the wedding ceremony.

ANNIVERSARY BAND= a ring given at any stage in the marriage to celebrate an anniversary.

Idiom - “to be the jewel in the crown”= the best among a group

Idiom - “speech is silver, silence is golden”

If you're interested in Silpada's silver jewelry, you can contact Michelle at:

Marta - This is a special episode!

Cindy - We want to give you an example of how you can MAKE THE MOST of the episodes of our podcast. It shouldn't be just about listening and reading the transcript: whenever you learn some new words and expressions you need to use them right away.

M – Some would say: IF YOU DON'T USE IT, YOU LOSE IT.

C - That's it!

M – Ok, let's use our episode number 9, about how to express your likes and dislikes.

C – We've used a lot of expressions there, let's revise them.

M – Ok. Likes.

C – To be crazy about, to be nuts about, to be addicted to, you can say that something looks or sounds good, that something drives you crazy.

M - And in British English: to fancy, to be keen on, to be fond of. Now, dislikes?

C – You can say that something bugs you or annoys you, that something does not appeal to you, that something drives you up the wall. Or you can say that you can't stand, can't bear, can't put up with something. Let's see...What else? To be fed up with, to be sick of, or to be tired of.

M – Great, but, as we said, if you don't use it you lose it.

C – Right. The best thing you can do to remember these new expressions is to use them in order to talk about yourself. So, listeners, write down your personal “likes & dislikes list” using each and every one of these new expressions.

M – I did the same thing with my class at school.

C – That's great. Let's listen to what your Italian students had to say about themselves.

Letizia: Hi, this is Letizia. I'm a huge fan of 30 Seconds To Mars. I'm addicted to marshmallows! I'm sick and tired of horror movies.

Anna : Hello! This is Anna. I fancy dancing: I attend a folk dance course. I'm fed up with always being in a hurry.

Ilaria : Hi, my name's Ilaria. I'm crazy about shopping and I enjoy going on holiday. I can't stand jealous people.

Claudia : Hello! This is Claudia. I'm fond of walking in the park with my husband on sunny days. I can’t stand cold weather!

Adelmo: Hello, my name is Adelmo. I'm a VJ and I'm nuts about music. I like studying English, but grammar drives me up the wall !

Giulia : Hi everybody! My name is Giulia. I'm keen on traveling and visiting new places. I'm not really into weekend getaways, because I enjoy taking my time.

Laura : Hi ! My name's Laura. I adore the quiet of the wild open landscapes, where I feel free and at ease. People who show off really annoy me.

C – Well done, guys, great job!

M – Let me thank them for being our guests. This is the intermediate class of my course called “ENGLISH AMPLIFIER”. The school is Ideas in Action, in my hometown, Imola. (www.ideasinaction.it)

C – Ok, listeners, now it's your turn, write your likes and dislikes list. And make sure to use these new expressions. If you feel like sharing your list with us, you know where to find us, don't you?

M - www.myamericanfriendblog.com and also on facebook, twitter, iTunes, podomatic.com

C – Thank you for listening, bye bye

M - Bye!

M -  Today we’re talking about ‘’ANGER & ARGUMENTS’’

M -   So Cindy, we’ve got an interesting topic of discussion today.

C -   Yes, Anger and Arguments. Y’know Marta, I wish my Sicilian Grandmother was still alive to help us out today.

M - …why is that?

C - Grandma was the queen of arguing! She could argue with a mailbox! She would have been a fountain of information today!

M -  Then I’m sorry she’s not with us today! You know, expressing an opinion or communicating anger with someone can be very difficult in a second language.

C - You’re so right. When you communicate in your own language, you already have an arsenal of words at your disposal. But when you’re angry and you have to speak in a second language and your emotions are running high…

M -  … and adrenalin levels are up, you may feel FLUSTERED.

C - Right.  If you’re flustered (that means to be confused, nervous, not thinking clearly), you can’t make your opinions clear to the person you are speaking with.

M -  That’s right, so today we’re going to try and help everyone out with expressing themselves in anger.

C - Even without the help of my Sicilian Grandmother. Y’know Marta- it’s just as well that grandma isn’t here. You’d have a hell of a time in the editing booth. You’d have to keep bleeping out all the bad words. We’d have no material left to work with.

M -  Now, Cindy & I are not suggesting that you go out and BLOW UP AT The first person you that you see today.

C - That’s right, it’s always good to take a deep breath first and consider what you are about to become embroiled in. Sometimes, an argument is not worth the ripple effect it may cause afterwards.

M - Yes. This is true. But sometimes it is!

C -  Right on, girl!

M -  So we’ve decided to organize the art of arguing into separate themes. Cindy and I will take two different approaches to arguing.

C -  Marta is going to play the quiet, calm & rational side. This is the approach you may use, for example, in a workplace setting when you need to be civil and polite with each other.

M -  And Cindy will take the opposite approach and channel her grandmother.

C - …without the bad words. I promise not to make any more work for you in the editing booth!

M -   Thank you, I have enough work already. If you have trouble following along, just refer to the transcript. OK, let’s get started….

M -  Excuse me, can I have a word with you ?  

C - I wanna talk to you. Now.

M -  I have a couple of issues that I would like to discuss with you.

C - I have a bone to pick with you. (this means you want to complain or fight over something)

M - Please make eye contact and pay attention to me while I’m speaking.

C - Look me in the eye when I’m talking to you.

M -  I’ve heard that you’ve been speaking unkindly of me behind my back.

C - I heard that you’ve been talking shit about me.

M - For future reference, if you have anything to say about me, please say it to my face.

C - You got something to say? Why don’t you grow a pair and say it to my face?

M - I’m sorry, I respect your opinion but I don’t agree with you.

C - What? Are you crazy?  Are you  absolutely insane!?

M -  Maybe I haven’t explained myself clearly.

C - Do I need to spell it out for you?

M - I don’t think you’ve  given this enough consideration.

C - Seriously, are you that thick? Have you thought about this at all?

(‘’Thick” can be used as a substitute  for the word  dumb)

M -  Ok, we’re going to have to “agree to disagree” if we can’t find a solution.

C - I’m sick of this crap and we’re going to settle it right here, right now- once and for all.

M -  Ok, Ok…end of fight. I think everyone has a pretty good collection of phrases to help them along now in an argument.

C - And we’ve left out the really bad words that usually get hurled about during a fight. There are plenty of movies, websites and songs that can help you out with that.

M -  And besides, curse words are usually the first words people learn when studying a new language.

C - Personally, I think it is good to know the bad words. I don’t feel they should be used freely in every day conversation but if you can identify them, then you will know if someone is being rude to you.

M -  Cindy, let’s go over a few vocabulary words that can substitute for the word ‘’angry’’ in a sentence.

C -  Ok, but first let’s go over the pronunciation of the word ‘’angry’’ versus the word ‘’hungry’’! Angry is what you feel when you are very unhappy or infuriated at someone or something. Hungry is how you feel when your stomach is empty and you need to eat something. Angry. Hungry. Angry. Hungry.

M -  Angry. Hungry. ok. Some people confuse those two words. Now let’s go over a few words that mean angry.

C - Ok.

1. INFURIATED (For example: He became infuriated when the other driver cut him off on the highway and almost caused him to have an accident.)

2. IRATE (I was irate when my boss fired me from my job and refused to give me a reason for doing so.)

3. ENRAGED (this is an out-of-control level of anger)

4. PISSED OFF

5. FUMING

6. BOILING

7. ILL-TEMPERED (that’s when someone has a bad temper and angers easily). I had a cat like that once. He was very ill-tempered.

8. STORMED OFF (if someone has ‘’stormed off’’ or ‘’stormed out’’ of a room, then they have left in an angry and dramatic way.

M -  Well, that’s our show for today. I hoped we’ve helped some of you to express yourselves more clearly in English.

C -And remember to take a deep breath first before EXPLODING AT someone! Getting into an argument may not be the best approach to solving a disagreement….but if it is- we hope this show has helped!

M -  Yeah, just like that song:   “there's no need to argue anymore...”

M -  Thank you  for listening and come visit us on  www.myamericanfriendblog.com  

C – And come check us out on twitter,  facebook,  podomatic.com and iTunes.  

M – See you soon!

C – Bye bye!

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to ARGUE :  to fight, to debate ...

an ARGUMENT  / ARGUING:  controversy, disagreement ...

to be FLUSTERED, INFURIATED, IRATE, ENRAGED, PISSED OFF , FUMING, BOILING, ILL-TEMPERED ,  to STORM OFF.

to BLOW UP AT someone:  to EXPLODE AT someone.

Sentences you may use during an argument. The first sentence is acceptable when you must exercise a calm manner, for example in an office or work setting. The second phrase is much stronger. Be aware that to argue in this manner may offend others easily and you must be ready to defend your opinions.

- Excuse me, can I have a word with you ?    /  I wanna talk to you. Now.

- I have a couple of issues that I would like to discuss with you. / I have a bone to pick with you.

- Please make eye contact and pay attention to me while I’m speaking. /  Look me in the eye when I’m talking to you.

- I’ve heard that you’ve been speaking unkindly of me behind my back. /  I heard that you’ve been talking shit about me.

- For future reference, if you have anything to say about me, please say it to my face. / You got something to say? Why don’t you grow a pair and say it to my face?

- I’m sorry, I respect your opinion but I don’t agree with you./   What? Are you crazy?  Are you  absolutely insane!?

- Maybe I haven’t explained myself clearly. / Do I need to spell it out for you?

-I'm not sure how you've come to this opinion./ What the hell is wrong with you?

- I don’t think you’ve given this enough consideration. I don’t think you’ve thought this through well enough. / Seriously, are you that thick? Have you thought about this at all?

-I've been acceptive of your behavior for far too long./ I've been putting up with your shit for way too long!

- Ok, we’re going to have to “agree to disagree” if we can’t find a solution. / I’m sick of this crap and we’re going to settle it right here, right now- once and for all.

-I hope we can still be friends. I hope there's no hard feelings between us?/

I don't EVER want to see your face around here again. Have I made myself clear enough?

M – Let's talk about SUPERSTITIONS!

M – First off, Cindy, let's define what a superstition is.

C - Good idea. A superstition is a blindly accepted belief or notion, not based on reason, knowledge or logic. Superstitions are an interesting part of every culture around the world.

M – I realized that we make references to superstitions in everyday language without noticing.

C – So true, for example: “I'm sorry I'm not in a great mood today, I must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed.”

M - Yes, I've heard this one a hundred times!

C - It's very common, and even used by people who don't actually believe in superstitions, it's just become part of everyday language.

M - Ok, so let's start from the beginning. We say that certain things BRING GOOD LUCK and others BRING BAD LUCK, right?

C – Right, for example breaking a mirror brings bad luck, it is considered to bring bad luck for the next seven years. So maybe the wrinkles on my face will disappear after 7 years? Hmmm…that’s a long time to wait.

M – You're right... I remember a song by Europe: (singing) “… and if a mirror should break, it's easy to take, deep down I know that you care, but I'm not superstitious..”

C - Ok, then, Joey Tempest is not SUPERSTITIOUS, but what about you?

M - Neither am I. I mean, I have no problem walking under a ladder - that is known to bring bad luck.

C- I’m miserable if I’m on a ladder…because that means I’m up there having to paint a wall or something….I hate painting.

M- and I'm happy if a black cat crosses my path, because I love cats and I don't believe any cute black kitty can bring me bad luck.

C - How about spilling salt? Do you think it brings bad luck?

M -very simply, I think spilling salt is wasting salt!

C - Maybe that's the reason for this superstition, back in the old days when salt was very expensive, and essential for things like food preservation, even spilling a few grains could be costly for a poor family.

M – Yes, superstitions seem irrational to us nowadays, but there must be some hidden explanation behind each and every one of them.

C – So, Marta, you're a rational kind of woman, right?

M – Well, I don't know. Sometimes I find myself crossing my fingers when hoping for good luck, that's a habit, irrational, illogical. I just do it. And my bedroom walls are covered with dream catchers, I love them, they make me feel safe in the night. So...I think we all are influenced by some little irrational belief. What about you, Cindy? Do you knock on wood, or anything else?

C – No, not so much…I’m more of an irrational phobia kind-of-girl. I’m terrified of snakes…y’know, stuff like that.

M - What else brings good or bad luck in the US?

C - Oh, soooo many things... let me think... Never step on a crack and never open an umbrella inside your house, those things are said to bring bad luck. But on the opposite end, if your nose itches, then you will receive money... and if you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake, with just one breath of air, then your dream will come true. And, back to bad luck, the number 13 is thought to be unlucky.

M - You're right, numbers! That's interesting!

C - Well, I guess everyone already knows about Friday the 13th, right? There were all those horror movies of that title.

M - Yes, while in Italy you must beware of Friday the 17th!

C - Really? That’s a lot to remember. Now I’ll have to adjust my superstitions according to what side of the pond I’m on!

M - Yeah, every country seems to have their bad luck number. I've heard about number 4 in Japan, for instance.

C - Hey, listeners, please tell us about the superstitions in your own countries! We're curious to know about your beliefs. It’ll be a fascinating topic of conversation!

M – Yes, that would be great! I’m sure our listeners have some very interesting superstitions to share with us out there.

C- I bet. For example, superstitions and pre-game rituals are prevalent in the sporting world. So Marta and I look forward to hearing about your traditions as well. Oh, Marta, that reminds me, we should also mention a few things that bring good luck.

M - ...like...listening to our podcast? right?

C - Of course….but also a four-leaf clover or a horseshoe, or finding a lucky penny in the street…or some people believe ladybugs (they’re called ladybirds in England) to bring good luck.

M – Yes, yes, ok, but don't underestimate listening to our podcast, right?

C – Right.

C - Ok, everyone, we’ve come to the end of another episode. We await your comments on twitter, facebook, podomatic.com, iTunes and on our blog www.myamericanfriendblog.com

M – Thank you for listening and don't miss the transcript of this episode!

C - Hey Marta, my ears are ringing- someone must be talking about me....

M - Who knows? Could be one of our listeners from anywhere in the world! :)

C – Bye bye everyone!

M – bye!

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To be SUPERSTITIOUS

To BRING GOOD/BAD LUCK

- Good luck:

Crossing your fingers

Knocking on wood

when your nose itches (you will receive money)

blowing out all the candles on your birthday cake with one breath of air (your dream will come true)

a four-leaf clover

a horseshoe

finding a lucky penny in the street

ladybugs

…...listening to my American friend!!! (just kidding!)

- Bad luck:

waking up on the wrong side of the bed

breaking a mirror

walking under a ladder

a black cat crossing your path

spilling salt

stepping on a crack

opening an umbrella inside a house

the number 13 and Friday 13th

- and if your ears are ringing someone is talking about you