Taylor Teaches English

All sorts of : a variety

annual fee: a yearly fee in addition to other fees.

cardio: activities to aimed to keep the heart strong.

check out: look at.

do your own thing: do something independently, without a group.

drop in: come in, visit.

ellipticals: exercise machines.

fine print: the small words in a contract that usually contain all the exceptions to the deal.

flat rate: a payment plan where one fee includes all activities. 

In this lesson you will learn:

Fancy running into you here: when you can't imagine seeing someone. It is usually said when you see people in places where you normally don't see them.

For ages: it means for a very long time.

Ex: I haven't seen you in ages.

Before you know it: means very quickly.

Ex: Before you know it you will be finished with college.

As soon as: indicates something will happen at the same time that something else happens.

Ex: as soon as I graduate high school, I will look for a job.

Used to: indicates a custom or habit. 

Ex: I'm used to eating  fast food every day.

Used to: indicates an action that was a habit in the past, but is not a habit anymore.

Ex: I used to go to Mcdonalds every day after school. 

In this episode you will learn:

hogging: keeping most of something for yourself

junk food: food that tastes great but isn't good for you.

major league: professional baseball; also an idiom meaning "really important".

nachos: a snack of crispy tortilla chips, melted cheese, and salsa.

organized sports: local teams that meet on a regular basis.

pickup game: an unscheduled, informal game that happens when people just start playing at a park or other place. 

pigging out: eating greedily.

pretzels: a popular salty snack, sometimes soft, sometimes crunchy, in a twisted shape.

pro: professional sports player.

shoot hoops: play basketball.

sign-ups: when people join a local team.

stadium: an arena, or place where a game is played.

touchdown: scoring six points in football.

various: different.

watching ones weight: be careful about diet and avoid gaining extra pounds. 

Dialogue---------------------------------

Lia: Wow, look at that guy. He can really move!

Alan: What's the big deal? I can do that!

Lia: Ha! you want me to believe that you can run like a football player?

Alan: you don't think I can? Of course I can! Okay, maybe I can't. But I sure could run when I was in high school. I was a star o f the school track team.

Lia: wow, you remember all the way back to high school? Well, let's watch the pros. Woo hoo! touchdown!

Jack: I don't know about anyone here running, but both of you sure can eat. You're hogging al the snacks. If you guys don't stop pigging out, there won't be any left for the next half. Pass the nachos.

Lia: here, dig in.

Alan: Not me! I guess that's a hint that I should watch my weight, haha!

In this lesson you will learn:

Big deal: something important.

catch a game: watch a game.

competitively: playing to win.

concession stand: place to buy snacks at a game.

couch potato: someone who prefers to relax watch TV.

dig in: eat and enjoy!

he can really move: an expression of admiration at someone's ability to run.

heck: another exclamation: just for fun.

hint: a gentle suggestions.

In this lesson you will learn to make plural nouns with Latin based words.

Alumnus - alumni

focus - foci

stimulus - stimuli

cactus -cacti

addendum - addenda

curriculum - curricula 

gymnasium - gymnasia 

You will learn:

Chew the fat: have a casual conversation. 

Ex: After the meeting, Tom and Susan stayed a few minutes to chew the fat.

In a nutshell: a summary.

Ex: The park ranger gave a  very long report about the dangers of forest fires. In a nutshell: Be careful with your campfires!

A piece of cake: easy!

Ex: Shela was happy about her driving est. She expected it to be tricky, but it was a piece of cake.

take it with a grain of salt: don't believe it completely.

Ex: Because the study was done by a company that wants to sell the product, people should take the results with a  grain of salt.

Butter someone up: say nice things to someone to win his or her favor.

Here is the dinner conversation.

Mike: Miss, Excuse me, but my glass has a smudge on it.

Server: I'm terribly sorry sir. I'll get you a clean one right away.

Mike: Miss, I'm still waiting for a clean glass, and we still haven't received our salads. We've been waiting a long time for our food.

Server: I am so sorry! We're a little busier than usual tonight, and we're short-staffed. I'll bring it immediately. I'll also bring more water. 

Server: Here you are, sir, and I've brought you another glass of wine, on the house. The manager would also like to give you a dessert of your choice, also compliments of the house. We're so sorry for the mix-up. Sorry you had to wait.

Mike: Thank you very much. 

In this episode you will learn to use words and phrases, such as:

Come on: a way to say that someone is exaggerating a little bit.

Ex:  

    A: I have to lose twenty pounds.  B: Come on, you're not that overweight!

Wonder: expresses an unanswered question or doubt. 

Ex:

   Where is Ellie?  I wonder where Ellie is.

No wonder: indicates that something is obvious.

Ex: He's smart, energetic, well educated, and charming. No wonder you like!

Quite the character: means to be unusual in some way.

Ex: He's really quiet and never talks to anybody, yet the girls all like him. He must be quite the character!

In this lesson you will learn:

mix up: a mistake.

on the house: free.

place setting: dishes, glasses, and silverware on the table.

server: waiter or waitress.

short-staffed: not enough people working.

smudge: a dirty mark.

spotless: perfectly clean.

top priority: most important.

In this lesson you will learn

Hardly ever: almost never

ex: you hardly ever call me anymore. Are you mad at me?

At least: the situation could be worse.

It's so cold outside today! well at least it isn't raining.

What about....?: a way to ask the same question about a different topic.

I mean: precedes further explanation of the previous information.

Ex: ex keeps her house really clean. I mean, she dusts every day!

In the first place: used to present the first example of why you do or don't like something. 

Then: can introduce a logical conclusion to something.

Ex: I've got my tickets, and my bags are packed. Then you're already to go.