Generally the aim clearly of English classes is to learn how to speak English as well as well as possible. Part of the journey is being able to establish the context of words which maybe do not know or understand. Can you guess the meaning the meaning of the following words/expressions?
upbeat (adjective)
With strong evidence of an upturn in sales, the directors were upbeat.
– If people or the mood is upbeat, the mood or feeling is good and optimistic.
bizarre (adjective)
The fact that the phones were not working all week, it was bizarre that nobody noticed that the switchboard was turned off!
– If something is bizarre, it is very strange, perhaps even hard or impossible to explain.
famished (adjective)
What time is lunch, I am famished!
– If someone is famished, they are very hungry!
‘strung out’ (adjective)
Jim never liked Monday’s and always felt strung out by 1000am.
– When someone is very stressed and nervous.
peckish (adjective)
Is anyone peckish? I am going to get some grub from the supermarket.
– Peckish describes being a little hungry. Maybe likes the idea of eating something but they are not particularly hungry.
‘open to ideas‘ (expression)
If you can think of anything to help, let me know; I am open to ideas.
– When someone is willing to listen and consider ideas, they are open to ideas.
‘flat out‘ (adjective)
What a crazy day. We have been working ‘flat out‘ since we arrived.
– A good expression to explain that something is near maximum. This can describe many things including driving and working to eating and thinking and many more besides.
‘out for the count‘ (adjective)
After being sick all day, Helen is now out for the count.
– If someone is out for the count, they are extremely tired or unconscious. This expression comes from boxing when a boxer is knocked out and the referee counts to ten and the boxer on the floor is unconscious and cannot continue.
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How about you?
Which ones above can you use to describe your day/week/month or year?
Do you know any others?