ESL Podcast 256 - Looking for Ideas

to jot down - to quickly write down something; to note something quickly

Let me jot down your phone number before you leave, so I can call you next week.

to draw a blank - to not be able to think of a good idea or the answer to something

Xiaofeng drew a blank on the test question about World War I, even though he had studied all night.

block - an inability to think of something; not being able to think of something

Whenever this writer gets a block, she reads some new books to get ideas.

to step away from (something) - to stop what one is doing and to work on something else for a short period of time before returning to the first task

Evelyn got so frustrated with the project that she had to step away from it and didn't work on it again until the next day.

fresh perspective - a new and creative way of looking at things

Everyone likes to work with Igor because he always brings a fresh perspective to the team.

empty-handed - without anything; unprepared

Normally Maude brings a dessert when she visits friends, but last night, she didn't have enough time to cook, so she went to the party empty-handed.

to show (someone) up - to do something better than someone else; to make someone else look bad by doing something better

Jill was very happy that she got 95% on the test, but her roommate showed her up again by getting 100%.

to walk on water - to be perfect or excellent; to do everything well

Randolph makes delicious cookies, cakes, and breads. It seems like he walks on water in the kitchen!

to work (oneself) up - to become agitated and worried about something; to think about something so much that one becomes very nervous about it

Sam worked himself up for days before the presentation, and when it was time to actually do the presentation, he was so nervous that he could hardly speak.

wound up - tense; nervous; anxious; stressed out

If you get wound up from work and school, it might help to talk about it with your friends.

in a fog - confused; unclear; blurry

The medicine will make you feel like you're in a fog for a few hours after taking it.

to do the trick - to do what something is supposed to do; to work; to be successful

If you can't fall asleep at night, sometimes drinking a glass of warm milk will do the trick.

to be after (one's) job - to want someone else's job; to try to get another person's job

I think Bert is after my job. He's always telling my boss that he could do my work better and faster than I can. (one) wouldn't touch (something) with a 10-foot pole - doesn't want to be involved with something at all; doesn't want to have anything to do with something; wants to stay as far away from something as possible

Lynn hates the taste of peas. She wouldn't touch them with a 10-foot pole!

pressure - the stressful feeling of having to do something

Elliot is under a lot of pressure to pass his medical exams next week.

lowly - not very important; not to have a very high position in an organization

Many people think that secretaries are lowly employees, but without them, most managers wouldn't be able to do their jobs.

to give (someone) a hard time - to make jokes and tease someone; to make things difficult for someone; to make fun of someone

Her brother gave her a hard time about her driving skills when she accidentally hit a tree in the parking lot. (one's) days here are numbered - one will not be here for very much longer; one will lose his or her job soon

Josh has the feeling that his days here are numbered, because the new boss doesn't seem to like him very much.