ESL Podcast 309 - Describing Distances and Giving Directions

up the street - on the same street one is currently on, but uphill or further along

The library is up the street from the Thai restaurant.

corner - the place where two streets meet each other

Our house is on the corner of Madison Street and Deustua Avenue.

to go too far - to accidentally pass something; to accidentally walk or drive past the place where one wanted to go

When we reached 97th Street, we realized that we had gone too far, so we had to turn around and drive back.

set back from (a road or street) - not immediately next to a street; with some space between the building and the street

The lawyer's office is set back from the street with a parking lot in front.

around the block - on the other side of a group of buildings that have streets on all four sides

This street has a lot of formal restaurants, but around the block, there are some inexpensive coffee shops.

to hang a left - to turn left; to make a left-hand turn

Hang a left on Floral Avenue, and then my house will be on the right.

mile - a measurement of distance; 1 mile = 5,280 feet = 1.61 kilometers

Sherri runs five miles every morning before she goes to work.

farther - a greater distance

I watched Uncle Kenny drive farther and farther away until I couldn't see his car anymore.

roughly - about; approximately; around

Patricio makes roughly $2,000 a month working at the restaurant.

dead end - a road that ends without connecting to any other streets

Shannon likes living on a dead end because there aren't very many cars and her children can play in the street.

to cross (something) - to walk or drive across something; to go from one side of something to the other side

How long does it take to cross the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco?

kitty-corner - located on the opposite point of an intersection; located diagonally at an intersection; located on the opposite point of the place where two streets meet each another

The hotel is kitty-corner from the cathedral.

give or take - more or less; approximately; about; around; roughly

You will be able to finish the test in about 45 minutes, give or take.

all set - ready to do something; fully prepared to do something

Are you all set for your vacation to the Bahamas?

You know,... - a phrase used to introduce a new idea; a phrase used to introduce new information that one hadn't thought of before

The man spent 15 minutes telling the salesperson what he wanted to buy. When she found it, he said, "You know, I think I want to get this in a different color." She was very frustrated.