ESL Podcast 347 - Writing a Postcard
postcard - a small, thick, rectangular piece of paper with a photograph of a place on one side and room to write a short message and address on the other side so that it can be sent through the mail without using an envelope
Whenever Lynn travels, she sends postcards to all of her nieces and nephews.
to arrive safely - to take a plane, bus, train, ship, or car to another place and get there without any problems
Please call us as soon as your plane lands to let us know that you arrived safely!
to have the time of (one's) life - to greatly enjoy something that one has done, so that it is one of the most fun, enjoyable, and memorable experiences that one has had in one's life
I had the time of my life in Oahu, swimming all day and eating great seafood.
to keep (someone) company - to spend time with another person so that he or she does not feel lonely
The doctors told her to stay in bed for six weeks, so her friends are coming over to keep her company during the long days.
ideal - perfect; exactly what one had wanted and hoped for; couldn't be better
Her ideal job is one where she would be paid to travel around the world.
to be off - to be ready to start to do something or go somewhere
On Friday at 7:00 they're off to Florida for their one-week vacation in the Everglades.
this is the life - a phrase used to show that one is very happy, content, and relaxed doing what one is doing and believes that this experience is one of life's best experiences
The women spent all day at the spa, getting manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages. They kept smiling and saying, "This is the life!"
wish you were here - a phrase used when one is having a good travel experience and wants to tell another person that it would be nice to share the experience with him or her
We're having so much fun! Today we went to the Seattle Space Needle and Pike's Place Market. Wish you were here!
a nightmare of - a disaster; an experience where everything is going wrong
Right after Tracy graduated from college, she lived in a nightmare of an apartment, full of rats and bugs.
connection - connecting flight; the flight that one takes when one has flown from one airport to another, but still hasn't gotten to where one wants to go
To fly from Eugene, Oregon to Denver, Colorado, she had to catch a connection in Portland, Oregon.
to pour - to rain very heavily; to rain a lot
It's pouring outside! Let's wait until it stops to take the dog for a walk.
but - except; save for; unless; only
I wouldn't want to live in the desert, where there's nothing to see but sand.
what a dump - a phrase used to show that a place is very old, dirty, and in bad condition
What a dump! I can't believe you've lived in this building for almost five years.
It's time for you to find a newer - and nicer - apartment.
not at all what (one) expected - the opposite of what one thought something would be; not what one expected
Serving in the military is not at all what he expected and he wants to quit so that he can come home.
food poisoning - the state of having diarrhea and/or vomiting because one has eaten food that had bacteria and wasn't cooked well
Everyone who was at the picnic got sick that evening, so they decided it must have been food poisoning from the chicken they ate.
washout - a disaster; a waste of time; something that wasn't worth doing
That movie was a washout! I can't believe I wasted two hours watching it.
to not be able to wait to (do something) - to be very eager to do something; to want to do something as soon as possible
Wendy can't wait to own her own home.