ESL Podcast 435 - Describing Aches and Pains

funny - oddly; in an unusual way; weirdly

She talked funny after her appointment at the dentist's office.

to pull a muscle - to hurt the part of one's body that connects bones together and allows one's body to move

He pulled a muscle in his back when carried very heavy boxes.

twinge - a sudden feeling or sensation that doesn't last for very long

Bertha feels a twinge of guilt every time she says "no" to a homeless person who asks her for money.

pain - physical discomfort, usually due to an injury; the feeling of one's body hurting

Were you in a lot of pain when you broke your arm?

awkward - uncomfortable; not relaxed

I feel awkward whenever I go to a party where I don't know anyone.

to strain - to hurt part of one's body because one made it work too hard, or because one tried to do something that was too difficult

Vreneli strained her eyes by looking at the computer screen all day.

sharp - acute; very strong, but lasting for only a short time

A sharp pain runs up his leg every time he puts weight on his right foot.

dull - a pain that is not very strong, but lasts for a long time

She's had dull pain from a bad headache all week.

to lean - to be inclined; to rest one's body toward one direction, often resting against a wall or something else

The cashier started to lean against the wall because she was tired of standing but was not allowed to sit down while working.

to bump into (something) - to accidentally hit something with one's body

While walking through the dark house at night, he accidentally bumped into the table and an expensive vase fell down and broke.

bruise - a painful dark purple, brown, or greenish spot on the skin, caused by bleeding underneath the skin, usually because one was hit very hard by something or someone

Kelly fell off of her bicycle last week causing a big bruise on her knee.

to glue - to connect two things or to make two things stick together by using a clear or white liquid that dries between the two pieces

Do you think we can glue together the broken pieces of the plate?

sore - in pain, usually because part of one's body has worked too hard

We were really sore after our 13-mile hike.

stiff - unable to move easily; inflexible

His legs were so stiff after his long bike ride that he almost couldn't walk.

to throb - to have a pain that starts and stops repeatedly in a rhythm

That loud music has given me a throbbing headache!

to survive - to be able to continue to exist, especially in a difficult situation

How long could a human being survive in the desert without water?

injury - a problem with part of one's body, usually caused by an accident or an attack

When the car hit the tree, the driver had a few injuries but everyone else was all right.